Affordable neighborhoods with good schools in MoCo - is there such a thing?
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Anonymous
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We'd like to buy in MoCo in a neighborhood with good if not great schools. Our price range is up to 400K and we'd prefer a single family home but it doesn't have to be fancy.
We're open to virtually all areas of the county as DH and I work from home. Is this even possible? |
Anonymous
| Which schools do you think are good schools? Do you think QO, Poolesville, Damascus and Clarksburg are good schools? Are you just referring to WJ, Wooton, BCC, Whitman? |
Anonymous
| We love our neighborhood-- Woodmoor in Silver Spring. There are a handful of houses on the market right now for under $400K. Schools are pretty good. Just a stone's throw from Blair High School. The neighborhood is packed with kids and wonderful neighbors. |
Anonymous
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Derwood, near Shady Grove metro. Magruder High, not bad although not a W.
20855 |
Anonymous
| You will get a nice house in Poolesville. Just don't tell anyone else. We don't need a whole lot of "W" type people moving up here. |
Anonymous
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Forest Knolls ES - many houses in Four Corners are in the $400K range.
Oakland Terrace ES as well. |
Anonymous
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OP here - No, definitely doesn't have to be a "W" school, but we want to be in a solid cluster that includes ES, MS, and HS. I like the downtown Silver Spring and Four Corners area, but the schools at the elementary level and middle school level are really uneven. Plus, I'm not convinced that Blair is a great school unless you're in one of the magnet programs.
I'll explore some of the options listed here and appreciate the responses. Thank you! |
Anonymous
| Do you have to stay in MoCo? What about Clarksville or other parts of Howard Cty? |
Anonymous
I agree - we've also been very happy with the elementary school. |
Anonymous
| You can get a decent house in Derwood for 400K and the schools are good. You are also close to Red Line metro and easy access to freeways as well. |
Anonymous
Those of us who live and use the schools here disagree with you, but it's your choice, obviously. Good luck finding something in a neighborhood slated for what you consider a "great school" with a $400K budget. 
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Anonymous
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OP, here's an example of a home for sale in Derwood area. The ES is Candlewood (great schools 9 out of 10 rating) MS is Redland and HS is Magruder. All are good schools and the home is less than your 400K budget. Don't settle, it is possible.
http://mocorealestate.com/idx/mls-mc7822020-16505_baederwood_ln_derwood_md_20855 |
Anonymous
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1) I'd consider Howard if you work from home.
2) If you don't have to factor in commute, then move far out. I am not sure what SFH prices are in Olney but I hear good things about those schools and it seems a like a nice "town" feel. Perhaps look even further beyond that in that more rural northern part of the county. |
Anonymous
Clarksville? LOL! the land of the McMansions! Have you researched western parts of Ho Co? |
Anonymous
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OP,
Some homes in Olney Mill are just under $400K. They are not big - most having 3 BR. But the neighborhood is nice and the schools are solid. Tanterra is also reasonable; homes have that mod look to them. Greenwood is the ES, and it's excellent. You can also find more "upscale" TH in your price range. Of the two middle schools, I prefer Farquhar to Rosa Parks. So you can check out feeder patterns, too. |