Capitol hill v Bethesda/NoVa

[Anonymous]

My partner and I are looking to buy a house. I'm a SAHM. We are making around 150k, but hopefully Ill get a job eventually. We don't have the money to pay for a private school at the moment, but maybe it I return to work and we live even more frugally than we do now I guess we can foot the private school bill. Here is the question- is it worth it? Is it worth the bother to move to capitol hill, knowing that you will probably be on the hook for years of private school tuition? Are the schools that bad? Or should we just buy in boring bethesda or nova and send them to public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My partner and I are looking to buy a house. I'm a SAHM. We are making around 150k, but hopefully Ill get a job eventually. We don't have the money to pay for a private school at the moment, but maybe it I return to work and we live even more frugally than we do now I guess we can foot the private school bill. Here is the question- is it worth it? Is it worth the bother to move to capitol hill, knowing that you will probably be on the hook for years of private school tuition? Are the schools that bad? Or should we just buy in boring bethesda or nova and send them to public school?

Please buy in Capitol Hill and stay away from boring Bethesda or NoVa. The last thing MD or VA needs is one more arrogant SAHM who acts like she was forced to live outside her natural habitat.

[Anonymous]

Don't listen to the PP.

OP what is your budget? That may be your deciding factor. 150K isn't a lot with which to finance an mortgage that will get you a house in many of these areas.

[Anonymous]

You'll get the most band for your buck in terms of house, commute and school quality in NOVA

[Anonymous]

I've lived in both places. I liked private school on the Hill, I like public school in Bethesda better. Private school wasn't a financial stretch for us - if I had your income I definitely would go public. I don't find Bethesda at all boring - lots to do, interesting people, short commute to DC. But agree with the PP - if you think you'll be slumming it here in Bethesda then you probably won't be happy. Capitol Hill is a great place to live too.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I wouldn't buy in a neighborhood with bad public schools unless I knew with some degree of certainty that I could afford private when necessary. I would buy in the neighborhood with good public schools, and if the finances work out down the road, then consider moving to Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

I fear we're feeding the troll...you do realize that Bethesda and Capiol Hill are close to an hour apart by car...if a commute downtown is what you're seeking, that is one thing.

Unless you're committing to west of the park privates, Bethesda is going to have superior schools to NoVa or DC. But NoVa does have better value in housing stock with obvious wide variation in school quality.

[Anonymous]

150k? You're looking at Rockville, Silver Spring, or Fairfax City if you want something other than a 2BR condo.

Bethesda schools are better than most Northern VA schools but not that much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fear we're feeding the troll...you do realize that Bethesda and Capiol Hill are close to an hour apart by car...if a commute downtown is what you're seeking, that is one thing.

Unless you're committing to west of the park privates, Bethesda is going to have superior schools to NoVa or DC. But NoVa does have better value in housing stock with obvious wide variation in school quality.

Only in major traffic. I do that drive regularly and it takes us 25-30 minutes. Of course it depends on where in Bethesda you live and where on the Hill you are going.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't consider Capitol Hill unless you can afford private schools. At $150k, you can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to the PP.

OP what is your budget? That may be your deciding factor. 150K isn't a lot with which to finance an mortgage that will get you a house in many of these areas.

Op here. Budget is 700-950.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:150k? You're looking at Rockville, Silver Spring, or Fairfax City if you want something other than a 2BR condo.

Bethesda schools are better than most Northern VA schools but not that much better.

We have a ton of money from previous jobs. We want somewhere on the red line or capitol hill where job is located.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't listen to the PP.

OP what is your budget? That may be your deciding factor. 150K isn't a lot with which to finance an mortgage that will get you a house in many of these areas.

Op here. Budget is 700-950.

Ok, so you have a big downpayment then? Have a search on tuition and income on this board about the costs of private schools. Even if you go back to work, you will be hardpressed to afford private school. Consensus is that most people don't find it feasible until they are at the $350-$400k mark.

Thus, head to MD or VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My partner and I are looking to buy a house. I'm a SAHM. We are making around 150k, but hopefully Ill get a job eventually. We don't have the money to pay for a private school at the moment, but maybe it I return to work and we live even more frugally than we do now I guess we can foot the private school bill. Here is the question- is it worth it? Is it worth the bother to move to capitol hill, knowing that you will probably be on the hook for years of private school tuition? Are the schools that bad? Or should we just buy in boring bethesda or nova and send them to public school?

Please buy in Capitol Hill and stay away from boring Bethesda or NoVa. The last thing MD or VA needs is one more arrogant SAHM who acts like she was forced to live outside her natural habitat.

What does this even mean? Forced to live outside her natural habitat?

[Anonymous]

I think you could afford a house in a part of the Hill w a good public elem school for that budget.