Recommend a neighborhood for first-time home buyers? Late 20s, no kids, $425k-ish budget

[Anonymous]

condos in the right neighborhoods have held their value. so any statement like DON"T do this or that is silly.

I would argue that as gas prices rise (and let's get a reality check - they are not coming down) properties in closer where you need to use your car less are going to become even more in demand.

If you are looking for a starter property - stay in DC along a metro line so that you can metro to VA if need be. I can not predict where things are going to be 5 years from now for schools (let's pretend that is when you will start looking) but having a great commute for 5 years is worth having less space. Given your price point places to think about include:
Condos: Glover Park, Pallisades (? - not sure if you can find something there but wirth a look), Cathederal Heights, McLean Gardens, Friendship Heights [these areas feed the "desireable" Upper NW public elementary schools

I do not think you can find anything in Adam's Morgan for that price point - but worth a look and this feed Oyster Elementary School which is a Spanish Language immersion school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally perplexed by why people are suggesting VA when you work in NW and MC. We lived in Bethesda for several years as a newly married couple until my DD turned three and we had a second on the way. We had a two bedroom in the Whitehall, which can easily be purchased for 25K under your budget. (Which by the way you REALLY should bank for the extra expenses that come with kids.)

I remember those days very fondly. We were able to walk to everything Bethesda had to offer. There were often other parents with kids toddling about the lobby, and two nice playgrounds in walking distance. On date nights we cold walk to our choice of a hundred bars and restaurants. We could run out for bagels......

Me, too.

These all feed into good elementary schools are and close to metro. Convenient to MoCo.

http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/5311-Connecticut-Ave-NW-20015/unit-6/home/9971444
http://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/4810-Bradley-Blvd-20815/unit-203/home/10695573
http://www.redfin.com/homes-for-sale#!lat=38.92757798858342&long=-77.06061332556153&market=dc&max_price=475000&num_beds=2&uipt=2&v=6&zoomLevel=14
http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1832-Biltmore-St-NW-20009/unit-36/home/17393702 (I think this feeds into Oyster, you should check)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of young couples, some with their first child, others with no children in Woodside in Silver Spring. Walking distance to metro and dining/shopping in downtown Silver Spring, plus close to NW.

You can't buy anything in Woodside for $425.

Sorry, but you are wrong. We bought our SF 2bdrm house for $380k. There are at least 6 neighbors who bought for under $425k and this includes recent sales. I know of another house with 3bdrm set to go on the market for $415k.

OP, Woodside is great. We're les than 10min walking from the metro and lots of young people are moving in. It's also a very friendly neighborhood and we all know each other. Feeds to Woodlin ES which is supposed to be a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:condos in the right neighborhoods have held their value. so any statement like DON"T do this or that is silly.

I would argue that as gas prices rise (and let's get a reality check - they are not coming down) properties in closer where you need to use your car less are going to become even more in demand.

If you are looking for a starter property - stay in DC along a metro line so that you can metro to VA if need be. I can not predict where things are going to be 5 years from now for schools (let's pretend that is when you will start looking) but having a great commute for 5 years is worth having less space. Given your price point places to think about include:
Condos: Glover Park, Pallisades (? - not sure if you can find something there but wirth a look), Cathederal Heights, McLean Gardens, Friendship Heights [these areas feed the "desireable" Upper NW public elementary schools

I do not think you can find anything in Adam's Morgan for that price point - but worth a look and this feed Oyster Elementary School which is a Spanish Language immersion school.

This is the beginning of the range for more basic 2-bedrooms in the part of Adams Morgan zoned for Oyster. OP wouldn't have her pick of condos and co-ops at this price, but she would be likely to find something.

[Anonymous]

Love, love living in Fairlington. Yes, from the outside majority looks the same, but there are many various floor plans, so do your research if you decide to buy. Make sure to get a place with an attic, especially if you're going to start a family. We will be moving though, when DC starts kindergarten, but that's not for another 3 years -- for better public schools and more space. If we had one child, we would stay. Good luck OP, don't rush into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally perplexed by why people are suggesting VA when you work in NW and MC. We lived in Bethesda for several years as a newly married couple until my DD turned three and we had a second on the way. We had a two bedroom in the Whitehall, which can easily be purchased for 25K under your budget. (Which by the way you REALLY should bank for the extra expenses that come with kids.)

I remember those days very fondly. We were able to walk to everything Bethesda had to offer. There were often other parents with kids toddling about the lobby, and two nice playgrounds in walking distance. On date nights we cold walk to our choice of a hundred bars and restaurants. We could run out for bagels......

Posters are suggesting NoVA because the OP said in the intial post: "Currently, one of us works in central MoCo, one in NW DC. There is a possibility of MoCo eventually becoming NoVA." The Shirlington/Fairlington neighborhoods are extremely close to DC -- you can't get much closer than 2 exits down off of 395.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm totally perplexed by why people are suggesting VA when you work in NW and MC. We lived in Bethesda for several years as a newly married couple until my DD turned three and we had a second on the way. We had a two bedroom in the Whitehall, which can easily be purchased for 25K under your budget. (Which by the way you REALLY should bank for the extra expenses that come with kids.)

I remember those days very fondly. We were able to walk to everything Bethesda had to offer. There were often other parents with kids toddling about the lobby, and two nice playgrounds in walking distance. On date nights we cold walk to our choice of a hundred bars and restaurants. We could run out for bagels......

Posters are suggesting NoVA because the OP said in the intial post: "Currently, one of us works in central MoCo, one in NW DC. There is a possibility of MoCo eventually becoming NoVA." The Shirlington/Fairlington neighborhoods are extremely close to DC -- you can't get much closer than 2 exits down off of 395.

the poster also asked for solid schools - and I know there are people who are satisfied with Abingdon - but I would say that if people were in a position to be elsewhere, they probably would.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you don't know whether DH will be in MoCo or NoVa, I would seriously hold off buying for now. This info should impact your home-buying decision. Wait until you know with some certainty where DH will be working.

Trust me, when you have a baby, the last thing either of you will want is a long commute.