Thinking of relocating to DC - quality of life question

[Anonymous]

I think 200k is plenty of $ to live in this area. We bring home about 150k, our house payment with piti is 3200 and our child attends private school. We don't save jack, which is a real drag, but that will end when I return to work next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Anyone happen to have a link to the Washington Post article mentioned above? Or the date so I can search more easily?

Thanks!

Sorry, I can't find the story -- it was from sometime this fall, I think around November. It's probably not the story the other poster is referring to, because it wasn't about the rental market being softer than in the past. It simply compared the cost of renting to the cost of owning in the District. I think the figures were something like $16K to rent and $27K per year to buy (for equivalent properties). I just remember it because the disparity leapt out at me. There was a recent story about the risks of buying a condo right now due to extreme overdevelopment of condos in the District:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401071.html

This is the story I think the other poster was speaking of:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011801829.html

Sorry I can't find the story I mentioned!

[Anonymous]

Don't move here. Don't relocate. Keep yourself, and your business right where it. Stay in NY where you will be less likely robbed of your soul.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

LOL - well, NYC has the potential to steal your soul too - and your future in terms of your financial security...

[Anonymous]

I hate to say it, but I'm with 2:18. DC is definitely more liveable than NYC, but still not a place I want to raise my kids. For an idea of the unhappiness that some people feel, check out the thread in the General Parenting forum a few weeks ago called "Life not in line with values." To be fair, I think any urban environment inherently comes with problems, and that moving to a small town would have its own set of issues, but boy oh boy, sometimes I really want to just get the heck outside of the beltway for good.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the OP's comment that NY can steal your sould also. Hehe.

I have a friend that moved here after working in NYC in the financial industry. She was so excited to see people go home to their families! She said that she worked 10 hour days here and loved it and people though she worked a lot when in Manhattan she was working 14 days or sleep at the office. I've never worked more than an 8 hour day that I didn't get paid for every 6 minute interval over the time. I never have to stay late if I don't want to. I have a nice house in a good neighborhood with a small yard. There are great restaurants and theater....Professional sports teams....this area is so close to beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes....major US airport hubs....there are craftspeople and classes in all kinds of art and sports. Your children can sign up for discounted classes from all of the counties and the city. The school districts in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington are among some of the best in the country. What do you want from where you live? You don't need to care so much about your neighbors. You come home, close your door and enjoy your family. There are all sorts of great things here to enjoy and there are nasty people anywhere you go.