Tell me about Aspen Hill, MD and near Westfield Wheaton

[Anonymous]

^^sorry, I am not the pp quoted here. I misread the post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in 20902 (about a mile from Westfield Wheaton) for several years, as a first-time homeowner. I am a white female, and was single (living alone) at the time. Its not exactly as scary as PP's are making it out to be. I used to walk to Target, Giant, etc and never had a problem (other than men honking car horns and yelling incomprehensible things at me). That being said, its not the safest place you could buy a home, and a security system is a must (though that is not unusual for much of the DC area). The worst part about living there, is that all of the houses were tiny, and none of the neighbors talked to each other. Zero sense of community/neighborhood. Hated it. Oh, I wasn't the only white person on my street (though I may have been the only single white female).

That's too bad...wasn't our experience living in this neighborhood at all. Huge block parties on Avena Street, many families join the pool at Connecticut Bel Air and hang out there in the summers. A nice mix of families, very friendly, some artistic, others more worker bee types. Lots of support for the local businesses in Wheaton. It's a fun, funky place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/2614-Elmont-St-20902/home/11007077

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/12513-Bushey-Dr-20906/home/11038733


What can we expect the area to be like? Is it very diverse? We need a place for about 5 years and then we are moving. Renting is not an option due to pets. We would also be looking to build a garage on the property.

The second home would be fine. I live a block away. No gang activity here and the elementary school is right down the block. The neighborhood is mostly Hispanic, with some white families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I am a white woman, making 6 figures, and have lived there for a while and haven't experienced any of the rampant crime that seems to be occurring in the neighborhood.-- I guess I should be terrified of my neighborhood. While there are some run down houses that aren't kept up with so called "multiple families" --the majority of residents are kind, hard working people who take care of their property. My neighbors are white, Asian, Hispanic, and African American. Unlike most posters I'm not afraid to live among people who don't look exactly like me

When you think about it--Aspen Hill is a great area to invest in right now- the houses are well built, and many are much bigger on the inside than they looks- and they're affordable-- one of the last few places in MoCo where housing can be considered "reasonable" and an area that will be gentrified in the coming years.

You live in the neighborhood by Bushey Dr? The small area bordered by Connecticut, Veirs Mill and Randolph? Because my post focused on that area. It's not Aspen Hill (which is further north), and it's nowhere near Wheaton plaza.

I understand why you might be confused because the op (and others) is talking about very different neighborhoods nowhere near each other.

NP here.
I have lived in the Connecticut-Veirs Mill-Randolph area for the past twelve years, just a couple of blocks away from the second listing in OP's post. We are both professionals, making over 6 figures. This was to be our starter home but since we have not been able to have children we don't see a pressing need to move and are happy with the low mortgage. I have never one seen any alarming activity here. It is mostly blue collar but I walk my dogs all over the neighborhood at all times of day and night and have never ever encountered anything shady. The elementary school is right down the block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Bushey Dr house is in a neighborhood that is 100% Hispanic with multiple families living in SFHs.

Do you have kids? Will you do public schools?

What's your upper limit budget?

Gross exaggeration. I live near the Bushey house. The area is quite diverse, certainly not 100% Hispanic and there are a few crowded homes but most are single families. The schools are marginal though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Bushey Dr house is in a neighborhood that is 100% Hispanic with multiple families living in SFHs.

Do you have kids? Will you do public schools?

What's your upper limit budget?

Gross exaggeration. I live near the Bushey house. The area is quite diverse, certainly not 100% Hispanic and there are a few crowded homes but most are single families. The schools are marginal though.

The elementary school is 75% Hispanic and 82% farms (the rate jumps to 90% when expanded to those "currently receiving farms or have in the past"). Go to the shopping centers on Veirs Mill and Randolph. I know one white family there, and they send their kids to catholic school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am a white woman, making 6 figures, and have lived there for a while and haven't experienced any of the rampant crime that seems to be occurring in the neighborhood.-- I guess I should be terrified of my neighborhood. While there are some run down houses that aren't kept up with so called "multiple families" --the majority of residents are kind, hard working people who take care of their property. My neighbors are white, Asian, Hispanic, and African American. Unlike most posters I'm not afraid to live among people who don't look exactly like me

When you think about it--Aspen Hill is a great area to invest in right now- the houses are well built, and many are much bigger on the inside than they looks- and they're affordable-- one of the last few places in MoCo where housing can be considered "reasonable" and an area that will be gentrified in the coming years.

Sorry, but no. It's been going downhill for the past 30 years.

[Anonymous]

I live in the Layhill/Bel Pre/Aspen Hill area.

Take a look at homes in the following subdivisions (you can get a garage in these neighborhoods
-Parker Farm
-Strathmore at Bel Pre
-the townhouses immediately west of Strathmore at Bel Pre
- Layhill Overlook
-Longmead Crossing

This area is pretty diverse socioeconomically, culturally, and racially...I've seen everything over here. Grocery options range from the new Aldi that will be opening up soon, two Giants, a Safeway, and if you're willing to drive 15 minutes or so, a Roots Market going north, a Mom's Organic Market going west, and two Harris Teeters, depending on the direction in which you drive.

Fitness club options (if that's your thing) include the Gold's Gym, the LA Fitness that will be opening soon, and the Aspen Hill Club that's tucked away in a corner on a road just off of Bel Pre.

School options--Bel Pre, Strathmore, the MSMC, and then the DCC. Some send their kids to private, some support the local school. It's a mixed bag.

Safety--the only thing we've dealt with in our five years living here is someone opening our unlocked car door and taking the change out of the center console. That's really it. Things do happen here just like in any other suburban area, so take the proper precautions, of course. We have an alarm system and use it regularly. It's really quiet over here, though.

I really just scratched the surface--you really should come to the area and check it out. Visit the local grocery stores, drive through subdivisions, talk to people. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Another pp here, I would add Layhill Village to the list of subdivisions that are pretty nice and mostly have garages.