Help a single parent find the right neighborhood and school (MD)
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Anonymous
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I'm an Orthodox Jew and I live in Kemp Mill. I don't think that Kemp Mill would be a great place for a non-observant Jewish family using the public schools. There are very few Jewish children (Orthodox or non-Orthodox) in Kemp Mill Elementary, and the majority of Orthodox Jewish children in Kemp Mill Elementary are there for the special education services. Kemp Mill Elementary went dual Spanish/English instruction-only for kindergarten this year, so the Orthodox Jewish children requiring special education services will likely be placed in schools with English-only classrooms in future years.
Also, the new playground is a Montgomery Parks playground. It happens to be located next to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, but it is not affiliated with the Yeshiva. Orthodox Jewish Kemp Mill is defined as the Warwick Apartments, University Towers condos, Arcola from University Blvd to Kemp Mill Road (but not beyond either), and all roads off Arcola in the stretch. Kemp Mill Road also extends all the way down Kemp Mill Road to just before Glenallen, including the neighborhoods off of both sides of Kemp Mill Road, but nothing off of Glenallen. Kemp Mill also includes Lamberton and all the streets that can connect to Lamberton without hitting a major road like Arcola or Kemp Mill Road. Areas by Dennis Ave, Caddington, Orebaugh, Ladd, etc., are all not part of "Orthodox Kemp Mill" and have very few, if any, Orthodox residents. Kemp Mill is the most most concentrated Orthodox Jewish community in the DC area. There are also Orthodox Jewish enclaves on both sides of 29 near Southeast Hebrew Congregation in White Oak. There's an Orthodox community that extends from Woodside through Shepherd Park, DC. There's also a relatively small Orthodox community in the Aspen Hill neighborhood near the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy. There's another community between Tuckerman and Montrose along Seven Locks Lane in Potomac. There's a Conservative synagogue on University Blvd W between Arcola and Amherst called Har Tzeon Agudath Achim. Other than that one Conservative synagogue, all other non-Orthodox synagogues are in Rockville, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and DC west of Rock Creek Park. A lot of the public schools in the areas south of Kemp Mill have good public schools and homes in the $350K+ range. Many students in those schools attended Silver Spring Learning Center, which is located in an Orthodox synagogue and whose celebrations all focus around Jewish holidays like Chanukah, Purim, and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day). The non-Jewish children who attended that program, as well as their families, tend to be very welcoming toward Jewish observances and customs even though they're not Jewish. Some schools that are popular in the cheaper housing bracket near Kemp Mill are Forest Knolls, Glen Haven (which had a Purim party in at least one class this year), Oakland Terrace, and Flora M. Singer. If you choose to buy a townhouse on the western side of Montgomery County, there will be lots of Jewish children in almost every public elementary school. You would also be closer to a wider variety of synagogues. Good luck with your search! |
Anonymous
| Welcome, OP! Just to say that I bought a pricy condo in downtown Bethesda with a pool--and if I had it to do over again, I'd buy a place with a yard. Sure, for about 3 months, the pool is our yard, but the rest of the year can be tough on a family with a kid who wants to run around or just dig in the dirt. And you wouldn't believe how intolerant some people can be about noise and splashing +yes, in the pool) |
Anonymous
| Welcome, OP! Just to say that I bought a pricy condo in downtown Bethesda with a pool--and if I had it to do over again, I'd buy a place with a yard. Sure, for about 3 months, the pool is our yard, but the rest of the year can be tough on a family with a kid who wants to run around or just dig in the dirt. And you wouldn't believe how intolerant some people can be about noise and splashing (yes, in the pool). Silver Spring and Rockville are both nice places to live. Rockville would be an easier commute via Metro. |
Anonymous
| Not a ton of inventory at your target price, but occasionally a great house will come up in the neighborhood right around Rosemary Hills elementary -- walkable to Silver Spring and you get RH/NCC/new Middle School/BCC for your boundaries. Rock Creek Forest area might also be good for your requirements. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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Completely agree with the suggestion to look in the 20853 zip code in Rockville. OP- check out homes feeding into Lucy V. Barnsley ES or Rock Creek Valley ES. Nice community, good and diverse schools (your child will not be the only white Jewish child there); commute to Bethesda is not bad; plus you can find homes in that price range. NOt much inventory though and when something comes up, it doesn't stay in the market for long. Here are a couple in your price range:
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Rockville/13815-Flint-Rock-Rd-20853/home/11066563 https://www.redfin.com/MD/Rockville/4816-Bel-Pre-Rd-20853/home/11083400 |
Anonymous
Just a note to OP, you do not want to live on Bel Pre (the second house listed above). It is a busy main road through the neighborhood. First listing is on a side street that's not busy. I do agree, though, that part of Rockville is an excellent place to look for houses in your price range for your needs. |
Anonymous
I'm the PP who suggested the 2 homes above and I agree, the Bel Pre one is on a busy road so probably not a good idea. On the other hand, while that part of Rockville is nice, I'm starting to think that if I were a single parent I would probably want to live in a place like Kentlands in a townhouse. Less upkeep, closer neighbors with it being a townhouse, nice community with a pool and amenities; plus good schools. I think I would feel more at ease in that kind of neighborhood if I were a single parent. Commute to Bethesda would be a little further but not much more. It usually takes me 30-35 min from Gaithersburg to Bethesda during rush hour. |
Anonymous
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Hi fellow single mom! I make about what you make, have a child about your age, and I work in Bethesda! I live in a neighborhood called Carroll Knolls, zoned to Flora Singer/Sligo/Einstein. It's a nice, diverse neighborhood and I think it would meet many of your requirements. I have been able to afford a SFH here, but it's small and needs updating -- nothing dire, but things that will have to be done over time (new roof, new furnace etc.)
The commute is surprisingly...not fun, though, considering how close the neighborhood is physically to Bethesda. It turns out that commuting east to west in the county can be choked with traffic because there aren't a lot of routes. But you'll learn alternatives if you make the move. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has provided advice and input! It is sincerely appreciated. I'm going to look into all of the neighborhoods that were suggested.
Yes, Kemp Mill, while I'm sure a lovely place, does not sound like what I'm looking for. I had no idea childcare, camps, etc. were so expensive. That's definitely something I'll need to factor in. Has anyone gone through a similar situation to mine? I have $200k for a down-payment and was approved for a $315k mortgage. Would this be too aggressive on my salary in this area? |
Anonymous
| Maybe a smaller house in the Kensington park wood neighborhood? |
Anonymous
| Op that mortgage payment will be too much factor in redicoulous property taxes. Summer camps, activities, aftercare. Buy a small townhouse/condo in Rockville that feeds to college gardens, your morning commute to Bethesda is going to be perfectly fine, and the school has many kids of different backgrounds and a sizable Jewish population. |
Anonymous
OP, I suggesed Rockville. Reading this additional info, there is no way I would advise someone with $80k/yr income to take on a $315k mortgage. Is $200k all of your savings, or do you separately have an emergency fund, retirement savings, etc.? You may need to rent for a year until you sort out where you want to be and what you can afford given all of your other expenses like day care, camp, etc. I like a pp's suggestion to look in the planned community of Kentlands in Gaithersburg (I think the adjacent planned community, Lakelands, is a little less expensive and still very nice). Very community oriented with parks and pool, lots of kids, a little "downtown" area, good schools, and not far from Temple Beth Ami which is a reform synagogue and a friendly community. I think only a condo or apt would be affordable for you in these neighborhoods, but they could be a great fit. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
PP, thank you for the additional information. I have a five-six month emergency fund and have 215k in my 403b / Roth IRA. I'm 37 years old. Thanks for the information on Lakelands and Kentlands. |
Anonymous
Huh? Woodside Park and Woodside Forest are full of Jews, and not just Orthodox. We are still "over here," in large numbers. |
Anonymous
| Welcome. We are non obervant Jews and love living in Stonegate ( Silver Spring). It is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the county. There are lovely homes here with nice yards and nice townhomes near the park. Its a real neighborhood with kids playing outdoors and neighbors who know each other. The elementary school is rated one of the top in Maryland, and has been so for may years. Our zip is 20205. |