Bought a house near Fort Totten - Having regrets

[Anonymous]

Oh man, I feel for you. I used to rent in that area and couldn't wait to leave. It's so depressing with all the boxy houses and nothing to walk to. I think Fort Totten is a great area for an investment though, if you're willing to stay 5-10 years, or maybe rent out your house. It'll get much better with the new developments with more to do, but the housing stock is just not as pretty as the surrounding neighborhoods and never will be. One saving grace for us was the community garden at the metro station. Get to know your neighbors - there are some nice people in the area, and some good shops and restaurants. Jackie Lee's is a nice neighborhood joint. And the Culture Coffee Too by the Walmart is lovely and has community events. Honestly though, back then we were close to the metro and would just leave the neighborhood all the time and spend time in Takoma and Petworth. We ended up buying in Takoma/Brightwood, since we found ourselves spending most of our time there. If you get a bike, you can bike to the nicer areas, like another poster said. Check out Rock Creek Park, Main Street Takoma, Takoma Aquatic Center, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate FT, feel bad for you OP

+1,000. Fort Totten is sketch and I am a native Washingtonian. I would either rent it out or sell in 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate FT, feel bad for you OP

+1,000. Fort Totten is sketch and I am a native Washingtonian. I would either rent it out or sell in 2021.

Interesting. Years ago when I wanted to buy in DC my DC native friends all turned up their noses. I bought in DC. They didn't. My equity is BOOMING! they are still underwater. All of that to say is, the natives don't always know how a neighborhood IS even f they know how it WAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate FT, feel bad for you OP

+1,000. Fort Totten is sketch and I am a native Washingtonian. I would either rent it out or sell in 2021.

Interesting. Years ago when I wanted to buy in DC my DC native friends all turned up their noses. I bought in DC. They didn't. My equity is BOOMING! they are still underwater. All of that to say is, the natives don't always know how a neighborhood IS even f they know how it WAS.

Where the hell did your friends buy? I can see if they bought and then did a bunch of renovations, but they're underwater? How?

[Anonymous]

Go have a pint at Hellbender and chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What street? That area is coming around but may take awhile.

Haven’t people been saying this for years?

The urban shift isn't what it was 15 years ago. The area to the east of the Metro won't get much better any time soon, certainly not in the next few decades.

Are you serious? There are EYA townhomes going up in FT. They are almost sold out. There are several new luxury apt buildings. A new one is being built now. I live nearby. I run down South Dakota and through the streets before dawn and never feel unsafe. It's not the most exciting neighborhood, but I feel safe.

Yes, all those ugly duplexes around there will never be particularly popular. It's not like you're rehabbing 19th century rowhouses in a dense urban neighborhood with a strong cultural identity. It will be fine for middle class seniors and low income families.

Low income families are the ones buying the 500,000 dollar houses? I guess I have a different definition of low income than you do. Median household income for the region is 85K a year. Seems more likely that low income families would buy in PG County instead.

We aren't a low class family but opted to move to PG instead of wanting a DC address like those moving to the FT area.

[Anonymous]

Just to be clear: Fort Totten the neighborhood and Fort Totten the metro station are two different things. The Fort Totten metro station is east of the neighborhood of Fort Totten. They are geographically distinct as Fort Totten Park is between them. The neighborhoods that are being discussed as boxy and ugly and non-walkable are Queens Chapel and Riggs Park and North Michigan Park, etc.

Fort Totten the neighborhood borders Petworth (across North Capitol St) and is actually quite charming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to be clear: Fort Totten the neighborhood and Fort Totten the metro station are two different things. The Fort Totten metro station is east of the neighborhood of Fort Totten. They are geographically distinct as Fort Totten Park is between them. The neighborhoods that are being discussed as boxy and ugly and non-walkable are Queens Chapel and Riggs Park and North Michigan Park, etc.

Fort Totten the neighborhood borders Petworth (across North Capitol St) and is actually quite charming.

Agreed (PP who used to live in Fort Totten) - we were in North Michigan Park. West of the metro is nicer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What street? That area is coming around but may take awhile.

Haven’t people been saying this for years?

The urban shift isn't what it was 15 years ago. The area to the east of the Metro won't get much better any time soon, certainly not in the next few decades.

Are you serious? There are EYA townhomes going up in FT. They are almost sold out. There are several new luxury apt buildings. A new one is being built now. I live nearby. I run down South Dakota and through the streets before dawn and never feel unsafe. It's not the most exciting neighborhood, but I feel safe.

Yes, all those ugly duplexes around there will never be particularly popular. It's not like you're rehabbing 19th century rowhouses in a dense urban neighborhood with a strong cultural identity. It will be fine for middle class seniors and low income families.

They are not ugly duplexes. What are you talking about? They are safe and I actually love when I see neighbors talking to each other. I like them. Not everyone's cup of tea, but they are nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate FT, feel bad for you OP

+1,000. Fort Totten is sketch and I am a native Washingtonian. I would either rent it out or sell in 2021.

No native Washingtonian would call Fort Totten sketch. Who even says that? Not the most exciting neighborhood, but not "sketch". What are we 12?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What street? That area is coming around but may take awhile.

Haven’t people been saying this for years?

The urban shift isn't what it was 15 years ago. The area to the east of the Metro won't get much better any time soon, certainly not in the next few decades.

Are you serious? There are EYA townhomes going up in FT. They are almost sold out. There are several new luxury apt buildings. A new one is being built now. I live nearby. I run down South Dakota and through the streets before dawn and never feel unsafe. It's not the most exciting neighborhood, but I feel safe.

Yes, all those ugly duplexes around there will never be particularly popular. It's not like you're rehabbing 19th century rowhouses in a dense urban neighborhood with a strong cultural identity. It will be fine for middle class seniors and low income families.

They are not ugly duplexes. What are you talking about? They are safe and I actually love when I see neighbors talking to each other. I like them. Not everyone's cup of tea, but they are nice.

I'm talking about them being ugly duplexes. They are objectively ugly.

[Anonymous]

A rich history and rising development could make the neighborhoods east of Fort Totten Metro a destination
October 16, 2020
https://ggwash.org/view/79344/rich-history-and-rising-development-could-make-the-neighborhoods-east-of-fort-totten-metro-a-destination

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A rich history and rising development could make the neighborhoods east of Fort Totten Metro a destination
October 16, 2020
https://ggwash.org/view/79344/rich-history-and-rising-development-could-make-the-neighborhoods-east-of-fort-totten-metro-a-destination

Thanks for this article. It's a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a DC landlord is not a picnic, but renting is always a possibility.

Another idea - get a bike. You'd be surprised how much your territory opens up once you start biking around the city. You'd be in easy access to Petworth, Kennedy St, Takoma Park.

This. In addition to expanding your territory, I personally feel less vulnerable on a bike. Nothing is 100%, but being on the road and moving a little faster helps.

Yep. You will be safe on a bike. Even criminals avoid the crazy bike people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What street? That area is coming around but may take awhile.

Haven’t people been saying this for years?

The urban shift isn't what it was 15 years ago. The area to the east of the Metro won't get much better any time soon, certainly not in the next few decades.

Are you serious? There are EYA townhomes going up in FT. They are almost sold out. There are several new luxury apt buildings. A new one is being built now. I live nearby. I run down South Dakota and through the streets before dawn and never feel unsafe. It's not the most exciting neighborhood, but I feel safe.

Yes, all those ugly duplexes around there will never be particularly popular. It's not like you're rehabbing 19th century rowhouses in a dense urban neighborhood with a strong cultural identity. It will be fine for middle class seniors and low income families.

Low income families are the ones buying the 500,000 dollar houses? I guess I have a different definition of low income than you do. Median household income for the region is 85K a year. Seems more likely that low income families would buy in PG County instead.

That’s DC’s plan. Keep shoving low income people to Prince George’s County and OP bought into that.