Is it possible to buy a decent house for $500K or lower in a safe neighborhood with good schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Arlington, look at Arlington Heights, Alcova Heights, North Barcroft and South Arlington Forest in 22204. They are packed with young families who are making sure the schools are getting improved.

I think you can get into these neighborhoods in the 500s but I don't think you can get under 500k unless you are on a main road and/or a fixer-upper. Signed, a neighbor.

[Anonymous]

OP- Honestly if your husband commutes to Gaithersburg, you should be looking at the following: the 20878 zip code in Gaithersburg as others suggested, Derwood, Olney and Rockville. Check out the 20853 zip code in Rockville where I grew up. Good homes with big yards, good schools and just overall a great neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Close in Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Takoma Park and large areas of SS feed into great elementary/middle schools and then to Blair for high school. There are two great houses on my street for sale right now under $500,000. Both are in great shape - definitely not fixer uppers and are minutes to the Red Line for an easy commute into downtown:

http://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/502-Mississippi-Ave-20910/home/10954579


http://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/420-Mississippi-Ave-20910/home/10970819

We rent in Takoma Park and frequently go to open houses. I have been disappointed at what 500K (or even 600K) gets you here. However, these places look nice. I'm dubious that realtor camera may be at work... or maybe some affordable options have been identified!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Town of Vienna.

Look at listings for $550K and negotiate them down to $500.

The property taxes in the town of Vienna are very high. We live in the fairfax county part of Vienna in a safe neighborhood with excellent schools with much more reasonable property taxes. When we were look (a couple of months ago), there some o.k. places in the mid 500K range. I heard the market is a lot slower now that the tax credit has expired so I highly recommend Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, try looking into the Alexandria area of FFX Co. (Waynewood, Hollin Hall). Some nice homes there for $500k. Also, good schools (great elementary, decent HS). Also, the commute to DC isn't horrible (GW Parkway, so it is a pretty commute and tends to not get too backed up).

Agree. There are multi million dollar homes, as well as 500K homes. Great and safe neighborhoods and good schools. Commute is pretty decent to DC.

[Anonymous]

20:54 Several nicely-updated houses just sold on our street in Arlington Heights in the $460K range. It runs between Glebe Rd. and Fillmore St. and is very quiet. I agree that it is difficult to find good houses in Arlington under $500 with the wishes the OP mentioned, but not all less than $500K houses are as you described. Don't discourage people from finding lower cost housing in Arlington. The county board is trying to get rid of all the low cost housing in Arlington to boost the tax base. If any can be preserved by someone buying a modest house in Arlington, I (but probably not many other people in the "new Arlington") consider this a good thing.

[Anonymous]

I wanted to be in SS but DH wanted to be closer to his work.....so compromised on Olney. We got an older house but totally remodeled on the inside and cool. We are urban and still very happy here. Nice folks, nice vibes out here.

[Anonymous]

Are you open to the idea of purchasing a nice townhouse?

[stpickrell]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Town of Vienna.

Look at listings for $550K and negotiate them down to $500.

Indeed, but only if the following are not important to you and your family:

a garage
a decent yard
modern bathrooms
a modern kitchen
more than four bedrooms
more than two full baths
lack of musty, skanky smells
no sketchy neighbors out smoking on front stoop

I know. I live in Vienna, and dodging the gunfire is just something I build into my day.

Are you really trying to paint *VIENNA* as rundown/ghetto?

The ramblers are in varying stages of repair and niceness, ranging from $425-450k for essentially the land to about $525-$550k for all-brick ramblers with finished basements, updated kitchens/baths, a second full bath in the basement, etc. Lot sizes range from 0.20 to 0.30 acres. Whether that is 'decent' or not is up to the individual.

Be helpful if OP mentioned (1) her requirements for a house in terms of bedrooms, baths, age., etc. (did she do that?) and (2) whether her DH sees himself staying at that job for a career. I might even consider areas in Rockville in that case, it seems Rockville HS is OK (in the middle of the table at least with test scores). If DH is going to stay long term, then I'd even expand out to Poolesville (yes, a few SFHs zoned to Poolesville HS are under $500k.)

OTOH, how did Potomac get *townhouses*? Some exclusive suburb Montgomery County has! They wouldn't let any of that anywhere *NEAR* Great Falls!

There's lots of people making lots of money here. Salaries that get you an acre on the golf course in other parts of the country get you a 30-year-old split level here. Make your pile and consider moving back and taking a 50% pay cut if that is possible/desirable.

[Anonymous]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Potomac_MD/price-400000-600000?sby=2&pgsz=3


Houses in Potomac $400,000-$600,000.

No idea of the condition but they are available!!!

Good Luck

[Anonymous]

FranklyMLS.com is also a good resource.

[Anonymous]

21:58 -I've been in 420 Mississippi - it's spacious for houses in this neigbhorhood. The kitchen is expanded and it has 3 full baths, though only 1 has bathtub. The bedrooms may feel smallish but are on par with bedroom sizes in most colonials. Haven't been in 502 yet - it just came on the market.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking in SS and Takoma Park , beware of the town taxes in Takoma Park. A $500k house in TP will end up costing you a lot more per month than a $5ook house in Silver Spring due to taxes. When I was looking in that price range a few years ago, the difference was a couple hundred dollars per month.

[Anonymous]

They do have townhouses "near" Great Falls -- many of them -- it is called Reston. You turn right off Rt. 7 to enter Great Falls, you turn left off Rt 7 to enter Reston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking in SS and Takoma Park , beware of the town taxes in Takoma Park. A $500k house in TP will end up costing you a lot more per month than a $5ook house in Silver Spring due to taxes. When I was looking in that price range a few years ago, the difference was a couple hundred dollars per month.

Very true - we also looked in Takoma Park until I started paying attention to the taxes and realized the taxes often priced us out of the house.