First Post -- How much house ($$$) can we afford??

[Anonymous]

I am OP of Woodbine thread. Are houses in Frederick cheaper than in Woodbine area? Because, sure there are some cheaper SH options, but you look on Zillow there are very few under 600K and many are 800K and up. Some enormous mansions with 5 or more acres. If OP is going to end up in a town-home, better something in Rockville or Olney. It seems to me homes in Urbana are far from "cheap."

[Anonymous]

Here is a cute, "cheaper" option for OP in Urbana.
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/241880955_zpid/39.328554,-77.3277,39.310194,-77.357011_rect/14_zm/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 2x income is overly conservative here. FWIW I have an HHI of $125k (also expected to go up, but not too dramatically), have been renting a couple years, and am now looking to buy in the $275-400k range in MD. (We are savers and have over 20% down but want to be cautious about monthly payments at our income level.) 2x income is just...not a thing at $125k here. I am interested to hear people say money will go further in a year or two, do you really think prices will fall more than appreciation and interest rates will rise?

OP have you considered Frederick County if you work in Rockville? You can get more for your $ there.

OP here. We've looked at homes in southern Frederick County and couldn't be happier. The Urbana area has some beautiful townhomes that would fit the top-end of our budget. Also, they have stellar schools.

Though I'm curious to find out where most folks like us live ($175k-$185k HHI), and if their in so-so areas, desirable or undesirable communities. Urbana is at the top of our list choice wise.

False to the bolded

Totally wrong. Urbana has one of the best high school in the area.
The school is rated 9/10 by GreatSchools.
https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/ijamsville/646-Urbana-High-School/
And it is a top 10 school in the state of Maryland according to USNews ranking.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/districts/frederick-county-public-schools/urbana-high-9100

Yup. Urbana, Oakdale, Liganore in Frederick County meet or exceed most Montgomery Co. schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but your plan sounds horribly boring for DINKS.

+1. Why on earth would someone without school aged kids move to these locations? They look the same as suburbs anywhere and are way lot edpxemsive. Live in dc, ditch the cars and enjoy life. You’ll have the rest of your life to live in the burbs.

Stupid post. OP doesn’t want to spend thrice the money to live in an old house the size of a prison cell in a dirty DC neighborhood.

This. I dont even like stepping foot into DC unless I'm forced to. Living there would be unbearable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am OP of Woodbine thread. Are houses in Frederick cheaper than in Woodbine area? Because, sure there are some cheaper SH options, but you look on Zillow there are very few under 600K and many are 800K and up. Some enormous mansions with 5 or more acres. If OP is going to end up in a town-home, better something in Rockville or Olney. It seems to me homes in Urbana are far from "cheap."

OP said he was comfortable with a townhouse. You can find a very nice 3 to 4 bedroom townhouse in Urbana for less than $400k.
You won't find any decent house in Rockville or Olney at that price.
Here is an example of what OP could get in Urbana for just about $360k
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Frederick/8909-Amelung-St-21704/home/15178639
Look at the school ratings. ES is rated 9/10, MS is rated 10/10, HS is rated 9/10
To get anything comparable in Rockville, OP would have to spend at least $700k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP of Woodbine thread. Are houses in Frederick cheaper than in Woodbine area? Because, sure there are some cheaper SH options, but you look on Zillow there are very few under 600K and many are 800K and up. Some enormous mansions with 5 or more acres. If OP is going to end up in a town-home, better something in Rockville or Olney. It seems to me homes in Urbana are far from "cheap."

OP said he was comfortable with a townhouse. You can find a very nice 3 to 4 bedroom townhouse in Urbana for less than $400k.
You won't find any decent house in Rockville or Olney at that price.
Here is an example of what OP could get in Urbana for just about $360k
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Frederick/8909-Amelung-St-21704/home/15178639
Look at the school ratings. ES is rated 9/10, MS is rated 10/10, HS is rated 9/10
To get anything comparable in Rockville, OP would have to spend at least $700k.

When you are right, you are right! I had no idea you can get such a nice town-home in Urbana for that price and that place is sweet! Definitely nothing for that price and that nice in Rockville or Olney. Plus they are building 500K town-homes in Sandy Spring!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but your plan sounds horribly boring for DINKS.

+1. Why on earth would someone without school aged kids move to these locations? They look the same as suburbs anywhere and are way lot edpxemsive. Live in dc, ditch the cars and enjoy life. You’ll have the rest of your life to live in the burbs.

He is in his late 30 and GF is in mid 30, and they are getting married soon. Better to buy something long term. That clock is running close to the finish line for GF.

Bingo!!! GF wants marriage, kids and a home in school district. Since I'm the one having to relocate, have to entice her somehow, especially since the clock is running out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a cute, "cheaper" option for OP in Urbana.
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/241880955_zpid/39.328554,-77.3277,39.310194,-77.357011_rect/14_zm/

OP here. Thanks for the link. We've been in several of the Barnstone homes and they are nice. Top of our budget, but nice. Does anyone know if they are communities similar to Urbana, but cheaper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but your plan sounds horribly boring for DINKS.

+1. Why on earth would someone without school aged kids move to these locations? They look the same as suburbs anywhere and are way lot edpxemsive. Live in dc, ditch the cars and enjoy life. You’ll have the rest of your life to live in the burbs.

He is in his late 30 and GF is in mid 30, and they are getting married soon. Better to buy something long term. That clock is running close to the finish line for GF.

Bingo!!! GF wants marriage, kids and a home in school district. Since I'm the one having to relocate, have to entice her somehow, especially since the clock is running out.

Where are you moving from? If she is used to suburbs, honestly, she will not be so happy living in Rockville. Does she like newer houses? Did you look at these? They built homes just like this close to me(Olney) and they look great, like a perfect Christmas village. Yes, there are barely no yards....They do have garage in the back, and to me(I am from Europe) that looks nicer than in the front. They usually put parks for kids. If only they were building few years earlier, I would have been the first one to buy.
https://www.ryanhomes.com/find-your-home/our-communities/maryland/monrovia/landsdale-single-family-homes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but your plan sounds horribly boring for DINKS.

+1. Why on earth would someone without school aged kids move to these locations? They look the same as suburbs anywhere and are way lot edpxemsive. Live in dc, ditch the cars and enjoy life. You’ll have the rest of your life to live in the burbs.

He is in his late 30 and GF is in mid 30, and they are getting married soon. Better to buy something long term. That clock is running close to the finish line for GF.

Bingo!!! GF wants marriage, kids and a home in school district. Since I'm the one having to relocate, have to entice her somehow, especially since the clock is running out.

Where are you moving from? If she is used to suburbs, honestly, she will not be so happy living in Rockville. Does she like newer houses? Did you look at these? They built homes just like this close to me(Olney) and they look great, like a perfect Christmas village. Yes, there are barely no yards....They do have garage in the back, and to me(I am from Europe) that looks nicer than in the front. They usually put parks for kids. If only they were building few years earlier, I would have been the first one to buy.
https://www.ryanhomes.com/find-your-home/our-communities/maryland/monrovia/landsdale-single-family-homes

OP here. Thanks for the link. We'll be in the area tomorrow, and even though our purchase is still a few years off, we may just tour Lansdale/Monrovia to get an idea of what one gets in that price range.

We currently live in 1 of NYC's outer boroughs. Not quite fully suburban, but not quite urban either. It's probably as dense as Rockville, which appears to be nice, though I would say that it's highly commercialized. To rent, we've looked at several properties there and have been satisfied thus far. Everyone tells us to check out Olney and Burtonsville too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but your plan sounds horribly boring for DINKS.

+1. Why on earth would someone without school aged kids move to these locations? They look the same as suburbs anywhere and are way lot edpxemsive. Live in dc, ditch the cars and enjoy life. You’ll have the rest of your life to live in the burbs.

He is in his late 30 and GF is in mid 30, and they are getting married soon. Better to buy something long term. That clock is running close to the finish line for GF.

Bingo!!! GF wants marriage, kids and a home in school district. Since I'm the one having to relocate, have to entice her somehow, especially since the clock is running out.

Where are you moving from? If she is used to suburbs, honestly, she will not be so happy living in Rockville. Does she like newer houses? Did you look at these? They built homes just like this close to me(Olney) and they look great, like a perfect Christmas village. Yes, there are barely no yards....They do have garage in the back, and to me(I am from Europe) that looks nicer than in the front. They usually put parks for kids. If only they were building few years earlier, I would have been the first one to buy.
https://www.ryanhomes.com/find-your-home/our-communities/maryland/monrovia/landsdale-single-family-homes

OP here. Thanks for the link. We'll be in the area tomorrow, and even though our purchase is still a few years off, we may just tour Lansdale/Monrovia to get an idea of what one gets in that price range.

We currently live in 1 of NYC's outer boroughs. Not quite fully suburban, but not quite urban either. It's probably as dense as Rockville, which appears to be nice, though I would say that it's highly commercialized. To rent, we've looked at several properties there and have been satisfied thus far. Everyone tells us to check out Olney and Burtonsville too.

OP here again. Forgot to add that yes, she loves newer builds.

[Anonymous]

Thought I'd return to provide an update. My job decided to let me remain in NY for now. With the current pandemic, I'm extremely grateful of such. I'll probably look to make the move to the DC area in the next 2 years or so.

[Anonymous]

OP here again, and also, GF is now my fiance.

[Anonymous]

You should not move here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rent. Save. Wait for the recession. Get married. Then buy a home where your mortgage is not mire than 2 to 2.5 times your income.

Would also suggest, saving more money. Rent a townhouse and get married. Unmarried people purchasing a home is a disaster waiting to happen.