HELP!! Moving to DC metro area

[Anonymous]

I currently live in GA and plan on moving to the DC metro area (MD or VA) by June this year. I have a 5 year old daughter who will start 1st grade in the 2009-2010 school year. As many of you know, my apartment search has been depressing. Ideally, I would like a single mom roommate since I am moving with no family support in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Find a single dad also with a 5 year old girl.

[Anonymous]

what area in Dc are you looking to move to (DC,MD, VA, any particular cities or counties in mind?)

[Anonymous]

I really don't have a preference of VA or MD. I would like somewhere that is safe for my daughter. I've never been to DC, so I have been relying on friends. My advisors recommend Fairfax county in VA or Montgomery or Prince George county in MD. I will be working in DC area.

[Anonymous]

There is a listserv for Takoma Park Parents and Kids (try googling "TakomaPAKK"). You might want to put something on that listserv, or the DCUM listserv (which is separate from the forums).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't have a preference of VA or MD. I would like somewhere that is safe for my daughter. I've never been to DC, so I have been relying on friends. My advisors recommend Fairfax county in VA or Montgomery or Prince George county in MD. I will be working in DC area.

Can you be more specific of where in the DC area you will be working? Also, Fairfax and Montgomeries Counties are HUGE and have a wide variety of options as far as schools, homes, etc. I would also look in Arlington - N. Arlington has several older apartment complexes that feed into excellent schools. S. Arlington has a wide variety of options and may be a little cheaper than N. Arlington. I would also look in the City of Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

I live in Fairfax County and commute downtown every day - it takes an hour and 15 minutes on average. But, as a previous poster pointed out, Fairfax Co. is HUGE. We live in a subdivision near Chantilly and I love our school - they just won an award actually. Anyhow, Fairfax Co. public schools in general are pretty good - but there are a few that are not as good. You'll probably have to be more specific about what you are looking for (how long of a commute, what type of things you are looking for in housing, what sort of price range, etc.) Have you looked at Craigslist in the roomate/housing wanted sections?

[Anonymous]

OP, there are plenty of jobs in Fairfax County, so you don't necessarily need to be commuting to DC everyday.

I have been extensively researching housing lately. My research indicateds that a room in a single family home is about $600, with shared kitchen, etc. A full finished basement can vary, but is around $950. A decent one bedroom apartment starts around $1200. Decent two bedrooms, about $1500.

Check out www.coabode.com to find fellow single moms looking for roommates.

[Anonymous]

Find a rent controlled building in a good district in DC (Oyster, Eaton, Janney, Stoddart) and you can get a one bedroom for $1,500 or under. Your commute will be shorter so less time away from child and less money on childcare and commuting. I know a couple single moms in town without cars that are doing fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are plenty of jobs in Fairfax County, so you don't necessarily need to be commuting to DC everyday.

I have been extensively researching housing lately. My research indicateds that a room in a single family home is about $600, with shared kitchen, etc. A full finished basement can vary, but is around $950. A decent one bedroom apartment starts around $1200. Decent two bedrooms, about $1500.

Check out www.coabode.com to find fellow single moms looking for roommates.

You can't touch a decent 2-bedroom in N.Arlington for $1500. If you want something cheaper, you'll have to go further out.

[Anonymous]

I did my research in Fairfax City and Vienna, both of which have GREAT schools (all day kindergarten too!).

I found seemingly nice, clean one bedroom apartments here for $1200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Find a rent controlled building in a good district in DC (Oyster, Eaton, Janney, Stoddart) and you can get a one bedroom for $1,500 or under. Your commute will be shorter so less time away from child and less money on childcare and commuting. I know a couple single moms in town without cars that are doing fine.

i wouldn't say 1500 or under for these districts. i live on the line of eaton and oyster and we are at 1550 for a one-bed in an old, non-luxury smallish apartment.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm already registered on co-abode an haven't had much success with it in GA. But I'm still hopeful and check daily. My job would be off of the Capital South stop on the Blue metro line. During my separation, I took the furniture I wanted so I have enough for a one bedroom apartment. I don't want to go further than Falls Church in Va and Silver Springs in MD. I have a car but would love to commute again (reminds me of NYC). The highest I can afford is @1200 a month (that's with util.)

[Anonymous]

OP, have you checked out this site?

http://aptguide.arlingtonva.us

I just did a search for 2 BRs with a max amount of $1200 and 32 places came up. Now, granted some of these are not going to be the nicest places, but I did see some that are close to my own neighborhood in Arlington and the neighborhoods are safe and the schools are excellent. Some of them are income restricted so you would have to look into that, but there are options out there, even close in.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you interested in sharing a single family home in Fairfax City? Not far from the Vienna Metro, good school (I currently have a kindergartener there). Let me know, thanks!