Moving from GA to DCVM area - single parent looking for advice
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Anonymous
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Good morning!
I have searched this topic on the forums and found only old information, so I'm hoping to get more up to date information. Background: I am a single parent with one little boy (and two dogs!). My son is 4 (Aug bday) and currently attends an amazing private school here in Georgia. I am planning on making a pretty major life transition - changing jobs and moving to an insanely expensive, but awesome area. I am completely overwhelmed by the information out there, so I would really like some input. Right now, I'm making an assumption that I will work in Alexandria with a starting salary of roughly $71k a year. I know I can't afford to live in DC and it doesn't look like I will be able to afford private school and housing in the suburbs. I understand I am going to have to make a compromise, so I'm willing to pay more for housing if I can put my son in an awesome public school. OR I'm willing to live in a less than awesome area if I can afford to send my son to an amazing private school. A few considerations for me are: I'm not keen on starting a rigorous academic path at this age. I certainly subscribe to the mindset that these years should be play based and academic based. In fact, I wouldn't mind waiting a year to send my son to school to give him a little more time, so rather than sending him to K as brand new 5 yro, send him as a brand new 6 yro. Does a public school like this exist? If so, where? I am willing to settle for 2 bdr, 1 bath apt/townhouse/condo (that accepts pets of course). The max rent I think I can swing is $2500, but if I can get lower then that is better. The other consideration is the commute. I know the commute in that area is horrible and I am open to suggestions on how to minimize this. My potential employer provides a transportation subsidy of $250 per month. Right now I have been looking at Fairfax County. Specifically 22309,22308,22314 and 22315, but I'm open to other locations even if it is in MD. Also, I'm trying to anticipate my net pay in order to budget, but the one thing I haven't been able to account for is local tax. Does anyone know what the local tax rate is (roughly)? I know I won't get *everything* I'm looking for, so if I can get 75-80% of school, location and commute solution which I would consider a win. Thank you for any suggestions you can provide! |
Anonymous
| Where is your job? Alexandria? Don't live too far from your work. Depending on where it is, you may want to check out Fairlington. Very family friendly and a lot of people have dogs. Though getting a rental with dogs is going to be a bit tough. |
Anonymous
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Where in Alexandria- Old Town? We recently moved to VA from Atlanta and live in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria- it is awesome. Alexandria city schools do not have a good reputation but I don't think you should worry about that yet. You have probably 1.5-2 years until you will need schools (and most of the Alexandria city public elementary schools are very good- you don't run into trouble until middle/high). Focus on finding a location that isn't too far from your work and search for preschools- there are tons of good ones in most areas. With renting you are not stuck with schools like you are with buying. I would rent a place for a year and then think more about schools once you know the area better.
In Del Ray you could definitely get a 2br for $2500 or less. |
Anonymous
| 22152 or Kingstowne. |
Anonymous
+1. This is my recommendation #1. Traffic will kill you. Tell us where your job is and expand the search from that point on. |
Anonymous
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I think you'll be a bit surprised by how much day care/preschool will cost you in the DC Metro area. At 4-year-old, you'll be paying for a program. The cheapest options within 15 miles of DC are $1,000/month (and there aren't many of those), and you could have programs costing upwards of $1,700/month. You're not going to get a public option until your child starts kindergarten. At that point, the before-care/after-care combo runs about $5,000 - $7,000/year at public schools, plus summer camp for 2.5 months in the summer (starting at $200/week, with most camps closer to $350/week).
I would expect that you'll find that your child care expenses will be almost as large as your rental expenses, so I recommend including them in your budget when deciding how much you can really afford to pay for rent. |
Anonymous
9:18 here. I agree with this poster - your budget will be tight at that income level. I don't think private school is realistic at your salary. Here's a 2 bd for rent in Fairlington - http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4623-31st-Rd-S-Apt-B1_Arlington_VA_22206_M58459-65392#photo1 Another reason I recommend Fairlington is that it has a very active moms' club, so you'll have an instant "village" to rely on. Relocating is hard (we're military - we do it alot!), and having a group of people to ask questions of and ask for help and recommendations from is huge. |
Anonymous
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I think you should look to rent in the Belle View Condos, just south of Old Town. You should be able to find something less than $2500 (to allow for childcare).
The ES is Belle View, which is a good school. The middle and high school aren't fantastic right now, but may change in the eight years before you need MS (or your financial circumstances may change, or you may be able to swing a scholarship at a private). Your commute to Alexandria will be 10 minutes driving. There's also an express bus that runs through Alexandria, and into DC (if you ever get a job in the city). The area is a little quiet, but it's safe and family-friendly, walkable to stores and the rec center, library, right by the river (for walking/running/biking if you're into that), and easily accessible to Old Town. I am a single mom of a 3 year old, I work in Old Town, and make just a bit more than you do ($85K), and am really happy in Belle View. For full-day preschool, look at Blue Bird in Old Town. It's not fancy, but it's safe, and inexpensive (~$1300/month), and my child seems be to learning things. |
Anonymous
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Thanks so much for your replies! I haven't officially gotten the job yet, but it is looking good. The position is at the USPTO in Alexandria. Not really sure where that is in Alexandria. Additionally, the 71k is the lowest possible salary, but I expect that it will be a little more. I will also earn extra money during drill weekends while serving in the Army reserves. And my son's father does pay me support, so realistically I'm probably looking at closer to 90k pre-tax.
Just out of curiosity, what is the age that kids start kindergarten? My friend in MD told me it is mandatory for kids to start at 5. That sounds strange to me and I was wondering what it was like in NoVa. Again, I'm know I will have to make compromises on just about everything and I'm okay with that. I'm just trying to make it work the best I can. |
Anonymous
You have a great attitude and seem so reasonable! I also suggest the belle view condos. |
Anonymous
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22314 is City of Alexandria-not Fairfax County (just FYI).
The PTO is at the south end of Alexandria-it's also metro accessible (Eisenhower Ave). So the Belle View suggestions are quite close. The cutoff for kindergarten in Virginia is September 30. You don't have to start if you have a late summer birthday, but you have to start the following year. I agree that private school is unlikely-but you should be able to find something in your budget in a reasonable school district. |
Anonymous
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OP,
++++on the live close to work--especially as a single parent. You may think traffic where you live is bad--but this is worse. Also, do you have childcare for drill weekends? And, do you already have a Reserve unit? Depending on your field, that can be a challenge, as well. |
Anonymous
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Fellow single parent here. My salary is lower than yours (I get a little support), and I bought in DC a year and a half ago. You'll want to keep your housing costs lower than $2500 if you possibly can - childcare is so expensive here that you need to find childcare and budget around that until kindergarten starts.
If you start him in kindergarten on time you'll have less time in daycare to worry about if you have some savings, and then you could spend a bit more on housing. |
Anonymous
Your child is eligible to start kindergarten in Fairfax County at age 5 if he turns 5 prior to September 30 of that school year. https://www.fcps.edu/registration/general-registration-requirements |
Anonymous
Starting K at 5 is strange to you why? Too late? Too early? |