We've been saving to move to upper NW...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you renting right now?

No, we own.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If it helps, we're in Petworth and everyone we know that's left has gone to MoCo. Mostly Takoma Park/Silver Spring, some to Bethesda. You'd be in good company if you ended up there!

Also in Petworth, my kids lucked into a J-R feeder and we are also probably suburb bound because the schools just aren't good enough to justify the cost of moving in bounds.

Why move in-bounds if you lotteried into a feeder? Isn't that the entire point of the lottery? And I'm not saying J-R is perfect, but it's certainly not any worse than Takoma Park and Silver Spring schools. Sounds like OP isn't considering Bethesda or McLean, so apples to apples, her "upper NW" and MCPS options (Blair, Einstein) are going to be very similar.

Because the commute is extremely disruptive for marginal educational benefit (in our case).

Where are you looking to move though? I'm assuming not Takoma Park if you're looking for more than a marginal benefit in the move...

OP here, not the person you're replying to. But my main motivation to move is safety. I don't feel safe and my kids are not getting the freedom I want them to have as a result. I don't need it to be like a gated community, but DC has been awful with shootings lately, increasingly during the daytime. TP is surely an improvement?

You want to live in the white part of DC. Which you can’t afford. What is your next step?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If it helps, we're in Petworth and everyone we know that's left has gone to MoCo. Mostly Takoma Park/Silver Spring, some to Bethesda. You'd be in good company if you ended up there!

Also in Petworth, my kids lucked into a J-R feeder and we are also probably suburb bound because the schools just aren't good enough to justify the cost of moving in bounds.

Why move in-bounds if you lotteried into a feeder? Isn't that the entire point of the lottery? And I'm not saying J-R is perfect, but it's certainly not any worse than Takoma Park and Silver Spring schools. Sounds like OP isn't considering Bethesda or McLean, so apples to apples, her "upper NW" and MCPS options (Blair, Einstein) are going to be very similar.

Because the commute is extremely disruptive for marginal educational benefit (in our case).

Where are you looking to move though? I'm assuming not Takoma Park if you're looking for more than a marginal benefit in the move...

OP here, not the person you're replying to. But my main motivation to move is safety. I don't feel safe and my kids are not getting the freedom I want them to have as a result. I don't need it to be like a gated community, but DC has been awful with shootings lately, increasingly during the daytime. TP is surely an improvement?

NP. I've been wanting to move to TKPK for awhile and there's no inventory. It was better in 2021, but almost nothing in our price range in 2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps, we're in Petworth and everyone we know that's left has gone to MoCo. Mostly Takoma Park/Silver Spring, some to Bethesda. You'd be in good company if you ended up there!

Also in Petworth, my kids lucked into a J-R feeder and we are also probably suburb bound because the schools just aren't good enough to justify the cost of moving in bounds.

Why move in-bounds if you lotteried into a feeder? Isn't that the entire point of the lottery? And I'm not saying J-R is perfect, but it's certainly not any worse than Takoma Park and Silver Spring schools. Sounds like OP isn't considering Bethesda or McLean, so apples to apples, her "upper NW" and MCPS options (Blair, Einstein) are going to be very similar.

Because the commute is extremely disruptive for marginal educational benefit (in our case).

Where are you looking to move though? I'm assuming not Takoma Park if you're looking for more than a marginal benefit in the move...

I don't have answers to your questions about my specific case because it is still theoretical for us. My point for OP was just that it maybe shouldn't be an "all eggs in one basket" consideration. We "won the lottery" and it has been an underwhelming experience that we are not in a hurry to stretch ourselves to pay for.

[Anonymous]

Wait a month and there will be more inventory when the spring selling season kicks off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:... And it feels like no amount of money is enough. It's like a bottomless pit that we keep throwing money into and we're further behind than ever.

We are currently in Petworth with a 7 and 5 yo. We like it here but feel ready for less crime, better schools, while keeping some proximity to downtown and neighborhood walkability. I targeted Chevy Chase DC as being possible, maybe AU park if we got lucky.

For 3-4 years I've squirreled away money. We've turned down vacations, I've grocery shopped and cooked even as our jobs and lives got crazier. We have shared one paid off car. We're not suffering, but we've been working toward a goal.

I really thought a 1.5m budget would get our foot in the door. I knew we wouldn't get a newly renovated house for that price, but something livable that we could commit to updating slowly over time.

This year we will hit our savings target for $1.5, and all the houses are now $1.9+. Inventory is awful. We're further behind than ever before, and threads in this forum are suggesting that prices will never drop. It's so disheartening.

I know I am not owed a house, and I'm sure I'll get attacked. But I'm feeling so sad that we worked for so hard toward a goal only to see it slip further away every year. I just feel sad for myself and our family, and disappointed that we have to give up some part of our goals.

Hindsight is 20/20 but I wish we had just taken out a massive mortgage and bought last year when there was inventory. Now, unless prices come down considerably, we'll probably have to leave the city. It feels like it happened so quickly.

Regardless of whether you end up purchasing a home in what was previously your target location, your sacrifices and savings have given you extra money that will benefit your family however you choose to use it. It has not all been for naught just because those particular neighborhoods continue to move out of reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Prices have increased at a higher rater than salaries, OP. You knew that, right?

Everyone is in the same boat.

We're still not sure if the US can avoid a recession in 2023 and 2024, but even if there is a recession, upper NW, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and some areas of NoVa will always increase in price.

So unless you're benefiting from free preK in DC, I'd move to MD or VA right away, in an area with great public schools and public transport - not necessarily to put your kids in there, but to guarantee the continued value of your house. It's an investment consideration. Of course the excellent public school clusters will also be expensive. I'm in Bethesda just west of downtown, and houses are 2M+ here.

DP. I really hate people who talk, or write like this. It's so smug and patronizing.

[Anonymous]

You can get a house in Bethesda for as little as 800K. It won't be fancy, though.

[Anonymous]

Just buy in Arlington or McLean... You have the money for a nice SFH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you just start looking? My friend just bought a 1.5M in bound for Murch. It is possible.

Yeah I live near Tenleytown and there definitely have been sales below 1.5, even for fully detached. Inventory is low right now but should pick up again for spring.

Contigent at 1.1: https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/4304-Chesapeake-St-NW-20016/home/9956848

Sold 10/22 at 1.3: https://www.redfin.com/DC/WASHINGTON/4917-41ST-ST-NW-20016/home/9962674

Sold 10/22 at 1.18: https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/4420-Fessenden-St-NW-20016/home/9949272

There were multiple semi-attached sales in North Cleveland Park for <1.2 (2 on Windom). This one in Cleveland Park went for 1.27 https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3201-Porter-St-NW-20008/home/9984376. Another for 1.47 https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3200-Porter-St-NW-20008/home/9984918.

[Anonymous]

you and I have the same DC migration pattern. I'm pretty sure half the families at Lafayette have moved from the petworth/brightwood/16th street heights neighborhood. There isn't a lot of inventory, but tons of gems pop up under 1.5 -- if you search redfin by under contract or recently sold it will give you a glimmer of hope.

In the meantime -- you should really consider looking at the close in suburbs... this house would be on my short list if I were looking to move: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/3207-Wake-Dr-20895/home/10997977

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get a house in Bethesda for as little as 800K. It won't be fancy, though.

+1 Bethesda and large

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just buy in Arlington or McLean... You have the money for a nice SFH.

1.5 in McLean or North Arlington is a tough budget as well. OP I'm sorry you feel sad, but if your priority is safety and good school, there are plenty places where 1.5 can get you a good house. Such as Vienna, Oakton. Just move out of Pertworth as soon as possible, before your current house value further depreciate due to the worsening crime scene.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am in close in 20816. You will not get a 5k sq feet brand new craftsman bungaloid for your price point, but you can get a decent house in a great neighborhood. At this point you need to wait a month for a spring market. By all signs the prices and competition will not be as bad as last year.

Here are a few sales within last month in your price bracket. Some need cosmetic updates like new carpet, but overall doable.

https://www.redfin.com/city/21534/MD/Bethesda/filter/include=sold-1mo,viewport=38.96733:38.93809:-77.08636:-77.13039

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/5315-Willard-Ave-20815/home/10637749

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/5237-Westpath-Way-20816/home/10675374

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/5005-Rockmere-Ct-20816/home/10666639

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/4917-Fort-Sumner-Dr-20816/home/10666749

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it helps, we're in Petworth and everyone we know that's left has gone to MoCo. Mostly Takoma Park/Silver Spring, some to Bethesda. You'd be in good company if you ended up there!

Also in Petworth, my kids lucked into a J-R feeder and we are also probably suburb bound because the schools just aren't good enough to justify the cost of moving in bounds.

Why move in-bounds if you lotteried into a feeder? Isn't that the entire point of the lottery? And I'm not saying J-R is perfect, but it's certainly not any worse than Takoma Park and Silver Spring schools. Sounds like OP isn't considering Bethesda or McLean, so apples to apples, her "upper NW" and MCPS options (Blair, Einstein) are going to be very similar.

Because the commute is extremely disruptive for marginal educational benefit (in our case).

Where are you looking to move though? I'm assuming not Takoma Park if you're looking for more than a marginal benefit in the move...

OP here, not the person you're replying to. But my main motivation to move is safety. I don't feel safe and my kids are not getting the freedom I want them to have as a result. I don't need it to be like a gated community, but DC has been awful with shootings lately, increasingly during the daytime. TP is surely an improvement?

We live in TP and the kids around walk to school. Our 9 yo girl walks to school with her friends and all the neighbors do to. Not sure if we are oblivious as i know a lot of people on this board talk about crime in this area but it seems very safe to us