How to tell the difference between close-in suburbs?

[Anonymous]

It's wherever your bid is accepted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, I’d like in on this. We want everything that OP wants but would also like a close-in commute to capital hill (45 mins or under), would prefer walkable to a metro, would love to be able to walk to some restaurants, but also would like a decent yard. Like a 10,000 sf lot or larger ideally. Our budget is $2m and we need at least 4 bedrooms. Where should we be looking ideally?

Your dream does not exist here. Anyone saying otherwise, post a pic.

4+ bed houses on 10,000+ sf walking distance to metro? They exist but they're not for sale.

Anecdotally the houses that fit this description often have "last sold" dates in the 70s/80s/early 90s. I even found one that last sold outside the family in the 1950s and has just bounced around family members since. Seems like these folks know they have a precious thing.

My family lived in a house like this in N. Arlington in the 70s. It was a corner lot with the BEST yard. So many happy memories.
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/101-N-Garfield-St-22201/home/11255962

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, I’d like in on this. We want everything that OP wants but would also like a close-in commute to capital hill (45 mins or under), would prefer walkable to a metro, would love to be able to walk to some restaurants, but also would like a decent yard. Like a 10,000 sf lot or larger ideally. Our budget is $2m and we need at least 4 bedrooms. Where should we be looking ideally?

Your dream does not exist here. Anyone saying otherwise, post a pic.

$2.4 but here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/36-Quincy-St-Chevy-Chase-MD-20815/37168220_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

Why 361 DOM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can't really tell because there really isn't much difference. If you don't care about schools or commute, move to DC. Close to amenities. Or move farther out to a super kid-friendly neighborhood. I am not sure why you would pay the cost to be in a close-in suburb if you didn't care about commute or schools.

- CCMD resident who pays through the nose to have a great school district and manageable commute

This is the absolute truth. People who grew up around here insist that there are dramatic differences, but to someone from elsewhere, there really is no difference among the people who live in Bethesda or Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

Completely disagree. SFHs in Del Ray are in the 1.2-1.7 range so these are people that could very easily afford McLean, Great Falls, Potomac, Bethesda.

They just don't want to. Because they are down to earth rather than obnoxious, ostentatious new money people.

LOL, yes, 1.2 - 1.7 actually is expensive. Get out of your bubble, PP. If you think that people who can afford homes that expensive are down to earth… SMH.

So you think being rich and down to earth are mutually exclusive. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can't really tell because there really isn't much difference. If you don't care about schools or commute, move to DC. Close to amenities. Or move farther out to a super kid-friendly neighborhood. I am not sure why you would pay the cost to be in a close-in suburb if you didn't care about commute or schools.

- CCMD resident who pays through the nose to have a great school district and manageable commute

This is the absolute truth. People who grew up around here insist that there are dramatic differences, but to someone from elsewhere, there really is no difference among the people who live in Bethesda or Arlington.

I grew up in this area. This is correct. Both areas are very similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can't really tell because there really isn't much difference. If you don't care about schools or commute, move to DC. Close to amenities. Or move farther out to a super kid-friendly neighborhood. I am not sure why you would pay the cost to be in a close-in suburb if you didn't care about commute or schools.

- CCMD resident who pays through the nose to have a great school district and manageable commute

This is the absolute truth. People who grew up around here insist that there are dramatic differences, but to someone from elsewhere, there really is no difference among the people who live in Bethesda or Arlington.

I grew up in this area. This is correct. Both areas are very similar.

Right. Folks from Anacostia are just like folks from Chantilly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can't really tell because there really isn't much difference. If you don't care about schools or commute, move to DC. Close to amenities. Or move farther out to a super kid-friendly neighborhood. I am not sure why you would pay the cost to be in a close-in suburb if you didn't care about commute or schools.

- CCMD resident who pays through the nose to have a great school district and manageable commute

This is the absolute truth. People who grew up around here insist that there are dramatic differences, but to someone from elsewhere, there really is no difference among the people who live in Bethesda or Arlington.

I grew up in this area. This is correct. Both areas are very similar.

Right. Folks from Anacostia are just like folks from Chantilly.

Literally not what I said at all, but you do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right. Folks from Anacostia are just like folks from Chantilly.

This but unironically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you can't really tell because there really isn't much difference. If you don't care about schools or commute, move to DC. Close to amenities. Or move farther out to a super kid-friendly neighborhood. I am not sure why you would pay the cost to be in a close-in suburb if you didn't care about commute or schools.

- CCMD resident who pays through the nose to have a great school district and manageable commute

This is the absolute truth. People who grew up around here insist that there are dramatic differences, but to someone from elsewhere, there really is no difference among the people who live in Bethesda or Arlington.

I grew up in this area. This is correct. Both areas are very similar.

Right. Folks from Anacostia are just like folks from Chantilly.

Black people exist in chantilly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, I’d like in on this. We want everything that OP wants but would also like a close-in commute to capital hill (45 mins or under), would prefer walkable to a metro, would love to be able to walk to some restaurants, but also would like a decent yard. Like a 10,000 sf lot or larger ideally. Our budget is $2m and we need at least 4 bedrooms. Where should we be looking ideally?

Your dream does not exist here. Anyone saying otherwise, post a pic.

The poster can’t afford it, but this fits the description. This is a house built on a double lot in the 90s. These are very rarely available.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/1436-N-Jackson-St-22201/home/11247921

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Coming from washington state. Haha yikes to the first poster! We have driven around of course but to be honest it's hard to tell much difference from the outside. I am willing to be corrected on this. Just looking for any reflections people are willing to share who have been in the area a while.

I’m a west coaster too, OP… THAT poster=DC.

You might like University Park in Maryland too. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

OP - you can spend a ton of cash to live in a place like n Arlington, which appears to be the “in” spot for last few years but you will not get the home or lot you want.

I would look in Fairfax county or Montgomery county. The main difference is really where you work and commute; but if you do not have a commute either one of those areas are reasonably close and have metro access.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

Completely disagree. SFHs in Del Ray are in the 1.2-1.7 range so these are people that could very easily afford McLean, Great Falls, Potomac, Bethesda.

They just don't want to. Because they are down to earth rather than obnoxious, ostentatious new money people.

LOL, yes, 1.2 - 1.7 actually is expensive. Get out of your bubble, PP. If you think that people who can afford homes that expensive are down to earth… SMH.

So you think being rich and down to earth are mutually exclusive. Got it.

Usually, yes. People don't have to be outright snobs or flashy about their money to be completely clueless about how most of the world lives. I think the latter precludes truly being down to earth. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks for the replies. We do want to be in a good school district but only elementary matters, if that makes sense. Preferably single family home. Budget 1.2Mish. Would be nice to be able to walk to a few things (coffee shop, etc.) but I think more important is proximity to other young families and activities to do with young kids.

I know you were saying close-in suburbs, but those houses have a premium for their schools and commute, which don't seem to be your priorities. I might suggest looking at Bloomingdale/Eckington, in DC proper, or Hill East. Lots of families in both areas. Pools, libraries, playgrounds, cool coffee shops, etc.