Thinking through staying in a condo in Arlington or moving to a SFH in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re not married to a SFH, there are 3br condos in great school districts like this one that are less than $500k. You can get cheaper 3br condos in this school district, but they won’t be as nice.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/North-Bethesda/5812-Inman-Park-Cir-20852/unit-100/home/167005069

OP, I am the pp who moved from Arlington and urged you not to do so. If you are set on moving, these condos look like a really great deal. I did not know these existed; I think they are pretty under the radar still, although the one listed is already under contract. I think this is as good as you will do in MoCo for your budget. The schools you are zoned for are good and “North Bethesda” has more cachet and opportunity for appreciation than the other areas mentioned. It is frequently listed in articles about the best places to live in MD and the US. You are not far from metro there, close to great shopping and good schools. It will not be the “walk everywhere” vibe you wanted, but that would be twice the price at least. Good luck!

PP again. I know you want a house, but with these condos priced below your budget, you could save the remaining money and invest and hopefully move to a house in a few years. It looks like a nice, family-friendly neighborhood with the pool and park (no driving the kids to the pool in the summer, no additional pool fees) and the schools are better than the ones connected to that Silver Spring house.

[Anonymous]

Echoing PPs - google the Einstein high school boundary map and then focus your house search on those parts of the Einstein area that are south of University Blvd. You should be able to find what you’re looking for within your budget although probably not until the spring market starts and you’ll have to act fast because your price range is very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. The houses in Kensington look nice! One of my co-workers said that if we move there, a lot of our neighbors would go to Catholic school rather than the neighborhood schools, which he finds to be a negative (as far as making friends). Is that generally true?

Yes, Kensington is very Catholic.

🙄 one particular neighborhood in Kensington is very Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re not married to a SFH, there are 3br condos in great school districts like this one that are less than $500k. You can get cheaper 3br condos in this school district, but they won’t be as nice.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/North-Bethesda/5812-Inman-Park-Cir-20852/unit-100/home/167005069

OP, I am the pp who moved from Arlington and urged you not to do so. If you are set on moving, these condos look like a really great deal. I did not know these existed; I think they are pretty under the radar still, although the one listed is already under contract. I think this is as good as you will do in MoCo for your budget. The schools you are zoned for are good and “North Bethesda” has more cachet and opportunity for appreciation than the other areas mentioned. It is frequently listed in articles about the best places to live in MD and the US. You are not far from metro there, close to great shopping and good schools. It will not be the “walk everywhere” vibe you wanted, but that would be twice the price at least. Good luck!

PP again. I know you want a house, but with these condos priced below your budget, you could save the remaining money and invest and hopefully move to a house in a few years. It looks like a nice, family-friendly neighborhood with the pool and park (no driving the kids to the pool in the summer, no additional pool fees) and the schools are better than the ones connected to that Silver Spring house.

I would be mindful of having your kid being the one living in the cheaper condos going to the wealthy Bethesda school.

[Anonymous]

Put it this way, silver spring is like Woodbridge but closer to the city though the cool parts. Sure there are lots of people who raise their families there and even a few pleasant neighborhoods. But there is a reason it’s the cheapest inner suburb not in PG. It’s up to you to decide the space Vs environment question.

[Anonymous]

How about a townhouse in Arlington? https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5019-9th-St-S-Arlington-VA-22204/12090693_zpid/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. The houses in Kensington look nice! One of my co-workers said that if we move there, a lot of our neighbors would go to Catholic school rather than the neighborhood schools, which he finds to be a negative (as far as making friends). Is that generally true?

Yes, Kensington is very Catholic.

🙄 one particular neighborhood in Kensington is very Catholic.

Calling out neighborhoods for being “too Catholic” is what the KKK used to do. I hope you realize that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put it this way, silver spring is like Woodbridge but closer to the city though the cool parts. Sure there are lots of people who raise their families there and even a few pleasant neighborhoods. But there is a reason it’s the cheapest inner suburb not in PG. It’s up to you to decide the space Vs environment question.

Or it’s like South Arlington, but not close to places like North Arlington, Georgetown and Downtown DC, Del Ray and Old Town. Instead of having Downtown DC to the east, Del Ray to the south, and the Orange Line corridor to the north, in Silver Spring you have Wheaton to the north, PG County to the east, and some pretty dicey places in DC to the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you didn’t give your budget, but this is a great house, zoned for Flora Singer ES and Blair HS, not in a “high crime” part of SS, and within an easy drive to anything you will need.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1000-Dennis-Ave-Silver-Spring-MD-20901/37292079_zpid/

I just drove by this house on my way home! We live about a mile from this house, and we are zoned for Oakland Terrace ES. (1 kid in K there and another in K next year.)

Agree wonderful neighborhoods and just the kind of schools we were looking for.

I lived in Arlington in my 20s and I do miss the fun I had living there at that age. But I am no longer that age; I have moved on.

You have a tough decision to make, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Put it this way, silver spring is like Woodbridge but closer to the city though the cool parts. Sure there are lots of people who raise their families there and even a few pleasant neighborhoods. But there is a reason it’s the cheapest inner suburb not in PG. It’s up to you to decide the space Vs environment question.

Casually leaving out Bethesda/CC, TP, Kensington, Rockville which is not too far north, Rock Creek park, Sligo Creek, red line, and future people line. But yea, ok, I see your point.

Or it’s like South Arlington, but not close to places like North Arlington, Georgetown and Downtown DC, Del Ray and Old Town. Instead of having Downtown DC to the east, Del Ray to the south, and the Orange Line corridor to the north, in Silver Spring you have Wheaton to the north, PG County to the east, and some pretty dicey places in DC to the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you didn’t give your budget, but this is a great house, zoned for Flora Singer ES and Blair HS, not in a “high crime” part of SS, and within an easy drive to anything you will need.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1000-Dennis-Ave-Silver-Spring-MD-20901/37292079_zpid/

OP, I’m the pp who moved from a nice condo in Arlington, and I actually moved into an old house about this size. No. Just no, you do not want this house nor the location.

We live just one street over. What is your problem with our wonderful neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

I am another who has lived in Arlington but moved to Silver Spring.

You sound like you really want to stay in VA, OP. Just go with your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you didn’t give your budget, but this is a great house, zoned for Flora Singer ES and Blair HS, not in a “high crime” part of SS, and within an easy drive to anything you will need.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1000-Dennis-Ave-Silver-Spring-MD-20901/37292079_zpid/

OP, I’m the pp who moved from a nice condo in Arlington, and I actually moved into an old house about this size. No. Just no, you do not want this house nor the location.

What’s the downside?

That's a fairly busy road and neighborhood is steadily creeping towards multi family living ie vans out fronts of it, not well maintained yards, etc

What IS your problem, you weirdo? People are allowed to have cars to go to work! It is not a"fairly busy road." It is residential. It is lovely in every season except winter, as most neighborhoods are.

In order to stop multi-family housing, you must stop voting D. It's as plain as that. I switched to R 25 years ago when I moved to MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Put it this way, silver spring is like Woodbridge but closer to the city though the cool parts. Sure there are lots of people who raise their families there and even a few pleasant neighborhoods. But there is a reason it’s the cheapest inner suburb not in PG. It’s up to you to decide the space Vs environment question.

Or it’s like South Arlington, but not close to places like North Arlington, Georgetown and Downtown DC, Del Ray and Old Town. Instead of having Downtown DC to the east, Del Ray to the south, and the Orange Line corridor to the north, in Silver Spring you have Wheaton to the north, PG County to the east, and some pretty dicey places in DC to the south.

Yes! 3rd generation Wheaton resident here. Lovely SFH; we have known our neighbors most of our lives.

Get over yourselves, people. I thought you all loved diversity!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re not married to a SFH, there are 3br condos in great school districts like this one that are less than $500k. You can get cheaper 3br condos in this school district, but they won’t be as nice.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/North-Bethesda/5812-Inman-Park-Cir-20852/unit-100/home/167005069

OP, I am the pp who moved from Arlington and urged you not to do so. If you are set on moving, these condos look like a really great deal. I did not know these existed; I think they are pretty under the radar still, although the one listed is already under contract. I think this is as good as you will do in MoCo for your budget. The schools you are zoned for are good and “North Bethesda” has more cachet and opportunity for appreciation than the other areas mentioned. It is frequently listed in articles about the best places to live in MD and the US. You are not far from metro there, close to great shopping and good schools. It will not be the “walk everywhere” vibe you wanted, but that would be twice the price at least. Good luck!

PP again. I know you want a house, but with these condos priced below your budget, you could save the remaining money and invest and hopefully move to a house in a few years. It looks like a nice, family-friendly neighborhood with the pool and park (no driving the kids to the pool in the summer, no additional pool fees) and the schools are better than the ones connected to that Silver Spring house.

I would be mindful of having your kid being the one living in the cheaper condos going to the wealthy Bethesda school.

There are some serious mental health issues going on in this thread.