What's a decent household income to live in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

Well then she needs to learn to think for herself. Does she always base life decisions on what her coworker tells her?

We live in WJ cluster - let's not be defensive. Whitman is seen as being one of the best public high schools in the country.
It is very sought after and it means that the housing prices in feeder neighborhoods are very stable and increase a bit more.

WJ is fine, but it's not Whitman.

[Anonymous]

There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

THIS.. You moved to an area where it's a way of life to compare yourself to your neighbors and try to outdo each other in terms of ridiculousness (think baby elephants at kid's parties imported from Africa and flown in on a private jet). You won't be able to keep up even at 3x your income. It's an odd mishmash. Kind of like if Scientologists had founded Pleasantville. You are new to the area so you didn't know, but now that you do hopefully you can escape to a better community before it's too late.

[Anonymous]

Get this book: "The Cheapskate Next Door". From the library please.
And it sounds like you are laying a guilt trip on your wife for dragging you here. I feel sorry for her because you don't seem able to find interest in the simple things that make this area special: hiking/biking trails, free concerts, dining in, public parks and pools, people-watching, long gardening/barbecuing season. you need to have an attitude re-start.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

Her coworker was wrong, and also is not the person who has to deal with the consequences of having an $800k house. The main thing wrong with your budget is you bought way too expensive of a house at too young of an age. Of course you don't have to live in Bethesda or Potomac. They are two of the richest towns in the county and you're just starting out, with college loans and young children. You got in over your head.

I'm probably 10 years older than you, live in Silver Spring in a $600k house, with no more daycare and no more college loans. Make financial decisions that work for you.

+1

I'm in my mid-fifties, live in Silver Spring in a $700K house, and have two very successful teens - one off to college this fall and the other a rising junior at what DCUM deems a "bad" school. Both kids are doing great and no worries here about them getting into and performing well at good colleges.

We will pay for their college educations from the money we've saved for the past two decades. No more college loans for us, and none for them. In two years, our house will be paid off altogether.

Had we bought in Bethesda 15-20 years ago, none of this would be possible.

Do you mean that your house is now worth $720,000 (but that you paid much less a long time ago?)

I agree that houses in Bethesda are pricey, but perhaps they also appreciate more? The OP spent $800,000 for a house in Bethesda, which buys you a very modest house. But presumably if they fix it up, it will appreciate. Our house in Bethesda has nearly doubled in value since 2002 when we bought it.

PP here. Worth$700k now. We paid $320k in 2000.

The days of the house prices doubling are over. That 800k for the fixer upper was more than it's worth already.
Fixing it up is extremely expensive too (and no - no one is going to want cheap fixes). The house should hold its value and increase a little bit but no way it will double in value. Most of what doubled was the price of the postage stamp sized lot and that's peaked pretty much .

The doubling of value happened when two income families who didn't want long commutes discovered centrally located Bethesda.
It's been discovered. Houses will hold their value but they won't wildly increase in price .

they simply can't. I don't see a house that's currently 900k going to 1.8m in the next few years, then going to over 3m after that. I've said this before and been wrong, but I think the days of skyrocketing home prices are done in areas like Bethesda, CC, etc. Still seems to be happening in "up and coming" areas in DC though.

[Anonymous]

I think your whole value system is screwed up.
Who has $600 in car payments when you earn $350k?
Why do you think dc is lame? We have a saying - before you accuse somewhere of smelling like shit, check your own shoes first. Here you have the federal government, embassies, bright people from all over the world working for imf and world bank, world class museums, access to the Chesapeake and Shenandoah, Great Falls... Sure, it isnt London or New York but they are practically giving houses away here compared to those cities. A 3 bedroom house in a good school district 35 minutes from downtown would cost you $1.5 million or more in london.


We earn less, paid about the same for our house, and live like princes in Bethesda. We have one car for which we paid cash. I cycle to work. We eat out in fantastic kid friendly restaurants in wheaton, rockville etc for very little money, and have plenty of cash left for vacations in Europe, Asia etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

Well then she needs to learn to think for herself. Does she always base life decisions on what her coworker tells her?

We live in WJ cluster - let's not be defensive. Whitman is seen as being one of the best public high schools in the country.
It is very sought after and it means that the housing prices in feeder neighborhoods are very stable and increase a bit more.

WJ is fine, but it's not Whitman.

Even assuming that Whitman is the best high school in MCPS (an assertion I don't agree with, but let's assume it's true) - why must OP live there, if doing so strains the household finances? Must everyone have the "best"?

What is at stake? Does OP think his kids won't go to college if they attend Walter Johnson, BCC, Blair, or Einstein?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

We live in Bethesda and have a $250 Britax (that I got for $100 on CL). Never noticed anyone eyeing it with disdain nor have I noticed any flashy strollers at the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

THIS.. You moved to an area where it's a way of life to compare yourself to your neighbors and try to outdo each other in terms of ridiculousness (think baby elephants at kid's parties imported from Africa and flown in on a private jet). You won't be able to keep up even at 3x your income. It's an odd mishmash. Kind of like if Scientologists had founded Pleasantville. You are new to the area so you didn't know, but now that you do hopefully you can escape to a better community before it's too late.

That's the way some parts of Bethesda are but some parts are pretty run down (with pop up mansions) and not that way.
However, the county has labeled all of Bethesda 'rich' and it's become a Robin Hood kind of situation- they take in taxes but give little back.
Traffic, lots of new houses but no parks, no rec center (promised like 30 years ago) - just higher and higher taxes and condos/high rises/shopping/new huge neighborhoods bring built with no new schools...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

No, but people desire that so it keeps your house value up.

The schools you list are all good.

On the contrary while most of the county elementary and middle schools are very good (some of the elem schools in poorer neighborhoods have many more resources and smaller classes actually) the quality of some of the high schools can be very poor. So that is an issue. If you live in a crappy HS district you might budget for a private school or move.

Well then she needs to learn to think for herself. Does she always base life decisions on what her coworker tells her?

We live in WJ cluster - let's not be defensive. Whitman is seen as being one of the best public high schools in the country.
It is very sought after and it means that the housing prices in feeder neighborhoods are very stable and increase a bit more.

WJ is fine, but it's not Whitman.

Even assuming that Whitman is the best high school in MCPS (an assertion I don't agree with, but let's assume it's true) - why must OP live there, if doing so strains the household finances? Must everyone have the "best"?

What is at stake? Does OP think his kids won't go to college if they attend Walter Johnson, BCC, Blair, or Einstein?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

No, but people desire that so it keeps your house value up.

The schools you list are all good.

On the contrary while most of the county elementary and middle schools are very good (some of the elem schools in poorer neighborhoods have many more resources and smaller classes actually) the quality of some of the high schools can be very poor. So that is an issue. If you live in a crappy HS district you might budget for a private school or move.

Well then she needs to learn to think for herself. Does she always base life decisions on what her coworker tells her?

We live in WJ cluster - let's not be defensive. Whitman is seen as being one of the best public high schools in the country.
It is very sought after and it means that the housing prices in feeder neighborhoods are very stable and increase a bit more.

WJ is fine, but it's not Whitman.

Even assuming that Whitman is the best high school in MCPS (an assertion I don't agree with, but let's assume it's true) - why must OP live there, if doing so strains the household finances? Must everyone have the "best"?

What is at stake? Does OP think his kids won't go to college if they attend Walter Johnson, BCC, Blair, or Einstein?

No, but people desire that so it keeps your house value up.

The schools you list are all good.

On the contrary while most of the county elementary and middle schools are very good (some of the elem schools in poorer neighborhoods have many more resources and smaller classes actually) the quality of some of the high schools can be very poor. So that is an issue. If you live in a crappy HS district you might budget for a private school or move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another thing i am trying to do is figure out why this area is so expensive, this way at least i could get something out of living here.

Prices are higher because of the schools, which you might not be using yet.

The schools are the same throughout the county. What varies is the HHI of the students attending the schools. If you want your child to attend schools where the majority of students come from families with high HHI, then move to Bethesda or Potomac. If that is not important to you, then move anywhere else in the county. Schools are not inherently better because they are located in Bethesda.

That may be true, but people are obsessing about school districts around here. My wife made us overlook a house because it was in the Walter Johnson district, and her coworker told her she should aim for Churchill or Whitman.

Well then she needs to learn to think for herself. Does she always base life decisions on what her coworker tells her?

We live in WJ cluster - let's not be defensive. Whitman is seen as being one of the best public high schools in the country.
It is very sought after and it means that the housing prices in feeder neighborhoods are very stable and increase a bit more.

WJ is fine, but it's not Whitman.

Even assuming that Whitman is the best high school in MCPS (an assertion I don't agree with, but let's assume it's true) - why must OP live there, if doing so strains the household finances? Must everyone have the "best"?

What is at stake? Does OP think his kids won't go to college if they attend Walter Johnson, BCC, Blair, or Einstein?

No, but people desire that so it keeps your house value up.

The schools you list are all good.

On the contrary while most of the county elementary and middle schools are very good (some of the elem schools in poorer neighborhoods have many more resources and smaller classes actually) the quality of some of the high schools can be very poor. So that is an issue. If you live in a crappy HS district you might budget for a private school or move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

LOL. This post seems a bit much. I live in Bethesda, and most of my neighbors are modest and nice people (who happen to be comfortable financially). I'm not sure where this poster gets his information about Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn't a household income you could pay me to live in insufferable Bethesda. I would GTFO and move somewhere with lower taxes and more interesting neighbors unless you like Lululemon parties and comparing strollers to see who's is nicer. I'd play Russian roulette with more than the regulation number of rounds in the chamber before I'd consider living in Bethesda.

Good luck..

LOL. This post seems a bit much. I live in Bethesda, and most of my neighbors are modest and nice people (who happen to be comfortable financially). I'm not sure where this poster gets his information about Bethesda.

Simple. She gets in from never actually spending any time in Bethesda. What she describes in nothing like what I have experienced living in Bethesda with a city-mini stroller (not even the gt) and a jogging stroller handed down from a neighbor whose kids were older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do write how expensive all is and it sure is, but you also make a lot of money.
Why are your older cars still $600?
You mention eating out. Stop eating out so much. You toddler (or baby) hardly enjoys. There should be plenty of things to do in Bethesda other than eating out.
$5000 left is a lot. Car payments don't last forever, pre-school payments don't last forever nor do the student loan payments.
You mentioned "older cars". Who cares how old they are as long as they run. Feeling poor is in your head, it's not the reality. Work on that feeling because you are not poor as long as you pull in that income.

I know things will get better but i have been feeling very frustrated with our situation. We moved here for my wife's job and i dont have friends outside of her circle of co-workers yet, so i am using this board to vent a little. i can't bitch to them about the money we are making for obvious reasons. The plan was for me to switch career when she was done with her training but this obviously has to be postpone for several years now.

At least it's nice to see there are some normal people who live around here too (based on posts above), I was under the impression everybody was a millionaire.

But out of curiosity, who buys the $1.5M to $3M new homes that literaly grow like weeds in most of the city?

BTW our 2 year old loves to eat out too...

I wonder this too.