Where to buy in DC if great PK3 is the goal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes - we only care about PK3 and 4. We intend to be in DC only 3 or so years. Language immersion in not important. Since we do have the flexibility to buy almost anywhere in DC, we would love to be strategic about it with regards to schools.

With $1.2M you really don't have the flexibility to buy "almost anywhere in DC". Houses in Brookland are going for $1 million.

Very true. OP should rent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look in Old City/H Street/NoMa in NE DC. Amazing family community, lots of young families, extremely walkable, Whole Foods, soon to be Trader Joe's, Union Market, etc. no one has mentioned JO Wilson, but it's a great elementary school option as well. Location is perfect to commute via train, bike, car, etc. if you plan to rent, you'll easily cover your mortgage.

And the middle school?

Stuart-Hobson will be fine by the time OP's baby is old enough. Or she will go to one of the many charters in the area.

What would have to happen for Stuart-Hobson to be fine?

[Anonymous]

Buy in Brookland, and move/sell or rent when you need to i.e. when the school options available to you from the combination of location and 3 years of lottery outcomes are no longer satisfactory. Most DCPS and all charters are great for PK3-PK4, seriously. You may not believe it now, but they really are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy in Brookland, and move/sell or rent when you need to i.e. when the school options available to you from the combination of location and 3 years of lottery outcomes are no longer satisfactory. Most DCPS and all charters are great for PK3-PK4, seriously. You may not believe it now, but they really are.

Ugh, so sorry, I didn't see the OP's statement of staying in DC only 3 years. Then rent a condo in Upper NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look in Old City/H Street/NoMa in NE DC. Amazing family community, lots of young families, extremely walkable, Whole Foods, soon to be Trader Joe's, Union Market, etc. no one has mentioned JO Wilson, but it's a great elementary school option as well. Location is perfect to commute via train, bike, car, etc. if you plan to rent, you'll easily cover your mortgage.

And the middle school?

Stuart-Hobson will be fine by the time OP's baby is old enough. Or she will go to one of the many charters in the area.

What would have to happen for Stuart-Hobson to be fine?

Better outcomes for the students, and less behavior issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes - we only care about PK3 and 4. We intend to be in DC only 3 or so years. Language immersion in not important. Since we do have the flexibility to buy almost anywhere in DC, we would love to be strategic about it with regards to schools.

With $1.2M you really don't have the flexibility to buy "almost anywhere in DC". Houses in Brookland are going for $1 million.

Um.... No.

There isn't even a decent grocery store for miles a round. Maybe one house in Brookland sold that high, but nobody is seriously paying that much to live in Brookland. Sorry. It's a cute neighborhood, but it ain't all that, yet.

That's exactly the PP's point, isn't it though? Homes in Brookland ARE selling for $800K-$900K, quickly approaching $1 million--with no decent grocery store or DCPS. So, $1.2m doesn't provide access to anywhere in DC, not by a long shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes - we only care about PK3 and 4. We intend to be in DC only 3 or so years. Language immersion in not important. Since we do have the flexibility to buy almost anywhere in DC, we would love to be strategic about it with regards to schools.

With $1.2M you really don't have the flexibility to buy "almost anywhere in DC". Houses in Brookland are going for $1 million.

Um.... No.

There isn't even a decent grocery store for miles a round. Maybe one house in Brookland sold that high, but nobody is seriously paying that much to live in Brookland. Sorry. It's a cute neighborhood, but it ain't all that, yet.

That's exactly the PP's point, isn't it though? Homes in Brookland ARE selling for $800K-$900K, quickly approaching $1 million--with no decent grocery store or DCPS. So, $1.2m doesn't provide access to anywhere in DC, not by a long shot.

I'd buy in Shepherd Park for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look in Old City/H Street/NoMa in NE DC. Amazing family community, lots of young families, extremely walkable, Whole Foods, soon to be Trader Joe's, Union Market, etc. no one has mentioned JO Wilson, but it's a great elementary school option as well. Location is perfect to commute via train, bike, car, etc. if you plan to rent, you'll easily cover your mortgage.

And the middle school?

Stuart-Hobson will be fine by the time OP's baby is old enough. Or she will go to one of the many charters in the area.

What would have to happen for Stuart-Hobson to be fine?

Better outcomes for the students, and less behavior issues.

Yes, but what do you think would have to happen for that to occur?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look in Old City/H Street/NoMa in NE DC. Amazing family community, lots of young families, extremely walkable, Whole Foods, soon to be Trader Joe's, Union Market, etc. no one has mentioned JO Wilson, but it's a great elementary school option as well. Location is perfect to commute via train, bike, car, etc. if you plan to rent, you'll easily cover your mortgage.

And the middle school?

Stuart-Hobson will be fine by the time OP's baby is old enough. Or she will go to one of the many charters in the area.

What would have to happen for Stuart-Hobson to be fine?

Better outcomes for the students, and less behavior issues.

Yes, but what do you think would have to happen for that to occur?

Current parents are working on various things to make it more appealing, and I'm sure if they continue, it will get better over time. More high performing kids choosing it, and more funds for programming and behavior support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes - we only care about PK3 and 4. We intend to be in DC only 3 or so years. Language immersion in not important. Since we do have the flexibility to buy almost anywhere in DC, we would love to be strategic about it with regards to schools.

With $1.2M you really don't have the flexibility to buy "almost anywhere in DC". Houses in Brookland are going for $1 million.

Um.... No.

There isn't even a decent grocery store for miles a round. Maybe one house in Brookland sold that high, but nobody is seriously paying that much to live in Brookland. Sorry. It's a cute neighborhood, but it ain't all that, yet.

That's exactly the PP's point, isn't it though? Homes in Brookland ARE selling for $800K-$900K, quickly approaching $1 million--with no decent grocery store or DCPS. So, $1.2m doesn't provide access to anywhere in DC, not by a long shot.

I'd buy in Shepherd Park for sure.

Shepherd Park, Crestwood, Bloomingdale, parts of the Hill - really there are a lot of more desirable neighborhoods than Brookland. Sorry, but the $400K diff. between absolutely top-of-the-line Brookland and a budget of $1.2 million sounds like a desperate homeowner.

[Anonymous]

But if they buys IB for Brent - they may or may not get in for PreK3 or 4. I assume you want both great PreK3 as well as a spot in the PreK3 program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi - Op here. Our budget is up to $1.2M and would be ok with either a 2 bedroom row house or 3 br condo. We will leave DC after about 3 years and then return 3 to 4 years later from overseas. We intend to rent out the place before we leave but then look to either sell it or move into it when we return depending on our circumstances/needs.

I understand that IB is not a guarantee but since school location is our biggest consideration we would love to be strategically located for the most choices. Thanks to PP with the suggestion of trying certain clusters and then picking blocks based on that. I will start researching that.

Be careful if you rent and expect to sell. DC is VERY tenant friendly. Doing this can cost you a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes - we only care about PK3 and 4. We intend to be in DC only 3 or so years. Language immersion in not important. Since we do have the flexibility to buy almost anywhere in DC, we would love to be strategic about it with regards to schools.

With $1.2M you really don't have the flexibility to buy "almost anywhere in DC". Houses in Brookland are going for $1 million.

Um.... No.

There isn't even a decent grocery store for miles a round. Maybe one house in Brookland sold that high, but nobody is seriously paying that much to live in Brookland. Sorry. It's a cute neighborhood, but it ain't all that, yet.

That's exactly the PP's point, isn't it though? Homes in Brookland ARE selling for $800K-$900K, quickly approaching $1 million--with no decent grocery store or DCPS. So, $1.2m doesn't provide access to anywhere in DC, not by a long shot.

What a horribly snobby couple of comments.

As a Brookland resident, thank god for you type it "ain't all that" - stay away please!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But if they buys IB for Brent - they may or may not get in for PreK3 or 4. I assume you want both great PreK3 as well as a spot in the PreK3 program.

The only locks for free PreK are in mostly undesirably neighborhoods. Lots of parents are happy with the free PreK in their local DCPS because it's better than daycare. It's K and beyond you have to worry about. Most of the neighborhoods you'd like the K+ you have little chance of winning the free PreK lottery. Most of the neighborhoods you know you can get the free PreK, you already know you're planning your exit.

[Anonymous]

Only here for 3 years? Rent. You won't make enough in appreciation to cover your closing costs when buying (1.45% tax paid to DC govt) and closing costs when selling (1.45% tax paid to DC govt + 5-6% in broker costs + costs to get your home ready to sell).

Prices are already really overheated.