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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 bedroom smallish ( 1700 sf ) nicely renovated house in AU Park shows 800+$ per SF on Zillow and about 1.4$m (down from $1.6m at peak) and l know there are other similar houses here without a massive addition. Zillow typically $600 - $900 / sf, so in your budget for the smaller houses. But nobody is selling? Are you being picky in other ways like you only want a very quiet street?

Well as some posters pointed out, I suppose I was being picky in that I was hoping for a SFH. But other than that, my standards aren't that high. But just because zillow shows that estimate doesn't mean there are houses to buy.

See, nobody real would seriously claim their standards aren’t high limiting themselves to a couple of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the entire DMV.

[Anonymous]

About 5 years ago, I could have moved from Shaw to upper NW, trading a $900,000 rowhome for a $1 million SFH. But the prices took off in upper NW during the pandemic, maybe because schools actually opened in the wealthiest areas. Or people wanted somewhat more space. Prices went up disproportionately in that part of the city. The houses I'm interested in went up about 20%.

[Anonymous]

We moved from NE to NW last year, in your price range. I do absolutely understand about prices and inventory--it was so depressing to have one or two houses to look at, and that was it, and to feel like it was a feeding frenzy for any individual house on the market.
I'm pretty sure I scowled and shot half-murderous looks at anyone who suggested that sometimes timing and luck works in your favor and that you do find the house you're meant to have. But it turned out to be true in our case, that some of the things that mattered to other folks who were looking at the same time weren't as important to us. So there's hope!
We ended up in Barnaby Woods, in Chevy Chase DC. We did give up readily walkable access to shops and restaurants, and the public transport access is paltry--but those factors made prices a bit less than in, say, AU Park, where we were continually shocked by how little house you'd get for so much pricetag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a good thing to be priced out of upper NW whether to end up cash poor and realizing that Deal and Jackson-Reed are not really very good and that you now need money for private schools on top of the mortgage.

This, OP. I live in one of those now-$2M houses (because we bought a while ago). I am gobsmacked by how many new neighbors arriving from hip, crime-ridden DC neighborhoods are here in CCDC for ... DCPS schools. They buy for $1.6M, sink another $400K into additions and remodels of a 6-yr-old "outdated" kitchen with a plan to go to public schools.

What I don't get: if you can afford a $2.1 million house, can you not instead afford to pay for pk-4? Why on earth anyone would buy in NWDC to get a free year of pk4 (we don't have pk3) is beyond me. Spend that cash on Arlington if short commute is important or Fairfax if it's not.

[Anonymous]

Glover Park is where you want to be if you’re set on staying in DC. We looked in upper NW at AU Park and others close by, and while the houses had more space, I’m happy with where we ended up, namely because of the diverse and mostly down-to-earth people in the neighborhood and the schools. Houses move fast but you can find one under $1.5.

[Anonymous]

The only people I know with nice newer SFHs in NW are rich. Like, C-suite at a F500 company rich. It’s not for regular mortals like you and me. Need to revise the dream OP. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a good thing to be priced out of upper NW whether to end up cash poor and realizing that Deal and Jackson-Reed are not really very good and that you now need money for private schools on top of the mortgage.

This, OP. I live in one of those now-$2M houses (because we bought a while ago). I am gobsmacked by how many new neighbors arriving from hip, crime-ridden DC neighborhoods are here in CCDC for ... DCPS schools. They buy for $1.6M, sink another $400K into additions and remodels of a 6-yr-old "outdated" kitchen with a plan to go to public schools.

What I don't get: if you can afford a $2.1 million house, can you not instead afford to pay for pk-4? Why on earth anyone would buy in NWDC to get a free year of pk4 (we don't have pk3) is beyond me. Spend that cash on Arlington if short commute is important or Fairfax if it's not.

THIS. I live 3 blocks inside MD in CCMD can’t figure out for the life of me why people would live less than a 1/4 mile away for lesser schools and services plus no vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glover Park is where you want to be if you’re set on staying in DC. We looked in upper NW at AU Park and others close by, and while the houses had more space, I’m happy with where we ended up, namely because of the diverse and mostly down-to-earth people in the neighborhood and the schools. Houses move fast but you can find one under $1.5.

NP - tell me about the diversity in Glover Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a good thing to be priced out of upper NW whether to end up cash poor and realizing that Deal and Jackson-Reed are not really very good and that you now need money for private schools on top of the mortgage.

This, OP. I live in one of those now-$2M houses (because we bought a while ago). I am gobsmacked by how many new neighbors arriving from hip, crime-ridden DC neighborhoods are here in CCDC for ... DCPS schools. They buy for $1.6M, sink another $400K into additions and remodels of a 6-yr-old "outdated" kitchen with a plan to go to public schools.

What I don't get: if you can afford a $2.1 million house, can you not instead afford to pay for pk-4? Why on earth anyone would buy in NWDC to get a free year of pk4 (we don't have pk3) is beyond me. Spend that cash on Arlington if short commute is important or Fairfax if it's not.

THIS. I live 3 blocks inside MD in CCMD can’t figure out for the life of me why people would live less than a 1/4 mile away for lesser schools and services plus no vote.

Many people need to be able to tell their friends that they live in DC (and not a suburb). Sounds silly but I promise it's what motivates many people especially in a status-obsessed area like this.

[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.

I don’t get it. A 4/3 2000 square foot house at 3703 Albemarle, right near Deal and Wilson, went for less than $1.1 just today. I’ve seen a number of houses recently go for the $1.1-1.2 range in the areas you say you’re targeting. That’s just in the last few weeks. $1.5 should be plenty to find something fairly nice. It’s more than my budget and I don’t think I’ll have to leave DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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?

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

Great Falls, VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second the poster asking if you’re sure you will never need $ for private school. Stretching for Deal and Wilson would be a hard sell for me when suburban options exist.

Agree. OP, you will get more for your money in MoCo with in state college options to boot, same with Arlington. Pick the one better for your commutes and redirect your searching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The newly elected ANC commissioners in upper NW are hellbent on turning it into Petworth. Stay where you are or move to NOVA.

Can you explain this? What are they proposing/what neighborhoods are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are choosing to leave the city. With a $1.5 budget you could find something. But it's ok if you prefer what you can get elsewhere. You might have been unhappy if you bought last year too, especially if you are a grass is always greener type.

Considering we need 3 bedrooms and want to be in a Wilson feeder (or the new HS), I don't feel like it's a choice. But if you think there's inventory at that price then genuinely, I'd love to see it. My redfin searches have never looked so bleak.

There are currently 16 homes that feed into Wilson on sale that are $1.5M and under, and have 3 or more BR and 2 or more BA.

Of the 16, 2 are detached:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3424-Quebec-St-NW-20016/home/9984707
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3833-Windom-Pl-NW-20016/home/9968819

and one is in CCDC:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3726-Military-Rd-NW-20015/home/9971047

So, there are options. Maybe not the best options out there, but there are options that fit the criteria that you claim to be your most desirable. There are homes that fit your budget, are in your desired school zone, and meet your size needs. Yes, you have to make some compromises about other less important things you want, but unfortunately, 95-98% of the rest of the population have to make compromises, too, when they want to buy a house in a desirable location.

So, it depends on how much you really want to move. But if you really want to move, there are homes that will fit what you've listed as the most important criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a good thing to be priced out of upper NW whether to end up cash poor and realizing that Deal and Jackson-Reed are not really very good and that you now need money for private schools on top of the mortgage.

This, OP. I live in one of those now-$2M houses (because we bought a while ago). I am gobsmacked by how many new neighbors arriving from hip, crime-ridden DC neighborhoods are here in CCDC for ... DCPS schools. They buy for $1.6M, sink another $400K into additions and remodels of a 6-yr-old "outdated" kitchen with a plan to go to public schools.

What I don't get: if you can afford a $2.1 million house, can you not instead afford to pay for pk-4? Why on earth anyone would buy in NWDC to get a free year of pk4 (we don't have pk3) is beyond me. Spend that cash on Arlington if short commute is important or Fairfax if it's not.

THIS. I live 3 blocks inside MD in CCMD can’t figure out for the life of me why people would live less than a 1/4 mile away for lesser schools and services plus no vote.

You cannot for the life of you realize that different people value different things, or bought the hosie that was available, or might work for DC and need to live in the city, or have a different view of the schools than you? You really truly cannot fathom that people make different choices?