Relocating - Searching for a neighborhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister and her wife raise their kids in Takoma Park. Your budget will get you something walkable to metro in TP or downtown Silver Spring (Woodside neighborhood) both of which are diverse and extremely gay-friendly, as well as having large and diverse Jewish communities. Plus great schools. Bethesda and CC are great but not exactly diverse or really gay-friendly, and 900k doesn't go far.

Obviously avoid VA at all costs.

I wouldn't necessarily say avoid VA at all costs. I understand OP wants marriage equality and VA does not (yet) have that, but I know several gay families that live quite happily in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Before you jump on me, by "gay families," I mean families (with and without children) that have same sex couples.

[Anonymous]

We live in Mount Vernon Triangle, although you said you weren't interested in "urban" we have parks, lots of families and (if you get in) you could walk to BASIS.

Living in MVT/Penn Quarter, you won't get any looks as a gay couple with a diverse family. Can't say that in MD, VA or capital hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister and her wife raise their kids in Takoma Park. Your budget will get you something walkable to metro in TP or downtown Silver Spring (Woodside neighborhood) both of which are diverse and extremely gay-friendly, as well as having large and diverse Jewish communities. Plus great schools. Bethesda and CC are great but not exactly diverse or really gay-friendly, and 900k doesn't go far.

Obviously avoid VA at all costs.

I wouldn't necessarily say avoid VA at all costs. I understand OP wants marriage equality and VA does not (yet) have that, but I know several gay families that live quite happily in Virginia.

Some of my best friends....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Mount Vernon Triangle, although you said you weren't interested in "urban" we have parks, lots of families and (if you get in) you could walk to BASIS.

Living in MVT/Penn Quarter, you won't get any looks as a gay couple with a diverse family. Can't say that in MD, VA or capital hill.

"Mount Vernon Triangle"? Oh, OP, just ask people in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister and her wife raise their kids in Takoma Park. Your budget will get you something walkable to metro in TP or downtown Silver Spring (Woodside neighborhood) both of which are diverse and extremely gay-friendly, as well as having large and diverse Jewish communities. Plus great schools. Bethesda and CC are great but not exactly diverse or really gay-friendly, and 900k doesn't go far.

Obviously avoid VA at all costs.

I wouldn't necessarily say avoid VA at all costs. I understand OP wants marriage equality and VA does not (yet) have that, but I know several gay families that live quite happily in Virginia.

There is no way VA will have marriage equality in the foreseeable future. Not only that--Cuccinelli is trying to reinstate anti-sodomy laws in VA even though SCOTUS declared them unconstitutional. The state legislature in VA is regressive. There are some progressive pockets in the state, but anyone interested in LGBT equality who has a choice about where to live would be crazy to choose VA over MD or DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

REALTOR4U wrote:I think you will find that the schools in Montgomery County are generally better than DC and are highly rated. Two of the best areas for schools on the County are in Potomac and Bethesda. Check out GreatSchools.net for more information.

Very little diversity in Potomac and Bethesda. There are other great schools in Montgomery County where you would feel welcome. I grew up in Potomac and would never move back there.

In the end, most parents end up choosing good schools over the diversity of "poor non-whites, yuppie whites" that exists in most of DC/Silver Spring, or "World Bank diversity" that exists in upper NW/Bethesda (which OP isn't going to afford on a "mere" $900k.)

Rockville might be a decent choice if OP is in the "wants some urbanity, but isn't going to sacrifice safety and send my kids to terrible schools" mode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cap Hill in bounds for Maury or Brent would serve you very well until middle school. Both are diverse racially and in terms of family make up. Middle school you'll probably have to bail at 5th for Latin or BASIS. I agree Shep Park ES is great, but they might take away their Deal feed for middle school. Something to think about. Welcome to Washington!

Now *that* might be worth considering. The neighborhood feeds to Deal for MS, and then Coolidge for HS, but my understanding is that a kid that goes to Deal gets to go to Wilson.

And as for 20:10, is it only illegal if the Realtor discusses this with a client?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

REALTOR4U wrote:I think you will find that the schools in Montgomery County are generally better than DC and are highly rated. Two of the best areas for schools on the County are in Potomac and Bethesda. Check out GreatSchools.net for more information.

Very little diversity in Potomac and Bethesda. There are other great schools in Montgomery County where you would feel welcome. I grew up in Potomac and would never move back there.

In the end, most parents end up choosing good schools over the diversity of "poor non-whites, yuppie whites" that exists in most of DC/Silver Spring, or "World Bank diversity" that exists in upper NW/Bethesda (which OP isn't going to afford on a "mere" $900k.)

Rockville might be a decent choice if OP is in the "wants some urbanity, but isn't going to sacrifice safety and send my kids to terrible schools" mode.

PP, can you explain how this makes any sense? Rockville has mediocre schools, isn't urban at all, and while a fine place to live is mainly home to (i) middle-class Fed workers, and (ii) poor non-whites? Plenty of areas in DC/Bethesda have homes in the $900k range, and Silver Spring white yuppies? Do you even live in this area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try Petworth. Leafy suburban feel, still kinda affordable, lots of families and Powell E'S has potential.

No. Powell is terrible and is the school of last resort (tho some attempt it for their 3 year olds in the Free!Daycare! Mold). Why would someone moving from another state purposely select a failing school when they can pick any address they want with a 900,000 budget?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

REALTOR4U wrote:I think you will find that the schools in Montgomery County are generally better than DC and are highly rated. Two of the best areas for schools on the County are in Potomac and Bethesda. Check out GreatSchools.net for more information.

Very little diversity in Potomac and Bethesda. There are other great schools in Montgomery County where you would feel welcome. I grew up in Potomac and would never move back there.

In the end, most parents end up choosing good schools over the diversity of "poor non-whites, yuppie whites" that exists in most of DC/Silver Spring, or "World Bank diversity" that exists in upper NW/Bethesda (which OP isn't going to afford on a "mere" $900k.)

Rockville might be a decent choice if OP is in the "wants some urbanity, but isn't going to sacrifice safety and send my kids to terrible schools" mode.

PP, can you explain how this makes any sense? Rockville has mediocre schools, isn't urban at all, and while a fine place to live is mainly home to (i) middle-class Fed workers, and (ii) poor non-whites? Plenty of areas in DC/Bethesda have homes in the $900k range, and Silver Spring white yuppies? Do you even live in this area?

1) In what universe is RichMo "mediocre," or are you one of those "Whitman or bust!" sorts? Rockville HS, yes, is closer to the median of MCPS, but that's still MCPS. Why aren't you saying this to folks advocating living in the non-Wilson parts of DC, or do they get a pass in your book?
2) Rockville Town Center has several 10-15 story buildings, with some lovely historic districts adjacent to it. No, it's not downtown DC. But it's hardly "strip mall suburbia."
3) $900k gets you further in Rockville than Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Silver Spring. That's a simple fact. It's also still Metro accessible. Hmm, spend 15 minutes more on a Metro or pay an extra $500-$1000 a month in mortgage?
4) Silver Spring and gentrifying DC has a lot of white yuppies and poor non-whites. Of course it's a gross oversimplification, like "Rockville has mediocre schools."
5) Upper NW/Bethesda/already gentrified DC-Maryland doesn't really have much SFH inventory in the <$900k range, unless OP wants to be the poorest person on their block. That area has "World Bank diversity" where all colors have a good deal of Green in their racial background.

[Anonymous]

You'll have some good options in your price range, and I think most of the neighborhoods you listed in your initial post could work well. You'll just have to look around and decide what kind of "feel" and what kind of house you're looking for. We live in Chevy Chase DC and know a few gay families with kids here. The neighborhood is quite progressive (although not as "crunchy" as someplace like Takoma Park) and I think the schools are fine. We have found it to be a great place to raise kids and we love the leafy streets and feeling of community. Your money will go further here than it would in Bethesda or CC, MD, and the commute downtown is not bad. It's certainly further out than Capitol Hill, but you'll be able to get a bigger house and yard and will have access to decent public middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

I'd echo the call for Adams Morgan or Kalorama. We live here with our three year old and love it. Not a surburban feel but a diverse, urban, increasingly family friendly neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister and her wife raise their kids in Takoma Park. Your budget will get you something walkable to metro in TP or downtown Silver Spring (Woodside neighborhood) both of which are diverse and extremely gay-friendly, as well as having large and diverse Jewish communities. Plus great schools. Bethesda and CC are great but not exactly diverse or really gay-friendly, and 900k doesn't go far.

Obviously avoid VA at all costs.

I wouldn't necessarily say avoid VA at all costs. I understand OP wants marriage equality and VA does not (yet) have that, but I know several gay families that live quite happily in Virginia.

There is no way VA will have marriage equality in the foreseeable future. Not only that--Cuccinelli is trying to reinstate anti-sodomy laws in VA even though SCOTUS declared them unconstitutional. The state legislature in VA is regressive. There are some progressive pockets in the state, but anyone interested in LGBT equality who has a choice about where to live would be crazy to choose VA over MD or DC.

In a recent Post article I read that there are now more Democrats than Republicans in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister and her wife raise their kids in Takoma Park. Your budget will get you something walkable to metro in TP or downtown Silver Spring (Woodside neighborhood) both of which are diverse and extremely gay-friendly, as well as having large and diverse Jewish communities. Plus great schools. Bethesda and CC are great but not exactly diverse or really gay-friendly, and 900k doesn't go far.

Obviously avoid VA at all costs.

I wouldn't necessarily say avoid VA at all costs. I understand OP wants marriage equality and VA does not (yet) have that, but I know several gay families that live quite happily in Virginia.

There is no way VA will have marriage equality in the foreseeable future. Not only that--Cuccinelli is trying to reinstate anti-sodomy laws in VA even though SCOTUS declared them unconstitutional. The state legislature in VA is regressive. There are some progressive pockets in the state, but anyone interested in LGBT equality who has a choice about where to live would be crazy to choose VA over MD or DC.

In a recent Post article I read that there are now more Democrats than Republicans in VA.

Which means what, exactly? NoVa has long been more "progressive" than the rest of hte state and is dominant in terms of population. Yet, VA's state legislature has gotten more R-dominated, and there's a better-than-decent chance that Cucinelli will be elected governor. Numbers mean nonthing when the crazies control policy.