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Apartment hunt induced panic!
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windnwater3
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We have accepted an offer on our house in Upstate NY and are relocating to the DC area. I have been researching this for about a year and know that we want to live in TP/SS area.
Our goal is to be down there by May 1 with Kindergartener and yet-to-be preschooler in tow. Our second goal, of course, is to find the "cutest, most affordable apartment, in the best location, attending the best elementary school" 
Help! 
My head is spinning, what with all the craigslist searching and elementary school reviews. We would love to live in downtown TP or downtown SS...a one car family that wants to stay that way. We would love to be able to access the M, walk to school, library, parks, grocery and feel safe. Our price-range for a 2 bedroom/2 bath is tops $1500 (is this even possible? will we have to live in the 'burbs?) Any and all input (and encouraging words!) will be greatly appreciated. We are coming down the 31st for a few days to get our living situation finalized. Thanks to all. Discovering this forum has been really helpful over the past few months 
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Anonymous
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FYI, Takoma Park/Silver Spring IS the burbs
Also, the metro runs throughout many areas of Montgomery County, and you may want to broaden your horizons when apartment shopping. Schools in Silver Spring aren't that great IMHO. |
Anonymous
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I would encourage you to post under general parenting. I am not sure how many people actually search this section.
Title you post something like - looking for guidance for Takoma Park / SS elementary schools. Also, you may be able to get a realtor. Given the real estate market right now, there might be a small house you could rent in 1 of these areas that might be affordable. Best of luck |
windnwater3
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So I'm already showing my naivete about the area 
My husband has family in North Potomac/Gaithersburg...I guess I was thinking of that as the suburbs. |
Anonymous
Is your mind set on TP or SS or are you open to other locations? Have you considered Northern Virginia? I live in Reston, in a very nice apartment complex called Archstone Landing. Their two bedroom apartments have a very nice layout, the complex is less than 10 years old, management is pretty responsive, they have a very nice lake with boats that are free for residents to use. The apartment complex is located walking distance to Reston Town Center, which has ice rink, shops ,movie theater, etc. There are several many nice restaurants in this area as well. Reston schools are considered to be very good as well. We have been living in Reston for two years and enjoy every minute
Here is a link to the apartment complex http://www.archstoneapartments.com/Apartments/Virginia/Reston-Herndon/Archstone_Reston_Landing/ |
jsteele
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Bad advice. First, its not a good idea to post in multiple forums. Second, plenty of people read the off-topic forum. She is asking about an apartment which is a topic most suited for the off-topic forum. |
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Anonymous
| TP/SS is definitely the 'burbs -- I agree with some of the PP that if you're not toally committed to TP/SS (I work in downtown SS), there are a lot of areas that have the requirements you are looking for and probably better elementary schools -- you could try downtown Bethesda (although might be hard to get a 2BR apt there for $1500) or downtown Rockville which just built up a whole new town center (not sure which schools are over there) -- or as a PP said, if you're open to it, VA definitely has lots of nice areas that meet your criteria too -- Arlington, Courthouse (where I lived and loved it), Clarendon. I think it depends on where your jobs are located -- if in MD and you only want to have 1 car, then probably better to stick with looking in MD. |
Anonymous
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OP, are you the poster from Ithaca? If so, the PPs should realize that you've done your homework thoroughly and are particularly interested in Tk Pk/SS. Bethesda is not at all like Ithaca, and will not be affordable.
Have you tried posting to TakomaPakk, the parenting email list through Yahoo? You may be able to rent a house for what you're planning to spend and houses are often posted about on that list. It's a great resource. |
Anonymous
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Takoma Park schools are not good.
Silver Spring - there are pockets and osme areas fall into Rosemarry Hills ES and Chevy Chase E ES. Check into those. |
Anonymous
Correction, PP: Takoma Park Elementary School is very good (K-3). Piney Branch Elementary and Takoma Park Middle School are definitely less so. The high school is Montgomery Blair, which many people consider a very good school. |
Anonymous
| I can't believe someone suggested Reston--doesn't fit any of the OP's criteria. |
windnwater3
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OP here...yes from Ithaca~
I just got off the phone with a contact in TP who confirmed my desire to live there. So, yes. We are committed to this area. At least for now........ I don't understand such blanket statements as "Takoma Park schools are not good." Critique? Examples? Find a school, anywhere, and you will find a person who says it's not good. |
Anonymous
This is true! I personally went to a "not good" public high school in Silver Spring... and went to an Ivy League college. So there! |
Anonymous
| $1500 for 2 bd/2 bath will be tough to find, you may need to pay closer to $2k unless you are willing to have small square footage or just 1 bathroom. I'm sure people already said this, but definitely check Craigs List daily and also washingtoncitypaper.com, they usually have Takoma rentals. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I think "not good" may be read as "very diverse" and "lower test scores." |