Moving to DC from Brooklyn-- where should we live? Buy/rent?

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[Post New]04/21/2013 21:04
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Anonymous
Downtown Silver Spring is fairly urban.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:05
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Anonymous
I think Silver Spring is lovely, but it is mostly a pedestrian mall with national chain restaurants and stores. It doesn't sound like what you are looking for. The H Street NE corridor, U Street corridor, Bloomington/Shaw are probably more of what you have in mind. But driving up to Columbia... ugh. Can your hubs work at home some days? I would have him make that drive for a few weeks before you committed to either a rental or a buy in DC. good luck to you.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:14
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Are good schools important to you? When does your 2 year old turn 3? if it's before Sept 30 he or she is eligible for public school though it may be a challenge to get him or her in anywhere this late. (Charter school places are assigned on a lottery).

Anyway, I suggest Bloomingdale or Shaw. Though you'll most likely want to try a charter.


I don't think that Bloomingdale or Shaw, or anything in the District for that matter, will be 35 minutes to Columbia at rush hour. I suspect the OP will want to be in Montgomery or Howard County.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:14
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Anonymous
I would definitely consider Baltimore.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:15
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Anonymous
Take a good look at Bloomingdale or Eckington. Within your price change, changing super rapidly with house prices growing by leaps and bounds so it could be a good investment if you choose to buy. Very hip, tons of families, a lot of good diversity...farmers markets, restaurants, parks all awesome. Very urban but in a good way IMO.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:17
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I would definitely consider Baltimore.


that's a good suggestion
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:18
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Anonymous
I agree that Baltimore is a good idea. I also think that the downtown Takoma Park area is one to explore. It'll be a little further from Columbia, but very walkable and funky, and less cookie cutter than downtown Silver Spring. It should be very affordable at your price point.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:19
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are good schools important to you? When does your 2 year old turn 3? if it's before Sept 30 he or she is eligible for public school though it may be a challenge to get him or her in anywhere this late. (Charter school places are assigned on a lottery).

Anyway, I suggest Bloomingdale or Shaw. Though you'll most likely want to try a charter.


I don't think that Bloomingdale or Shaw, or anything in the District for that matter, will be 35 minutes to Columbia at rush hour. I suspect the OP will want to be in Montgomery or Howard County.


You might be right. But on a whim, I just mapquested Columbia MD from my address in Bloomingdale and it said 41 minutes. It is surprising how quickly we can get out of here actually. I have clients that come from all over suburbia and they get here in 45 minutes no problem from almost anywhere - Silver Spring, Kensington, Bethesda, and many parts of VA too. It always surprises them at first but with the right route, it isnt that bad.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:21
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Anonymous
shirirb wrote:Thanks for the quick response! Agreed re: transaction costs, though amortized over 3 years (the length of husband's initial term), it may still be cheaper than renting! Plus, we're worried that mortgage rates may not stay this low if we waited a year... That being said, we have no clue what real estate taxes look like in DC.

Re: schools, 2 year old just turned 2, will be 29 months-ish in September. So no go on the public school option. We've been looking at JCC, Co-op Gan in Capitol Hill, and Adas Israel. Will be posting a message on that issue on another forum!


THe commute to Columbia from all of these preschools would be at least an hour during rush hour, probably longer for the JCC and anything on Capitol Hill. Agree you need to give up on DC proper, and that Silver Spring would be a better bet.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:21
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shirirb
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OP here-- best options for me career-wise are with the government, so we're going to have to compromise on DC. Plus, we have a few contacts in DC, and absolutely no one in Baltimore.

I now see that my post comes at the heels of a dozen or more previous posts looking for the NYC-to-DC transition sweet spot. I guess it's a debate as old as time.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:23
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Anonymous
shirirb wrote:OP here-- best options for me career-wise are with the government, so we're going to have to compromise on DC. Plus, we have a few contacts in DC, and absolutely no one in Baltimore.

I now see that my post comes at the heels of a dozen or more previous posts looking for the NYC-to-DC transition sweet spot. I guess it's a debate as old as time.


Silver Spring booster here... it is a straight shot on the red line from Silver Spring to downtown DC. However, if you are both working, you also need to start thinking asap about daycare (long wait lists like NYC) unless you are ok with getting a nanny.
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:24
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shirirb
Member Offline
REALLY REALLY? I have to give up and move to the suburbs? There's no reasonable alternative in DC metro?
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:26
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Anonymous
OP, where in Bklyn do you live and how closely do you want to replicate it? What do you like and what would you be willing to take a pass on? For example, would you like to rely mostly on public transport (for yourself - obviously not for your husband) or is something a bit more suburban OK?
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:30
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Anonymous
Petworth or Columbia heights
[Post New]04/21/2013 21:30
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Anonymous
DC area resident - just spent today walking around Ditmas Park, Windsor Terrace and Park Slope. So gorgeous. You will find nothing like it in DC. So sorry that DC area is so lame by comparison.
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