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[quote=Anonymous][quote=csabdalla]Okay folks, I'm from Detroit. Here, we live in a GORGEOUS neighborhood with homes 3000 sq ft + that have Terrazzo tiles, leaded glass windows, plaster and woodwork that you will never find anymore and they go for under $250K, these days. BUT people pay through the nose for taxes $14 K - $25 K and all the neighborhood kids are in elite private schools because DPS is not an option. I DO NOT expect to have these perks in DC.

My DH and I will be working for a specific fed agency, so I am assuming the location will be DC proper. I am guessing at the salary, it may very well be more than that. I would love to rent a house with a yard, and my husband and I don't want to commute more than 30 min if at all possible since we have young kids and I don't want them in aftercare until 6 pm. I am thinking rental around $2500, although that sounds crazy to my Detroit ears where a  fantastic 2000 sq ft home might rent in the $1500 range.

SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT'S UP WITH YOUR PRESCHOOL SYSTEM DOWN THERE. Everyone keeps writing that I need to get on that now. I haven't had to really deal with that because my kids attend private school together and there is always an Early School with pre - K.

Wish list

Great schools
short commute
a yard 
pedestrian community[/quote]

Your complete wish list is somewhat unrealistic for under $2500, unless you're prepared to call TC Williams (Alexandria City) or Wakefield (South Arlington) "great." Plus I understand Alexandria City has a habit of trying to reassign you to Jefferson Houston and Mount Vernon (the two lowest-scoring/highest-poverty elementary schools in the system.)

If you're okay with Annandale or south Falls Church, you might be able to find something to your liking (especially in terms of house space) -- the further you are from ageing garden apartment complexes, the better. OTOH, you might lose something of the pedestrian community. You can use greatschools to find out free-reduced lunch stats, test scores, and racial makeups of the schools. Most school systems have an "enter an address and find your school assignments" webpage.

Alexandria City and South Arlington are hit or miss with regard to neighborhoods, some are just fine (e.g. around 23rd Street South near Crystal City) and others aren't really that great (the duplexes around Glebe/395.) [/quote]

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