Reply to Relocating from Chicago -- Neighborhood Recommendations in DC, MD and VA?

Forum Index » Real Estate

Reply to "Relocating from Chicago -- Neighborhood Recommendations in DC, MD and VA?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=donewithchicago][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So you're moving here, but won't have commutes? Move as far out as you can. With that budget, you won't be getting much close-in and it doesn't seem necessary.[/quote]

Which then begs the question, why bother moving at all? Higher cost of living, not higher income.[/quote]

Higher cost of living for a better quality region.[/quote]

I am a Midwesterner and I have lived in the DC area for over 10 years.  I am also very familiar with Chicago. You may be deluding yourself a little about this being a "better quality region."  I want to warn you that it is very, very expensive and what you actually get for all of that expense really is not much.  Unlike Chicago, there is very little supply with respect to housing.  In areas with "good schools," tiny little houses with low ceilings that most people in Chicago would not touch with a 10 foot pole cost over a million dollars in certain close in areas.  Can't afford that?  Well, then you have to live in sketchier parts of the city and deal with bad schools or you have to live really far out and spend your life in traffic.  Also, you can't get reasonably priced private/Catholic schools like you can in Chicago.  The absolute minimum is 10K per year, but most are 20-40K per year. Daycare for one child can cost upwards of 2K per month.  There are waitlists for everything, daycares, preschools, swimming lessons, classes, etc.  Also, unlike Chicago, which is more spread out, there are way too many people packed into a relatively small area, so there is constant competition for everything, I mean everything.  All of this causes people to become very crabby and unpleasant on a regular basis.  And this is made worse by the fact that the area is already populated with more than its fair share of type A climbers who would step on their own grandmothers to get ahead.  It is very difficult to make friends because there is still a lot of transience and many reserved people who keep to themselves.

I don't know what your financial situation is OP, but I can tell you that your housing budget of 575K, while great for Chicago, will not get you a lot of desireable choices here.  It is a very, very tough place to live, and especially to raise kids, if you are a regular middle or upper middle class person.  I am sure that people on this thread will blast me for saying that and tell you that I am wrong, and talk about how great it is, but I can guarantee you that many of those people are either very wealthy, have trust funds or family help,  or bought their homes 30 years ago.   I wish you the best, OP, but with your housing budget and your list of desires, you may want to reconsider.  If you do move here, though, I hope that things work out for the best.  Not to scare you, I just thought that you should come into this area with your eyes wide open.  Wish someone would have done me this favor before I moved here.                [/quote]

+1000.  Spot on.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics