Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:48
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
OP - I should add that our current jobs are not in Philly. We are working primarily remotely for NYC firms. This has been fine up until parental leave. However, we expect that we'll need to make more trips into the office for in-person meetings and events when we return from leave, and it just seems like too much with an infant at home. So we're at a decision point - do we look for jobs in Philly, or do we look for jobs elsewhere? We do not want to return to NYC, but staying in Philly will likely mean shifting the focus of our practices to areas that we are not interested in. (We both currently do a lot of investigations/white collar work, and there just doesn't seem to be much of that here.)
One of us does not want to return to big law for long (if at all) after leave, while the other is open to sticking it out for a few more years. If we decide to leave Philly, the spouse who wants to leave big law would begin looking for agency jobs, and we'd make the move if/when something works out. The spouse who is open to a few more years of big law would transfer to the DC office of their current firm and would take their time looking for something more family-friendly.
One of us does not want to return to big law for long (if at all) after leave, while the other is open to sticking it out for a few more years. If we decide to leave Philly, the spouse who wants to leave big law would begin looking for agency jobs, and we'd make the move if/when something works out. The spouse who is open to a few more years of big law would transfer to the DC office of their current firm and would take their time looking for something more family-friendly.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:42
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
I would suggest visiting rather than moving. I absolutely regret it and just had a family talk about this last week.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:37
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Double edged sword based on what you're saying. You love the lower COL that Philly and the surrounding area offers, but you're bored with your jobs, and the lack of options where your careers are concerned.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
And you think that's not true of Philadelphia?
OP, I would add: A lot of people here who think DC is the center of the planet, and thus are oddly more provincial than people in other big cities.
X100000000
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:34
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
You can definitely find a nice house for $1.5 million in parts of DC, maybe not the closest to the city, but there are new builds in Kensington for $1.5M right now:
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4314-Warner-St-20895/home/11080418
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4524-Everett-St-20895/home/10994565
Or you can find a very nice life in Silver Spring for a house that's under $800K.
Lots of options for lawyers here. I think you'd like it.
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4314-Warner-St-20895/home/11080418
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4524-Everett-St-20895/home/10994565
Or you can find a very nice life in Silver Spring for a house that's under $800K.
Lots of options for lawyers here. I think you'd like it.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:33
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Philadelphian here. 30 years in DMV. Here is the deal. Philly public schools are hair on fire bad. But private schools in Philly are cheaper and probably just as good if not better than DMV schools. Here you will pay for a million dollar home in Moco or Fairfax and face private school decision anyways when you realize how poor they are. There is TJ and Blair magnet - think Central and Masterman but no longer a guarantee for smart or cram school smart due to woke politics.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:30
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Anonymous wrote:You’ll likely struggle to find a home in that price point that isn’t a HUGE downgrade from your current home in Philly. No, I wouldn’t relocate from Philly to live in a suburb of DC. No way.
Go and look online at real estate and make a trip to house hunt.
Seriously don’t understand what the DC burbs would offer you that you don’t have in Philly.
OP - We're currently in a small rowhome in Philly, so buying a single family home in DC would give us more space than we have right now. If we stay in Philly we'll likely stay put in our current house until we have a second child. Then we'd move to the burbs. So the downgrade that would come from living in DC would be a downgrade from the home we would theoretically purchase in the Philly burbs 3-4 years down the road. It wouldn't be a downgrade from our current situation.
But yes, I've compared online listings in Bethesda/Alexandria/McLean/NW DC to listings on the Main Line and in the SJ burbs. It's obvious that we would be getting much less house for the same money in the DC area. I also understand that the market is DC is insanely competitive now, while the Philly market is just competitive. That's the main reason why I'm wondering if we'd regret making the move even though DC objectively makes more sense for us given our careers.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:20
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Double edged sword based on what you're saying. You love the lower COL that Philly and the surrounding area offers, but you're bored with your jobs, and the lack of options where your careers are concerned.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
And you think that's not true of Philadelphia?
OP, I would add: A lot of people here who think DC is the center of the planet, and thus are oddly more provincial than people in other big cities.
MMMmmmm.....no? where did I say that? I definitely do not feel this way, at all.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:17
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
You’ll likely struggle to find a home in that price point that isn’t a HUGE downgrade from your current home in Philly. No, I wouldn’t relocate from Philly to live in a suburb of DC. No way.
Go and look online at real estate and make a trip to house hunt.
Seriously don’t understand what the DC burbs would offer you that you don’t have in Philly.
Go and look online at real estate and make a trip to house hunt.
Seriously don’t understand what the DC burbs would offer you that you don’t have in Philly.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:15
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Double edged sword based on what you're saying. You love the lower COL that Philly and the surrounding area offers, but you're bored with your jobs, and the lack of options where your careers are concerned.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
And you think that's not true of Philadelphia?
OP, I would add: A lot of people here who think DC is the center of the planet, and thus are oddly more provincial than people in other big cities.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:11
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
If you find a good neighborhood, you should have a nice life here. Not everyone is type A. We live in NW DC on a modest income (bought a fixer upper in 2020) and have nice, friendly neighbors with tons to do/see. Public schools are better in VA and MD with some nice neighborhoods. But cost of living is quite high as are salaries so it’s all a trade off.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 12:00
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Anonymous wrote:Double edged sword based on what you're saying. You love the lower COL that Philly and the surrounding area offers, but you're bored with your jobs, and the lack of options where your careers are concerned.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
And you think that's not true of Philadelphia?
OP, I would add: A lot of people here who think DC is the center of the planet, and thus are oddly more provincial than people in other big cities.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 11:55
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Double edged sword based on what you're saying. You love the lower COL that Philly and the surrounding area offers, but you're bored with your jobs, and the lack of options where your careers are concerned.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
DMV is a very interesting area. A lot of Type-A personalities, super intelligent and well-educated people. Good job stability, career options. With that comes the feeling of needing to constantly keep up, or stay ahead - which is exhausting. At first it may feel exciting and invigorating, but after a while you start dreaming of leaving to a slower paced area.
With your budget, you have options - not a ton though unless you want to move outside the beltway (exburbs). You won't be alone though because many folks are now priced out of close in areas.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 11:54
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
Op, what type of legal jobs are you eyeing here in DC? The good federal jobs are quite competitve to get. Yes, there are lots of law firms. But I would think there are more corporate/in house positions in the Philly area?
And yes, your money will go farther in the Philly suburbs than here. Although much of the housing stock up there is older.
And yes, your money will go farther in the Philly suburbs than here. Although much of the housing stock up there is older.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 11:54
Subject: Re:Would we regret moving to the DMV?
I don’t think you’d regret it. You won’t get everything you want in a house but so many more job opps for lawyers here.
Anonymous
03/11/2022 11:44
Subject: Would we regret moving to the DMV?
My husband and I (both lawyers) have lived in Philly for two years and are becoming a bit discouraged by the lack of job opportunities in the area. We came from NYC and have loved certain things about Philly (especially the lower cost of living and great food scene). However, when it comes to thinking about next steps in our careers, we're not seeing many opportunities we're excited about. We also aren't particularly tied to this area - we aren't from here, and we haven't really put down roots yet. We're in our early 30s with an infant.
We're starting to come to the realization that moving to DC may make more sense for us than staying put. Neither of us is work-obsessed, and we want to prioritize family life. However, we also want to have jobs that we find at least somewhat interesting. There are many, many more jobs that fall into that category in DC than in Philly. We both lived in DC for short stretches when we were younger, and we like the city. We think we would be happy there. The main thing that makes us hesitate when considering a potential move is the cost of housing and the general craziness of the DC real estate market.
If we stay in Philly, we'd likely move to the burbs in about five years. We could afford a very nice house here. If we move to DC, we'd likely be targeting the closer-in Maryland or Virginia burbs or NW DC. We would need to be in an area with good public schools. Our budget could go up to 1.5M, but we'd like to stay under 1.2M. We have enough saved up for a large down payment, but we don't want to be stretched on mortgage payments down the road. (We're currently in big law, but at least one and maybe both of us would like to end up at agencies eventually if we move to DC.) We know that our budget will get us much less in those areas than it would in the Philly burbs. We are at the very beginning of our job searches, so the move would not happen immediately.
Would we regret leaving Philly for the DMV?
We're starting to come to the realization that moving to DC may make more sense for us than staying put. Neither of us is work-obsessed, and we want to prioritize family life. However, we also want to have jobs that we find at least somewhat interesting. There are many, many more jobs that fall into that category in DC than in Philly. We both lived in DC for short stretches when we were younger, and we like the city. We think we would be happy there. The main thing that makes us hesitate when considering a potential move is the cost of housing and the general craziness of the DC real estate market.
If we stay in Philly, we'd likely move to the burbs in about five years. We could afford a very nice house here. If we move to DC, we'd likely be targeting the closer-in Maryland or Virginia burbs or NW DC. We would need to be in an area with good public schools. Our budget could go up to 1.5M, but we'd like to stay under 1.2M. We have enough saved up for a large down payment, but we don't want to be stretched on mortgage payments down the road. (We're currently in big law, but at least one and maybe both of us would like to end up at agencies eventually if we move to DC.) We know that our budget will get us much less in those areas than it would in the Philly burbs. We are at the very beginning of our job searches, so the move would not happen immediately.
Would we regret leaving Philly for the DMV?