There are always rentals listed in the townhouse community Inverness Knolls in Potomac, MD off Seven Locks Road. Great neighborhood--pool, playground, tennis and great Mont county schools. Not too far from grovesnor metro (red-line) and I think more affordable than 4K a month for sure.

I never knew these car services existed! Excellent. My DH hates to bargain/haggle. Will certainly check these things out.

We live pretty close to downtown Bethesda and really like it. It's very walkable (i.e., to the library, stores, bakeries, kids theater) and great schools. There are a number of rental buildings, but also some SFHs for rent.

Red line commute is easy, as long as you are fairly close to stop (under 10 min walk, w/o a rideon bus).

I agree there are a lot of services (through credit unions, or I think checkbook.org) that will do the car shopping/negotiating for you and you just have to say what you want and then pick the cheapest one.

DH is commuting to downtown/ Farragut North area.

My longer term issue is as follows: We think we want to rent in or around the place we ultimately want to buy, because I'd hate to spend a year building a community and then moving away from it 12 months later. Thus we want to be near decent public schools etc., even though my kids are still small. Hence the thinking on Bethesda.

PP here, just saw your post re: the red line. You could rent a house in Tenleytown/AU. Your money would stretch farther in Bethesda/20816, but you'd be farther from metro, though there are some bus options.

OP, where will your DH commute to? By car or public transportation?

Thanks everyone. I am indeed an American returning to the US.

Great ideas on the real estate. We'd ideally like a house (busting out of our two bedroom flat here in london with 2 toddlers.) and need to be near the redline for DH's commute.

I secretly can't wait to buy a giant minivan. Our tiny UK car holds about 1.5 people and no stuff.

Do you want a house or an apartment?

In terms of location, you might spend some time thinking about whether Bethesda or DC works better for you. Where will you and/or DH be working? Do you want to be on public transportation? Do you want to be able to walk to restaurants? Do you want a yard? Is there any chance you'd stay long enough to send your kids to public schools?

If you have friends at the World Bank they have a good bulletin board where people sometimes post rentals in that price range.

I think you can find a great house in that range - look at this place - it is on a busy road but is $1000 under your price range.
http://www.trulia.com/rental/3070634399-4226-E-West-Hwy-Chevy-Chase-MD-20815

You can certainly find somewhere walkable to the metro in Bethesda (e.g. East Bethesda, Chevy Chase) for under 4K.

Check out KBB.com for a car. You can email with dealerships to get price quotes so you will know exactly what you are paying when you get here.

Op did not actually say she was an expat. She may be returning to the US.

Buying a car is easy and quick - research what you want before you arrive so you are ready. You will also need to get auto insurance so you might want to reseàrch that before you arrive as well.

Anonymous wrote:This place is not really friendly towards immigrants. Find the local Brittish expat community, they are nice.

This is completely incorrect. There are enough Euro-philes in this town that you will feel like a minor celebrity and will enjoy yourself tremedously. $4000/month is not a huge budget for a rental house, however, but should set you up in a very nice apartment, or in a nice house if you are willing to live a little further out. You are going to have a wonderful time.

Not true. The area is full of happy foreign nationals. NW DC is especially popular as the location is convenient and many families get a stipend for private school anyway.

Kennedy warren is lovely. Apartment building near the zoo. Might be too expensive but you would find a nice community there. http://www.kennedywarren.com/KennedyWarrenAll/Index.aspx

This house in my neighborhood looks nice, near many shops and in your price range:
http://homes.longandfoster.com/Real-Estate/PropertyDetails.aspx?3618-LIVINGSTON-ST-NW-WASHINGTON-DC-20015&mlsCompanyID=2&mlsNumber=DC7722782

Severall good preschools: CCPC, CCBC, Alll saints are nearby.

This place is not really friendly towards immigrants. Find the local Brittish expat community, they are nice.

Hi all,
My family and I (DH and B/G 2-year-old twins) are moving to the area in mid-march. We need to find a rental (<$4000) in the Bethesda/North DC areas, buy a car, investigate pre schools etc.

Any ideas where to start? Has anyone relocated recently who can give me tips!?

Thanks.