Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 21:40     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
We also bought for over 500k, no help from parents. We put down a lot, because I sold a condo I owned for many years. No trust fund here.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 21:27     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Make sure the schools are 8 or higher , you never know if you'll be staying for the long haul.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 21:25     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:you should really think carefully about schools or else you might be moving again in 4 years. the time passes by very quickly.


+1
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 19:41     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just want to say to OP that you're doing well to have 400k to spend on a house. there are MANY people in this country, even area, that will never have that much.

We'll be house shopping next year and will "Only" have 400-450 to spend, and I feel like that's a big accomplishment that gets minimized in this area of small homes costing half a million


OP here. You're absolutely right. I feel like I'm doing very well professionally and financially. It's quite discouraging to see how limited I am in real estate, though. How do people get so much money, especially in a city with so many feds? I assume trust funds.


You assume wrong. And that was not a nice comment either. I do not know one single person with a trust fund. Many manage it on their own.


I don't have a single friend in this area who has bought above the $500k range without help from parents.


We bought above $500k and didn't have a single dime in help from parents.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 18:55     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We make 250k and bought in 2006 at 850 k. No trust fund. No student loans. Car 6 years old. We eat out from time to time but I shop at Aldi grocery and try to keep that at $80 a week. We vacation with family.

There is a way, minus a trust fund.



I could save a lot too with your HHI. You are among the elite, even if you shop at Aldi.


Stfu, most of the money goes to the house so people like me and pp shop the same as people like you . No elite
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 18:48     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Forest Glen in Silver Spring.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 18:32     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
you should really think carefully about schools or else you might be moving again in 4 years. the time passes by very quickly.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 18:31     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just want to say to OP that you're doing well to have 400k to spend on a house. there are MANY people in this country, even area, that will never have that much.

We'll be house shopping next year and will "Only" have 400-450 to spend, and I feel like that's a big accomplishment that gets minimized in this area of small homes costing half a million


OP here. You're absolutely right. I feel like I'm doing very well professionally and financially. It's quite discouraging to see how limited I am in real estate, though. How do people get so much money, especially in a city with so many feds? I assume trust funds.


You assume wrong. And that was not a nice comment either. I do not know one single person with a trust fund. Many manage it on their own.


I don't have a single friend in this area who has bought above the $500k range without help from parents.


This. Unless they bought into the market pre-housing bubble.


i know plenty of people who bought houses above this range without help from parents. there are a lot of lawyers in DC and many two lawyer couples.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:51     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Or Rockview area?

http://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4010-Wexford-Dr-20895/home/11028174
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:49     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Look in Oakland Terrace area in SS.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:38     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:We make 250k and bought in 2006 at 850 k. No trust fund. No student loans. Car 6 years old. We eat out from time to time but I shop at Aldi grocery and try to keep that at $80 a week. We vacation with family.

There is a way, minus a trust fund.



I could save a lot too with your HHI. You are among the elite, even if you shop at Aldi.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:16     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
We make 250k and bought in 2006 at 850 k. No trust fund. No student loans. Car 6 years old. We eat out from time to time but I shop at Aldi grocery and try to keep that at $80 a week. We vacation with family.

There is a way, minus a trust fund.

Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:15     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just want to say to OP that you're doing well to have 400k to spend on a house. there are MANY people in this country, even area, that will never have that much.

We'll be house shopping next year and will "Only" have 400-450 to spend, and I feel like that's a big accomplishment that gets minimized in this area of small homes costing half a million


OP here. You're absolutely right. I feel like I'm doing very well professionally and financially. It's quite discouraging to see how limited I am in real estate, though. How do people get so much money, especially in a city with so many feds? I assume trust funds.


You assume wrong. And that was not a nice comment either. I do not know one single person with a trust fund. Many manage it on their own.


I don't have a single friend in this area who has bought above the $500k range without help from parents.


Now you do. I was a financial aid kid in college, so was my husband. We own two houses, paid above $500K for one and under $300K for the other in 1999. We got ahead by living beneath our means. Still do.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 17:03     Subject: Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
I don't know Takoma Park well enough to know if this is a safe area but this house is darling. Kitchen maybe not so darling but ok.

http://franklymls.com/m/MC7970782
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2013 16:53     Subject: Re:Only 400k to spend: don't mind small but want nice
How about something like this in Burke:

http://franklymls.com/FX7994732