Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 11:45     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can get a single family home in the Forest Glen area (elementary is Flora Singer) or in nearby Kensington (Oakland Terrace or Rock View elementaries).


A SFH in Kensington for under $350k?! Not likely!


A small home, but a SFH, yes.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 11:33     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Stick with 20878 Google ES and MS. new high school is coming soon near Rio.

350k in 20878 means 3bd townhouse if you're lucky, right now there is none listed
New school's coming, but I bet wootton/gaithersburg mix will be extrimly bad considering other options op has


There is surprisingly little listed right now. My neighborhood (in 20878) has townhomes under 350k - actually all were under ~325 last year. Maybe some will come on the market in spring.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 11:12     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
OP, I think the problem you'll have is that you won't find a cluster where ES MS and HS are all good across the board. At least not without going to the boonies. That's the harsh reality.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 22:51     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
ES/MS/HS?

For ES/MS, it is much cost effective to get a house somewhere in Silver Spring. Potomac/Bethesda/Gaithersburg does not worth the money now. Mainly, this area is considered to be "high income". Therefore, MCPS makes sure that schools in this area have relatively bigger class size and less school resource.

Anonymous wrote:We can only afford housing at $350K maximum. What's the best district we can get into without having to squeeze into a condo or apartment? I see a lot of similar topics for those in a much better financial state then we are but we really want the best schools possible within our means.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 22:33     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:Stick with 20878 Google ES and MS. new high school is coming soon near Rio.

350k in 20878 means 3bd townhouse if you're lucky, right now there is none listed
New school's coming, but I bet wootton/gaithersburg mix will be extrimly bad considering other options op has
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 20:11     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Stick with 20878 Google ES and MS. new high school is coming soon near Rio.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 10:41     Subject: Re:Best schools for the less well off
This is OP, for those that suggested Damascus and Gaithersburg areas off of Woodfield, how is your commute if you are traveling to Bethesda/DC. I've been back there from time to time and I get the impression that its a nightmare getting to a major road off of the two laned streets common in that area. But again, I'm just making an assumption.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 09:50     Subject: Re:Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:I think there are some options in the Stonegate/Naples Manor 20905 neighborhood for that amount. With thenICC, commutes are very reasonable. Also Childcare in that area is reasonable.


what are the schools there?
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 09:11     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow, people in this thread have NOT been searching for a new home recently on a $350,000 budget. All the homes in 20853 currently for sale in that range feed into Wheaton Woods ES. If OP is afraid of East Gaithersburg, Wheaton Woods isn't going to cut it. Kensington has nothing but condos in that price range. Forest Glen doesn't have anything close to that, neither really does any place in Silver Spring. To get a nice school AND a home you would actually want to spend time in, you have to either go upcounty to Gaithersburg and beyond. I would have suggested Poolesville and/or Olney as possibilities, but they have nothing on the market in that range right now.


Where are you looking in 20853? Try English Manor. That's not Wheaton Woods.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14206-Chelmsford-Rd-Rockville-MD-20853/37313474_zpid/

Not sure if that link will work and I know nothing about that particular house.


I'm kinda digging the retro look of that house. Sorry if I'm coming across as rude, but I really did just go through this exact search a year ago with a larger budget than the OP, and you will get SO MUCH MORE for your money up-county, including schools. But of course, OP, you would be smart to consider all the suggestions and decide for yourself.


Lol, I agree that the houses are older! But a reasonably easy commute to both Bethesda and Gaithersburg from there.

But you're right. OP can get more the farther up county she wants to go. Like you said, it depends on how far she is willing to go.

Good luck OP.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 23:17     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Another vote for poolesville
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 23:17     Subject: Re:Best schools for the less well off
I think there are some options in the Stonegate/Naples Manor 20905 neighborhood for that amount. With thenICC, commutes are very reasonable. Also Childcare in that area is reasonable.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 23:12     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow, people in this thread have NOT been searching for a new home recently on a $350,000 budget. All the homes in 20853 currently for sale in that range feed into Wheaton Woods ES. If OP is afraid of East Gaithersburg, Wheaton Woods isn't going to cut it. Kensington has nothing but condos in that price range. Forest Glen doesn't have anything close to that, neither really does any place in Silver Spring. To get a nice school AND a home you would actually want to spend time in, you have to either go upcounty to Gaithersburg and beyond. I would have suggested Poolesville and/or Olney as possibilities, but they have nothing on the market in that range right now.


Where are you looking in 20853? Try English Manor. That's not Wheaton Woods.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14206-Chelmsford-Rd-Rockville-MD-20853/37313474_zpid/

Not sure if that link will work and I know nothing about that particular house.


I'm kinda digging the retro look of that house. Sorry if I'm coming across as rude, but I really did just go through this exact search a year ago with a larger budget than the OP, and you will get SO MUCH MORE for your money up-county, including schools. But of course, OP, you would be smart to consider all the suggestions and decide for yourself.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 19:57     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Or this 4 BR for $330K.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14001-Parkland-Dr-Rockville-MD-20853/2114448664_zpid/
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 19:51     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
Anonymous wrote:Wow, people in this thread have NOT been searching for a new home recently on a $350,000 budget. All the homes in 20853 currently for sale in that range feed into Wheaton Woods ES. If OP is afraid of East Gaithersburg, Wheaton Woods isn't going to cut it. Kensington has nothing but condos in that price range. Forest Glen doesn't have anything close to that, neither really does any place in Silver Spring. To get a nice school AND a home you would actually want to spend time in, you have to either go upcounty to Gaithersburg and beyond. I would have suggested Poolesville and/or Olney as possibilities, but they have nothing on the market in that range right now.


Where are you looking in 20853? Try English Manor. That's not Wheaton Woods.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14206-Chelmsford-Rd-Rockville-MD-20853/37313474_zpid/

Not sure if that link will work and I know nothing about that particular house.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2013 16:08     Subject: Best schools for the less well off
There's not a lot on the market right now period.