Anonymous
10/12/2013 22:17
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
I think the culture depends on where in Ct. Bridgeport, for example, kind of reminds me of the ugly parts of Alexandria and Arlington. Greenwich is Chevy chase. The metro north new haven line is kind of Bethesda-esq most of the way.
I do agree with pp on the southern-northern divide. For the most part Maryland is going to be more like the smaller town Connecticut feel, especially schools in Montgomery county with high parent involvement and standards.
Good luck!
I do agree with pp on the southern-northern divide. For the most part Maryland is going to be more like the smaller town Connecticut feel, especially schools in Montgomery county with high parent involvement and standards.
Good luck!
Anonymous
10/12/2013 22:08
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
I grew up in Ffld County but have lived in MD for most of my adult life (and VA for a short time). It is not CT..but there is tons of diversity and all the opportunities in DC. It doesn't need to be like NE to be great. We live in MD due to my husbands job but I would look in Arlington if I were you..great schools and close in. Good luck.
Anonymous
10/12/2013 21:46
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If work is at metro I'd consider MD, will be a better cultural fit from CT and you can get into good Montgomery County schools in Bethesda/Rockville at that price point. I'm from New England and didn't realize how different Virginia was than Maryland.
Not sure what "cultural fit" means. I am from CT. Lived in Montgomery County past 15 years and wish we lived in Virginia. Would move in a second if it worked for our family.
OP, if the job is in Arlington, count your blessings and find a home in VA.
For what it's worth, I know plenty of New England transplants who are very happy in VA.
I think by "cultural fit" the PP means high taxes. CT is one of the states with the highest tax base in the country, as is MD. VA is much lower.
Anonymous
10/12/2013 21:42
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Sorry to hear, OP. Most of the NE people I know who come here do not stay 
This is definitely a "here for the job" kind of place, but no one likes to talk about it.
Do not look for the same "feel" as NE. First of all, most people here think if you are not from here, you must be from a "do-nothing" town like they are. Don't entertain it, just nod and smile. Apples and oranges is an understatement.
VA is seen as "north" by southerners. It is definitely "deep south" to most northerners.
Southerners make faces a lot. I think there is a lot of constipation in the south.
Southerners also like the "maybe its you" retort if you ask about doing things differently. Change may be seen as a personal affront.
Don't bother trying to explain where you are from. It is intangible. Just do your best with what you find. I wish you good people. Seriously. People are not that helpful in this area. See above.
I would find a realtor to help you, possibly from NE, who might know what you mean without you having to try to spell it out (impossibly) for them. Usually the houses with open houses are the ones no one wants. You want a good realtor who can find you something in that price range that is not (in this area) a "knock down". It won't be as livable as what you are used to (though NE is traditionally more expensive than this area) - but they might understand where you are coming from, literally and figuratively.
Make a list of what you want and (separately) what you need. Make a list of must haves and willing to do withouts. GL.
This is definitely a "here for the job" kind of place, but no one likes to talk about it.
Do not look for the same "feel" as NE. First of all, most people here think if you are not from here, you must be from a "do-nothing" town like they are. Don't entertain it, just nod and smile. Apples and oranges is an understatement.
VA is seen as "north" by southerners. It is definitely "deep south" to most northerners.
Southerners make faces a lot. I think there is a lot of constipation in the south.
Southerners also like the "maybe its you" retort if you ask about doing things differently. Change may be seen as a personal affront.
Don't bother trying to explain where you are from. It is intangible. Just do your best with what you find. I wish you good people. Seriously. People are not that helpful in this area. See above.
I would find a realtor to help you, possibly from NE, who might know what you mean without you having to try to spell it out (impossibly) for them. Usually the houses with open houses are the ones no one wants. You want a good realtor who can find you something in that price range that is not (in this area) a "knock down". It won't be as livable as what you are used to (though NE is traditionally more expensive than this area) - but they might understand where you are coming from, literally and figuratively.
Make a list of what you want and (separately) what you need. Make a list of must haves and willing to do withouts. GL.
Anonymous
10/11/2013 22:37
Subject: Re:Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous wrote:http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mclean/1404-Mayflower-Dr-22101/home/9388946
http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1919-Youngblood-St-22101/home/9475443
Both are nice but op is looking for at least 2500sf
Anonymous
10/11/2013 22:35
Subject: Re:Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous
10/11/2013 21:42
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous
10/11/2013 21:25
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If work is at metro I'd consider MD, will be a better cultural fit from CT and you can get into good Montgomery County schools in Bethesda/Rockville at that price point. I'm from New England and didn't realize how different Virginia was than Maryland.
Not sure what "cultural fit" means. I am from CT. Lived in Montgomery County past 15 years and wish we lived in Virginia. Would move in a second if it worked for our family.
OP, if the job is in Arlington, count your blessings and find a home in VA.
For what it's worth, I know plenty of New England transplants who are very happy in VA.
+1 on this.
I'm from CT, born and raised and miss it to pieces. I'm an agent, so I'm all over the DC/MD/VA areas all damn day and I WISH I could find a neighborhood that reminded me of CT.
I also think it depends what town you're from OP. Different CT towns have different feels to them.
I don't see the MD/VA divide like others do, but I liken it to the 1980's divide of NJ and CT.
Anonymous
10/11/2013 21:13
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Anonymous wrote:If work is at metro I'd consider MD, will be a better cultural fit from CT and you can get into good Montgomery County schools in Bethesda/Rockville at that price point. I'm from New England and didn't realize how different Virginia was than Maryland.
Not sure what "cultural fit" means. I am from CT. Lived in Montgomery County past 15 years and wish we lived in Virginia. Would move in a second if it worked for our family.
OP, if the job is in Arlington, count your blessings and find a home in VA.
For what it's worth, I know plenty of New England transplants who are very happy in VA.
Anonymous
10/11/2013 17:26
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
Like the PP said, Virginia and Maryland tend to operate at the county level. There are not that many towns, and often the small towns share the schools with the county.
Arlington is the smallest county in the region, and the schools are highly regarded. You could definitely find a 3 bedroom home in Arlington in your price range, even in North Arlington which is generally more expensive. 4 bedrooms would likely be pushing it though for N Arlington. The more affordable neighborhoods there include Westover, East Falls Church, Arlington Forest.
Further out in parts of Falls Church, McLean and Vienna there might be more options. Falls Church City also. Falls Church City is unique because it has its own very small school system.
Arlington is the smallest county in the region, and the schools are highly regarded. You could definitely find a 3 bedroom home in Arlington in your price range, even in North Arlington which is generally more expensive. 4 bedrooms would likely be pushing it though for N Arlington. The more affordable neighborhoods there include Westover, East Falls Church, Arlington Forest.
Further out in parts of Falls Church, McLean and Vienna there might be more options. Falls Church City also. Falls Church City is unique because it has its own very small school system.
Anonymous
10/11/2013 16:54
Subject: Moving to the area with family - need advice!
I'm from CT and I live in Falls Church City. Unlike CT, things down here are mostly done at the county level and there are not many "towns" in the way that you think of towns in CT.
I like Falls Church City because it gives me the small community feel that I'm used to from CT. It's definitely not as cute as the town I'm from though.
I like Falls Church City because it gives me the small community feel that I'm used to from CT. It's definitely not as cute as the town I'm from though.