Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:37     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
I think there are probably lots of us non-rich on here. My house is worth - get this - $200k! PG county, outside the beltway. But if you want to get a feel of how out of touch people can be about what is "normal," go hang out in the Private School forum. We've got a kid in private so I check that forum out, too...and its almost (almost) funny.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:28     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:I bought in DC proper - a foreclosure - for $400k..and two years later it's clocking in around $650k. Oh, and all we have done is a little yard work and an interior paint job. It can be done, you just have to be patient and careful about real estate.


OP sounds like they are just looking for an affordae home, not make a quick buck.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:23     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm with you OP. This real estate board seems even more out of touch than others on DCUM. I've seen people say that if your budget is less than 700k, there's no point in living anywhere closer in than Fredricksburg unless you're looking for a condo. And the definition of sh*tshack is just ridiculous.

We're looking to buy at 400 or less and our HHI is about 200k, and no, we're not going for a condo. Right now, we're looking at Huntington or Hyattsville. Some of the public schools in Huntington seem okay, but for Hyatt, we'd definitely be looking at church-based private school. The few times I've posted on here, responses have not been helpful.


Have you considered Bowie? There are a couple of really good elementary schools (rated 9 and 10 on greatschools). The middle and high school are fine (what I'm told by neighbors), especially if your kid is tracked for gifted and talented.

I'm not sure where you work or what your commute is, but metrobus is pretty good. There are park and rides and service throughout neighborhoods. And there's a MARC station with free parking.


Thanks! That's helpful Looking at the public transit commute - looks pretty ugly. Do you do this everyday? We work in downtown DC and currently live very close in to the district so we're not used to long commutes. I think we'd want to drive in, probably on the early side to miss the worst of the traffic. Is that how people do it if they live in Bowie?
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:22     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
I bought in DC proper - a foreclosure - for $400k..and two years later it's clocking in around $650k. Oh, and all we have done is a little yard work and an interior paint job. It can be done, you just have to be patient and careful about real estate.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:20     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
We bought in Montgomery County for just a little over 300k. Single family home, HUGE yard. In Burtonsville.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 12:14     Subject: Re:Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
I would like a separate real estate section for apartment and condo dwellers. You've seen the snide comments about a school boundary being great except for those apartment building being within it. Or, comments like if you can't afford in this neighborhood you can settle for a condo or townhouse. Even though a lot of condos around here are going for several millions. So I nominate a condo/townhouse real estate section.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:51     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We bought under 300k! GASP


Where? It would be great to hear realistic information for buyers in this price range.


Zip code 20878 - townhouse. So that may not be acceptable to some.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:47     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:I was thinking the exact same thing the other week! We need two separate boards: HHI above $200k and below.

And FWIW, OP - we bought in PG for $400.


our HHI is above $200K but we spent less than $600K on a home! Not everyone is in the market for million-dollar properties
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:41     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Someone might have bought long a go meaning they aren't rich and have a 900k house
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:35     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:I'm with you OP. This real estate board seems even more out of touch than others on DCUM. I've seen people say that if your budget is less than 700k, there's no point in living anywhere closer in than Fredricksburg unless you're looking for a condo. And the definition of sh*tshack is just ridiculous.

We're looking to buy at 400 or less and our HHI is about 200k, and no, we're not going for a condo. Right now, we're looking at Huntington or Hyattsville. Some of the public schools in Huntington seem okay, but for Hyatt, we'd definitely be looking at church-based private school. The few times I've posted on here, responses have not been helpful.


Have you considered Bowie? There are a couple of really good elementary schools (rated 9 and 10 on greatschools). The middle and high school are fine (what I'm told by neighbors), especially if your kid is tracked for gifted and talented.

I'm not sure where you work or what your commute is, but metrobus is pretty good. There are park and rides and service throughout neighborhoods. And there's a MARC station with free parking.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:34     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
I learned tons here posting this year about my housing search with HHI well under 200k and looking in the $400k range for a house.

Post away!
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:34     Subject: Re:Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
there was a post a year back or so about starter homes for real people - those looking in the $500K and under range, mostly.

And of course, people came in and shit on the possibilities because they apparently have nothing better to do with their time than look down on the "little people"
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:33     Subject: Re:Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most of the people on this forum are not rich. They just act like they are. Fantasy life.


exactly




The solution is to fill this forum with the cheap alternative threads.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:29     Subject: Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:We bought under 300k! GASP


Where? It would be great to hear realistic information for buyers in this price range.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2014 11:26     Subject: Re:Is there an alternative DCUM-like forum for non-rich?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not the OP and of course people are able to discuss any price house they want on here. But you have to admit, it doesn't feel that welcoming or like you're going to get reasonable advice and perspective when people insist on calling almost every older, less expensive house a sh*tshack and casually telling people to just knock them down and start over.


There are very few posters who are actually, non-facetiously calling mid-century homes "shitshacks." If you see a poster doing that, report them and perhaps we can get them banned. They really do stifle the discussion. And would do so in a different forum as we.


OK, comrade.



(Here's a tip: Don't call for censorship and complain about stifling conversation in the same paragraph.)