I find the taxes and the pre-k (compared to DC) are pretty baked into the housing prices. While my tiny municipal government is dysfunctional and silly, it does provide services like trash pickup so you have to factor that monthly also compared to a place where you pay privately.

Anonymous wrote:None of the places you mentioned are "safe" or "desirable" places. Of the three, I vote Silver Spring. It's too bad that your job is MD because VA is a better place to live. Like a prior poster, I've lived in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Mclean, and Vienna. My ranking is:

McLean>Vienna>Bethesda>Chevy CHase>Silver Spring

I also went to UMD so I am well familiar with the area and you'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to live in College Park or Hyattsville.

LOL
VA is a better place to live?? You must be high on drugs or don't like diversity. People only move/live in VA because of jobs.
VA is not desirable place to live.

College Park, Downtown Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, Cheverly, Bowie, and Greenbelt are all very safe. I have lived and worked in this areas for over 20 years. I have never felt unsafe.
(I can't speak to other parts of the Rt 1 corridor because I don't go that often but I am sure that it is also fine)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You may already know this, but the property taxes in MD are some of the worst in the country, that's why homes are so much cheaper there. Their income taxes are also higher than Virginia's. Also, Virginia has some of the best public schools in the country and great public universities. Just be sure to weigh the cons as well as pros. But you know your circumstances best. Best of luck!!

You will also pay high transfer taxes when you buy a home. Maryland is a liberal state and has Hugh social welfare needs in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Baltimore that are largely funded buy the areas close to Washington.

They support the needy...yikes...stay away!!

I prefer my charity to be effective but if you like to support opioid addicts, racists, and criminal gangs, bless you.

DP.. according to Trump opioid addicts need help, but not from him. Also, the majority of people who get some form of social welfare are not criminal gangs. Racists currently get your tax dollars. Blue states support red states, where many racists live.

As for property tax, it varies by county, but MoCo property tax is nor that different to most of NoVa area. I think Loudon county has higher property tax than MoCo. I think PG county property taxes are higher than MoCo's, but if your house value is lower, then overall mortgage+tax may be a wash or lower.

Anonymous wrote:Great news!! Unlike Virginia in Maryland we have dentists and Catholics. Whole new world.

What does this mean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You may already know this, but the property taxes in MD are some of the worst in the country, that's why homes are so much cheaper there. Their income taxes are also higher than Virginia's. Also, Virginia has some of the best public schools in the country and great public universities. Just be sure to weigh the cons as well as pros. But you know your circumstances best. Best of luck!!

You will also pay high transfer taxes when you buy a home. Maryland is a liberal state and has Hugh social welfare needs in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Baltimore that are largely funded buy the areas close to Washington.

They support the needy...yikes...stay away!!

I prefer my charity to be effective but if you like to support opioid addicts, racists, and criminal gangs, bless you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You may already know this, but the property taxes in MD are some of the worst in the country, that's why homes are so much cheaper there. Their income taxes are also higher than Virginia's. Also, Virginia has some of the best public schools in the country and great public universities. Just be sure to weigh the cons as well as pros. But you know your circumstances best. Best of luck!!

This person is an idiot.

You have the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, St John’s and the Naval Academy

After that it is a string of public and private schools for underachievers

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You may already know this, but the property taxes in MD are some of the worst in the country, that's why homes are so much cheaper there. Their income taxes are also higher than Virginia's. Also, Virginia has some of the best public schools in the country and great public universities. Just be sure to weigh the cons as well as pros. But you know your circumstances best. Best of luck!!

You will also pay high transfer taxes when you buy a home. Maryland is a liberal state and has Hugh social welfare needs in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Baltimore that are largely funded buy the areas close to Washington.

They support the needy...yikes...stay away!!

Anonymous wrote:You may already know this, but the property taxes in MD are some of the worst in the country, that's why homes are so much cheaper there. Their income taxes are also higher than Virginia's. Also, Virginia has some of the best public schools in the country and great public universities. Just be sure to weigh the cons as well as pros. But you know your circumstances best. Best of luck!!

You will also pay high transfer taxes when you buy a home. Maryland is a liberal state and has Hugh social welfare needs in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Baltimore that are largely funded buy the areas close to Washington.

Great news!! Unlike Virginia in Maryland we have dentists and Catholics. Whole new world.

My spouse works near there as well. We live near the Rockville metro station and normally he commutes by metro. Because of the pandemic his employer is allowing telework until Jan 2021

None of the places you mentioned are "safe" or "desirable" places. Of the three, I vote Silver Spring. It's too bad that your job is MD because VA is a better place to live. Like a prior poster, I've lived in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Mclean, and Vienna. My ranking is:

McLean>Vienna>Bethesda>Chevy CHase>Silver Spring

I also went to UMD so I am well familiar with the area and you'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to live in College Park or Hyattsville.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Bowie. My family has been here for nearly 60 years, and it’s beautiful, safe, and affordable. It’s the perfect commute to DC along Route 50, which my mom still remembers as a dirt road.

Thank you. How long does it take during normal times? And is there a non-driving way to commute in? I will probably prefer to drive for a while but after the pandemic ends, I will want to take the train again.

Commuting options from Bowie to DC:
https://www.cityofbowie.org/128/Commuting
https://www.cityofbowie.org/439/Local-Metrobus-Routes

The drive from my house to Union Station right now (7:45 AM) is 30 minutes. It’s a straight shot down Route 50, though of course there can be congestion. My daughter lives in Bowie & works in DC, and she heads out early so she can enjoy a regular 30-minute drive.

If you’re not driving, you could take the Metrobus to New Carrollton Station & then take the Metro to your desired stop.

Here’s a nice Cape Cod model in the Kenilworth Elementary neighborhood:
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2610-Kimble-Ln_Bowie_MD_20715_M50170-32773?view=qv

A decent flip for a 3-bedroom Colonial model, also in the Kenilworth neighborhood:
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2505-Kennet-Ln_Bowie_MD_20715_M68108-03022?view=qv

The PP above is right. MD property taxes are crazy high. Look at Baltimore city - who enjoys paying 3.25% property tax and then 3.5% extra income tax. A few other areas in MD have a bit lower property taxes but still crazy high as compared to VA.

Did you look into paying higher taxes on your income at MD? All the MD counties have around 3-3.5% income tax in addition to your state and federal taxes.