Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 16:03     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
22303 and 22310 Alexandria, Fairfax

Housing stock variable. Near beltway and metro. Under valued but schools also vary, and those in better school zones will appreciate more. Not a bad commute to various Catholic and private schools.
Not a lot showing at the moment, but worth watching.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 12:19     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:Olney, there’s a section of townhouse styled condos at the same price as fairland/burtonsville. You can have a cheap mortgage, and not have to pay tuition.

This.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 05:11     Subject: Re:Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Twinbrook
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 01:56     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Olney, there’s a section of townhouse styled condos at the same price as fairland/burtonsville. You can have a cheap mortgage, and not have to pay tuition.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 01:06     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:Op here, schools do not matter. I’m childfree and will probably do private when I have a kid.

Homes in better school districts will appreciate faster.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 23:02     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:North Kensington. Between Connecticut and Newport Mill.

This.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 21:34     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Always Bethesda. If you start in one of the crappier towns, you will never make it out and your kids are destined to be mid at best.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 21:19     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:Bowie


+1

Fantastic for families and much closer to DC than most of the other towns listed.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 18:55     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:Op here, schools do not matter. I’m childfree and will probably do private when I have a kid.


Bury the lead, why don't you!

Schools are the first thing this crowd looks for.

It is DC Urban Moms (and Dads)...
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 15:40     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Op here, schools do not matter. I’m childfree and will probably do private when I have a kid.
Anonymous
Post 03/21/2025 13:02     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Mount Rainier

This.

As a resident, I would go closer to college park.


Not if you are driving into the city, or if you like historic houses.


It’s not clear from the OP if they plan to live there or just want an investment property. Most people who live in CP and work in the city, just metro in instead of drive. There are also historic homes in all neighborhoods along Route 1


The housing stock in CP is not historic.


There is a historic section called Calvert Hills. It's walkable to the metro and adorable.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2025 06:33     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
war not wat
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2025 06:33     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just bought around Forest Glen area and most homes seemed to have gone for around $500-600K 5-10 years ago but are now closer to $700K (around what we bought for) and even closer to $800-900K depending on the house.

Maybe it was still a good investment but with all the uncertainties, who knows. And I always laugh at the idea of a “starter home”. Probably could’ve called one such if we bought something for $400-500K like a decade ago. But being in our 30’s now and only now first time home buyers with ridiculous interest rates and prices, feels like we missed the boat there.


This exactly. We live near Forest Glen but were fortunate to buy a decade ago for <$500k (but for reference I remember being envious of our neightbors who had bought for half that a decade prior!). The prices have gotten crazy considering that many of the houses are shoddy 1940s construction with minimal upgrades. And while there are some neighbors who do move on after a few years, many are there for the long haul because it's just not worth the cost to upgrade from the "starter" home. So seeing more renovations/additions than people selling.


I mean the quality of 1940s construction is way higher than anything built in the past 40 years in the same neighborhood. But yes, the footprint of the houses is smaller.


This hasn't been my experience- the insulation is non-existent and the spaces between the ceiling joists is much larger than currently required, for starters. A lot of these neighborhood were slapped up in the post-wat construction boom.
Anonymous
Post 03/20/2025 05:52     Subject: Re:Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Frostburg
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2025 23:54     Subject: Starter home neighborhoods? In md
Damascus, Mt Airy