Arlington is odd. High income, kind of smug and eccentric. Not sure if they are highly educated, tend to think not.

Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Silver Spring.

If you are careful to avoid a couple of neighborhoods, there are LOTS of really nice family friendly places with good elementary schools that are affordable.

These neighborhoods are safe, friendly full of professionals (usually non profit, government, etc.) who don't make stratospheric salaries but are looking for diverse, interesting neighbors and a good family feel. My neighborhood -- Northwood Park -- has small houses that you can get for around $350K and the ES is Forest Knolls, which is great. There are tons of kids and lots of kid-related activities that are affordable and fun.

We could afford to move west and really don't want to. Check it out!

There are 357 homes for sale with 3 bedrooms in Silver Spring MD today. Not all of them are in neighborhoods I would like to live in, but many of them are. It includes SFH, townhouses and condos. That was the number from Realtor.com

Homes database said there were 141 properties in Silver Spring for 300K or less with 3 bedrooms.

PP - I think your number includes homes for rent and homes that are already under contract. Good point about the townhouses, though - Columbia has more than 100 available for less than $300K.

I just counted 55 single family homes on the market in Columbia, Md., for $350K or under. And that doesn't include the scores of town houses on the market there for that price or less. So inventory isn't going to be a problem for the OP in some areas. Harder than choosing the house will be finding the right neighborhood, which can be really difficult to do when you're moving from out of state.

OP, are you open to the idea of a livable fixer-up in a great neighborhood? If so, can anyone say if it would be realistic to look for something like that in Lyon Village in Arlington? We spent lots of time there, and it's a beautiful, quaint area with a great park and access to metro. I Noticed that there are still lots of homes in need of renovations, and wondered what those homes might go for.

Heh. I had to check up on this - the last time a home sold in Lyon Village for less than $300K was - wait for it - 1999. Currently, there is only one single-family home available in all of Arlington County for less than $300K - a foreclosure one block from 395 in Nauck where the whole kitchen is ripped out.

Most posters appear to think prices are lower, or that it's more of a buyers' market, in these areas than it really is. No SFHs to be had in Poolesville for less than $390K, none in Brookeville for less than $350K. Only about a dozen in Annapolis for $300K or less, two dozen in all of Columbia.

Look near Thunder Hill Elementary School in Columbia, Md. The school is good and the neighborhood is nice. The houses are mostly late 1960s-early1970s split levels (not the greatest era for homebuilding) but they're spacious and the neighborhood is green and leafy with bike paths and lots of open space. You can certainly find town houses there in your range, and some single family homes, too. (Remember, no-one is paying asking price these days, so houses on the market for $325k may, in fact, be in your price range.) I grew up in Columbia in the 1970s and 80s. It's changed and some of the schools aren't as good as they used to be, but friends who still live there tell me it's still a fine place to live and raise a family. You definitely don't want to commute to DC though -- too far. Lucky for you it's not a factor.

Fairfax City has lots of townhouses and smallish houses in that range. It is safe and has good schools.

Anonymous wrote:I'm so happy to have found this thread. OP, we are in the exact same situation - same price range and needs. Only differences would be that we have 3 elementary-aged kids, and commute is a factor, as my husband would be working in DC. He has been talking to his DC coworkers about the neighborhood options. Some commute from Annapolis and love it there. they say the commute isn't that bad (they drive to Metro stop). Can anyone tell us about the schools in Annapolis? I've read on another message board that they're not so great. We did spend some time in DC last year, and got a slight feel for some of these areas that people have mentioned. Annapolis seems very cool, although we only had time to see the harbor and town square area. We are not into boating (other than kayaking/canoeing) and kind of wondered if we'd feel like a fish out of water (no pun intended) in Annapolis as that's obviously the primary interest/pastime.

OP, are you open to the idea of a livable fixer-up in a great neighborhood? If so, can anyone say if it would be realistic to look for something like that in Lyon Village in Arlington? We spent lots of time there, and it's a beautiful, quaint area with a great park and access to metro. I Noticed that there are still lots of homes in need of renovations, and wondered what those homes might go for.

No. A MAJOR fixer-upper in Lyon village might go for $800K. Most homes in that neighborhood will sell for $1M+.

I'm so happy to have found this thread. OP, we are in the exact same situation - same price range and needs. Only differences would be that we have 3 elementary-aged kids, and commute is a factor, as my husband would be working in DC. He has been talking to his DC coworkers about the neighborhood options. Some commute from Annapolis and love it there. they say the commute isn't that bad (they drive to Metro stop). Can anyone tell us about the schools in Annapolis? I've read on another message board that they're not so great. We did spend some time in DC last year, and got a slight feel for some of these areas that people have mentioned. Annapolis seems very cool, although we only had time to see the harbor and town square area. We are not into boating (other than kayaking/canoeing) and kind of wondered if we'd feel like a fish out of water (no pun intended) in Annapolis as that's obviously the primary interest/pastime.

OP, are you open to the idea of a livable fixer-up in a great neighborhood? If so, can anyone say if it would be realistic to look for something like that in Lyon Village in Arlington? We spent lots of time there, and it's a beautiful, quaint area with a great park and access to metro. I Noticed that there are still lots of homes in need of renovations, and wondered what those homes might go for.

Annapolis! Excellent suggestion. Great access to DC, Baltimore, and the Eastern Shore. I'd move there in a heartbeat if DH and I could both work from home.

poolesville is nice.

Try Annapolis MD. You can buy a single family in this price range.

Howard County schools have an excellent reputation. You could look around Columbia, MD. Also up towards Gaithersburg or Poolsville, MD.
Maybe Frederick, Maryland??

Tanterra in Brookeville, Md. The houses are contemporary, but they are easily remodeled. Big yards, excellent schools.