Anonymous wrote:Mt. Rainier, MD
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/architecture/neighborhood-spotlight-mount-rainier-maryland--129513

I know people in Mt. Rainier and Cheverly that are quite happy with the price of housing and their location. It would NOT work for us since we both work in VA (he's in Ashburn, I work part from home and part in Lorton). But yes, there ARE some places that are hidden gems and relatively affordable, just none that are anywhere near where WE need to be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me feel like I don't live in the same DC metro area as the rest of y'all (future texans and committed DC types). I recently bought a 2,000 SF house very close-in for $285. Needed a bit of work, but not a major fixer-upper. But everyone seems to be thinking that can only be found in far away places.

where?

Mt. Rainier, MD
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/architecture/neighborhood-spotlight-mount-rainier-maryland--129513

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me feel like I don't live in the same DC metro area as the rest of y'all (future texans and committed DC types). I recently bought a 2,000 SF house very close-in for $285. Needed a bit of work, but not a major fixer-upper. But everyone seems to be thinking that can only be found in far away places.

where?

This thread is making me feel like I don't live in the same DC metro area as the rest of y'all (future texans and committed DC types). I recently bought a 2,000 SF house very close-in for $285. Needed a bit of work, but not a major fixer-upper. But everyone seems to be thinking that can only be found in far away places.

The real deals in far away locales may be far better than you can even imagine. Several years ago, I bought a 2 unit building in St. Louis for $55,000. Brick construction, 2,000 sf, not a fixer-upper. It might be worth about $100K now, but still - very cheap compared to anything we see in this area.

I totally do not understand people harping on Texas when Houston and Dallas are two of the biggest cities in the U.S. (no, I'm not from Texas and I haven't lived there but have friends who live in both cities and have visited). There are interesting, urban areas in both cities and both are WAY less expensive than DC. And for the big law people who have mentioned moving to Texas, you are geniuses because the Texas firms pay the same as DC and NYC but the cost of living is about half. I have several law school friends at firms there and their lifestyle makes me feel like I'm poor and we make the same exact amount of money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So not everyone is moving to TX just for McMansions. I'm actually just happy we can afford a house anywhere near the city rather than being in a 2 BR TH way out in the burbs for basically the same price.

thanks - I realize those houses aren't dream homes, but the neighborhoods are top notch. We're willing to do some renovations to be there. The Westlake area is REALLY hard to get in under $400K. The house for $340K absolutely needs a new kitchen and we could update the bathrooms, but we are willing to do that on our own. We're about to throw an IKEA kitchen into our TH so that we can sell it more quickly than ones that we have seen in our neighborhood that have sat on the market longer with no updates. We've done updates as we went along, mostly on our own. It is STILL a 2 BR TH, but it is very nicely updated without being over the top.

Anonymous wrote:

So not everyone is moving to TX just for McMansions. I'm actually just happy we can afford a house anywhere near the city rather than being in a 2 BR TH way out in the burbs for basically the same price.

I'd certainly be amenable to moving, but most of the places we'd consider (by choice, not because of a necessity such as a job loss) are just as or more expensive than DC. Two exceptions - Richmond and Chapel Hill/Raleigh.

What's wrong with having a large house? Seriously. I don't get why it's atrocious to want more space. Are we supposed to yearn for the 1500 sq ft bungalow or the 2 bedroom condo forever? If we do want a big house with a backyard, playroom and covered garage for both cars, so what? All I know is I'm sick and tired of my living room looking like LegoLand. I need a playroom! Call me crazy.

No, there's nothing wrong with it. However, it's not for everyone. Other than at the highest price pouints, those larger houses come with the suburban lifestyle, longer commutes. For me, that's not a good trade. Others may disagree, and to them I say, go for it.

Anonymous wrote:[What's wrong with having a large house? Seriously. I don't get why it's atrocious to want more space. Are we supposed to yearn for the 1500 sq ft bungalow or the 2 bedroom condo forever? If we do want a big house with a backyard, playroom and covered garage for both cars, so what? All I know is I'm sick and tired of my living room looking like LegoLand. I need a playroom! Call me crazy.

what? You can't afford that here? What's wrong with you - are you an underemployed loser or something?

TOTALLY KIDDING

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0

I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?

Yes, you can all scuttle away to your vulgar McMansions in Texas, you losers.

What's wrong with having a large house? Seriously. I don't get why it's atrocious to want more space. Are we supposed to yearn for the 1500 sq ft bungalow or the 2 bedroom condo forever? If we do want a big house with a backyard, playroom and covered garage for both cars, so what? All I know is I'm sick and tired of my living room looking like LegoLand. I need a playroom! Call me crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0

I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?

Yes, you can all scuttle away to your vulgar McMansions in Texas, you losers.

Austin-moving poster here - I'm actually NOT planning to move to a McMansion. I do understand the appeal, but we are looking at MAYBE 2000sf very basic ranch homes in the $300-400K range. Yes, we can get gigantic homes in the burbs for the same price or less, but we would prefer to be as close in to the city as possible in a neighborhood with really great schools that is walkable to amenities. THIS is not an easy task in TX, trust me. This is still twice the size of the house we currently live in AND we'll have a yard, even IN the city neighborhood.

This one is in the Westlake school district, the best district in the Austin area (the HS is consistently ranked in the top 100 on the Newsweek list) and is walking distance to all 3 schools (ES, MS and HS) in addition to being a quick trip to Zilker Park:
http://www.austinreferralrealty.com/idx/residential/7588453/details.html
And this one is in a neighborhood that was just featured on the show Property Virgins on HGTV called Allandale with an elementary school I am ridiculously excited about:
http://www.austinreferralrealty.com/idx/residential/4654662/details.html

So not everyone is moving to TX just for McMansions. I'm actually just happy we can afford a house anywhere near the city rather than being in a 2 BR TH way out in the burbs for basically the same price.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you can all scuttle away to your vulgar McMansions in Texas, you losers.

That is not called for.
I would love a lifestyle change.
Give me a farm, with horses, cows and goats and sheep and a vegetable patch and deer that roam in the mountains etc
Or a bungalow outlooking Santas workshops where there are raindeer and the locals hunt, gather blueberries, pick mushrooms and bake bread etc. I would be able to hear the wolves howling at night when I sleep
And I would also like to live in an African country, just not the malaria regions. Just the thought of being part of the dark continent, the one that has not yet been tamed seems so irresistable. I do not mind the occational bugs and snakes

You losers will rot away in this town and your life will pass you by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0

I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?

Yes, you can all scuttle away to your vulgar McMansions in Texas, you losers.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with so many of the points made above. I just wanted to add one cautionary note: moving somewhere less expensive/slower is a bit of a one-way ticket. The salaries won't keep pace, the housing market won't keep pace, so it might be difficult to ever move back. But if you don't think you'll want/need to return, then go for it!

Actually the reverse is true for DH in the medical field. Salaries are higher to draw better applicants to small town living. So it really depends on the career. We're looking to move this summer further south.