Reign Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I've decided to take a job working at the State Department. My wife is from the Maryland area, and we've been looking at places to live and are looking for suggestions. We haven't fully settled on if we are going to live in MD or VA. I know I'll be working near the Mall in D.C. and we're looking at good schools (7, preferably 8 or higher school rating). I also don't want the worst commute in the world (Then why am I moving? haha). Basically, we don't want to live too far out. We've been looking at the Olney/Gaithersburg/North Potomac area for MD, or the South Riding/Brambleton/Ashburn area for VA as being the furthest we would like to go. What are your thoughts on the traffic in the area. I've been told (and I hope not to offend anyone) to stay away from PG county, particularly because of the school system. Let me know what you guys think. (I can finally use my season tickets again soon! YAY!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 well then you don't want to live in Ashburn if you don't want a bad commute. Live in the District or Arlington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrypticVillain Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 No matter which way you go, you're screwed with the traffic. Lol Montgomery County schools are nice though. And yeah, PG County is becoming DC north. I wouldn't recommend moving there (even though I am about to move out there lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonArtest15 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 well then you don't want to live in Ashburn if you don't want a bad commute. Live in the District or Arlington. Where's he going to live in the district (affordably) with public schools that are ranked 7 or higher? If you don't mind me asking, what's your budget? Because if it's healthy, then Arlington would be a good option. One consideration is western PW county (Haymarket, Bristow, Gainesville). Excellent schools, affordable homes, and you could take the VRE from Manassas to DC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 My nephew and niece get a pretty good public education up near Friendship heights, but that's elementary. I guess affordable is relative then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reign Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Where's he going to live in the district (affordably) with public schools that are ranked 7 or higher? If you don't mind me asking, what's your budget? Because if it's healthy, then Arlington would be a good option. One consideration is western PW county (Haymarket, Bristow, Gainesville). Excellent schools, affordable homes, and you could take the VRE from Manassas to DC. We've been told we can go up to around 700k, but would like to keep it around 550ish.. willing to budge a little. It's a little hard for us, we're moving from a 3200 sq ft, 3 car garage house here in San Antonio (Cowboys suck!), but moving there we're noticing we can have a nice house/nice yard/nice school/less than an hour commute.... Pick two! Maybe 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Don't live in VA the commutes are hell. Make sure that you live in the inner loop it makes life much easier. I'm from Takoma Park and I hated it there because there are too many middle aged hippies but I'd suggest it. 5 minute walk from the DC line, really close to a metro. In the inner loop. Mo county so nice schools and not too much crime. The only bad thing about Takoma Park is the property tax is sky high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonArtest15 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 We've been told we can go up to around 700k, but would like to keep it around 550ish.. willing to budge a little. It's a little hard for us, we're moving from a 3200 sq ft, 3 car garage house here in San Antonio (Cowboys suck!), but moving there we're noticing we can have a nice house/nice yard/nice school/less than an hour commute.... Pick two! Maybe 3 Ahh, ok. I'd also reccommend schooldigger.com. You can get test scores amongst other things on there. It's good to compare stats between them and Greatschools.com. You might be able to find a fixer-upper in N.Arlington in the 550-650 range. Parts of Alexandria will fit your budget, but REALLY research the neighborhood schools. Ashburn, is a possibility as well out in Loudoun....but your commute will be much worse than it would if you were living in Arlington. If you can tolerate a longer commute, there is always western PW county. Access to the VRE isn't far, and you can take that right into DC w/o having to worry about carpooling or driving. No joke, everytime I watch HGTV and they feature properties in Texas, I flat out suck my teeth LOL. SO much house for SO little $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reign Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Yeah, I'm just trying to judge things like Metro trips. Is it better when commuting from VA to stop at a metro and ride that the rest of the way in? Similarly with from Maryland. I've done the trip planner, and the metro trip guides, but was looking for real world experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HogNose Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I've decided to take a job working at the State Department. My wife is from the Maryland area, and we've been looking at places to live and are looking for suggestions. We haven't fully settled on if we are going to live in MD or VA. I know I'll be working near the Mall in D.C. and we're looking at good schools (7, preferably 8 or higher school rating). I also don't want the worst commute in the world (Then why am I moving? haha). Let me know what you guys think. Check out Neighborhood Scout . Friend of mine used it to help in their search and found it useful. You can search crime stats, schools, etc. http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomthePasserby Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Yeah, I'm just trying to judge things like Metro trips. Is it better when commuting from VA to stop at a metro and ride that the rest of the way in? Similarly with from Maryland. I've done the trip planner, and the metro trip guides, but was looking for real world experience. I live in Prince William Co., and honestly, if you can do it, the number 1 best commute from VA is to is pick up 'slugs' at a commuter lot and take the I-95 HOV in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeWolf990 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 in what sense is PG County becoming DC North? PG County has lower than hte rest of the region rates on homes where its as nice as the spots in Montgomery and Fairfax county, etc. Anyway, I would live in Montgomery County. Great school system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonArtest15 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 in what sense is PG County becoming DC North? PG County has lower than hte rest of the region rates on homes where its as nice as the spots in Montgomery and Fairfax county, etc. Anyway, I would live in Montgomery County. Great school system. I think the problem w/ PG is the schools. Unless you go private, the public schools are some of the worst in the nation. However, you can get a lot of space in your home or land for a VERY cheap cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 In PG you run the risk of getting ran up on. Montgomery county or Nova are the best bets. The suicide rate in VA during rush hour is sky high tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrypticVillain Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 in what sense is PG County becoming DC North?You know all those neighborhoods that have gotten shut down in DC? Guess where they are going? Straight to PG. District Heights, Suitland, Seat Pleasent, Brandywine/Waldorf, Palmer Park, etc. it's getting crazier out there. I mean it's not THAT bad, but I could see it getting there soon unfortunately. Meanwhile, DC is getting better though as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeWolf990 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 You know all those neighborhoods that have gotten shut down in DC? Guess where they are going? Straight to PG. District Heights, Suitland, Seat Pleasent, Brandywine/Waldorf, Palmer Park, etc. it's getting crazier out there. I mean it's not THAT bad, but I could see it getting there soon unfortunately. Meanwhile, DC is getting better though as a result. Um, those neighborhoods were always that way. Its not new. And poor people from DC are not getting homes in Brandywine and Waldorf. If anything, PG County is pricing out poor folks too. A lot of this is just PG County stereotyping that has plagued the county since White Flight happened in the early 80s. If you want to get on the school system, I am fine with that but dont say stuff that you hear 3rd hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Yeah, I'm just trying to judge things like Metro trips. Is it better when commuting from VA to stop at a metro and ride that the rest of the way in? Similarly with from Maryland. I've done the trip planner, and the metro trip guides, but was looking for real world experience. I live in mclean, and bike in right by Main State during the spring-summer-fall... it is a nice ride, almost entirely on bike trails. If you live in Arlington/Falls Church/ Alexandria/Mclean (inside the beltway), it will be much more convenient of a commute-- (Main State is basically right across Roosevelt bridge from Arlington) --- whether you bike drive or metro. Orange (mclean/n. arlington/falls church/vienna) Blue (alexandria/s. arlington), and silver (tysons- soon/and then eventually out to dulles) lines all stop at foggy bottom, and would be an easy train ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velocet Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I know people who, after years of experience with the area, did the cost-benefit analysis and figured out that a commute from WVA or even southernmost PA is the ticket. I am not recommending this. The reality is something you must learn for yourself. I mean, you laugh now at the thought. Good then. And as time takes its inevitable toll, and the day comes when you look around ask yourself "am I really paying all this extra in every conceivable facet of my existence to live in this vomit pit (the "county" that borders D.C. to the north) to save a few minutes on my commute?" you'll find yourself scouting for real estate a little farther out. If you're determined above all else to wallow in an open sewer because you have a serious problem, then just move to the District proper. WHY head for olney/gaithersgarbage and add time to your travel when in fact you're just moving within the same stretch of an undifferentiated smear of pure degeneracy? Should you resist all reason and decide to reside in this hole then expect something of an ethereal laugh-track to accompany your every moment of discomfiture and pain. Because you've been warned. velocet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reign Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 I know people who, after years of experience with the area, did the cost-benefit analysis and figured out that a commute from WVA or even southernmost PA is the ticket. I am not recommending this. The reality is something you must learn for yourself. I mean, you laugh now at the thought. Good then. And as time takes its inevitable toll, and the day comes when you look around ask yourself "am I really paying all this extra in every conceivable facet of my existence to live in this vomit pit (the "county" that borders D.C. to the north) to save a few minutes on my commute?" you'll find yourself scouting for real estate a little farther out. If you're determined above all else to wallow in an open sewer because you have a serious problem, then just move to the District proper. WHY head for olney/gaithersgarbage and add time to your travel when in fact you're just moving within the same stretch of an undifferentiated smear of pure degeneracy? Should you resist all reason and decide to reside in this hole then expect something of an ethereal laugh-track to accompany your every moment of discomfiture and pain. Because you've been warned. velocet Well then, aren't you just one big ray of sunshine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velocet Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Well then, aren't you just one big ray of sunshine.ONLY when it comes to D.C. proper and the wasteland to the north. I'll not disparage an area I don't know well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixcuincle Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 This traffic is a damn joke and unbearable. Other than that congrats on your big move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrypticVillain Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Um, those neighborhoods were always that way. Its not new. And poor people from DC are not getting homes in Brandywine and Waldorf. If anything, PG County is pricing out poor folks too. A lot of this is just PG County stereotyping that has plagued the county since White Flight happened in the early 80s. If you want to get on the school system, I am fine with that but dont say stuff that you hear 3rd hand. I take it that PG is important to you, and you'll know more about it than me... But I don't have third hand knowledge of PG. Like I said, I'm moving out there soon. If it's one place I know about other than DC, it's PG. And honestly, is getting harder and harder to tell the two apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mocountyskins Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Not many good things happen in PG. I hate to beat up on it but it doesn't really have many things going for it. Schools are crappy unless you go private, the clubs are crappy, the police are notorious for being poorly trained, slightly more crime and a lot of poor people. It just has no where to hang out. It's full of like a bunch of Wheaton like areas. That's why people in PG always go out to D.C. or Montgomery. Only thing in PG is sketch strip clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I take it that PG is important to you, and you'll know more about it than me... But I don't have third hand knowledge of PG. Like I said, I'm moving out there soon. If it's one place I know about other than DC, it's PG. And honestly, is getting harder and harder to tell the two apart. Come to Bowie, Mitchellville, or Glenn Dale. Not many good things happen in PG. I hate to beat up on it but it doesn't really have many things going for it. Schools are crappy unless you go private, the clubs are crappy, the police are notorious for being poorly trained, slightly more crime and a lot of poor people. It just has no where to hang out. It's full of like a bunch of Wheaton like areas. That's why people in PG always go out to D.C. or Montgomery. Only thing in PG is sketch strip clubs. What are you talking about? I have lived in PG my entire life and they are behind the curve but PG people are starting to stay in the county because of National Harbor and other new areas that are popping up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadySkinsFan Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I live near Mt. Vernon. If you want good schools, try south of Alexandria between the GW Parkway and Route 1. Schools are Fairfax County. Too bad I don't have my house ready for sale yet. PM me if you want some info about where I live. The commute into DC is relatively easy. Taxes in VA are light compared to Maryland. I've live in both and hate Maryland financials. Yes there is personal property tax in VA and you have to have your vehicles inspected every year, but insurance rates are lower, no city taxes, state tax rates are lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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