[IDreamofBimmers]

Hello!
I'm moving back to the DC area next week and i've started looking for real estate... needless to say when i look at prices of homes I go

I'm going to be working downtown, right off the mall, and will be staying in rockville, md until i find a place of my own... I'd been looking in bethesda/rockville area, but now i'm really considering NOVA (arlington, alexandria)...

My only requirements are easy access to the metro (ie. walking or really short bus ride)... and i'd like to be close to downtown..

Any suggestions?
I don't know NOVA at all... so that's where i'd appreciate guidance

[pseto]

good luck with that commute. Rockville or those parts of NoVa are probably some of the worst and you'll pay a premium to live near metro. however those are nice areas. you'll find that the commute from any place into the city is FUCKED!!!! and taking metro will save lots of wear and tear on your e90.

what about living in the city, like Woodley Park or Chevy Chase?

[MikeMidd]

Are you buying or renting? What type of place do you need - 1BR, multiple bedrooms, apt/condo versus house, etc.? What's your priority in terms of neighborhood - do you want to be near fun stuff (bars, things to do/see) or near real-life stuff (grocery stores, easier access to highways)? Those factors will go a long way.

[HennarotM3]

If you don't want to pay to live in the District but still want to walk to stuff, you might be interested in rental properties at Pentagon Row (Pentagon City metro), Courthouse & Ballston area.

[Raja Ventureshield]

Let me know if you need a realtor. My uncle is one and he can take care of you finding you a place in VA. :-)

Welcome back. DC suburbs has changed over the years, it's so much different than it was 5-6 years ago.

[HennarotM3]

I'm certainly no expert on this, but my perception is that you can get a better value right now if you buy. The rental market appears to be saturated (and thus prices are being driven up) because potential buyers want to wait and see what the buying market does. If you have the flexibility to buy, I think you can definitely get more house for your money per month than if you rent.

[IDreamofBimmers]

I'm looking to buy... I don't want to rent, if my only option was renting i'd stay in rockville for free It's a 5 min walk to the metro, which will be the only convenience of living there... the metro the only option for going to work, i'm not driving my Precious and paying for parking!
Ideally i'd like a townhouse 2/3br 2ba + garage (I want to stay away from the ridiculously high condo fees as much as possible). I want a place that has easy access to "real-life stuff" (grocery stores, easier access to highways, etc...) and the only reason i'm not considering DC is because of the 8.5% state income tax!!!
I think my list is a bit much for my price range... but I like to shoot for the moon

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

I'm looking to buy... I don't want to rent, if my only option was renting i'd stay in rockville for free It's a 5 min walk to the metro, which will be the only convenience of living there... the metro the only option for going to work, i'm not driving my Precious and paying for parking!
Ideally i'd like a townhouse 2/3br 2ba + garage (I want to stay away from the ridiculously high condo fees as much as possible). I want a place that has easy access to "real-life stuff" (grocery stores, easier access to highways, etc...) and the only reason i'm not considering DC is because of the 8.5% state income tax!!!
I think my list is a bit much for my price range... but I like to shoot for the moon

Hey,
Shoot me an email at matt@masters-realty.com or PM me.

I'm the regional sales manager for our brokerage....I'll do whatever I can to help you.

Also, if you think the prices are bad now....you should have seen them at the end of 2005!!!

[Raja Ventureshield]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Hey,
Shoot me an email at matt@masters-realty.com or PM me.

I'm the regional sales manager for our brokerage....I'll do whatever I can to help you.

Also, if you think the prices are bad now....you should have seen them at the end of 2005!!!

or yeah you can use Matt as well.
A playboy amongst us.

:-)

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

or yeah you can use Matt as well.
A playboy amongst us.

:-)

still need to get that ventureshield!! Been too busy/lazy to fix my rock chips though

[IDreamofBimmers]

Thanks Matt and I hate to do this, but I already have an agent...
he's a friend of the family, so i'd feel bad if i dropped him now after the time he's put in so far.. I just wanted a feel for the areas in NOVA and what people thought would be a good fit... Also, if you know of new developments i'd be interested in those as well

TIA!!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

Thanks Matt and I hate to do this, but I already have an agent...
he's a friend of the family, so i'd feel bad if i dropped him now after the time he's put in so far.. I just wanted a feel for the areas in NOVA and what people thought would be a good fit... Also, if you know of new developments i'd be interested in those as well

TIA!!

completely understood! I'm sure he/her will do just fine for you

welcome to the area, hopefully see you at a few meets.......and sorry about the traffic

[iatacs19]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

I'm looking to buy... I don't want to rent, if my only option was renting i'd stay in rockville for free It's a 5 min walk to the metro, which will be the only convenience of living there... the metro the only option for going to work, i'm not driving my Precious and paying for parking!
Ideally i'd like a townhouse 2/3br 2ba + garage (I want to stay away from the ridiculously high condo fees as much as possible). I want a place that has easy access to "real-life stuff" (grocery stores, easier access to highways, etc...) and the only reason i'm not considering DC is because of the 8.5% state income tax!!!
I think my list is a bit much for my price range... but I like to shoot for the moon

That sounds like $500k-700k range depending on the area...

btw, DC is cheaper than Montgomery or PG county in terms of expenses.

[IDreamofBimmers]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

That sounds like $500k-700k range depending on the area...

btw, DC is cheaper than Montgomery or PG county in terms of expenses.

OUCH!!!! I was thinking of $400k

So you say DC is cheaper... can you elaborate?
cheaper than NOVA?

[IDreamofBimmers]

Originally Posted by Sniz

completely understood! I'm sure he/her will do just fine for you

welcome to the area, hopefully see you at a few meets.......and sorry about the traffic

It's ok... you should see traffic in Seattle!

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

It's ok... you should see traffic in Seattle!

Traffic is pretty bad here. I grew up just outside NYC, and the traffic is worse here than it was in NY.

Townhome with a garage and specs you stated previously and to be close to the Metro (inside the beltway) will probably be around $500k. If you are going to be in the area for a while, it might be a worthwhile investment.

I bought a TH in Ashburn, and work in Ashburn. Prices are a little less outside the beltway, but not much different.

[iatacs19]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

OUCH!!!! I was thinking of $400k

So you say DC is cheaper... can you elaborate?
cheaper than NOVA?

You won't get anything with a 2 car garage for less than $600k in if you want to walk to a Metro station. Trust me I have been looking for the past 2 months. I looked at 40+ townhouses, if you want to park and ride then choices are much greater and prices are less as well. Of course, It all depends on the area you are looking at though.

The District published a study on the cost of living comparison (tax burden) between the 6 major areas in DC Metro:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfi...irginia_m.html

If you're up the income scale at $150,000 a year, the ranking breaks down like this:
Montgomery: $16,551
Prince George's $16,455
D.C. $15,027
Fairfax $13,317
Arlington $13,302
Alexandria $13,117

Source: http://www.cfo.dc.gov/cfo/frames.asp...metro-area.pdf

[IDreamofBimmers]

thanks for the info...
where have you been looking?

Originally Posted by iatacs19

You won't get anything with a 2 car garage for less than $600k in if you want to walk to a Metro station. Trust me I have been looking for the past 2 months. I looked at 40+ townhouses, if you want to park and ride then choices are much greater and prices are less as well. Of course, It all depends on the area you are looking at though.

The District published a study on the cost of living comparison (tax burden) between the 5 major areas in DC Metro:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfi...irginia_m.html



Source: http://www.cfo.dc.gov/cfo/frames.asp...metro-area.pdf

[iatacs19]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

thanks for the info...
where have you been looking?

Mostly in Vienna, Arlington and certain parts of Falls Church. I dare not venture in McLean...

I need to live next to a Metro station to have the flexibility of driving or taking the subway.

[IDreamofBimmers]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

I need to live next to a Metro station to have the flexibility of driving or taking the subway.

I'm in the same boat! I don't want to drive into DC... i'm thinking a condo might be a better fit now... but i'm worried about resale in the future.. especially since they are being built everywhere!!!!
anyone know anything about Midtown Alexandria?

[iatacs19]

Originally Posted by IDreamofBimmers

I'm in the same boat! I don't want to drive into DC... i'm thinking a condo might be a better fit now... but i'm worried about resale in the future.. especially since they are being built everywhere!!!!
anyone know anything about Midtown Alexandria?

Condos have tanked, I know this because I bought one.

I think the prices now for condos are more reasonable and they are discounting them a lot, I am 100% sure that if you put in a reasonable offer, it will not be rejected.

Any of the condos that are taller than 4 floors are better due to the concrete construction, also any that are within 4 blocks of a Metro station will retain their value from the current down pricing. I would look in NoVA or Rockville if you are buying a condo, along orange and red lines.

[IDreamofBimmers]

Originally Posted by iatacs19

Condos have tanked, I know this because I bought one.

I think the prices now for condos are more reasonable and they are discounting them a lot, I am 100% sure that if you put in a reasonable offer, it will not be rejected.

Any of the condos that are taller than 4 floors are better due to the concrete construction, also any that are within 4 blocks of a Metro station will retain their value from the current down pricing. I would look in NoVA or Rockville if you are buying a condo, along orange and red lines.

Oh! Sorry to hear about your condo!
My agent is telling me that NOVA is worse off than Mont. CO... and wouldn't recommend it... i personally think he's smoking something because i'm seeing some decent deals on condos in NOVA, and taxes are lower, AND it's convenient for work... ahhhh decisions decisions