I am moving to DC some time this year, not sure exactly when as I don't have my report date, but I heard sometime around October. Anyway, I will be working at Bolling AFB. My questions are pretty standard I guess:

Where to live? I guess I could shoot for on base housing, but I hate living on bases. What areas are good? And by good, I mean, I don't want to feel like I will have my car stolen when I drive through the area. I pretty much ruled out DC itself, since the nicer areas will cost more than I am willing to pay (no more than 1900 a month).

So is Arlington nice? Alexandria? Are there close suburbs to DC with Metro access that are kind of quiet (I know, that's asking for a lot).

Anyone know any real estate folks in the area that handle rentals?

Just trying to get some info from the locals before heading out there. Thanks in advance.

 

Arlington is a very nice area, but very very pricey! Try to stay out of the DC area but I warn you we have the nations worst traffic. The Metro goes as fair as Falls Church for now check around there.

 

Like the person said above. Arlington and Alexandria are VERY nice but also VERY pricey...well pretty much anywhere in No.Va is really but those are quite high end areas in general. The Metro goes to Falls Church (actually has 2 stops) and to Vienna. New stops will be in Tysons corner and Reston. They should be about done in about the next 18-24 months, would be my guess.

Is purchasing out of the options for you? What size place are you looking to get into? Any special requirements you need or would like such as garages, pools, fitness centers etc?

I just emailed my hired Real Estate agencies for you to see who I can get that's good and guide you a little bit. Ill PM you when I hear back.

 

Somewhere on the MD side -_-

 

Burke is quiet, I pay $1500 for 2 bedroom/2 bath, and is 20 min from the metro.

The Kingstowne area: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=kingst...nia&gl=us&z=14 has a metro stop < 2 min away and rent is probably similar.

Certain areas of Springfield are ok, but some what consider parts "ghetto". I'd look for yourself and decide. Fairly tame compared to PG County, MD and North Philly.

With the above being said, stay OUT of PG (Prince George's) county.

Hope this helps.

 

Yeah buying isn't an option really. Not sure how long I will be there, plus I already have a mortgage in NY, so you know....

Not looking for a huge place, two bedrooms is fine and either a garage or driveway (I hate parking lots), that's about it though. I found a nice place in Arlington, 2br condo with garage for 1850 a month, not bad.

 

stay out of DC.

 

LOL, yeah I kind of want to. I mean I can't avoid the marching orders, but I can avoid living there and wouldn't want to anyway.

Amazing how our capital has turned into such a dump, embarrassing honestly.

 

Actually, these days it's quite the opposite. Most neighborhoods are being gentrified [white hipsters moving in, minorities pushed out]. And the majority of the criminal element has been moving towards MD for the past few years.

 

Any large city, especially one that has a lot of funding for section 8 and the other programs associated with it will be a mirror image of dc...where I work its the same. These programs came in, the good people went out.

 

LOVE IT!



Seriously though........love it. Still don't wanna move there. Kinda wanna live more than a block or two from the "riff raff".

 

Yeah, if an area accepts Section 8, I won't live in it, period. Not that there aren't any decent folks who need a helping hand, but more often than not they bring trouble with them and lower the standard of living in the area.