does anyone work in DC if so where do you live?

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I would also like to add that my mom lives on Connecticut Ave. near the UDC stop on the Red Line. She has a beautiful studio for $940/month including utilities.

She also does not have a car.

She's lucky, I did a search for studio apartments a few minutes ago and the DC ones all came up around 2K per month.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I would also like to add that my mom lives on Connecticut Ave. near the UDC stop on the Red Line. She has a beautiful studio for $940/month including utilities.

She also does not have a car.

She's lucky, I did a search for studio apartments a few minutes ago and the DC ones all came up around 2K per month.

She moved there in like 2003/2004. Have prices changed that much in 2 years?

 

[Chiropteran]

Depends on what you want. You can live out in Manassas cheap, but it's a long commute. You could live a little closer in Sterling or Vienna and it's not too expensive, but still a good 30-45 minute commute most times. You can metro from Vienna at least. I live in McLean, which is cloer still but a lot more expensive, not worth it unless you are sharing a place IMO. Rosslyn/Ballston are good options if you don't want to rely on a car but you don't want to actually live in DC.

I think it could be summarized, for a "nice" apparetment, as:

monthly rent = 1100-([commute in minutes/20]*100)

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I would also like to add that my mom lives on Connecticut Ave. near the UDC stop on the Red Line. She has a beautiful studio for $940/month including utilities.

She also does not have a car.

She's lucky, I did a search for studio apartments a few minutes ago and the DC ones all came up around 2K per month.

She moved there in like 2003/2004. Have prices changed that much in 2 years?

2k sounds too high even for DC. Maybe the posters standards are a lot higher than mine. You can find 1BR or Studio appartments for under $1k in DC, but those will be the cheapest ones out there and not very nice. I think for $1200~ you can get something pretty decent.

 

[Chiropteran]

Here is a good way to get some ideas on pricing, take a look at the craigslist listings:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/apa/

edit: some of those listings are in the wrong section, they should all be for appartments for rent but some are for roommates. just make sure you read the listing so you know what it really is.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Looking at this map...

Are there any places/areas where I simply shouldn't live considering the crime rate, etc.?

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Looking at this map...

Are there any places/areas where I simply shouldn't live considering the crime rate, etc.?

Avoid anything east of Metro Center IMO...

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Looking at this map...

Are there any places/areas where I simply shouldn't live considering the crime rate, etc.?

Yes, draw a line right down the down the middle of DC. Now stay anywhere west of that line.

 

[GTaudiophile]

So...

Red Line: Glenmont
Green Line: Greenbelt
Orange Line: New Carrolton

All out of the question???

 

[teddyv]

I live in Alexandria as well, in an old 1920's Del Ray American 4-Square/bungalow. My commute in the morning is usually about 20 minutes door-to-door, more if there is a problem on the 14th street bridge and I forget to tune in to WTOP to hear about it in time to take my alternate route (which adds about 5 minutes.) I lived in a big 1-bedroom apartment in Hunting Towers in Alexandria before I bought the house - it was clean, uber cheap ($930) and convenient - and 1.5 years there allowed me to sock away $3,000 a month for the house downpayment.

I would look in south Arlington or Alexandria (inside the beltway) and make sure you are within walking distance to a metro (downtown parking spots are expensive and hard to come by in DC unless you get a reserved one as a work bene.) You also should consider DC, though you'll have a much better chance at finding a group house than an affordable apartment (a group house is a great thing when you are just out of college and in a new city, these days a lot of adult couples are sharing as well.) Great spots for group houses are Capitol Hill (I'd go as far east as 11th St, NE though the area gets radically better by the month) or in NW from Burleith up the Wisconsin Ave/Connecticut Ave corridor. There are a lot of great old houses used as group houses in the area from the Cathedral/Zoo all the way up to the DC line at Western. You can check Craig's list and City Paper, also hit up Gtown and GW housing offices. The real gold will be the bulletin boards at the local coffee/sandwich shops like Sugar's at 35th and O.

would not consider Maryland under any circumstances - I was born in DC and have spent most of my life here and Maryland has never been an option.

 

[teddyv]

Red Line: Glenmont
Green Line: Greenbelt
Orange Line: New Carrolton

Yikes!

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: teddyv
I live in Alexandria as well, in an old 1920's Del Ray American 4-Square/bungalow. My commute in the morning is usually about 20 minutes door-to-door, more if there is a problem on the 14th street bridge and I forget to tune in to WTOP to hear about it in time to take my alternate route (which adds about 5 minutes.) I lived in a big 1-bedroom apartment in Hunting Towers in Alexandria before I bought the house - it was clean, uber cheap ($930) and convenient - and 1.5 years there allowed me to sock away $3,000 a month for the house downpayment.

I would look in south Arlington or Alexandria (inside the beltway) and make sure you are within walking distance to a metro (downtown parking spots are expensive and hard to come by in DC unless you get a reserved one as a work bene.) You also should consider DC, though you'll have a much better chance at finding a group house than an affordable apartment (that said, a group house is a great thing when you are just out of college and in a new city.) Great spots for group houses are Capitol Hill (I'd go as far east as 11th St, NE though the area gets radically better by the month) or in NW from Burleith up the Wisconsin Ave/Connecticut Ave corridor. There are a lot of great old houses used as group houses in the area from the Cathedral/Zoo all the way up to the DC line at Western. You can check Craig's list and City Paper, also hit up Gtown and GW housing offices. The real gold will be the bulletin boards at the local coffee/sandwich shops like Sugar's at 35th and O.

would not consider Maryland under any circumstances - I was born in DC and have spent most of my life here and Maryland has never been an option.

There is a tax advantage to living in Maryland. DC is the worst when it comes to sales taxes when compared to VA and MD.

 

[GTaudiophile]

And if you can save $3K/month, I would venture to guess you make $6K-9K/month!

 

[teddyv]

>There is a tax advantage to living in Maryland

I'd love to see a credible study for that Even if true, make sure to examine crime trends in Montgomery and PG Counties, and compare them to Alexandria and Arlington.

EDIT: OK I looked, looks like Virginia is the *clear* winner of the three (linkeroo)

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: teddyv
>There is a tax advantage to living in Maryland

I'd love to see a credible study for that Even if true, make sure to examine crime trends in Montgomery and PG Counties, and compare them to Alexandria and Arlington.

Yeah, crime rate is the next statistic I research

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So...

Red Line: Glenmont
Green Line: Greenbelt
Orange Line: New Carrolton

All out of the question???

Avoid those places like the bird flu. I don?t know what worse there, the gangsters or the police. PG county cops are known for having itchy trigger fingers.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: rdubbz420

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So...

Red Line: Glenmont
Green Line: Greenbelt
Orange Line: New Carrolton

All out of the question???

Avoid those places like the bird flu. I don?t know what worse there, the gangsters or the police. PG county cops are known for having itchy trigger fingers.

Good to know. I know jack about the area, hence the questions.

 

[Proletariat]

rdubbz is right on with his original comments

PG county is ghetto.

Montgomery county is great but has a lot of illegal immigrants.

Frederick is redneck.

Out of all of the above bro I'd pick Moco.

 

[Lucius]

I live in Gaithersburg.

If you're looking to commute in on the subway you still need a car for errands in the suburbs.

PG county is not a nice area close to the city, but areas like Bowie and Laurel are fine.

Howard County is growing.

Traffic sucks everywhere. If you are going into the city traffic will suck no matter where you are coming from.

It's hard to recommend somewhere without requirements. Is price the only factor? You could live somewhere in North or Western Montgomery County where you could probably find cheaper places to live, but it's all really small towns.

Need more info, imo.

I'm happy to help, but email me, I won't be checking back here anytime soon. biterclown at comcast dot net.

 

[davestar]

If I were to move to DC, it would be to the area between Farragut North and Rockville. Bethesda, Adams Morgan, or Georgetown would be my choice areas - young people, great restaurants, bars, shops, etc.

You'll be able to find a 1 BR in that area for under $1,200/month, though you might have to search. I'd say the location is worth it. The better idea, though, is to get a roomate or 2 - many more apts/houses would open up to you.

(Qualifications: I went to UMD and have lived within 30 minutes of DC my whole life)

 

[Jawo]

I have lived in Northern VA for about 20 years....First in Arlington (near Balston common mall) now live between 66 and Vienna. If you get up early (5am) communte is only 20-30 min. otherwise its a nightmare. I would recommend Vienna/McLean, small town charm, but still relativly inexpensive, and you would need a car until the Metro goes out there....

Georgetown is a great scene...but you will pay for it through the nose...Parts of Arlington County are great too, but can be lots of immigrants and it is rather congested all day.

 

[Jawo]

Double Post

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Jawo
I have lived in Northern VA for about 20 years....First in Arlington (near Balston common mall) now live between 66 and Vienna. If you get up early (5am) communte is only 20-30 min. otherwise its a nightmare. I would recommend Vienna/McLean, small town charm, but still relativly inexpensive, and you would need a car until the Metro goes out there....

Georgetown is a great scene...but you will pay for it through the nose...Parts of Arlington County are great too, but can be lots of immigrants and it is rather congested all day.

Reminder: I66 is HOV ONLY between D.C. and 495 junction during rush hour, so take that into account...

If I were you, I'd look into roommates and live downtown D.C. Good/hip areas are: Foggy Bottom, Adams Morgan, Dupont's Circle... let me remind you though, D.C. downtown is very gay friendly, so if you are going to be bothered by seeing 2 guys holding hands, kissing, etc. I don't recommend living in D.C.

Georgetown is very nice, but very expensive. You can find a 3 bedroom apartment for about $2,500 - 3,000 and share it with 2 other people though. It really is the best part of D.C. in my opinion.

And I am sure you're used to the immigrants from Atlanta, but he is right, you'll see hundreds and thousands of immigrant on the side of the road, waiting for construction work in and around Arlington County. Its crazy. If I remember correctly, end of Peachtree road in Atlanta was like that, just imagine twice as bad.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I have never lived alone in my life. Have always lived with parent(s) or roommates. I really would prefer my own place for once.

 

[Turkish]

Then yeah, stay away from those places I mentioned above... I still think you'll have a hard time finding a studio with a $800-$850 budget, even outside D.C. unless its a really crappy one with old carpets, old paint, old blinds, old appliances, etc...