Posted: 12/29/2011 11:01:02 AM EDT
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Got a job offer in the College Park/Beltsville MD area. Would rather not live in MD until they fix their carry laws.
Reston sounds bad and I will be in "the flow" of traffic. I've been told to avoid it. Alexandria is mucho dinero and the rentals are few. I'll most likely rent before buying. I drove around Springfield and W. Springfield when I was up there interviewing. Yes, it's 180 degrees of beltway from the job but schools and safe neighborhoods trumps a shorter commute for me. Suggestions? There is a metro in Beltsville, do they do overnight parking so I could leave a car there? I stayed in McLean over night and that area was nice, nice and expensive. Don't think I can swing that. $350k or less is the goal. |
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Got a job offer in the College Park/Beltsville MD area. Would rather not live in MD until they fix their carry laws. Reston sounds bad and I will be in "the flow" of traffic. Reston isn't "bad". We seem to have more than our share of government housing, but it isn't at all like South central LA  I've heard more bad stuff about Springfield than I have Reston.
Me, I will not accept work in MD or DC. I am not even close to being desperate enough to want to even consider it. |
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Reston isn't that bad, my sister in law lives there. She does have her kids in Catholic school though.
Greenbelt has a Metro Station, It's on the green line so you would have to take the Blue line from Springfield, change to yellow at one of many stops, then change to green at one of many stops. |
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I would second that the crime stats for Reston are far better than Alexandra, Springfield and W Springfield and the amount of Section 8 housing is significantly less.
I would not leave my car in any of the PG county metro stations (Beltsville, CP, green line, etc.) overnight with any regularity and expect it to be whole. Estimate 1.5 hr average each way from the Western side of VA, and from the eastern side ((Alex, Springfield, etc) it depends on the time of day. If your considering Metro as a solution, I would live as close to a metro station as possible. I would do test runs of any commute, DC now is number #1 in average commute in the nation. 
Suggestion is that you rent for the first year and figure out what you want and test drive your commute and evaluate the schools and neighborhoods. $350 in McLean must have been a small house, older house or a townhouse. I would also look at jobs in NoVA if your considering College Park or Beltsville. Quoted:
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Got a job offer in the College Park/Beltsville MD area. Would rather not live in MD until they fix their carry laws. Reston sounds bad and I will be in "the flow" of traffic. Reston isn't "bad". We seem to have more than our share of government housing, but it isn't at all like South central LA I've heard more bad stuff about Springfield than I have Reston.
Me, I will not accept work in MD or DC. I am not even close to being desperate enough to want to even consider it. |
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Thanks for the advice. I will continue to look into Reston as well then. There are a few "affordable" homes in the Mount Vernon area, one is literally right outside the fence of Belvoir. Knowing other military bases, that is not necesarily a good thing. Don't know. Guess I need to find the S8 housing ratios. When I drove around Springfield I stumbled into the $550k home and $350k Townhome areas. Didn't know the rest of it was crap.
I really just want a good school district. The area I'm at now, I really like my sons elementry school. The principle is a Navy Brat, they have assemblies for Veterans day and actually cite the Pledge of Allegence every morning. It's a public school, not perfect, but very good. The job is a great opportunity to advance in my field, the location is fixed. No option but the MD location. I'm in a great location and job now so it's not something I NEEDED to take, but it's a huge opportunity to further myself and it's very secure long term. It's not been an easy decision, soley based on the location. If it was anywhere else in the country I would already have my house packed. |
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If it was anywhere else in the country I would already have my house packed. New Jersey? California? Chicago? NYC?
Seriously, I think you'll be OK with Reston. I haven't seen anything resembling a ghetto here. I have no idea about the schools, but the ones I've driven by do not have graffiti, chain link fences, metal detectors, cops prowling about, etc. They have every appearance of being just regular old public schools, probably not spectacular, but not terrible either. If having good schools is important to you, then you'd have to be looking at private / Catholic, as no matter how good any public school is, it's still a public school, and is going to have priorities that rank higher than seeing to it your kid gets the best education possible. You might find some info at Fairfax Times The recent crime blotter has a very out-of-the-ordinary homicide in Reston, and just a few thefts / breakins otherwise. There just is not a lot of real crime around here. Most of what there is, is property crimes. I have never felt threatened or unsafe. I carry my sidearm because it's a general good idea, not because I in any way feel like I'm going to need it today. |
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Thanks for the links. Yeah, I live in a very low crime city, relatively. Still carry every day. Sadly, until HB822 (iirc) passes I can't commute (POV, not metro) with my pistol. Although I can have a rifle in the car so there is that...
Might have to bump my home price up another $100k. I'd rather have a good school and a nice house, while eating Ramen and beans. Might have to start casting my own bullets though... |
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I live in the W. Springfield area, no problems at all crime wise in my area.
I also commute to MD on a daily basis not too far from Greenbelt. My commute time is about 45 minutes each way on normal days as long as I stay on the South side of the beltway. Be prepared for some expensive housing. |
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I live in the W. Springfield area, no problems at all crime wise in my area. I also commute to MD on a daily basis not too far from Greenbelt. My commute time is about 45 minutes each way on normal days as long as I stay on the South side of the beltway. Be prepared for some expensive housing. So you drive counterclockwise to go north? Found this: http://www.sawbuck.com/property/DC_Metro/22153_Springfield,VA/9922594-7913-Hill-Stream-Court Chapel Acres sub of Springfield, further south. Yeah, expensive. Cost wise, I was hoping for 75% of that. It's also dead smack opposite of where I'll have to drive everyday. |
| I do the Falls Church -> Columbia commute daily. It's not bad, if you can swing a slightly different shift it makes it easier (I work 0600 -> 1500) with a lot less traffic. Taking the metro from Springfield up to Greenbelt is not practical. You'll spend at least two hours each way on the metro, if not more, as opposed to a 50 mile / 1 hour commute in the car. If you have any other questions about the commute, feel free to ask. |
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Do not get to caught up on Reston Vs. Springfield type debates. Every area of Fairfax County has it nice areas and not so nice areas. Reston has some very nice areas that are very low crime and good schools but they also have areas that are not so great areas. Same as Springfiled, Mclean, Centreville, Alexandria area, Falls Church area, etc etc etc. If you want to stay in VA and work in MD, I suggest living in VA as close to where you work in MD as possible unless you want very long commute times or you can work off hours.
I live on the western side of the area and my wife commutes to Rockville MD. Its at least 45 mins to a hour drive there and at least 1 to 1.5 hours home. She hates it. Like somebody else suggested––-rent the first year until you see what you like and get to know your way around. |
| I lived until recenlty close to the Springfield-Franconia metro stop (within walking distance) and I liked it. There are nice middle class neigborhoods off of Buelah between Metro park and Belvoir. That area is going to grow and increase in wealth over the next 10 years. I'd invest now. Only knock––and this applies to all of N. VA.––is that it does not feel like America. Everybody is foreign born. Welcome to a glimpse of the USA of the future. |
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Quoted: I lived until recenlty close to the Springfield-Franconia metro stop (within walking distance) and I liked it. There are nice middle class neigborhoods off of Buelah between Metro park and Belvoir. That area is going to grow and increase in wealth over the next 10 years. I'd invest now. Only knock––and this applies to all of N. VA.––is that it does not feel like America. Everybody is foreign born. Welcome to a glimpse of the USA of the future. In that regard I can tell you that Reston is much more like America than Springfield. |
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I live in the W. Springfield area, no problems at all crime wise in my area. I also commute to MD on a daily basis not too far from Greenbelt. My commute time is about 45 minutes each way on normal days as long as I stay on the South side of the beltway. Be prepared for some expensive housing. So you drive counterclockwise to go north? Found this: http://www.sawbuck.com/property/DC_Metro/22153_Springfield,VA/9922594-7913-Hill-Stream-Court Chapel Acres sub of Springfield, further south. Yeah, expensive. Cost wise, I was hoping for 75% of that. It's also dead smack opposite of where I'll have to drive everyday. You are correct on the drive and being expensive. I have commuted to Columbia MD as well. It is, for the most part going against traffic both ways, so not too bad. |
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Alexandria/Springfield/Lorton might be good places for you, what is your budget like for rent?
I live in Alexandria and its not bad at all, and right in the middle of a lot of things. Springfield inst too bad, there are some spots that are better then others. Arlington is pricey Mclean you can actually find some nice spots that arent badly priced Falls Church is another place you can look into. Avoid Reston, Chantilly,Manassas,Sterling,Ashburn, traffic each day will be a nightmare, cause you will have to deal with I66 or the Dulles Toll Road or Rt7 which are all nightmares during rush hour. |
| F NOVA, move down to Richmond area. I grew up in NOVA and did the NOVA work thing after college for about 6 years and it sucks!!!!! People that live up there are used to it but most transplants hate it. Rent for a year to figure out if you want to stay in that rat race of a place, then buy. |
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Yeah, a Richmond to MD commute just sounds peachy. Where's your sense of adventure? As long as you get started by 2AM you'll be fine! LMAO! Thanks for everyones help. I'm familiar with Sterling, went to HK for training. Nice area. What I remember was the traffic going the other direction in the morning (towards DC), it was HEAVY. Looks to be a bit farther too. I drove around McLean as well, I was able to test the commute and it was 38 minutes at 7am on a Monday. I was going opposite from the really heavy flow. I will definitely look to rent first. May have to until my house sells. From what I've seen online rent looks to be about twice as much as my current mortgage. Looks like I'll be in the $1500-$2000/mo rent for a decent place with a garage. Anyone have any first hand experience with good/bad elementary schools? |
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Yeah, a Richmond to MD commute just sounds peachy. Where's your sense of adventure? As long as you get started by 2AM you'll be fine! LMAO! Thanks for everyones help. I'm familiar with Sterling, went to HK for training. Nice area. What I remember was the traffic going the other direction in the morning (towards DC), it was HEAVY. Looks to be a bit farther too. I drove around McLean as well, I was able to test the commute and it was 38 minutes at 7am on a Monday. I was going opposite from the really heavy flow. I will definitely look to rent first. May have to until my house sells. From what I've seen online rent looks to be about twice as much as my current mortgage. Looks like I'll be in the $1500-$2000/mo rent for a decent place with a garage. Anyone have any first hand experience with good/bad elementary schools? Yes, quite a few, but narrow down the area some, Fairfax County has about 140 elementary schools . You will want to avoid schools in the Rt.1 corridor , and Seven Corners . You will want schools in Reston , McLean in general. You can look up "AYP" and see if the schools you are looking at made it or not. |
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Yeah, a Richmond to MD commute just sounds peachy. Where's your sense of adventure? As long as you get started by 2AM you'll be fine! LMAO! Thanks for everyones help. I'm familiar with Sterling, went to HK for training. Nice area. What I remember was the traffic going the other direction in the morning (towards DC), it was HEAVY. Looks to be a bit farther too. I drove around McLean as well, I was able to test the commute and it was 38 minutes at 7am on a Monday. I was going opposite from the really heavy flow. I will definitely look to rent first. May have to until my house sells. From what I've seen online rent looks to be about twice as much as my current mortgage. Looks like I'll be in the $1500-$2000/mo rent for a decent place with a garage. Anyone have any first hand experience with good/bad elementary schools? Check out this place http://thepointatalexandriaapts.com/index.html I currently live here and actually like it, each 2bd apt gets 2 free garage spaces, that is secured, plus 2 outdoor spaces. its right by 395 and 495 and only 10 mins from downtown DC. |
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Thanks. I will definetly keep that in mind as I'll probably leave the family behind for a few months. At least until the end of the school year.
In searching Reston, I also found some nice places in Herndon. Pretty good school reviews from what I can tell. Hutchison and Armstrong Elem. Herndon, VA 20170 area. That leaves the toll road for commute which I imagine is a nightmare during peak times. |
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Thanks. I will definetly keep that in mind as I'll probably leave the family behind for a few months. At least until the end of the school year. In searching Reston, I also found some nice places in Herndon. Pretty good school reviews from what I can tell. Hutchison and Armstrong Elem. Herndon, VA 20170 area. That leaves the toll road for commute which I imagine is a nightmare during peak times. Yeah Toll Road during Rush Hour is a nightmare and not only that but you have to hit 495 which is bad at that location too. |
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Thanks. I will definetly keep that in mind as I'll probably leave the family behind for a few months. At least until the end of the school year. In searching Reston, I also found some nice places in Herndon. Pretty good school reviews from what I can tell. Hutchison and Armstrong Elem. Herndon, VA 20170 area. That leaves the toll road for commute which I imagine is a nightmare during peak times. Sent you IM about schools 
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