Francois wrote:
Who here lives in DC or the DC area? Considering a move there. Obviously cost of living is much higher than anywhere in FL, but at the same time I don't think COL comparators are fair. Here we bought a big (too big) house because there are few small ones. In big cities, not so true.
We're considering possibly Alexandria, VA or Rockville/Bethesda MD.
I'd prefer somewhere that allows me to commute to downtown DC by bike (looks like Alexandria fits the bill) and allows minimal commuting for groceries etc. given the traffic.
Besides that...pros, cons...and since I know some of you jerks still check the forbidden page, good areas for training, pools, etc.
Edited for comic book fans.
I lived in Arlington (Pentagon City) for four years and worked in Alexandria during that time. I technically still "work in the area" even though I no longer live there. Insofar as training is concerned, i couldn't think of a better place. Yes, the summer humidity is horrendous, but you are probably used to it, having lived in FL. Hain's Point is a godsend. I used to train there at almost any time of the day. With the exception of 10am-6pm during the warmer months, you can mostly do laps around a 3.1-mile loop non-stop, with few cars and pedestrians to bother you.
You should probably consider places on the Orange Line in Arlington as well, as there's a bike path along I66 to take you into DC. Upside is that this area has mostly new buildings (30 yrs or younger); downside is that it draws some obnoxious frat brother types. Southwest DC is getting nicer, but my caution would be that the area is still a bit shady. A friend was mugged at gun point a few years back. Also, a lot of the buildings there are absolutely dreary. Think cinderblocks and le Corbusier on steroids.
Also, places in MD by definition are further to most areas of DC compared to places in VA. This is a result of the layout of DC, which was constituted (as set forth in the Constitution) by a 10 mile x 10 mile piece of land obtained from MD and VA. The VA portions were returned in the 1800's, forming Alexandria and Arlington. So these two places are by definition closer to DC than even Chevy Chase. Rockville is almost certainly too far for bike commuting, though Potomac may be doable. Also, quite a bit of Alexandria is prone to flooding, so beware if you decide to live next to the Potomac.
As to where to live, your question is a bit broad, so I'll ask you a few questions first. Feel free to shoot my a PM if you don't want to divulge too much in public.
-Who is we? You and your significant other or does it include children? If it's the latter, the Alexandria and Arlington schools somehow do rather poorly compared to the housing prices. No idea why, but it's a phenomenon. Doesn't mean that the schools don't produce kids who end up going to the brand name schools, but for one way or another they aren't ranked so highly. Maryland schools have the best reputations, followed by VA schools outside of the beltway. Virginia also imposes an annual vehicular tax; otoh, Maryland has higher property taxes. Income tax slightly higher in MD.
-Single family house, townhouse, or condominium? How old is acceptable? Except to pay at least $750k for a 2000 sq ft house in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Arlington, and Alexandria. If you are thinking of condominiums, be prepared for high fees. It's common for a 2Br, 1000 sq ft condo to have $800-900 monthly HOA charges, and this doesn't include utilities. Newer condo units are more abundant along the Orange Line, in Alexandria, and in Bethesda/Chevy Chase. If purchasing a condo, make sure you get a good sense of the financial health of the building, as some neglected to build up a sufficient capital fund early and are trying to make up for it.
-What are you going to do when you can't commute to work? The Red Line is by far the worst line of the DC metro. Also, whereas there are highways/parkways connecting Arlington and Alexandria to DC, there aren't any connecting Montgomery county to DC.
-Prices in Arlington aren't too much higher than prices in Alexandria (at least the desirable parts); might as well live closer to reduce commute.