Washington DC Area...

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

So I'll be hitting the road and heading to DC next weekend to visit a couple of law schools (Georgetown, George Washington) as well as scout out the area for potential neighborhoods. I've been to DC once, for a whopping 2.5 days, and no next to nothing about the area. Anyone out there have any neighborhoods they'd recommend looking at? I'll be a full time student leaving the military (with access to the VA home-loan) and my wife will be working full time. I'd like to try and find a house (and neighborhood) we can grow into. Any suggestions?

 

Side Note: IU plays Minnesota that Saturday. Any IU bars in the area?

[Stuhoo 86,625]

I'm a big fan of Silver Spring inside the Beltway (near Silver Spring center).

 

Lived there for a few years; easy access to the Red Line subway, lots of excellent walking distance activities/options, not super overpriced (though DC is pretty expensive for anywhere decent), lots of 30-somethings/young married couples, inventory of well-kept small houses, reasonably safe without a cookie cutter gated community feel.

 

One of the absolute favorite areas I've lived in.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

I'm a big fan of Silver Spring inside the Beltway (near Silver Spring center).

 

Lived there for a few years; easy access to the Red Line subway, lots of excellent walking distance activities/options, not super overpriced (though DC is pretty expensive for anywhere decent), lots of 30-somethings/young married couples, inventory of well-kept small houses, reasonably safe without a cookie cutter gated community feel.

 

One of the absolute favorite areas I've lived in.

I'm actually planning on looking at some townhomes they're building in Silver Springs.

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

See, Btown Banners.....where great minds get together and find out their thinking along the same lines. Except when it comes to basketball!  :biggrin:

[Magnanimous 4,942]

Silver Spring's an overpriced dump. If you want to do MD and live on the metro check out Bethesda. GULC is by Judiciary Sqaure/Union Station so that is really easy to get to via the Red Line. If you end up going to GW Law and are checking out the suburbs, Arlington is very manageable since multiple lines go out there and through Foggy Bottom. 

 

The DC communities speak for themselves depending on your price range. Just avoid the South East. A pretty reasonable area is Pentworth, and it wouldn't be difficult to get to either school from there. 

[Stuhoo 86,625]

Silver Spring's an overpriced dump. If you want to do MD and live on the metro check out Bethesda. GULC is by Judiciary Sqaure/Union Station so that is really easy to get to via the Red Line. If you end up going to GW Law and are checking out the suburbs, Arlington is very manageable since multiple lines go out there and through Foggy Bottom. 

 

The DC communities speak for themselves depending on your price range. Just avoid the South East. A pretty reasonable area is Pentworth, and it wouldn't be difficult to get to either school from there. 

 

 

Bethesda and Chevy Chase are beautiful, if you have $675,000 to spend on a 1,400 square foot house.

[8bucks 7,172]

We looked into this recently as well. Negotiated most of the summer/fall but in the end we turned the offer down. We looked out in the Northern VA suburbs as we kind of liked that feel better vs the townhomes. Without kids I would have looked in the Arlington area for a townhome

Now we are looking at a potential move to the East Lansing/Ann Arbor area. DC looked a lot nicer in the fall than Michigan does in the winter.

[Magnanimous 4,942]

Bethesda and Chevy Chase are beautiful, if you have $675,000 to spend on a 1,400 square foot house.

 

I don't know the particulars of this guy's situation, but IMO buying a house while going into LS is putting the cart before the horse. A 1-bedroom apt in Bethesda between two people is very manageable. If he gets big law out of GULC he'll be fine settling in the area anyway. 

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Bethesda and Chevy Chase are beautiful, if you have $675,000 to spend on a 1,400 square foot house.

Technically I COULD have that much to spend (thank you VA loan) but I would prefer not to! 

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

For anyone who cares: Found a great bar, Union Pub (Capital Hill area) that had the game and small (but vocal) IU contingent (and free bourbon at half-time). Found a great town-home complex near UMD, so I can see some B1G games next year. AND I bought a bust of Abraham Lincoln. My life can only go downhill from this immense peak. 

[DChoosier 9,379]

For anyone who cares: Found a great bar, Union Pub (Capital Hill area) that had the game and small (but vocal) IU contingent (and free bourbon at half-time). Found a great town-home complex near UMD, so I can see some B1G games next year. AND I bought a bust of Abraham Lincoln. My life can only go downhill from this immense peak.

Sorry I did not see your post the other day but the Union Pub, where you went, often has quite a large and vocal turnout of IU fans. You should check it out again.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Sorry I did not see your post the other day but the Union Pub, where you went, often has quite a large and vocal turnout of IU fans. You should check it out again.

IU and the Bears? I'm already sold.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,267]

Too bad you haven't already moved.  You could look out your windows and enjoy this weekend's blizzard!    :laugh: 

[Naturalhoosier 15,468]

12-18" of snow anticipated here in DE.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,267]

12-18" of snow anticipated here in DE.

My aching back already feels your pain.  Truly hope it ends up being much ado but no where close to some of these early forecasts.  If it does hit your area hard, stay safe.

[BGleas 8,655]

We're looking at about 15-20" where I'm at in Maryland. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,267]

I cracked a joke earlier about the predicted storm, but it will certainly be no laughing matter if it does indeed materialize.  To everyone that may be in this storm's path, be careful and stay safe.  And after it's over, don't forget to share with all us what you experienced. 

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Too bad you haven't already moved. You could look out your windows and enjoy this weekend's blizzard! :laugh:

Don't you worry- Good ol' Fort Campbell is going to get a whopping 3-5 inches. If you don't hear from me it's because civilization has disintegrated in the face of such and overwhelming flurry. Pray for us people.