Thinking of moving to Annapolis/Anne Arundel County (Silver Spring, Germantown: salons, rent)

[thomrich13]

DW and I are thinking of buying in Annapolis or Anne Arundel County. We currently rent in Alexandria, VA and have been looking for housing in NoVa. All indications are that traffic is too bad there to find a reasonably priced home within an hour or so of DC. We also have an 18 month old, so we would like to find an area with good schools. Can anyone provide areas where we could possibly find good schools and housing in the $300-$400K range? We prefer at least 3br/2ba and can only do $400K with no HOA. Cape Saint Claire looks great, but is it expensive?

One other thing. I work in the heart of DC. DW works from home. Is Annapolis a better commute than say, Mannassas, VA or Woodbridge, VA?

Thanks.

[kcmo]

Annapolis is a great commute to DC, especially compared to NOVA, and Montgomery County. Depending on where you live in Annapolis or AA County in general, you have several options. Carpool lanes on 50, really nice commuter bus service to DC and you can drive to New Carrolton for Metro and Marc trains. It seems far, but it's not near as bad as you would think. My commute from Germantown to Silver Spring was brutal.

US-50 between Annapolis and the Beltway is really not bad at all. Rarely more than a 10 minute delay.

AA County is great. Annapolis is great. It's not quite as bland and other suburban areas around DC. Annapolis is so vibrant, historic and unique, yet you also have any suburban shopping you could ever want. I think Annapolis mall is the best mall in all of metro DC, yet it's not near as annoying as Tyson Corner or something. Festivals and what not every weekend it seems. Bay Bridge is minutes away. Lots of water and water/boat culture.

Family friendly good school areas I like are Severna Park, Edgewater, Riva, Broadneck/Arnold area. Crofton is ok, but I find it a bit isolated from the best things about AA County. Dont' know much about the more rural areas of AA County like down south.

FYI, we moved here from Kansas City, MO about four years ago. First in Germantown and now Annapolis.

[Noble Savage]

I would choose NoVa or Woodbridge area everytime over anywhere in Md. I'm hoping to relocate ASAP out of this overly liberal nanny state.

[kcmo]

What is a nanny state and whatever it is, would VA really be much different?

[Noble Savage]

Kcmo, here is the stock definition: A government perceived as having excessive interest in or control over the welfare of its citizens, especially in the enforcement of extensive public health and safety regulations.

Once you are away from Loudon, Fairfax, & Pr. William counties, yes it's much different. Even if you don't remove those counties from the discussion, Va is a much friendlier, and relaxed atmosphere. Even more importantly, for the most part progressives have not taken over all local and state governments.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by Noble Savage

Kcmo, here is the stock definition: A government perceived as having excessive interest in or control over the welfare of its citizens, especially in the enforcement of extensive public health and safety regulations.

Once you are away from Loudon, Fairfax, & Pr. William counties, yes it's much different. Even if you don't remove those counties from the discussion, Va is a much friendlier, and relaxed atmosphere. Even more importantly, for the most part progressives have not taken over all local and state governments.

Well, I would agree, I have no desire to live in a "nanny state" and think all the overkill laws in Maryland are annoying and ridiculous. But I'm not sure you are going to get away from it unless you go to a more rural area or down south like Texas or something. It's definitely not enough for me to want to move or lose sleep over. I just try to ignore it and live life. Rural or more conservative areas have plenty of problems of their own that offset the nanny nonsense. I think this country has lost touch with reality and just a middle ground of living "normally".

Anyway, I like the DC area and most urban metro areas, so I guess I'm stuck in a nanny state

[MB0909]

OP: you do have to be careful about schools in Annapolis. Most are not good or safe. You would need to move to southern Anne Arundel Co (Harwood, Lothian - though some sketchy areas), Arnold for Broadneck schools, Severna Park for Severna Park schools, Riva or Davidsonville for South River HS. A budget of $3-400k will not get you far in these areas because of the schools. There are some houses that are in that price range but they will be older, maybe not fixed up, & havd smaller yards be in a hodge podge community.

It is a bit farther, but I recommend Kent Island. Your $ goes farther for housing, power bills are cheaper (no BGE), & there is a commuter bus to DC, and great schools (Matapeake Elm & MS & Kent Island High)! You will have a better time finding housing in your price range.

[pokeable]

Originally Posted by MB0909

It is a bit farther, but I recommend Kent Island. Your $ goes farther for housing, power bills are cheaper (no BGE), & there is a commuter bus to DC, and great schools (Matapeake Elm & MS & Kent Island High)! You will have a better time finding housing in your price range.

Better ask the spouse about acceptable commute times; Bay Bridge traffic on Friday during summertime....

[bande1102]

I think that budget + good schools + good neighborhood is probably going to get you a townhouse. I think the bigger issue will be finding a property without an HOA. My vote is for Crofton--great access to 50 and 97 and tons of back roads for avoiding traffic. Crofton has tons of shopping/eats/movies/salons and Ulta (my favorite store) with the addition of Waugh Chapel I and II and is an easy drive to Annapolis and fairly simple drive into D.C. although I prefer to drive to New Carollton metro and take that in. Again, finding a place without an HOA is probably going to be a challenge.

Crofton is also an easy drive to Arundel Mills Mall (I prefer to Annapolis Mall).

I also like parts of Millersville and Crownsville. I think I'm the only person in AA county not impressed with Severna Park. I'm not from this area so that might have something to do with it, I dunno. I feel Arnold is too suburban and I'm not a fan of Edgewater.

I cannot imagine doing a commute from Kent Island to D.C. That gives me a headache just thinking about it.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by thomrich13

Can anyone provide areas where we could possibly find good schools and housing in the $300-$400K range? We prefer at least 3br/2ba and can only do $400K with no HOA. Cape Saint Claire looks great, but is it expensive?

Cape St Claire has several houses under $400K, such as a rancher on St Charles Drive. The house is assigned to Anne Arundel County schools which are all rated at 9 of 10 in the Realtor.com listing. There is only a $10 HOA fee, but I would check whether that is accurate.

Don't let the negative voices deter you from following your interest in Annapolis. The commute is do-able if you are motivated.