Downtown Silver spring or downtown Bethesda? (Baltimore, North Bethesda: apartments, rentals, car insurance)

[montco78]

I think Silver spring will be easier commute for me. Work up near fort Meade. I don't like Baltimore and I really want the urban feel or being able to walk to a metro, walk to store, etc. I know silver spring I can cut up 29 to 32 and b about 30min.. But Bethesda the fastest route is 495? Yea it's against traffic but 495 seems a mess all the time..however it seems safer and I'm wondering which area would have cheaper car insurance. Bethesda I'm also assuming I can't find anything below $2000 for a 1br that has a washer and dryer, fitness, and pool.

[Cheasare]

Originally Posted by montco78

I think Silver spring will be easier commute for me. Work up near fort Meade. I don't like Baltimore and I really want the urban feel or being able to walk to a metro, walk to store, etc. I know silver spring I can cut up 29 to 32 and b about 30min.. But Bethesda the fastest route is 495? Yea it's against traffic but 495 seems a mess all the time..however it seems safer and I'm wondering which area would have cheaper car insurance. Bethesda I'm also assuming I can't find anything below $2000 for a 1br that has a washer and dryer, fitness, and pool.

...and you can still do the same commute by taking 495 and exiting 29 or heading east on EW Highway to get over to 29--probably will add about 15 minutes or so to the drive.

Look at the Montgomery County Maryland DHCA apartment rental guide. You can plug in the city for example Bethesda and get a list of the apartments and their rates and also check out their amenities. I do think you can get a one bedroom under $2K. I looked at the listings and saw Rosedale Park with rent in your price range and they have a pool and W/D inside the apartments.

BC

[montco78]

Originally Posted by Cheasare

...and you can still do the same commute by taking 495 and exiting 29 or heading east on EW Highway to get over to 29--probably will add about 15 minutes or so to the drive.

Look at the Montgomery County Maryland DHCA apartment rental guide. You can plug in the city for example Bethesda and get a list of the apartments and their rates and also check out their amenities. I do think you can get a one bedroom under $2K. I looked at the listings and saw Rosedale Park with rent in your price range and they have a pool and W/D inside the apartments.

BC

I called and asked there is no pool at the Rosedale. Maybe not a deal breaker as there are public pools that can be used for a small fee. I will take a look. Thanks.

[Tuneful]

I lived in SS (residential neighborhood E of GA Ave) 2007-2009 and moved to N. Bethesda 6 months ago (lived in Bethesda several other times in past decade). I have liked being closer to work than I was in SS and, as a SF, I feel safer. My car insurance went down $100 each payment. However, it can take me 15-20 mins at least between SS/Beth on the Beltway at rush hour and that's without accidents or bad weather. You CAN find 1 BR rentals in Beth. for $1600 and up -- a lot will be condos. Try Craigslist or realtors in Bethesda/North Bethesda. Look for as much as possible to be included. Don't take anything sight unseen. Depends what else you want. SS may have a livelier nightlife, for example, although Beth. does have a couple of megaplex theaters and lots of restaurants; SS is more diverse.

[DoNotEnter]

Silver spring is cheaper, more diverse, and in my opinion has a cooler "scene" than Bethesda. Though frankly I don't understand why you simply "don't like" Baltimore (Like, really? You don't like an ENTIRE CITY?) when you say you want an "urban feel". Some of the fun and safer neighborhoods in Baltimore like Federal Hill have new luxury condos for prices that you could never find in Bethesda, are about as urban as it gets, and not to mention cheaper, closer to work (right off 95), and just have more stuff to do in general. Bethesda and SS are pretty suburban by comparison.

[montco78]

Originally Posted by DoNotEnter

Silver spring is cheaper, more diverse, and in my opinion has a cooler "scene" than Bethesda. Though frankly I don't understand why you simply "don't like" Baltimore (Like, really? You don't like an ENTIRE CITY?) when you say you want an "urban feel". Some of the fun and safer neighborhoods in Baltimore like Federal Hill have new luxury condos for prices that you could never find in Bethesda, are about as urban as it gets, and not to mention cheaper, closer to work (right off 95), and just have more stuff to do in general. Bethesda and SS are pretty suburban by comparison.

I grew up outside of Baltimore and don't want to live there because I did that for 18 years of my life (even though it was a suburb). I was in Federal Hill last week hanging out and just didn't like the vibe there. It's fine to go bar hop every now and then there. I like the vibe in the DC area much better. I know Baltimore is urban and I like to visit there, I just wouldn't want to live there. I love DC nightlife much better than Baltimore but haven't gone out much in DC lately because I'm living way up this way already and the hour drive sucks that late at night especially driving back at 3AM. I can't explain every detail of what I like or don't like, it's just a personal feeling.

[montco78]

Originally Posted by Tuneful

I lived in SS (residential neighborhood E of GA Ave) 2007-2009 and moved to N. Bethesda 6 months ago (lived in Bethesda several other times in past decade). I have liked being closer to work than I was in SS and, as a SF, I feel safer. My car insurance went down $100 each payment. However, it can take me 15-20 mins at least between SS/Beth on the Beltway at rush hour and that's without accidents or bad weather. You CAN find 1 BR rentals in Beth. for $1600 and up -- a lot will be condos. Try Craigslist or realtors in Bethesda/North Bethesda. Look for as much as possible to be included. Don't take anything sight unseen. Depends what else you want. SS may have a livelier nightlife, for example, although Beth. does have a couple of megaplex theaters and lots of restaurants; SS is more diverse.

I just did a quote and my car insurance would go up by $100 for a 6 month period for Silver Spring. I have heard of a lot of car break-ins in that area. That's just about $16 a month increase. It's not like I would be saving that much money by moving to Bethesda. The Bethesda quote is only $20 more than what I pay now for 6 month period.

I have hung out at bars in Bethesda and know more about bars there than in Silver Spring. I never thought Silver Spring even had a night life so that was something I'd have to look up. I know if the Irish pub McGinty's and some other club but I don't know of other places.

What I want in a place? yeah...W/D in the unit, fitness center, pool, dishwasher. I like the Palisades at Bethesda and Metropolitan (from what I can see on their pictures, not actually visited). With my salary, yes I could pay that much a month but I'm not sure if I want to. Does that make sense? Maybe once I live in Silver Spring I might change my mind? Then on top of that drive an extra 15 minutes to get to work... yeah it doesn't sound like a lot but that extra 15 minutes can be tiring especially when I would just want to get home!

[NatBlah]

Originally Posted by DoNotEnter

Silver spring is cheaper, more diverse, and in my opinion has a cooler "scene" than Bethesda. Though frankly I don't understand why you simply "don't like" Baltimore (Like, really? You don't like an ENTIRE CITY?) when you say you want an "urban feel". Some of the fun and safer neighborhoods in Baltimore like Federal Hill have new luxury condos for prices that you could never find in Bethesda, are about as urban as it gets, and not to mention cheaper, closer to work (right off 95), and just have more stuff to do in general. Bethesda and SS are pretty suburban by comparison.

I completely agree. Silver spring does have an awesome feel, but Baltimore is also extremely awesome. If I could, I would live in Baltimore. But I can't complain, because SS is completely awesome.

[NatBlah]

Silver Spring has much more of an urban feeling, and is much more diverse than Bethesda. I don't understand why you dislike Baltimore. Sure, it's poor and dangerous. But it also has tons of other nicer neighborhoods. But since you have this silly bias against Baltimore, live in or around downtown SS. Bethesda is WAY too snobby.

[superseiyan]

Originally Posted by NatBlah

Silver Spring has much more of an urban feeling,

Downtown Bethesda's pretty urban feeling too, it's a wash in that regard, but Silver Spring wins in the diversity. Prices might give Silver Spring the edge--though it's expensive too. The new luxury apartments coming up are renting 2BDRs at like ~$2700-3500 in Bethesda and ~$2000-2500 in Silver Spring.