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Old 06-19-2015, 12:53 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,493 times
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What are the best options for buying within a reasonable (<30 min) commuting distance to Bethesda/DC downtown if you want to buy a NEW 2/3 BR-townhome/SF home in the $300K-$400K range in western part of MoCo/along 270?

Feel like this is asking for the moon!

Only options I could see were new homes being built in Clarksburg, and some in the north of Germantown.

The commute via 270/355 will be long, even coming to SG Metro, so by no means it'll be less than an hour to DC.

Any advice? Any better options? Is Howard county (commuting via US29 via car or commuter bus) worth considering, though prices for new homes are perhaps even higher for new homes in the Fulton/Laurel area?

What would tilt the scales for alternatively considering buying an OLD (resale) condo in the $300k-$400K range in the Rockville/Gaithersburg areas (vis-a-vis new TH/SFH somewhere further north)?

Thanks in advance!

Last edited by innolipa; 06-19-2015 at 01:11 PM..
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Old 06-19-2015, 01:12 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,374 posts, read 27,049,417 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by innolipa View Post
What would tilt the scales for alternatively considering buying an OLD (resale) condo in the $300k-$400K range in the Rockville/Gaithersburg areas (vis-a-vis new TH/SFH somewhere further north)?
It is a personal preference. I would certainly prefer to be closer to work in an "old" townhouse or condo compared to commuting on I-270!! One can always refurbish the older condo, but one can't escape traffic.
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Old 06-19-2015, 01:19 PM
 
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Thanks for responding. Yes, sure, but other than the extra cost of the refurbishing its also the smaller space!! Most 'old' condos/THs are much smaller (~1200 sqft) in size in that $300-$400k price range--whereas you get 1800-2000 sq ft even in the smallest of the new THs up north on 270. But I suppose you can't have everything!
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Old 06-19-2015, 01:28 PM
 
Location: DC
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Likely not in your budget considering the proximity you are looking for. Sorry. If you were open to something used, you may get lucky. I can speak from experience, do not look new/used, look for something that meets your size criteria, or at least comes close. There are places from the 1980s that are in the 2000 SQ/FT+ size range for a townhouse. Insisting on something new may pull you far away from a reasonable commute. I have seen really nice townhomes for example in Takoma Park and Takoma DC go for around $400k, that were 2,000 SQ/FT+, but they were usually 20 to 30 years old.

In montgomery county, most new houses go for north of $500k. The point being is you really have to know what to prioritize, a new house is not necessarily a better house in terms of construction, and there are plenty of houses built within the last 35 years which meet your size criteria and in your budget, but also closer in.
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Old 06-19-2015, 01:42 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,374 posts, read 27,049,417 times
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Originally Posted by DistrictSonic View Post
The point being is you really have to know what to prioritize, a new house is not necessarily a better house in terms of construction, and there are plenty of houses built within the last 35 years which meet your size criteria and in your budget, but also closer in.
I agree completely, and you have explained the issue much better. New is not neccesarily better, and you have to compute the time wasted in commuting as part of your quality of life.
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Old 06-19-2015, 02:01 PM
 
961 posts, read 2,026,736 times
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Originally Posted by innolipa View Post
What are the best options for buying within a reasonable (<30 min) commuting distance to Bethesda/DC downtown if you want to buy a NEW 2/3 BR-townhome/SF home in the $300K-$400K range in western part of MoCo/along 270?
I can't imagine that such a property exists.
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Old 06-19-2015, 03:24 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,374 posts, read 27,049,417 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by innolipa View Post
What are the best options for buying within a reasonable (<30 min) commuting distance to Bethesda/DC downtown if you want to buy a NEW 2/3 BR-townhome/SF home in the $300K-$400K range in western part of MoCo/along 270?

Feel like this is asking for the moon!
I believe you will have to accept one or more compromises. Part of the problem is the ambiguous target; downtown DC is a lot further commute that Bethesda. If your commute is actually to Bethesda, there are some options in Germantown under $400,000 for a townhouse. Search on Realtor, and the are several new construction houses on Longford Glen Drive. Commute time to Bethesda is 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. If you want a new home, that is reasonable to me.
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Old 06-20-2015, 08:37 AM
 
Location: Metro Washington DC
15,436 posts, read 25,818,588 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by innolipa View Post
What are the best options for buying within a reasonable (<30 min) commuting distance to Bethesda/DC downtown if you want to buy a NEW 2/3 BR-townhome/SF home in the $300K-$400K range in western part of MoCo/along 270?

Feel like this is asking for the moon!

Only options I could see were new homes being built in Clarksburg, and some in the north of Germantown.

The commute via 270/355 will be long, even coming to SG Metro, so by no means it'll be less than an hour to DC.

Any advice? Any better options? Is Howard county (commuting via US29 via car or commuter bus) worth considering, though prices for new homes are perhaps even higher for new homes in the Fulton/Laurel area?

What would tilt the scales for alternatively considering buying an OLD (resale) condo in the $300k-$400K range in the Rockville/Gaithersburg areas (vis-a-vis new TH/SFH somewhere further north)?

Thanks in advance!
Shady Grove to Bethesda is not a bad commute on Metro. Getting to Shady Grove from Gaithersburg is very easy. Not only is there 370 to get there, but quite a few buses. To DC, obviously it will be longer, but on the Metro it's not so bad. There are also MARC trains to DC. There are many options if you don't want to drive it.
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Old 06-20-2015, 09:11 AM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
13,374 posts, read 27,049,417 times
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If the OP really has to be a 30 minute commute from downtown DC, he should widen his search a bit. For example, the Brickyard Station townhomes in Beltsville might work for him. There one listed at $319,990 for about 1900 square feet.
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Old 06-20-2015, 10:03 PM
 
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There's a new townhome development called "Boland Farm" that's in a good location in Germantown (right off 355, close to a 270 exit and very close to Milestone shopping). I can't say it's an easy commute to Bethesda or DC though.

If you want to stay in the $400s price range and have a reasonable commute to DC, I'd recommend looking in the older neighborhoods in Rockville, such as Twinbrook. These are mostly 1950's homes, but the location near Metro and 355 is what you need if you want a quick commute south.
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