C45P312

Looking to start work @ Pentagon. Move in is within the next 2-4 weeks

I don't know where to start looking (newspaper? websites?) so I thought i'd start here on S2ki. These are the following areas that appeal to me when looking at the map. If you guys have any more suggestions, I will be more than glad to hear them.

Pentagon area, Crystal City, Rosslyn, Arlington, Alexandria, Woodbridge, Ft. Belvoir, or anything close to metro

Thanks in advance

<3 Carlo

tesseract

well i don't know how useful it is in real practice, but this site combines Google Maps with craigslist...it's pretty slick.

http://www.housingmaps.com/

C45P312

It's a good start. Thanks bro

MsPerky

Carlo, I don't know how much you are willing to pay in rent, but the place where the +1 is renting right now in Crystal City is great (Crystal Towers). He pays about $1600/mo, including all utilities, which is expensive, but you are right across the street from the Metro and withing walking distance of the Pentagon. Convenience in this area is worth alot, since traffic is terrible. I live in Rosslyn, so can give you more info if you are able to afford something that close in. PM me if you want.

Nandska

hit me up when you start work. we can meet for lunch.

C45P312

MsPerky: $1600/mo is not a problem. If I shell out that much, I might as well be looking for a place to own instead of renting. If my memory serves me correct from looking for a house down here, $1700/mo could get me $300K home. From researching craigslist, I see that I could get a middle of the road 2br condo for about $325k or a "luxury" 1br condo for the same price. As of right now it's not offcial that I will get the job. Lady said I was the best so far and there are 2 more interviews she has to do. I still have to finish school no matter what, and the lady said they are real good in working around my school schedule. I'll probably just end up schooling @ night.

Nandska: Will do bro

Nandska

not really. If it 325k and a 2 bedroom inside the beltway. You probably don't want to be in that area. Same with a one bedroom.

Chug-A-Bug

long time resident of alexandria here....

this is NOT the time to buy.... rents are very soft. i just moved, renting a very nice house in del ray for about 1/3 of what it would cost to buy it. no kidding.

think quality of life. do you want to have a crappy commute? do you want to be able to walk around and eat at yummy restaurants and drink at cool bars? figure out what's important, then figure out how to get it.

FWIW, in the nice parts of alexandria (old town, del ray), the way to get a house is just to ride your bike, walk around, and look for signs. go to the coffee houses (misha's, elmo's) and look at the stuff people put on the boards. craigslist is good, too.

pm me w/ any questions about this area if you'd like.

Nandska

a two bedroom condo where I live will still run you close to 300k. And I'm about 40 minutes from the Pentagon.

MsPerky

Not sure where you are looking for those prices, but not close in. One-bedroom condos in my area are selling for around $450K. If you change your mind, let me know. Good luck! Just be sure if you buy something, you hold on to it for 4-5 years to make back your investment.

Edit - I believe the rule of thumb is about $1000 monthly payment for every 100K of amount financed. So that works out to $3000 for a $300K mortgage. Interest rates have been very low, but you are making up for it by the huge increase in prices in the DC area. I might go with Chug on this one and not buy right away. Rent for a year and look around at different areas.