So I went looking at places today, and I have an appointment to go out again -- this time with a realtor -- on Tuesday. But here's my dilemma: In my price range, which is not insubstantial -- and with a washer/dryer, which is not as common as one would think -- the choices fall into two categories -- small condo in a mid- or high-rise building near metro and with a parking garage, or large condo/townhouse in a less-urban area, where I would have to park outside and commute to metro via bus. Or, perhaps, drive to work -- if I ever get a parking space.
What would you choose? Vote here. And if you wish, explain your reasoning in the comments.
12 comments:
I don't know what the price difference is for a condo off metro, but even if you can't get a parking spot through your work, you can contract for one through private lots, probably for $3000/yr. Let's say you're paying off the condo over 30 years (and I don't know if that's right), you're talking about $9000 extra for parking downtown. So, I say, go get yourself the big condo . . . and a hybrid.
check that math. That's $90,000 for parking. You could also live off the VRE somewhere, but then you might not have any friends.
Jason: It's the difference b/t Courthouse/Clarendon/Ballston and Shirlington, if that makes it more clear to you. It's the difference between an 800 SF condo and a 1500 SF three-story townhouse.
It's not like I would need a hybrid to drive from Shirlington to work -- it's 6 or 7 miles, max.
But, until I get a parking spot at work, it's cost-effective for me to bus-metro vs. paying to park, since work gives me a $100/month transit subsidy.
Annoying, but cost-effective.
I'm so violently pro-public transportation. Yeah, yeah the earth, save the whales and snails and whatnot, but consider how much of your life sitting in traffic you'll avoid. There's a calculator on the internets somewhere that shows you the real costs of every minute you spend in heavy traffic, taking into account your time, the gas, the wear-and-tear on your car, etc., and it gets really costly really quickly.
Plus, shorter commute = more time to do fun things, like actually be in your house to enjoy it, instead of stuck on 66.
And, if I can just be wholly pragmatic here, living closer to Metro means one always has a designated driver.
Clink clink, that's my $.02. Good luck with the house hunting!
I'm pro-public transportation too, which is why the larger townhouses are all on bus routes. (Shirlington, off 395, 15 minute bus ride to Pentagon. No I-66 for me!)
In fact, pretty much no matter what I buy, the commute will be about the same length of time, because most of the condos I was looking at would be a 1.5 to 2X longer Metro ride into the city than my current apartment.
It's coming down to the though that there's something sick about paying roughly half a million dollars for roughly 900 square feet.
Looking for houses is just a pain in the ass. I think I'm going to live in my car outside of the YMCA so I can shower before going to work.
Alas, all of my shoes won't fit in my car.
As someone who spends a minimum three hours a day commuting back and forth, I vote for living closer to work. On the other hand, I live a mile from the beach and I use the commute time to read and/or sleep.
How about joining the crowd (Justin & Debby, Amy & me, etc.) and moving to Maryland? :-)
Mad: I spend too much time at work as it is.
Jeff: Commuting from North Bethesda/Rockville would be even longer than my alternative of taking the bus to the metro from Shirlington. Plus -- other than perhaps some rentals off Rockville Pike -- housing there is even more expensive than in Arlington. Not to mention higher taxes.
In short, it is not cost-effective at all. So, as much as I liked living near you and Amy and Justin and Debby, the only reason I would do it is if, like you and Justin, I had a significant other who worked in Maryland.
Similarly, D.C.'s not particularly cost-effective either, but the one condo I'm thinking about here is a five block walk to work.
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