I just got orders (yesterday) for a fellowship in DC from 16 July 18 to 15 July 19 (I'm an Army officer). With one daughter in college and one in high school, my wife and kids will be staying behind in Georgia.

Since I will be by myself, and supporting to households, I'm looking for a place near DC that is hopefully near the metro, clean, safe, and reasonably priced. Ideally a furnished efficiency in someone's basement with a kitchenette and a shower would be perfect.

Anyone have any suggestions for a place that is hopefully no more than $1200 a month? Arlington and Alexandria look nice but they seem pretty expensive.

Thoughts?

LOL...

Good luck with that. DC is one of the more expensive places on the planet these days.

For what you describe will like be about $1,800 to $2,100 per month.

Definitely not in DC for that. You will have to find something in VA likely a few miles away. I have friends with studios in DC that cost $3000+ a month. And be prepared for traffic. I asked my buddy to pick something up for me from Silverlake Maryland which is 11 miles away from him and it took him 56 min each way. Good luck. Remember nothing gun related in DC. Even an empty shell casing will get you locked up in DC proper. Make sure you clean your car out.

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Originally posted by Dusty78:
Definitely not in DC for that. You will have to find something in VA likely a few miles away. I have friends with studios in DC that cost $3000+ a month. And be prepared for traffic. I asked my buddy to pick something up for me from Silverlake Maryland which is 11 miles away from him and it took him 56 min each way. Good luck. Remember nothing gun related in DC. Even an empty shell casing will get you locked up in DC proper. Make sure you clean your car out.

Hell, $3K/mo. is what a parking space costs in DC's better areas, your friends are getting a deal.

VA is slightly cheaper than MD, and the less expensive areas start closer in. You are not really going to see "reasonable" rental rates without a hour-plus commute to town, maybe a lot more. I live inside the Beltway, about six miles as the crow flies from the Whitehouse, and it takes me about an hour to get downtown during morning rush hour.

If you are looking at specific areas in VA, I'd be happy to give you my opinion of their "neighborhood quality" transportation options, or other specifics.

If you can afford it, buying a house, and selling it a year later is almost always going to be more cost-effective in the DC are than renting. We are seeing considerable appreciation in housing values at this moment. Suburban houses start at perhaps $500K (for a tear-down, e.g. an original mid-20th century built house in a neighborhood of mostly newly-built $multi-million homes). I wouldn't be surprised to see this go to $600K within a year as developers love the business model of buying a teardown for $500K, spending another $500K building a new McMansion on the slab, and getting $3million on the sale.

Can you get quartered on Ft Myer or Ft Belvior?


Your best bet for cheap that close will be to find other service members in your same predicament and share something with them


Cheap does not exist in this area. Housing costs here are some of the worst in the world (let alone country)

quote:

near the metro, clean, safe, and reasonably priced

Pick 1 of the 4 in DC.

Wow, that all sounds awful. I'd like to stay in VA so I can at least carry when I'm not working in DC. I guess I just need to branch out a little further away and cross my fingers I can stay out of the ghetto. Even the $1200 budget is more than my mortgage for my house that is much nicer than anything I will be living in. Ridiculous how much people are paying out there. Anyone have a basement apartment to rent out? I promise to be quiet and pay on time

I would suggest the BOQ if you can arrange it.

Other than that, I suggest the Fredricksburg area. A fairly long drive to DC but the rates are lower and with a little luck you can find a nice, clean, decent place. Or, maybe find another guy with whom you can share the rent and utilities.

Even the drive into DC could get expensive if you use the EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

In any event, good luck with your search.

Where is the fellowship?

That will help narrow down commuting options, then living locations.

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EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

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Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

One way or a round trip?

you have mail

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

One way or a round trip?

One way.

The EZpass for the Dulles Toll Road is $3.50 each way. Add the Greenway and its an additional $5.50 each way.

And all to get you to the Beltway.

From there to DC is another 15 miles, where you pay a variable toll of $14-$28 each way, or take surface streets for an hour plus.

I'm glad that I don't ever anticipate visiting NorVA / DC cesspool again, ever.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

So the cost depends on how much traffic there is? Who the hell designed that? Oh wait...

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
Where is the fellowship?

That will help narrow down commuting options, then living locations.

The fellowship is at the FCC on 12th street south of the White House. As for getting quarters at a nearby base, that would take all of my housing allowance (about $3000) while I still need to support a household here in Georgia. I'm OK with a commute of up to an hour (via the metro since the DoD will cover my metro costs).

I'm really trying to avoid the group house or roommate situation if at all possible.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

So the cost depends on how much traffic there is? Who the hell designed that? Oh wait...

I think it is time related

we have a bridge and toll road here on the east side of RVA,
toll at night and middle of the day is lower than what they consider 'prime time' or rush hour,

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

EZpass system. It does seem to allow people to commute with less trouble and fewer problems. Have no idea how expensive it is.

Nobody knows what it costs. It's a variable rate depending on traffic, so it can get crazy stupid high sometimes. But you'll never get much bellow fifteen bucks from Springfield to Stafford during rush hour.

So the cost depends on how much traffic there is? Who the hell designed that? Oh wait...

The one on 66 can be as high as $40 one way and when it first opened there were reports of it topping $50 one way.

As for $1,200 per month, I hope you like roaches and living next door to section 8 occupants. One BR apartments or studios near metro close to DC start at $2,000 per month, also most will want a 1 year commitment. You could likely rent a basement of a townhouse for that, or get a shared house for about $800 a month for a room.

quote:

Originally posted by PossibleZombie:

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
Where is the fellowship?

That will help narrow down commuting options, then living locations.

The fellowship is at the FCC on 12th street south of the White House. As for getting quarters at a nearby base, that would take all of my housing allowance (about $3000) while I still need to support a household here in Georgia. I'm OK with a commute of up to an hour (via the metro since the DoD will cover my metro costs).

I'm really trying to avoid the group house or roommate situation if at all possible.

$1200 furnished for anything walking distance to a metro is a huge huge ask.

If you are working hours that don't require you to be commuting during rush hour, that opens up a lot more options.

Look into Springfield/Lorton. You can drive in to the Springfield Metro stop and park there and metro in. They have a massive parking deck.

Check and see if they will also pay for the VRE (Virginia Railway Express). My wife's travel allowance from the government does. That opens up a lot more areas.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
One way.

The EZpass for the Dulles Toll Road is $3.50 each way. Add the Greenway and its an additional $5.50 each way.

And all to get you to the Beltway.

From there to DC is another 15 miles, where you pay a variable toll of $14-$28 each way, or take surface streets for an hour plus.

So it could easily cost you over $50 a day just to get to work?? That is nucking futs!