Living In Dc

[4588686]

Has anyone here lived in DC?  If so do you have any advice about finding cheap housing and commuting?  I don't know if I'm going to be able to take a job offer in the area but if I do it will need to be ASAP and I'd appreciate any advice.  

[ardillacid]

I have a nice cardboard box I'm willing to rent to you for next to nothing :)

[Tufsoles]

You should pick up some housing and apartment guides for the area. They usually helped me over the years.

[Brother Adam]

Can you live in Maryland and commute on the metro? That seems like it would be the most cost effective.

[Fr. Antony Maria OSB]

Depends on where you want to live, where you'll be working, and how long the job is for (e.g. is it a summer internship or is it a full time job?). I was able to find some cheap housing (for DC) by looking at CUA's off campus housing options from their website, and I know that many other universities offer summer intern housing in their dorms (I had some friends who did that), and they probably have off campus housing options, as well. Besides that, you could probably google search something like "[your potential job title] housing in DC" and you may come up with something. One of the great things about DC is that there are a lot of young people living on a budget there, so there are going to be cheaper housing options. You may have to do some digging, though. Also keep in mind how much you'll be making and whether you'll have access to a kitchen to cook your own food.

 

As for commuting, remember that the closer to central DC you get, the more expensive the housing is going to be, however, the farther away from central DC you are, the more expensive communting will be (depending on where you're working). It's a give and take. I lucked out in that I was able to find cheap housing within walking distance of my internship. If you're able to walk to work, or have a bike (there are a lot of people who bike to work), I would highly recommend that, because the public transit in DC is really expensive.

Edited April 7, 2013 by NazFarmer

[Lilllabettt]

DC is my favorite place in the world.

 

Sometimes you just have to get lucky. One summer I answered an ad on craig's list advertising a room for $350 a month (unheard of.) Desperate for housing, I took it sight unseen. Expected it to be a whore house of some kind. Turned out  it was across the street from the local parish AND it was run by a consecrated virgin who conducted Vespers every evening in the living room.

 

That house was also just across the border in Maryland. I worked in Virginia that summer, so it was a 2 hour commute across 2 state lines each way. Not ideal but it worked.

 

Maryland will be cheaper -- especially the further out you go. Some parts of further out Virginia will be affordable too, but I know some of the older, "short" apartment buildings in say the Court House neighborhood are also reasonable despite the proximity. The NE and SW sections  of DC proper are also more affordable.  I lived in the NE section for $700 month - with 4 roommates. And I had my own room (the other 4 people shared 2 large rooms). SE will be cheapest .... across the Anacostia River, anyway. I personally would not live on the other side of the Anacostia unless I had a man with me or - to be frank - a black roommate. Simply because in my experience the racial dynamics of that part of the city are exceptionally intense. You might feel differently.

 

[Guest Allie]

DC is my favorite place in the world.

 

Sometimes you just have to get lucky.

 

'Tis true.  You can also try the on-line roommate match services.   The reputable ones do background checks.  I agree with Lillabett about being realistic about neighborhoods.  Myself, I'm a Georgetown girl but it costs to live there.

 

If you're a young professional building a career,  most of that happns bfor or aftr hours.  The suburbs, especially if you don't have a car,

not a good idea.

 

Bona Fortuna
 

[mortify]

This guy is looking for cheap housing in DC! Ha!

Edited April 7, 2013 by mortify

[Nihil Obstat]

I think that is where Ann Coulter lives. Maybe you could be her new roomie.

[4588686]

Can you live in Maryland and commute on the metro? That seems like it would be the most cost effective.

 

 

Yeah, I should have been more clear.  I have no intentions of living in DC.  But I mean the DC area.  

[4588686]

DC is my favorite place in the world.

 

Sometimes you just have to get lucky. One summer I answered an ad on craig's list advertising a room for $350 a month (unheard of.) Desperate for housing, I took it sight unseen. Expected it to be a whore house of some kind. Turned out  it was across the street from the local parish AND it was run by a consecrated virgin who conducted Vespers every evening in the living room.

 

That house was also just across the border in Maryland. I worked in Virginia that summer, so it was a 2 hour commute across 2 state lines each way. Not ideal but it worked.

 

Maryland will be cheaper -- especially the further out you go. Some parts of further out Virginia will be affordable too, but I know some of the older, "short" apartment buildings in say the Court House neighborhood are also reasonable despite the proximity. The NE and SW sections  of DC proper are also more affordable.  I lived in the NE section for $700 month - with 4 roommates. And I had my own room (the other 4 people shared 2 large rooms). SE will be cheapest .... across the Anacostia River, anyway. I personally would not live on the other side of the Anacostia unless I had a man with me or - to be frank - a black roommate. Simply because in my experience the racial dynamics of that part of the city are exceptionally intense. You might feel differently.

 

Excellent advice.  Do you have any personal experience with public transportation and commuting?  

[PhuturePriest]

Excellent advice.  Do you have any personal experience with public transportation and commuting?  

 

I thought Nihil's Anne Coulter advice was even more-so excellent.

[To Jesus Through Mary]

I know a little bit about the public transit... the buses suck. Nothing short of it. They are always late. The subway, is timely, clean, and gets to most of the major spots in DC. Problem is if you live out too far the train doesn't always reach out there.  

[4588686]

I thought Nihil's Anne Coulter advice was even more-so excellent.

 

 

It was.

[Lilllabettt]

You can buy a smartcard that will let you transfer from the busses to the trains and vice versa. The local systems in Maryland and Virginia also connect this way to the DC system - its very integrated. In 5 years I never had to go anywhere in a car or taxi. If you bike, the buses have racks you can lock your bike on. The subway trains are a lot easier to figure out route wise. But  I like the buses and never had big issues with lateness - although it depended somewhat on the route. The commuter lines at least ran like clock work. When I did the aforementioned Maryland-Virginia commute I could catch a bus leaving every 5 minutes.  The bus clientele is a little bit - stranger.  Than the trains. But they were fine.  Many professional people, because of the convenience of it and the costs (time and money) of driving. On the bus there is less people crushing and of course there's sunshine and views. Every morning my bus ran by a Chinese restaurant called Whai-Mee. (ha. ha.)

 

I personally would never drive in DC proper because of the cost ... and I wouldn't drive in the DC metro because the commute times are miserable on the highways. Buses get their own lanes! That one summer was the longest travel time I ever had in DC and it wasn't that bad. I read a book, I napped. Can't do that behind the wheel of a car.