Possible new job in DC (good places to live)

[E1Allen]

I was wondering if any of the DC area riders would have any input for me on some nice places to live. I plan on applying next month to the AF Honor Guard and if they allow housing off base for families I would prefer that. And since I have a wonderful FJR I wouldn't mind a commute to get to work if I had a nice area to live. Housing allowance for the DC/Metro area is $1657 a month, so whatever that buys for an apartment/house is my limit...

Thanks,

Eric

 

[evilmedic13]

Good luck. Try apartment finder or another online app, might help w/ the pricing. Where are out of now?

 

[E1Allen]

Good luck. Try apartment finder or another online app, might help w/ the pricing. Where are out of now?

Pope AFB. Which is pretty much Ft.Bragg in Fayetteville.

 

[PAFJR1300]

E1,

$1657 in D.C. is chump change, unless you don't mind living in the "not so nice part of town". I have many friends that live in that area in the military. My headquarters is located near Bolling AFB/Anacostia Annex. For most of them, they live in the "Getto" about 20 miles from work

(Woodbridge, US1 South) , and it still takes them 1 1/2 hours to get to work if they don't plan it just right or leave for work before 4AM (inner city traffic). Others are the "D.C. Commuters" they live outside of the main D.C. area, 70 to 80 miles away (Frederick or Hagerstown, MD) ; the rent in those areas are still $1100 - $1200 a month for something decent. If I leave for D.C. from my house (15 minutes north of Hagerstown) and don't get on I270 before 6 AM I might as well consider that I will not make it there until 10:30 AM. You may get extremely lucky finding a place in D.C., but you had better do a lot of research. Location, traffic patterns, schools if you have any little ones...

I left out of Augusta, GA, similar to Ft. Bragg in the housing community; I was completely shocked when I got up here, everything is 2-3 times more expensive.

Just my $.02

 

[TheAxeman]

Allen,

A very good friend of mine just retired as a Colonel from the Air Force and he worked out of the Pentagon for many years. I'll be seeing him in the next couple of days and I'll ask him for his advice and if he has any connections there. I'll PM you as soon as I speak with him.

 

[Flyguy]

Where would you be stationed? Need specifics as traffic patterns/times rule your existance there. I lived in Annapolis for 11 years and did LOTS of commuting. What was a 45min commute for me in '96 is now 80min unless you're on the road by 5:15. Then it's 25-30min. Friends say add 1 minute commute time for each minute later. I go back there a lot recently and don't think I could handle it any more.

 

[Bluegrass FJR]

Fredericksburg, VA is a nice town, but that area is growing and prices are going up (like everywhere around there.) There's a metro station in Fredericksburg.

There's a lot of fine riding in the area and history galore. The Amish country of Maryland is also fun to ride.

I was stationed in Dahlgren, about 30 miles east of Fredericksburg, for three years.

Remember that as a cyclist you can use the HOV lanes. The DC commute on a bike is not for the faint of heart, though.

Alan

 

[drew231506]

Hmmm, yea thats going to be tough I think. I grew up in Fairfax, VA and moved an hour west of DC about 3 years ago. NOVA is a mess, I wouldnt even own a motorcycle if I lived there and commuting on 495 or 95 would scare the **** outta me. The good news is that the market is pretty bad right now so hopefully you could find something decent to rent.

When my company asked me to move west, I was more than happy to get out of that area. I now can afford a house, the riding is amazing as Im near the mountains, the traffic is bearable, and there arent a million people everywhere. As opposed to living there, id be in an apt, no motorcycle, traffic is a joke, bloodpressure through the roof...etc. I would just make sure it was somewhere you were sure you wanted to live, some people like it. I'm sure you have military buddies up that way that can give you their opinion...maybe where you'd be would be nice!

 

[MikeYork5]

DC and surrounding beltway - worst traffic in the US from my experience, and LA is no piece of cake.

 

[E1Allen]

I submit my package next week. I'll probably call up monday and get some more specifics. I might be required to live on base, not sure though. But at least I can find some decent areas hopefully. Have to look ahead. I wouldn't mind a drive. It seems like I show up to work on time when I ride the FJR instead of the car.

Thanks again,

Eric

 

[drc32-0]

Since I live in Ohio I don't know squat about the D.C. area,but I would like to wish you best of luck in making the Honor Guard.

 

[drew231506]

I wouldn't mind a drive.

I'd live as close as you can to where you'll be working. It wont be "a drive" it will be a "sit there and wanna kill yourself" although your forearm would get huge...and youd learn to be very proficient with the clutch!

 

[Slow Ride]

I don't know squat about the D.C. area,but I would like to wish you best of luck in making the Honor Guard.

+1

If you get up here, I'm 2 1/2-3 hrs. West on Rt.50 and can show you some nice roads.

Take care,

Chuck

 

[Powerman]

I live in Fredericksburg and work out of Lorton. The traffic is killer, you can take the train or van pool like many others to DC. On the plus side there are nice roads to ride within an hour.

 

[E1Allen]

Since I live in Ohio I don't know squat about the D.C. area,but I would like to wish you best of luck in making the Honor Guard.

Thank you. I love the work I do. It's a big commitment but I know it will be well worth it.

I know about all of the fun roads just a few hours away. I just think I wont have to drive as far to get to them from DC. As for locations to live, Your guys input on traffic and everything else is important so thank you again

 

[SecuLaw]

I was wondering if any of the DC area riders would have any input for me on some nice places to live. I plan on applying next month to the AF Honor Guard and if they allow housing off base for families I would prefer that. And since I have a wonderful FJR I wouldn't mind a commute to get to work if I had a nice area to live. Housing allowance for the DC/Metro area is $1657 a month, so whatever that buys for an apartment/house is my limit...

Thanks,

Eric

Sounds like you will be stationed at Andrews Air Force Base if you are going to be in the Honor Guard. Andrews is where all the important dignitaries come into the US and, obviously, it's where Air Force One is maintained. (When Curtis LeMay ran the place they use to have auto racing on the airfield. A useless piece of trivia.) If you can get base housing go for it because $1700 per month will not get you the quality of housing you can get on base. Further, if you have small children or plan on doing so you do not want them going to the public schools off base. They suck. The area surrounding Andrews is, at best, bad...a lot of crime. I live in the middle of the commuter hell that is Washington D.C., I take the subway which is the only way to travel unless you want to get up at 3:30 in the morning to hit the road by 5:00.