Moving to DC ...

Too late. Northern Shenandoah Valley's gotten ridiculous as an exburb already. Maybe Caroline County? Charlestown, WV? Ashland?

 

Be wary of any place on the Metro Green Line (though, like Headbutt said, some areas are definitely improving)

 

I love DC for everything both good and bad. But i'll tell you this, if you can deal with the commute and it's nto a big deal, move as close to Baltimore as possible. The rent will be considerably cheaper and you may learn to enjoy your time in Chocolate City. (Wasn't a racist term ladies and gents. George Clinton named it a few decades ago and if it's good for George, it's damn good for boots)!

 

Spend every last nickel you've got and move to Bethesda. A beautiful city with a great downtown. Then have late night breakfast at the Tasty Diner (great spot.)

 

Silver Spring is the new Bethesda, and has its own Tastee Diner

 

I've always heard great things about Suitland.

 

But it has parking

 

Another thought - Charles and Calvert counties in Maryland, and even Frederick County (north) has become a Washington suburb. Still a commute, though, but commuting into D.C. is normal. A former coach I had in high school lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and her husband commuted 75 minutes each way to his job in D.C.

Yet as for housing costs in the D.C. area, expect nothing but astronomical.

 

I don't know, folks. I am seeing some reasonable prices even in NW. Granted, these places are about the size of my closet. I will have to drive up there to get a feel for the neighborhoods, I suppose. I'm not moving until June so I have a little bit of time.

 

Good Lord. Sounds like the entire mid-Atlantic is fair game for being a DC exurb these days. Pennsylvania to DC as a work commute? May as well live in West Virginia. I hear it's almost heaven.

 

Benning Road, I drive by it on 295 on the way to Maryland, but I don't think I've ever stopped. I grew up in the Virginia suburbs, so I'm no expert on living inside the District itself.