Hi all,

I've started to think about other places in the US to possibly move to in a couple of years time. Would like to get out of the Midwest, and out to the east coast.

My wife works in the medical field and can get a job pretty much anywhere. I work in online advertising, and have seen some awesome jobs working for political websites in DC, doing exactly what I do now. I love politics, and would love to be able to combine what I do now, in the political field.

My question is, does anyone either live in DC or have experience of DC? I have never been myself. If it a good place to live? Can you live right in the center of DC (near Penn Ave, etc) and not have to pay $2.5 million for a condo?

Any tips or advice would be very much recommended. Thank you.

Matt

I've lived in Washington for a bit over two months and all in all liked it! There's quite a lot of variety in the different areas of the city, by which I mean that there's places here where you'd get mugged immediately if you walked around there in the middle of the night and then there's relatively upscale areas where everything is relatively safe. Generally speaking I would suggest living somewhere in the northwestern quadrant, but if you feel adventurous, the other areas can be considered as well.

Housing prices can be almost the same than in Kensington or Chelsea in e.g. Georgetown, but I think it's possible to find affodrable housing as well.

As a city, I think it's quite international for obvious reasons. Someone referred to Washington DC as "the melting pot of the melting pot" and I'm inclined to agree with that. You meet Americans from all over the country perhaps more than elsewhere and there's a notable European presence here as well.

I don't like driving in DC... For some reason one minute your on the hi-way and the next you at the Monument.

I lived in DC for just over a year. We decided not to buy as it was unlikely we would stay more than a year (right decision as we moved to Seattle in just over that) Best area to live is NW. Lots of new condos have been built/in process of. We lived on New Hampshire Ave/Foggy Bottom end - which is very central, easy walk to Georgetown/Dupont Circle and the business district. Metro is fab and gets you to Bethesda/Chevy Chase very quickly.
I would suggest renting before buying, so that you can find the right place to be. Area close to Union Station has tons of condos that are around the 600 to 800k mark for a 2 bedroom condo usually with roof pool/gym if thats of interest to you (and it will be in the long humid summer!)

I love politics too and DC is the place to be then. Never lived there but have visited many times and have friends there. DC is expensive and most people choose to live outside the district therefore. High crime rates, high poverty rate put some people off. Consider Alexandria in N.VA or Tysons Corner area .Plenty of condos and townhomes that are more affordable - tho' not inexpensive.
Summer is brutally humid but not overlong. Winter can be tough but Fall and Spring delightful.Go for it....
DavidRichardson

you should introduce yourself in the meet and greet section.

I personally think Oak Park and Chicago is far nicer than DC, I sayed with one of my wifes friends there in 2001 just before 9/11 for about a week. I liked Georgetown but it was expensive but I did'nt think it had much to offer compared to Chicago apart from being close to other big cities on the east coast. Personally there is only one place to live on the east coast, NYC.

not that D.C is technically on the actual east coast but so have to disagree with you. going downtown D.C with it's parks and free museums and no skyscrapers, it actually feels very peaceful. I think it is even beautiful and definitely the nicest looking city in US (well in my travels ). One visit to New York in 30 mins had me so claustophobic, I couldn't wait for my end of the trip and this coming from a dedicated townie!

I've lived in Chicago and DC and I like them both. I work in communications too. There are TONS of online advertising jobs. DC is not as friendly as Chicago or nearly as cool, but it's a great place too. It's easy to get around and not too big. If you like politics, you'll love it. It's close to ocean, mountain and "history" - well, more than Chicago. I don't think the summers are all that much more hot than Chicago, but you won't freeze your )(&%$ off in winter. Similar to an English winter.

Housing is expensive, but there are a glut of condos so prices are falling.. I think the condos out in the burbs (Tysons) are depressing. There are lots of choices in the city. Nice areas are:

Cleveland and Woodley Park
Capitol Hill (especially if you like politics)
Georgetown (not many condos though)
Dupont Circle

Up and coming - Penn Quarter and U Street



C

If you are planning to stay in DC for any amount of time and are planning on having a family you have to seriously consider the schools, they are truly awful. DC is expensive to buy/rent in a nice area, and even commuting and living outside DC will still be high. Very humid in the summer and busy with tourists

DC is certainly a place where it all happens, it is the place to be for my (defense) industry too.

However, I wouldn't move there on a permanent basis due to the fact that while your condo won't cost you $2.5 million, it won't be far off! It's on my blacklist as unaffordable, right beneath all of California and New York.

If you try it, I'd suggest as the others have that renting would be the way to go for at least a year or two.