Hi, I have a job offer in Laurel, Maryland, can anyone offer advice on places around there to live (or avoid). My work will be in SW Laurel.
(I'm in the UK currently)

Thanks!

Oops, see you've already started a thread

Only just found out my job- so you can imagine the multitude of thoughts/emotions/questions etc!!!

Don't panic!!

What visa will you be getting? A job offer is useless otherwise!

Ian

Thanks, don't know yet- the whells for the whole thing have only just started.

Try Largo, MD, which is a short drive from Laurel. There is a Metro Station there which will have you in Washington DC, within 20 minutes.

There are some nice-looking Condos/Apartments within walking distance of the station.


Jim.

There are a number of options depending on your needs and willingness to commute, eg.

Surburban lifestyle with good schools - try Columbia or Ellicott City
Sort-of-urban with metro access - try Silver Spring or Bowie
You could probably get away with living in parts of Washington, DC and commuting to Laurel, if you don't mind a 30-40 minute commute.
Laurel itself is not a bad place to live.

Warning : this area is one of the most expensive for property in the US, so be prepared to be surprised by prices unless you were living in somewhere like London previously.

I would suggest looking for a short term apartment lease (3 or 6 months) close to your place of work in Laurel and taking the time to get to know the area before making a longer term commitment to any place in particular. Google "apartments in maryland" and you should find plenty of web sites that allow you to search for apartments in a given location. The Washington Post also has a search facility in its Real Estate section.

Great info- thanks very much!

We'd prefer to be in the suburbs (preferably a house), but may need to be fairly close to Laurel itself (not sure yet). Our main consideration is a safe family area with decent travel links.

Looked at a site called crimereport.com and their seem to be a heck of a lot of sex offenders there!!!

They're everywhere!

Jim.

The problem with the term "sex offender" is that it covers everything from an 18 y/o who got caught with his 17 y/o girlfriend to.. well, the worst you can imagine.

aye, and people caught taking a piss on the side of the road get put on the list too, well around here as it's included in the indecency list of offences.

anyway, to the OP, check out city-data.com as well....but it might help if you say what you're looking for in a location, if you've got family and kids etc as it'll make a difference on what you'd need and what appeals.

Just read some posts about Colombia- it sounds terrible!!!!!!!

http://www.topix.net/forum/city/colu...KU3EBQDR0VORO1
(~half way down)

Nowhere in the world is like it was in 1971.
Plus, don't you know not to read the online comments on a newspaper site? Every whackjob in the county comes out to comment and it's rarely an accurate glimpse at a community.

True, but am just worried about things after reading more about the area, e.g.:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...es-county.html