Moving to DC(Thread formally knows as "Gas Prices")

[Tank]

Traffic comes and goes. Typical rush hour stuff. The drivers.. They're all the time.

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

Okay we get the point that every major city in the US has a traffic problem. Now back on topic: is there anything I need to look out for when looking for housing? I want to live as close to AU as possible, but I have a very limited budget being a graduate student.

what is your monthly budget.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by kanundrum

what is your monthly budget.

I'm thinking the most I can stretch it is $1200 a month.

[jawn]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

I'm thinking the most I can stretch it is $1200 a month.

Oh boy. Find roommates.

[ybotspawn]

Originally Posted by Tank

Traffic comes and goes. Typical rush hour stuff. The drivers.. They're all the time.

This had myself and coworkers in stitches for a good five minutes

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by jawn

Oh boy. Find roommates.

So are all the places I'm finding around AU on CL & other apartment websites in terrible neighborhoods? Because there are studios and 1 bedrooms coming up in my searches...

[jawn]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

So are all the places I'm finding around AU on CL & other apartment websites in terrible neighborhoods? Because there are studios and 1 bedrooms coming up in my searches...

It's not that it's a bad area, but if you're looking for off-street parking, it can be a bit more challenging at that price point.

[camelflage]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

I spend 4-6 hours a day in traffic.every.single.day.

I would literally crash a bus full of nuns into an orphanage hosting a baby animals petting zoo if i spent that much time in traffic.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by camelflage

I would literally crash a bus full of nuns into an orphanage hosting a baby animals petting zoo if i spent that much time in traffic.

Hence graduate school. I can't do it much longer without resorting to the above.

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

So are all the places I'm finding around AU on CL & other apartment websites in terrible neighborhoods? Because there are studios and 1 bedrooms coming up in my searches...

Anything with 2 or 3 miles of AU radius is probably one of the most Poshest safest areas you can find haha.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by kanundrum

Anything with 2 or 3 miles of AU radius is probably one of the most Poshest safest areas you can find haha.

Good deal. Only think I know about DC is Obama lives there -for now, and the murder rate finally beats LA's.

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

Good deal. Only think I know about DC is Obama lives there -for now, and the murder rate finally beats LA's.

hahah Yah you are on the right side of town. Basicallly draw a line at the white house straight up/down into md/va and to the right of that line you don't want to go and you are solid lol

[sastexan]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Some of the apartments in the Van Ness/Cleveland park area have residential parking. Good area to live.

15 years ago, I lived at Brandywine and Connecticut - our 3 BR apartment was $2200 when I left (included all utilities), split between three of us. I'm sure that same apartment is far north of $3000 now. It was a fantastic location though - easy on street parking and I got a garage spot for the winter.

Now, I live close to Glen Echo Park - very close to AU, even in rush hour. One of the big parking lots at AU is currently being built upon, so make sure you find out what parking is available and at what cost. Which school are you going to be in? I know they have a campus in Tenley for some classes, as well as the main campus. Housing is extraordinarily expensive close to campus. Your best bet is further from metro, housing is cheaper (generally). AU main campus is not walking distance from metro, but they do have a bus system I see on Nebraska and Mass Ave.

If you want to be close, Tenley and Palisades are your best bets. You will need roommates. If you don't mind commute, and your hours are flexible (meaning, no rush hour trips), Rockville / Silver Spring will be more reasonably priced. If access to watering holes / restaurants is important, go cross the park to Columbia Heights or the neighborhoods up 16th Street, although you might be finicky about leaving your car on the street in those areas.

Coming from Cali, consider that in winter, when there's snow and ice, the roads are salted and your summer tires will be useless. Plan to not drive, unless you want to get snow tires / rims (or all seasons).

Good luck!

[Hyper4mance2k]

Thanks for all the tips. Keep in mind, I'm 33, an army veteran, I grew up in Seattle; I have lived in Missouri, LA, Miami & Alabama. I'm not a Cali sunflower afraid of winter, or summer humidity. I've been around the block and back again. I'm excited about finally getting my masters in public policy at American University, and I cant wait to get on the road.



Anyone interested in following my adventure you can watch my trailer build here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91307


I will also be updating the thread as I travel across the US, and I plan on doing some VLOGs on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Hyper4mance2k
So like, follow & subscribe!

Follow along & enjoy the ride.