no name ([info]ennuidream) wrote in [info]dc_metro,
2005-07-22 19:50:00
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advice, help, whatever you can give

i'm flying out for an interview in arlington in a couple of weeks and i'm pretty sure i'll get the job as my company is footing the bill for the flight, hotel, car, etc. they are also giving me an extra day for seeing the area, apartment hunting and what not. i'm utterly clueless about where to look. i would have to pay for my own relocation so obviously i'm looking for something inexpensive at first. i'm used to the kansas cost-of-living and can't afford to be footing a thousand-dollar apartment deposit right after i move. so, i could use your advice! i'd ask the HR department, but frankly, i don't trust those people to give me sound advice.

i'll have a day to check out the area. i'm looking for the following in a neighborhood/city:

-easy (45 minutes or less) commute to arlington by public transportation. i don't plan on doing much driving.
-seven to nine-hundred dollar price range for studio or one bedroom. leaning towards seven-hundred, but i realize that's unrealistic.
-young, artsy, bohemian community is a plus.
-reasonable crime rate (that sounds ridiculous). random violence is rare i know, but i'd prefer to not, for example, have people smoking crack in my apartment lobby.
-no cookie-cutter-housing-development-strip-mall hell. i'd rather not live in some bland beige condo right by a wal-mart.
-close to a university/college is a plus.

am i dreaming? does such a place exist? i would love to live in baltimore, but alas, i'm told the commute is not worth it.

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[info]xtin

July 23 2005, 01:49:22 UTC 6 years ago

Unless you like spending 4 hours in your car everyday, I would say No to Baltimore.

Arlington is pricey but I wish you all the best luck

[info]phir

July 23 2005, 02:14:18 UTC 6 years ago

i live in south arlington in a one bedroom right off of rt 50 (ie, very close to everything) & my rent is $808/month (it's really $798 but i have a cat & have to pay "pet rent"). unfortunately there are no vacancies in my building (which isn't cookie cutter as there are only 9 apts in the building) & there's no metro within walking distance. but, i do have my own parking space.

i've found south arlington to be less expensive due to the "no metro in walking distance thing".

i reccomend trying craigslist... it's how i found my apartment. good luck with everything! where in arlington are you going to work?

[info]ennuidream

July 23 2005, 17:22:52 UTC 6 years ago

i'll check out that web-site, thanks. i work for pearson government solutions, they do contract work. in arlington they are on fairfax drive, i think in the qwest building. i guess the orange line stops right there, so i would need to live somewhere fairly close to the metro, although i wouldn't be opposed to driving a short distance and then hopping it.

[info]phir

July 23 2005, 20:02:33 UTC 6 years ago

it's a direct link to the apartment rentals, by the way. & there are bus stops all over arlington (which could most likely get you to fairfax dr or the metro), but i've never used them so someone else would have to help you with that.

good luck with move!

[info]eddie96

July 23 2005, 09:01:47 UTC 6 years ago

try apartmentshowcase.com it helped me find my place in Silver Spring. When you get out there pick up their book, you can find em at the metro stops and usually anywhere you see long rows of newspapers stands. With your budget, I might recommend trying roommates.com as you may need to share to get the rent down that low. I had quite a few responses from people there.

[info]ennuidream

July 23 2005, 17:24:11 UTC 6 years ago

thanks, i signed up at roommates.com and someone in arlington is sending me an apartment guide, so i'll check that out as well. :)

[info]eddie96

July 23 2005, 17:28:14 UTC 6 years ago

you're welcome... good luck!

[info]lemonbox

July 23 2005, 13:50:27 UTC 6 years ago

contact an apartment locator. they are free.
also, look in the newspapers & such. i'm renting a house in delaplane for $300 a month. this is unheard of. i'm able to do it because there is an elderly woman occassionally on the property, & i get a huge break in rent just because i'll be there to see that she's ok. there is a lot of this type of thing going around, you just have to look for it.

good luck!
~jen

[info]ennuidream

July 23 2005, 17:25:57 UTC 6 years ago

300, oh my. i pay $360 a month for my studio here in kansas, although the wages are considerably lower here, so it's not like a great steal or anything. what are the local newspapers called? i suppose i could look at the classifieds online. thanks!

[info]lemonbox

July 23 2005, 20:19:40 UTC 6 years ago

no problem. i'm just moving to virginia myself. on the 25th. i got lucky. the largest paper, obviously, is the washington post. i'm not really sure what else is out there... once i get there i'll try & figure out the best local listings & give you a heads up.
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