Q I recently graduated from college and got a job in Bethesda. I don't have much money saved up yet. Should I live farther from the city and save money on my rent, possibly even getting a nicer place for my money, but have to deal with a long commute? Or would it be better to get what would most likely be a smaller place, for higher rent, somewhere near Bethesda, yet save money on gas and experience a less stressful commute?
AThe answer to this perennial question is different for everyone because it is a matter of personal preference.
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First think about how much money you want to spend on an apartment. This will enable you to narrow down at least some of the options floating around in your brain.
Once you decide how much you are willing to pay, begin to look at places inside and outside Bethesda so you can adequately compare the space and the amenities. Although living on the outskirts of a city often does give renters more square footage for the same amount or less than they would pay in rent for the convenience of city life, this is not always the case.
Because the cost of commuting is also something you are considering, you should calculate how much money in gas you might spend traveling from different neighborhoods. Make sure you know the general range of prices for parking in apartment buildings in the area. Also find out how much it would cost to park at work or, alternatively, if you can take public transportation from the different possible neighborhoods you have chosen.
Spend time in the places you have identified to make sure you would be comfortable living there. Just because it is affordable does not mean it is a good place for you. Make sure you could envision yourself happily going about your daily routine, and factor in more than just commuting time and cost. The normal concerns in choosing an apartment location apply, including: Do you feel comfortable in the neighborhood during the day and at night? Are conveniences such as grocery and drug stores, restaurants, and social outlets located to your liking? Are residents happy with their neighborhood?
Obviously there are many things to think about beyond rent and commuting time when you're in the market for a new apartment. But because commuting seems to be a big factor in your decision, once you have narrowed down which neighborhoods you might want to live in, you must test out the commutes from all of them. You would get a better feeling for how rush hour traffic might affect you if you make the commute several days in a row.
Until you investigate how living in a particular area would affect your mood and general outlook on life, you will not know whether you would rather sacrifice convenience, space or money for your happiness at home.
Doing the proper research will make your life better in the long term, particularly if you are new to the workforce and are already making a big adjustment from college to work. Don't forget that once you have picked a neighborhood, you must then do some serious research into actual rental properties.
The goal of all this investigating is to save you from getting stuck in an undesirable situation that will not end until the lease terms are up.
