Comments on: Good Deal or Not? Reader Request – Up In North Country http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/ Welcome to the beautiful life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:35:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2745 Anonymous Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:20:27 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2745 Wow, I see a lot of people are acting like this area is so far away. The northern tip of Petworth is only 3 blocks away from here, lol!!! Yes this area is a 15 minute walk from the Fort Totten Metro (just like most parts of Petworth) and a 20 min walk to Takoma, however it's only 3 blocks from 2 bus lines (K6 and E2/4) and 1 block from the K2 (rush hour bus). I remember only a few years ago, Petworth didn't have any real sit down restaurants. This area is sure to change. As far as density, if you go down to the next block, you will find the traditional Petworth style row houses. Also, if you have dogs, there is a nice park 1/2 block away on Kansas Avenue (the same Kansas Avenue that runs through Petworth), lol!! Wow, I see a lot of people are acting like this area is so far away. The northern tip of Petworth is only 3 blocks away from here, lol!!! Yes this area is a 15 minute walk from the Fort Totten Metro (just like most parts of Petworth) and a 20 min walk to Takoma, however it’s only 3 blocks from 2 bus lines (K6 and E2/4) and 1 block from the K2 (rush hour bus). I remember only a few years ago, Petworth didn’t have any real sit down restaurants. This area is sure to change. As far as density, if you go down to the next block, you will find the traditional Petworth style row houses.

Also, if you have dogs, there is a nice park 1/2 block away on Kansas Avenue (the same Kansas Avenue that runs through Petworth), lol!!

]]> By: vonstallin http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2744 vonstallin Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:53:58 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2744 From what I remember in say MD, once you pay your Federal tax, state tax, county tax and regional/town tax (that accounts for trash pick up and other stuff) the tax’s were way higher. We pay I think 1 less tax. Ahhh I cant remember what it is, but my dad was working it out and hands down it was higher to live in MD. Even the utilities. Plus DC has the Homestead act that lowers your property tax by a certain figure. Here is the link. I thought the tax was deducted by 40% but I think im wrong. http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/cwp/view,A,1330,Q,594163.asp From what I remember in say MD, once you pay your Federal tax, state tax, county tax and regional/town tax (that accounts for trash pick up and other stuff) the tax’s were way higher. We pay I think 1 less tax. Ahhh I cant remember what it is, but my dad was working it out and hands down it was higher to live in MD. Even the utilities.

Plus DC has the Homestead act that lowers your property tax by a certain figure.
Here is the link. I thought the tax was deducted by 40% but I think im wrong.

http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/cwp/view,A,1330,Q,594163.asp

]]> By: Jim http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2743 Jim Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:54:34 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2743 and it's less than a half block from Fort Slocum Park. and it’s less than a half block from Fort Slocum Park.

]]> By: Pennywise http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2742 Pennywise Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:12:52 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2742 Re: the taxes issue, I always thought DC taxes were higher, but when I did the math four years ago the difference was minuscule, less than a 10th of a percent or something. This accounted for income and sales tax, and I am pretty sure property tax too but I might be wrong. To be sure the services in, well, anywhere but DC, are vastly better, I won't argue that. I do look forward to moving out of DC for exactly that reason, I am tired of paying for total idiocy. However, the MD living, in my income bracket, did involve a much longer commute, which is important to me. So, while north country is not ideal, it was the right place for the right price, it is blessedly quiet, not much violent crime (knock on wood), the commute is good (occasional harassment and violence on GA Ave notwithstanding), and I found PoP. Re: the taxes issue, I always thought DC taxes were higher, but when I did the math four years ago the difference was minuscule, less than a 10th of a percent or something. This accounted for income and sales tax, and I am pretty sure property tax too but I might be wrong. To be sure the services in, well, anywhere but DC, are vastly better, I won’t argue that. I do look forward to moving out of DC for exactly that reason, I am tired of paying for total idiocy. However, the MD living, in my income bracket, did involve a much longer commute, which is important to me. So, while north country is not ideal, it was the right place for the right price, it is blessedly quiet, not much violent crime (knock on wood), the commute is good (occasional harassment and violence on GA Ave notwithstanding), and I found PoP.

]]> By: Neener http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2741 Neener Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:05:10 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2741 I will eventually sell my house and move back to MD. I gave up trying to win the battle vs the jerks, even if I'm still fighting. The taxes really are higher in MD than in DC and that's because you pay county tax in MD. MD State taxes may be comparable, but in DC we don't have county taxes! Unlike VA, we don't have that car tax- if they still do. But the police, fire, and schools are far far superior in MD than DC. I read a recent study that put MD, on average, with first in the nation public schools and DC, on average, with last in the nation public schools. The juvenile justice system in MoCo is much much better so that you don't ever have corner crews. You do deal with MS-13 and related organized gangs in Takoma Park and Gaithersburg and I've known people who were mugged in both. There's no free lunch. PG County has changed significantly since I last lived there, so I can't really comment. But I stand by my statement that the taxpayer services are superior enough in MoCo to warrant a move. I will eventually sell my house and move back to MD. I gave up trying to win the battle vs the jerks, even if I’m still fighting.

The taxes really are higher in MD than in DC and that’s because you pay county tax in MD. MD State taxes may be comparable, but in DC we don’t have county taxes! Unlike VA, we don’t have that car tax- if they still do.

But the police, fire, and schools are far far superior in MD than DC. I read a recent study that put MD, on average, with first in the nation public schools and DC, on average, with last in the nation public schools.

The juvenile justice system in MoCo is much much better so that you don’t ever have corner crews. You do deal with MS-13 and related organized gangs in Takoma Park and Gaithersburg and I’ve known people who were mugged in both. There’s no free lunch.

PG County has changed significantly since I last lived there, so I can’t really comment.

But I stand by my statement that the taxpayer services are superior enough in MoCo to warrant a move.

]]> By: PetworthRes http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2740 PetworthRes Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:03:45 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2740 DC property taxes are much lower than most of MD, too. I considered buying in Takoma Park, but mainly on the DC side, because taxes were much lower, and since I don't have kids, the schools weren't a big concern. (not that the fact that DC public schools sucks isn't a giant problem, but at this point in my life it didn't factor into my home purchase) I think this house shows the tradeoffs when buying a home really well. Here you'd be giving up some amenities outside your house for a nicer home and yard. For that same price you could buy a nice rowhouse in Petworth or a 2BR condo in Adams Morgan...I think it all just depends what you're looking for. DC property taxes are much lower than most of MD, too. I considered buying in Takoma Park, but mainly on the DC side, because taxes were much lower, and since I don’t have kids, the schools weren’t a big concern. (not that the fact that DC public schools sucks isn’t a giant problem, but at this point in my life it didn’t factor into my home purchase)

I think this house shows the tradeoffs when buying a home really well. Here you’d be giving up some amenities outside your house for a nicer home and yard. For that same price you could buy a nice rowhouse in Petworth or a 2BR condo in Adams Morgan…I think it all just depends what you’re looking for.

]]> By: Dianne in DC http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2739 Dianne in DC Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:57:49 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2739 I volunteer at the Washington Animal Rescue League which is only a few blocks from there on Oglethorpe St. There is a bus that runs between Takoma Park and Ft. Totten stations you could catch on Blair Rd. but only during rush hour. It seems to be a quiet stable residential area. I know at least one person who works at the shelter lives across the street and has for many decades. It doesn't work for me as I am now working in VA off the orange line. I volunteer at the Washington Animal Rescue League which is only a few blocks from there on Oglethorpe St. There is a bus that runs between Takoma Park and Ft. Totten stations you could catch on Blair Rd. but only during rush hour. It seems to be a quiet stable residential area. I know at least one person who works at the shelter lives across the street and has for many decades. It doesn’t work for me as I am now working in VA off the orange line.

]]> By: the totten. http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2738 the totten. Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:54:17 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2738 @Anonymous 3:34 and Neener - that's what a lot of people say about Petworth! It's all relative, my friends. I have friends who live in Shaw and Capitol Hill who wouldn't think of living in Petworth. Interestingly, when i lived in Mount Pleasant it took me just as long to walk to metro as it does now - but now apparently i'm in "frederick." Seems a bit of a stretch. It's just a different sort of neighborhood, people - DC is full of them! Personally - I'd never consider living outside of DC - unless it were to move to another region entirely. MD just doesn't do it for me (the traffic is always horrendous and there is nothing of interest to me out there besides a target and we have one of those) and the political and cultural climate of VA is terrifying. So i think it's a good deal, but I can understand why folks have a different take. Thankfully we don't all have to have the same tastes to live here! @Anonymous 3:34 and Neener – that’s what a lot of people say about Petworth! It’s all relative, my friends. I have friends who live in Shaw and Capitol Hill who wouldn’t think of living in Petworth.

Interestingly, when i lived in Mount Pleasant it took me just as long to walk to metro as it does now – but now apparently i’m in “frederick.” Seems a bit of a stretch. It’s just a different sort of neighborhood, people – DC is full of them!

Personally – I’d never consider living outside of DC – unless it were to move to another region entirely. MD just doesn’t do it for me (the traffic is always horrendous and there is nothing of interest to me out there besides a target and we have one of those) and the political and cultural climate of VA is terrifying.

So i think it’s a good deal, but I can understand why folks have a different take. Thankfully we don’t all have to have the same tastes to live here!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2737 Anonymous Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:51:56 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2737 RD, I don't think people of modest incomes buy $400k houses (or at least not anymore) RD, I don’t think people of modest incomes buy $400k houses (or at least not anymore)

]]> By: RD http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2736 RD Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:50:06 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2009/01/good-deal-or-not-reader-request-up-in-north-country/#comment-2736 For people with modest incomes, DC taxes are actually lower than MD counties such as Montgomery. For people with modest incomes, DC taxes are actually lower than MD counties such as Montgomery.

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