Fall Housing in DC Forum

[jess]

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[Xferr]

So since the GWU and GULC threads are so active, I wanted to make a thread to discuss housing DC. If you find cool apartment buildings, have feedback on good neighborhoods to check out, have a room available in your apartment, or want to find people to get a place with, post here!

So that you don't have to look on Facebook and accidentally tip off your boyfriend that you're transferring?

[jess]

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[jess]

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[lnllnl]

I personally am looking for a roommate or two for a place in Capitol Hill, Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Mt. Vernon, or Adams Morgan. M or F, LGBT friendly. I'm a mid-twenties female, quiet AND social, non-smoker/no drugs, about an 8/10 on the clean scale, respectful of personal space, and I have two adorable small dogs (one of whom is pictured in my tar). Looking to spend as little as possible but preferably $1100 or less per bedroom.

I'd love to live with other people like transfer students who are new to the area since I don't know anybody in DC and am only visiting the city for the first time in May. It would be great to have people who are looking to become friends with their roommates and not just hide in their bedrooms.

PM me if you have a place or want to look together! I know it's early, but I'd like to find something ASAP so I'm not rushing at the end of the summer.

Those are some really expensive neighborhoods you listed. Bloomingdale is cheaper. It's along the 80 bus route that takes you GULC. It's a quiet, quaint neighborhood but close enough that you can walk to U St. Also near the G2 if you want to go to Logan Circle and Dupont. Mt. Pleasant is a nice alternative to Columbia Heights. Or Petworth. If you're sensitive to crime, there really are no places immune from everything. But have fun fighting for housing with summer interns who come in droves to DC and the undergrads of 4-5 colleges in the fall.

If you don't drive, you'll want to live near metro stations or bus routes. If you do drive, you'll want to get DC plates and license right away. They will ticket you for parking on the streets w/o DC plates and it's not cheap. (Once you get a license, they will be calling you for jury duty pretty quickly. You cannot get out. If you have kids, they have childcare...)

[jess]

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[crossarmant]

Those are some really expensive neighborhoods you listed. Bloomingdale is cheaper. It's along the 80 bus route that takes you GULC. It's a quiet, quaint neighborhood but close enough that you can walk to U St. Also near the G2 if you want to go to Logan Circle and Dupont. Mt. Pleasant is a nice alternative to Columbia Heights. Or Petworth. If you're sensitive to crime, there really are no places immune from everything. But have fun fighting for housing with summer interns who come in droves to DC and the undergrads of 4-5 colleges in the fall.

If you don't drive, you'll want to live near metro stations or bus routes. If you do drive, you'll want to get DC plates and license right away. They will ticket you for parking on the streets w/o DC plates and it's not cheap. (Once you get a license, they will be calling you for jury duty pretty quickly. You cannot get out. If you have kids, they have childcare...)

Thanks for the info. I don't have a car. I won't be fighting with summer interns, but I will be fighting with everyone who starts school in the fall. I'd honestly prefer to move into a place that is already established with just a room open, but those are pretty non-existent in the areas I like on craigslist.

One thing my fiancee and I have found about DC is that their Craigslist is near to useless for finding housing. It's all chock full of fraud ads, place well away from the District, mislabeled things, and just all around poor organization. I'm not quite sure what we're going to do for finding housing, probably ask some of our local friends for suggestions. When I have a more firm idea, I can give more information.

[lnllnl]

Those are some really expensive neighborhoods you listed. Bloomingdale is cheaper. It's along the 80 bus route that takes you GULC. It's a quiet, quaint neighborhood but close enough that you can walk to U St. Also near the G2 if you want to go to Logan Circle and Dupont. Mt. Pleasant is a nice alternative to Columbia Heights. Or Petworth. If you're sensitive to crime, there really are no places immune from everything. But have fun fighting for housing with summer interns who come in droves to DC and the undergrads of 4-5 colleges in the fall.

If you don't drive, you'll want to live near metro stations or bus routes. If you do drive, you'll want to get DC plates and license right away. They will ticket you for parking on the streets w/o DC plates and it's not cheap. (Once you get a license, they will be calling you for jury duty pretty quickly. You cannot get out. If you have kids, they have childcare...)

Thanks for the info. I don't have a car. I won't be fighting with summer interns, but I will be fighting with everyone who starts school in the fall. I'd honestly prefer to move into a place that is already established with just a room open, but those are pretty non-existent in the areas I like on craigslist.

One thing my fiancee and I have found about DC is that their Craigslist is near to useless for finding housing. It's all chock full of fraud ads, place well away from the District, mislabeled things, and just all around poor organization. I'm not quite sure what we're going to do for finding housing, probably ask some of our local friends for suggestions. When I have a more firm idea, I can give more information.

padmapper.com Also, if it seems too cheap for the neighborhood, it's probably fake.

[Lawst]

This is relevant to my interests.

I figure that I'll probably need a roommate to keep my expenses low. I have a cat - a very laid back one who just eats and sleeps all day. I'm in my 30s and I'm not the partying kind. I don't have a car so I'll need to live near public transportation. Oh, and I'm a girl. If this sounds roommie compatible, PM me.
I've heard that Arlington is a slightly cheaper option for GW. Anything along the blue or orange lines is supposed to be good for commuting there.

[concurrent fork]

So since the GWU and GULC threads are so active, I wanted to make a thread to discuss housing DC. If you find cool apartment buildings, have feedback on good neighborhoods to check out, have a room available in your apartment, or want to find people to get a place with, post here!

Are you for sure decided on GULC? I randomly remember you saying you were top of your class at a TTT (should be competitive for T6). Is DC the only market you would even consider?

[jess]

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[concurrent fork]

So since the GWU and GULC threads are so active, I wanted to make a thread to discuss housing DC. If you find cool apartment buildings, have feedback on good neighborhoods to check out, have a room available in your apartment, or want to find people to get a place with, post here!

Are you for sure decided on GULC? I randomly remember you saying you were top of your class at a TTT (should be competitive for T6). Is DC the only market you would even consider?

No. I'm interested in DC, NYC, or certain CA markets (San Francisco, San Diego). I'm also going to apply to Berkeley, NYU, CLS. However, I think my chances are pretty nil at those schools. I don't think my rank will maintain after this semester.

Also, I got deferred from every T30 school I applied to except for GULC. So I think my acceptance to GULC is more of a fluke and not really that indicative of which T14 schools I can get into RD.

Hedge as you will, but I think you underestimate your chances. I know several TTT students that were accepted to T6 and one at HLS. You shouldn't really think of T30 EAs as a proxy for RD transfer odds (what does that even include? Wustl? and who knows/cares what they were thinking?)

[TTRansfer]

If I end up at GW...

I am a mid 20s male.

I have a car so I need a place with a garage or parking of some sort.

More than willing to share a room (and might even prefer it).

I am not messy but will probably have an organized clutter in my own room but not the common area (i.e. I keep my books out too often but pick shit up and throw it away and do dishes, etc.).

More than willing to room with a dude, with a girl, etc. Want someone drama free who doesn't party and preferably who doesn't smoke inside (don't care if you smoke outside). Also want someone who is going to be pretty quiet and allow me to study (obviously).

[Lawst]

I am necro'ing this thread now that I'm certain that I'm transferring to GW. I am looking for something in DC or at least near a Metro stop for the blue or orange lines. I don't have a car.
I think I can afford those locations only if I do the roommate thing, so here goes: I'm a non-trad in my 30s, female, have a cat (who does nothing but sleep and eat), very quiet, non-smoker. PM me if you're also looking for a share.

[DJ5]

I'll be at GW in the fall, definitely looking for a roommate. Only thing I need is to pay less than 1200 a month, be near the metro, and walking distance from bars. I'm looking at the Adams Morgan, Dupont circle, other places near those neighborhoods, and also the Crystal City area.

[shock259]

Start searching early, guys. The DC housing market is terrible for renters. If you are going for a place in a popular area, you'll have to commit immediately. It took me a few months to find a place. Each time an open house was advertised on Craigslist, people would show up with checkbooks 30 minutes before.

[Lawst]

Start searching early, guys. The DC housing market is terrible for renters. If you are going for a place in a popular area, you'll have to commit immediately. It took me a few months to find a place. Each time an open house was advertised on Craigslist, people would show up with checkbooks 30 minutes before.

Sounds like New York. But hopefully DC doesn't have the insane broker's fee. The twist for me is that my summer internship is 1,200 miles away.

[crossarmant]

I'm worried about securing housing because I have no income this summer and am flat broke until I get my financial aid refund. Which usually doesn't come to you until the first week of classes... so it makes securing housing almost impossible...

[DJ5]

Just secured an apartment. Crossarmant, PM me if you need a futon to crash on for a couple days while you await refund/apartment search

[Lawst]

Just secured an apartment. Crossarmant, PM me if you need a futon to crash on for a couple days while you await refund/apartment search

That was fast. How did you go about it and did you go in person? I'm facing a logistical headache in trying to figure this one out from where I am this summer.

[DJ5]

I went on the rental sites and looked around metro stations. Trulia is a good site (but they have alot of scam apartments listed). Apartmentshowcase.com was the most helpful. I'm in NY right now but my buddy goes to American Law and was kind enough to scope them out. I trust his judgment so when he looked at an apartment the other day and told me to pull the trigger I did. 1300/month with all utilities, cant complain. Piece of advice: deal with a broker/realtor run listing, dealing with owners is a goddamn headache.

[jess]

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[TTRansfer]

I'm going to go down the weekend after next, I believe, to look at some places.

[TTRansfer]

BTW, what the hell are scam apartments?

[GodFavor2010]

Crossarmant, I totally understand your situation. I feel the same way.

I'm worried about securing housing because I have no income this summer and am flat broke until I get my financial aid refund. Which usually doesn't come to you until the first week of classes... so it makes securing housing almost impossible...