<p>Being the anal mother I am, I check Craigslist every day! I am in charge of the online search, while my daughter takes care of the networking with people at work. She has her eyes and ears open for co-workers, or friend of friends looking for roommates, or giving up their rental. Between the two of us, we should be able to find something suitable. </p>
<p>I know my daughter and I don’t think she would be as happy living by Capitol Hill, although for the price she would get over it. She doesn’t want to spend too much time commuting and this location would have her traveling everyday, if she went out Saturday and Sunday as she likes to do her grocery shopping and errands on the weekends.</p>
<p>Just saw this thread. I lived on Massachusetts Ave. just east of Stanton Park for several years. Yeah, Capitol Hill is sleepy and dead at night, except for a few places on the fringes, near Union Station. It is not where recent grads go to reprise their version of St. Elmo’s Fire.</p>
<p>I was walking around there a few months ago. I think 12th and D would be OK (although that’s pretty close to the edge of OK, but it’s awfully far from the Eastern Market metro if she plans to use that. Like, a mile, which is farther than most people like to walk before they get to public transit. The Union Station red line stop (which would require transferring later) is somewhat closer, but not a lot.</p>
<p>A few years ago, my niece spent four months living in an apartment in the farther reaches of Alexandria VA (not cute, expensive Old Town). It was surprisingly OK. Decent public transit into the city, and lots of young people around because that’s where they could afford to live. But not exciting like living in the actual city. (And she didn’t care much about night life, because night was when she worked, mainly – she was a circus performer.)</p>
<p>A room just opened in D’s house. She is now for the first time a part of the group deciding who can move in. I think she’s a little overwhelmed by all the people who want to live there. She’s just realizing how hard it is to pick a stranger and hope they are what they say they are.</p>
<p>i haven’t seen anyone mention Bethesda MD. While it is the 'burbs, there is a significant night life there and it’s on the Red line, so a quick ride downtown. </p>
<p>(i’m a native of DC, but moved out 30 years ago, so it’s interesting to read of the new hip neighborhoods that were areas that we avoided in college. If you need a capitol hill realtor, this guy was my husband’s closest friend in HS: [John</a> C. Formant Real Estate, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.johncformant.com/]John”>http://www.johncformant.com/) )</p>
Resurrecting this 5 year old thread as my college senior D just accepted a job offer in DC! We’re very excited for her! Her company is located blocks from the White House and a friend who lives there suggested she consider Foggy Bottom, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. The friend doesn’t know of anyone with a vacancy coming up…D starts work at the end of July.
This thread was full of great information but it is 5 years old. Specifically, my daughter would love to find one of the group homes mentioned here where she could move in and live with a few other people. She doesn’t know anyone else coming to DC from her small school that she’d choose to live with so she’s going to be on her own but doesn’t want to live alone. D’s company is right by a metro so, as long as she’s in a safe (and fun for the younger set) area with a metro nearby, her requirements will be met. She does want to be in DC.
Other than Craigs List, which she’ll start checking, are there other ways to find out about spots opening up in places with recent grads/people in their early 20s?
Much depends on where she’s working. S originally rented a place in Herndon, near Dulles airport, 5 minutes from his workplace but found it too quiet for his tastes.
He moved to Arlington VA instead, 800 block of Pollard St., apartments and condos. He’s been happily living there in a one bedroom–not cheap, but conveniently blocks from metro, library, shipping center, restaurants, supermarket.
My D and her roommates live in a 4 br house in NoMa, which is “up and coming” (sort of). Parking is difficult, but there is a Metro stop. She lived near Tenleytown while she was a student at American. A new graduate in DC will need roommates/housemates in almost any neighbourhood in DC proper. I would suggest Craig’s List - there are usually some grad students/young professionals looking for people to share with.
D definitely wants DC and her office is near the White House. She’ll check craigs list and start talking to the few people she knows in the area…I guess much happens by word of mouth so, hopefully she’ll be able to find something that meets her criteria.
Maybe call your elected officials from your state to see if they know anything. They have staffers that turnover pretty often and often know what’s available. They may even need a room mate or know others in the capitol who do. Good luck & congrats!
Again, I would recommend her college network or Craigslist. When my D moved to DC, she found her apartment (and two roommates) through Craigslist. I went to DC with her and waited outside as she met with various lease holders, an in the end she found a great place, near Eastern Market and a short commute to the Hill, with two wonderful roommates.
Metro stops near the White House are covered by the Red, Orange, Blue and Silver lines.
Very trendy area for young people is along the Orange line in Arlington, making for a very short commute.
S & DIL live at Courthouse, she commutes 2 stops to her Foggy Bottom area job.
DC is more fun for the young and single. Dupont Circle, U Street corridor, Adams Morgan have very walkable and vibrant neighborhoods with lots of restaurants, coffee houses, and stores and one doesn’t need a car.
Second looking at craigslist, easyroommate and roomiematch.com
If she’s making <$55-60k/year, living in her own without roommates will be a bit of a challenge. But, since she’s open to a group house, I’d recommend Craigslist, her university’s local alumni Facebook page, or padmapper. since she doesn’t need a car to commute, I wouldn’t bring one–she can use Car2Go, ZipCar, or Uber for any car-related transportation needs.
DC is a very transient city and it can be hard to make and keep friends. Don’t let her get discouraged if she doesn’t feel ‘at home’ here for a few months, even a year. I’ve lived in the metro area for 3.5 years now and am about to move onto my second full set of friends because the originals are moving away. Whatever hobbies she’s interested in, tell her to check for a Meetup group or join a local organization for that. Join a gym, beer league athletic team (kickball is big), or pick up a new hobby (art, whatever) to meet new people as well! If she’s very social or was in a sorority, she may want to look into one of the many female social groups (Junior Leage, Madisons, DAR, etc)
Would suggest an ad on CL Housing Wanted. This may net possible rooms with families in nice areas. D lived near Tenleytown Metro the first year, which I liked, as is it a family area, and safe. However she is happier closer to the action north of Chinatown, where family friends rent her a place. Would second Meet Up groups and so on, where she has found friends.