Rental opp in North Brentwood, Berwyn Heights, New Carrollton???

[Brandon C.J. Grimes]

Hi everyone!

My wife and I are about to purchase our first home soon. The idea is to house hack for the first couple of years. Eventually, we'll move from that home and keep it as a rental property as we continue to look for other REIs. We're looking in the College Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale areas which I hear are up and coming areas. However, I'm curious about what people think about North Brentwood, Berwyn Heights, and New Carrollton areas. They're relatively in the same areas but still, that's not saying very much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Russell Brazil]

I prefer the former areas you mentioned to the latter...but in the latter, I probably prefer New Carrolton due to its location right along route 50.

[Brandon C.J. Grimes]

Hi @Russell Brazil thank you! That's the feeling I was getting but wasn't 100% sure. Thanks for chiming in!

[Mike Shahi]

New Carrollton and Brentwood are trash. Berwyn heights is next to Greenbelt. I grew up in Greenbelt. Great because Near metro and umd. Greenbelt and college park are prime for rentals because of the distance to dc and Baltimore- not to mention you have one of the best high schools in the country (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Hyastville and Riverdale are cool to. Close to dc. People who can’t afford to live in DC are buying homes right on the DC line in Hyattsville, mount rainier, Tacoma park and Riverdale. 

[Shadonna N.]

Are the prices driving where you are looking?  Why are you leaning to PG county?

[Mark Cruse]

Many people love Prince George's County! 

[Shadonna N.]

@Mark Cruse, agree with you but he is coming from Montgomery county.  He is not trying to move next door.

[Brandon C.J. Grimes]

@Shadonna N. PG county has a lot of house Jack opportunities in the price range from 300-400k. Where I’m at now there are some, but usually need some rehab or they are on the market for a short time

[Brandon C.J. Grimes]

@Mark Cruse yea! That’s what I’m hearing and the purple line coming too!

[Mike Shahi]

@Brandon C.J. Grimes just FYI- PG County also has a terrible school system- Keep that in mind when conducting your search

[Brandon C.J. Grimes]

@Mike Shahi Thats what I hear. Does that make a property in that area unrentable? Or maybe we'd only be able to rent to students of UMD and not so much families since the school system sucks? Thoughts?

[Carlos Salazar]

@Mike Shahi has a point. The school systems in PG county are not the best BUT keep in mind that some people don't have an alternatives, or they want to live close to family, or they like what the are has to offer (art district, coffee shops, proximity to DC, 295, 50, or 495) The majority of the demographic in Mt Rainier, Hyattsville, Riverdale have little options but to accept sub standard school those who aren't are paying for private schools (DeMatha, Seaton, etc.) or testing into Rosevelt. 

IMO

Better School = Higher acquisition cost and betting on appreciation not cash flow

Subpar Schools = Lower cost, might appreciate, better cash flow.