First home: where would you buy in DC?

[Alexis M.]

Knowing what you currently know about the DC market, where would you buy your first piece of property if you were just starting out and had a budget of $450k or less?

[Stephanie P.]

@Alexis M.

Lots of these guys are talking neighborhoods and I'm a little surprised they're missing what most borrowers I know consider the number one driver in DC for owner occupied properties; the commute.  Where do you work???  Do you want to walk to work, how long do you want to sit in traffic or are you okay with pushing and shoving and being crammed into cattle cars as you fight on the metro? 

Once you decide that, your property search will narrow.

In this area, I would try to house hack for a first time property. There are still deals to be had out there. Go to REIA's and Meet Ups and find investors with renovated properties or talk to Realtors who have accountant and probate attorney friends who can find you an off market property. Be aggressive, but don't worry about neighborhood too much. Right now in DC, everything is hot.

Stephanie