If you are looking to buy in Silver Spring, MD and you are not so fond of the beltway traffic like I am, you just might want to consider the neighborhoods east and west of Georgia Ave and the Metro's Red Line.
The Red Line runs from the Shady Grove Station in Rockville, MD through Bethesda, Washington DC and up north through Takoma Park, Silver Spring into Wheaton. There are plenty of subdivisions within close proximity to the Metro's Silver Spring stations: Downtown (also offers connection to the MARC train), Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont.
Communities such as The Crescent Downtown, Americana Finnmark, Belvedere Glen, McKenny Hills, Plyers Mill Estates, Forest Grove, Hearthstone Village - just to name a few - cover different price-ranges as well as housing types and styles. From high rise to garden-style condominiums, town homes to detached single-family homes, from Ramblers, Cape Cods to Colonials - the Real Estate landscape is a diverse one in Silver Spring, MD in general and along Georgia Ave specifically.
Living within close proximity to public transportation is just one of the perks of the area, however. Others include also living convenient to all that Downtown Silver Spring has to offer - shopping, restaurants, a Farmers' Market, outdoor ice-skating ring, Festivals McGintys, The Round House Theater - shopping at over 160 stores at Westfield Wheaton Mall, the many neighborhood parks and the recreational opportunities at Sligo Creek Park, Wheaton Regional Park - which also includes a dog park - and Brookside Botanical Gardens.
All of the above make the area attractive for people working at major employers such as Holy Cross Hospital and Discovery Communications in Silver Spring and even NIH and WRNMMC in Bethesda (Walter Reed operates a commuter bus from the Downtown Station to the base due to a strict on-base parking policy).
Living in such a close-in location does have one draw-back, however, particularly when it comes to detached homes - they are generally situated on smaller lots.
If a nice-sized yard is high on your wish-list, you might want to consider looking further up north and north-west of Georgia Ave. The communities in 20906 Silver Spring or in the Olney and Brookeville area offer more generously sized lots. In order to still take advantage of the Metro's Red Line, check into the Metro bus routes first or consider putting your name on the waiting list for the public garage at the Glenmont Station.
Parking there is free, by the way, on weekends and federal holidays.
If you are considering a new home close to the Metro's Red Line, explore the many subdivisions east and west of Georgia Ave:
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