Choosing a neighborhood...

[Beckyemerson]

Hello friends!

Currently I live in the DC area but I am looking for a new place to live, unfortunately still in the same area. Currently my rent is 2150, which makes me want to punch myself in the face. I am looking for something cheaper but still close to my husband's job. I found various 2 bedroom town houses for our family of five that run between 1400-1600 a month. I drove by to get a feel and the neighborhood is pretty run down. There are bars and a porn shop close by. BUT an extra 750-550 a month to hoard away for the next two years until we leave this overpriced area and buy a more permanent home might make it worth it. That equals to an 18,000-13,000 difference. However I should add that sometimes my husband works out of town. That would leave me and the kidlets by ourselves overnight. But if I felt to unsafe I could stay with family an hour and a half away.

What would you do?

[TrulyStashin]

Wow, that's a tough call.  I've lived in the DC area  and you're right, the cost of living is outrageous.   A few questions:

How old are the kids?
Are you eligible for any income-qualified rental communities? 
Are you working too?
Why do you have a two-year window to stay in DC before leaving for somewhere better?  Can you leave sooner?
Is public transit an option, allowing you to live farther from your husband's work but allowing him an inexpensive commute?
Would an apartment be less expensive than a townhouse?  Either way, you've got 2 bedrooms so I can't imagine the living space is dramatically different in size.

I don't know that it is realistic to plan on staying with family if your husband is out of town and you feel unsafe.  In my experience, feeling/ being unsafe tends to happen fairly spontaneously and with little warning.  Unless you plan on leaving every time your husband travels, this is probably not a realistic plan.

[Beckyemerson]

Thanks for the response.
The children are 4, 3, and 9 months.
We are not eligible for income qualified communities.
I do work, but I don't get paid. I am a full time mom, keeper of our home, mustache grower etc.
We cannot leave sooner. My husband is military.
I didn't even look at apartments. Townhouses have a little backyard which is so nice with small children. But I will look into them.

I could go stay else where if he is gone. He doesn't leave often and if we can swing it we always try to go too. If he deployed we would move.

[stevesteve]

What area around DC?  There are lots of variation depending on the county.  Also, I'm guessing schools will be an issue?

A lot of the apartment complexes (at least in Montgomery) have tons of open space and it's not used all that much.  The playgrounds may be used but you can sit out with your kid on the other areas of grass.  Many of them even have sliding glass doors out the back to a small patio and then outside.

[Beckyemerson]

School won't be an issue. We homeschool :)

[dragoncar]

I love bars and porn shops!