Moose, there are tons of areas in Howard County especially that have just as good a school and are not as expensive. The Riverhill district is great but really high in price. Try Ellicott City, Centennial School District, Woodstock, Marriottsridge School District or Ellicott City Mt. Hebron. These 4 schools all compete for # 1 and are highly desirable areas. You can get a townhouwe in either area of Ellicott City for what you'd pay for a condo in Riverhill. Good luck! Cher

Location has always been a top priority in selling a property. It appears you need a property with good resale value just in case you want to move up or relocate in the future. River hill has an excellent reputation for resale properties, but so does Fulton and Ellicott City. For this reason, Condo properties do sell at higher prices in these areas and therefore, most probabaly would do so if you needed to sell in the future. You can rent for six months in the River Hill area to see if you would like living there, but then you are losing money by renting. Are you a first time buyer? can you settle before the Nov 30 deadline. I can discuss these thoughts and answer any additional questions if you contact me. regards, John

Sometimes it helps to write down the advantages and disadvantages on paper. You can then weigh them more carefully. You should also write down your reasons for buying and make sure your choice satisfies your reason.