Catarina Bannier

So do I (look at them as a plus). Not only are fears about radon levels put to rest, but they often improve the general air quality/ventilation in basements people spend time in. (And as many families turn basements into rec rooms or play space, very often those people are kids.) - Thu Jul 3 2008, 21:08

Hi S_rooney,
like in so many areas, the price levels along the Red Line are proportional to the quality of the schools. There certainly are many neighborhoods in Silver Spring where you can buy a house under 450k, but since you said you're very concerned with schools, you might want to take a closer look at that. The Montgomery County Public Schools website actually has very good information about test scores, demographics and special programs (in my opinion better than the somewhat more subjective greatschools.org that so many people use). Also, keep in mind that the Red line is U-shaped on the map, and NIH is on the other end, so if you came from Silver Spring you might be better off taking a ride-on than going through town and out again.
On the Bethesda/Rockville end it will probably be a lot harder to find a big enough home in that price range, but there are close-by areas for instance in Germantown that are very attractive.
I live and work right between downtown Silver Spring and Bethesda--call me anytime if you wanted to chat about your options here. (My cell is 202-487-7177)
I'm not sure what other amenities you're interested in and exactly how old your kids are - Wed Jun 18 2008, 18:28