Silver Spring, Maryland is a popular choice among Metro D.C. area homebuyers. It is home to major employers such as Discovery Communication and the FDA while also hugging the Washington D.C. city limits. Silver Spring offers a more affordable housing market in general than its neighbors to the west, Kensington, Chevy Chase and Bethesda.
Before you set out on your Silver Spring, Maryland property search, there are a few things to consider.
Budget: without question your budget is the most important factor in your property search. It will not only define the subdivisions you?ll be able to house-hunt in, but also the type of property you?ll be able to purchase. You should discuss 
Transportation: The Metro?s Red Line runs through downtown Silver Spring into Washington D.C. and up to Gaithersburg. The city also operates a commuter Metro bus. If public transportation is a must, subdivisions in close proximity to the Red Line ? along Georgia Avenue ? or its commuter buses should be considered.
The ICC, MD 200, which opened in December 2011, was designed to ease traffic on the beltway and offers an alternate, shorter route from Interstate 95 east of Silver Spring to Rockville and Gaithersburg to the west. It leads through Silver Spring and is an asset, particularly to the 20905 and 20906 zip codes, as it greatly improved its reputation as a good commuter location.
Location: Silver Spring?s subdivisions are generally defined as ?inside the beltway or out.? The communities inside the beltway and those just outside are mostly older subdivisions with tree-lined streets and a unique charm and feel that many Silver Spring homebuyers find appealing. A few new developments are sprinkled about, especially in and around downtown.
The subdivisions outside the beltway stretch along Route 29 all the way to Burtonsville, along Georgia Avenue from downtown into Wheaton and along New Hampshire Avenue from White Oak up north to Colesville. The age of subdivisions is very diverse ? from the 1950s to brand-new developments.
HOA or no HOA: Generally, Silver Spring?s older subdivisions, established in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, are inside the beltway or located close to it. They are typically not part of a Homeowner?s Association. Many subdivisions built during the 1980s and later are part of a HOA and are mainly located outside the beltway. Whether or not one prefers communities with HOAs is a personal choice. Its main advantage ? ensuring the upkeep and preserving the character of the community ? can also be understood as a disadvantage in that any exterior alterations to one?s home require permission. On the other hand, communities with a HOA offer amenities such as playgrounds, tennis courts and swimming pools.
Condominiums: Condos offer a low-maintenance lifestyle and also include common areas and community amenities. The monthly fee can cover just the basics such as the use and maintenance of amenities, master insurance plans, snow removal, or also include all utilities. The latter can add up to several hundred dollars a month and should be included in the home-buying budget. Condominium buildings are located throughout the city ? several communities along Georgia Avenue are within close proximity to the Metro?s Red Line.
Style of homes: Silver Spring offers a diverse real estate landscape, from garden-style and high-rise condominiums to multi-level townhouses to modest single-family homes and golf-course estate homes. Many different styles of houses are prevalent throughout the city ? from Cape Cods to Ramblers to Tudors to Split Levels to Colonials. Not every style suits everyone?s taste or lifestyle, thus your preference may very well narrow down your property search.
Many subdivisions further out, as opposed to the close-in communities inside the beltway, offer more generous lot sizes. If a big yard is on your wish list, then communities in the 20905 or 20906 should be considered for house hunting.
Schools: Montgomery County Public Schools enjoy a good reputation in general. There are a number of top-rated schools in Silver Spring as reviewed by greatschools.com, a couple of which achieved the National Blue Ribbon Designation (Highland Elementary School & Viers Mill Elementary School).
Shopping & Entertainment: Silver Spring?s main entertainment center is the revitalized downtown. Shops, restaurants, the ice-skating rink at Veterans Plaza, Farmers? Market, The Fillmore Silver Spring, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and the Round House Theatre are concentrated around Colesville Road, Georgia Avenue and Ellsworth Drive.
Ellsworth Drive becomes pedestrian only every weekend, but the city offers free parking in its public garages on evenings, weekends and public holidays. Special events such as concerts and festivals take place at the Plaza on Ellsworth Drive.
High-rise condominiums are part of the downtown redevelopment and are within walking distance to all the attractions as well as the Downtown Metro Station. Those are, however, not the only communities within such close proximity to shopping and dining ? the shops at Four Corners, at White Oak, Colesville and Wheaton are all surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
Parks & Recreation: According to Montgomeryparks.org Silver Spring boasts more than 60 community and neighborhood parks with playgrounds, ponds, trails, tennis courts and ball fields. Silver Spring is also home to a large portion of the Sligo Creek Watershed. The subdivisions running alongside the Sligo Creek Park provide easy access to this sanctuary and its miles of trails and recreational opportunities.
Silver Spring?s appeal can be summed up by its great location, availability of public transportation, revitalized downtown with shops, restaurants, cultural center, public concerts and festivals, plenty of green space and public parks, great schools and a diverse real estate landscape.
If you are ready to embark on your property search, contact your Silver Spring Realtor? today.
Welcome Home to Silver Spring, Maryland!
Written by Realtor? Andrea B?dard, M.A.
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