Help! Moving to Maryland!

[gypsymare]

Congratulations!

I recently moved here, too, so I can’t help out too much with knowing barns in the area. Real estate and rentals are very expensive here. I’m a bit farther west in Hampstead.

Talk to a realtor. I met mine 3 years ago when I moved here as a singleton looking for an apartment and bought two houses with her as my agent. She’s not a horse person but is very honest and low pressure. PM me for contact info if you’re interested. She can set you up to get the MRIS listings that meet your criteria and take you around to see the ones that you are interested in. We’ve drug her around many a field and barn!

And when you are settled in you must come fox hunting!

Check out Maryland Saddlery while you’re here. Get lost on the back roads around it. Drive down Shawan Rd, drive past Sagamore Farm and up Falls Road and past the Green Spring Valley Hounds kennel on Mantua Mill Rd.

Then pick your jaw up off of the floor.

DH and I picked this area because it was more the most affordable thing we could find within a reasonable commute to the DC area without going too far west. I didn’t even realize how lucky I was to be in such an incredible area until after we had moved in!

[Chachie]

Second on the Equiery and check out the neighboring counties. Maryland is super expensive, we used to live in Annapolis. Look on Craigslist too. I bought a horse off a fellow Cother in Hartford, I think, which is horse country.
However, if you go North into Pennsylvania, York County is within commuting distance to Baltimore (about an hour) and MUCH cheaper, lots of horse properties for a fraction of the cost of a comparable property in Maryland.
Maryland Saddlery is one of my favorites. Dover is there too.
Good luck with the move!!!

[Laurierace]

Never mind, I confused myself! I thought you said horse job.

[theblondejumper]

Grew up there, still miss it. I miss gorgeous Falls Road/Baltimore County area!

[TigerTrick]

How expensive are we talking about? I mean, I knew it was going to be more than I’m paying now, but…eek! I’m paying 450/horse for board right now and 700 for my apartment. I was hoping to find a barn + apartment to rent for something around what I’m paying now (total with buying feed/hay etc). Is that unreasonable?

I looked up the Equiery and placed an ad, so hopefully I’ll get something from there!!

Unfortunately, I’ll have to be within 20 minutes or so of the clinic I’m working at for night/emergency duty so commuting from an hour away isn’t an option - I’ll have to be in Baltimore/Harford county somewhere.

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE DOVER STORE!!! (although my wallet isn’t, lol)

[gypsymare]

How good are you at fencing?

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2533A-Bradenbaugh-Rd-White-Hall-MD-21161/2109736086_zpid/

[TigerTrick]

Gypsymare, that place is GORGEOUS!! I wonder what the barn looks like on the inside. I could rig up some kind of safe fencing…maybe…I’ll have to check how much fencing costs!

[caffeinated]

There’s a place where I used to ride in Monkton that had a barn with apartments on top. Not sure if they have any room available but it might be reasonable (though not super fancy) Have no idea who, if anyone, is even there now, would have to go dig around a bit.

[whoapony]

Look in southern York Co. PA - it is about a 15-20 min drive on 83 north of Monkton. Prices for housing and boarding as well as taxes drop when you hop into PA.
Gypsymare, do you really commute to DC from Hampstead? How do you find time to ride your horse? Can’t believe the distance people have to move out from DC these days to find affordable horse property. It is a shame.

[moving_to_dc]

We moved to the DC area in the spring of 2012. I was EXTREMELY lucky that my husband “moved” to the area 6 months before me, and lived in our camper at military campgrounds. During that time, he scouted out the area and assessed commute times to decide where we wanted to live. We had thought we wanted to be north or NE of DC… But he quickly crossed those off the list because the commute would have been horrendous. Instead, we found a place south of DC in Charles County, and DH has a consistent, low traffic commute of about 45 minutes down 210. MUCH more relaxing!

My suggestion would be to move here and rent/board on a month-to-month lease. DO NOT commit to a full year until you have been here long enough to understand the traffic and commute hassles. What looks simple on a map can turn into a daily nightmare. Being on a month-to-month lease will give you the flexibility to pick up and move to an area better suited to your commute restrictions, which are pretty tight… In some areas, a 20-minute maximum commute means you have to live within 5 miles of your workplace…

[LauraKY]

A very good friend of my daughter’s is a real estate agent in Monkton, lives there, hunts with Elkridge-Harford Hounds, plays polo…excellent real estate agent.

PM me if you would like her contact info.

[gypsymare]

[QUOTE=whoapony;7417982]

Gypsymare, do you really commute to DC from Hampstead? How do you find time to ride your horse? Can’t believe the distance people have to move out from DC these days to find affordable horse property. It is a shame.[/QUOTE]
DH commutes to Ft Meade which is about an hour both ways. At the time we moved he was working in Thurmont but knew his company’s contract was going to expire eventually and there’s much more for him employment wise with his clearance and experience near Ft Meade. Luckily he has flex hours so he misses the worst of the traffic. I cover three states, just picked up North Carolina so sometimes my commute could be 10 minutes or 6 hours but the bulk of my accounts are within 2 hours of DC. Luckily I can work from my home office about 1/2 the time or more.

Not only is the real estate more affordable but we both like the very rural feel of this area.

[whoapony]

Gypsymare, Okay, Fort Meade makes more sense. I used to live just outside of Manchester. There was a billboard for a subdivision a few years back that advertised “easy commute to DC.” DC was an hour and 45 minute drive on a good day. If you tried to do it during rush hour you might as well add another 30 minutes.

[Janice]

I board at a self care barn in Fallston , Md. Self care stalls are $140/ month. I’ve been there for 30+ yrs. Not fancy but affordable and a good location.
http://bondsforestfarm.com/

[TigerTrick]

Hey Janice, thanks for the info!

I actually contacted that farm, but I don’t think boarding would work out as I have a pregnant mare that would need private turnout.

[CowgirlDressage]

MD has a rain tax, and now they’ve apparently added a nice new tax, which my family & friends in MD are calling the ‘chicken’ tax. Lordy they have a LOT of taxes down there, and the board, real estate, etc. makes PA seem pretty darn tame & mild, excepting most of Bucks Co., which is just super dressage/HJ and pricey.

[anita_m]

[QUOTE=gypsymare;7417371]
I’m a bit farther west in Hampstead.

Talk to a realtor.

Check out Maryland Saddlery while you’re here. Get lost on the back roads around it. Drive down Shawan Rd, drive past Sagamore Farm and up Falls Road and past the Green Spring Valley Hounds kennel on Mantua Mill Rd.[/QUOTE]

Where are you? I’m in Upperco, just south of Hampstead. The barn where I board has a great relaxed atmosphere along an indoor, outdoor jumping arena with lights, an outdoor dressage arena, and access to miles and miles of trails. You can literally ride for hours and never see a road or another human. People board there and never leave. I’ve been there for 14 years. Monkton is close by. Board is $550.

Fort Meade? You’ve got to be kidding me. I would never consider living or boarding there.

I have a friend that’s a really excellent realtor as well as a horse person. PM me if you want her name.

Maryland Saddlery? Meh. Much prefer Dover Saddlery myself.

Agree with your assessment of our lovely Greenspring Valley. Great horse country we have here and proud of it!

Welcome to Maryland.

[gypsymare]

[QUOTE=anita m;7421019]
Where are you? I’m in Upperco, just south of Hampstead. The barn where I board has a great relaxed atmosphere along an indoor, outdoor jumping arena with lights, an outdoor dressage arena, and access to miles and miles of trails. You can literally ride for hours and never see a road or another human. People board there and never leave. I’ve been there for 14 years. Monkton is close by. Board is $550.

Fort Meade? You’ve got to be kidding me. I would never consider living or boarding there.

I have a friend that’s a really excellent realtor as well as a horse person. PM me if you want her name.

Maryland Saddlery? Meh. Much prefer Dover Saddlery myself.

Agree with your assessment of our lovely Greenspring Valley. Great horse country we have here and proud of it!

Welcome to Maryland.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like an amazing barn! We bought a few acres that were already fenced, put up a run-in for the winter and are planning to get a barn up this summer.

Not sure if you misunderstood but DH works at Fort Meade, we don’t live there. I like to stay as far away from the whole city suburb mess as I can.

I didn’t even know there was a Dover up here! I’ve been to the one in Chantilly a few times. I may have to take a field trip tomorrow. Not that I need anything. My favorite tack store is Bartville but it’s a bit of a trek. Can’t beat the prices on quality Amish made leather.

[Janice]

if you haven’t found a barn yet, take a look at this one
http://windmillhillfarm.net/index.htm

Its all full care but the web page says they take broodmares. Friends have used them to start their horses.

[TigerTrick]

Well, I think I found the PERFECT place!! I’m crossing my fingers because I haven’t seen it yet and obviously don’t have a contract, but it sounds AMAZING!!

I would be able to have however many stalls on I wanted (40 stall barn that trainer only uses about half of), plus there’s a newly renovated 3 br. apartment on site! Tons of turnout, miles of trails and a big outdoor. Best of all, a MILE from my job!

I’m going to visit in a few weeks - please cross your fingers that this place is as nice as it seems!!!