Ashton-Sandy Spring, MD 491 Apartments for Rent

Named for a sandy spring by the Quakers, Ashton-Sandy Spring is a two-in-one kind of place. Two unincorporated towns, Ashton and Sandy Spring, become one, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The total population of the Ashton-Sandy Spring area is approximately 5,628. Located in Montgomery County, this small community, only 7.6 miles in area, is just north of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore City. Easy access to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean makes boating and swimming fun pastimes, and the Appalachians are just a short drive away, offering incredible skiing, hiking and camping opportunities. Although relatively small, Ashton-Sandy Spring has a lot to offer prospective residents in the way of house rentals.

Moving to Ashton-Sandy Spring

Moving to a county surrounding the nation's capital has some great benefits and potential challenges. Living outside of Washington D.C. means that residents pay both local and state taxes, along with federal. It also means that property values are fairly high. After all, the convenience of being able to job hunt in two major cities can't be beat, although that means you'll have to watch out for traffic. The new toll road may help minimize the time spent honking on a stationary highway, but the rest of the trip will probably still take place in fits and starts. Be prepared to face a commute that is considerably longer than the distance would normally account for. The toll road helps drop commute times by as much as 200 percent, so be sure to look at the options and commuter routes when choosing employers and rental homes in Ashton-Sandy Spring. If you want to avoid the tolls, be sure to leave a little early on your morning commute. Both 495 and 295 often back up for several miles in the mornings. Of course, 295 is better when heading north, so if you work in Baltimore and live in Ashton-Sandy Spring, the commute is long but at least it moves.

Before moving, you might want to be sure you have proof of income, rental references and a look at your credit report. Many landlords will check at least two out of the three of these documents. It is not uncommon for a landlord to order an individual credit report for each tenant. In fact, be prepared to pay a rental application fee for each apartment rental in Ashton-Sandy Spring. Even if you have a current copy of your credit report, many landlords prefer to use their own service. In some cases, the rental application includes the cost of your credit report, but it may also be charged separately. Don't get upset, though, simply checking your credit isn't enough to cause a drop in your score. Instead, simply try to minimize the number of applications you need.

Neighborhoods in Ashton-Sandy Spring

Any time you're looking at a move, it all comes down to location, location, location. Ashton-Sandy Spring is already a prime spot for apartments, but you still need to know where to look. Some sources call all of Ashton-Sandy Spring a single neighborhood, but since it is actually a combination of Ashton and Sandy Spring, there are two basic areas to choose from.

Ashton: The center of this small neighborhood sits at the corner of Ashton Road and New Hampshire Avenue. Surprisingly, the Sandy Spring Museum, featuring educational displays and programs surrounding the history of the area, is located in Ashton. Ashton is the more commercial district in the combined town, making it the likely place to do local shopping. It also offers a more walkable area. If you would prefer not to own a vehicle, your best bet is Ashton, though vehicle ownership really is not optional in Montgomery County, unless you work from home. If you do, well, lucky you!

Sandy Spring: Originally settled by Quakers, there is a long history of good education and land stewardship. Originally, much of the area was divided into a few large, gracious homes and surrounding estates. Many of those estates, like Snowden's Manor, Higham, Charley Forest and others, have since been broken up into smaller plots. Even with the estates broken up, Sandy Spring is home to numerous larger homes with expansive grounds. Finding rental homes in Sandy Spring with less than an acre of property can be challenging, unless you prefer condo rentals. If you rent a condo or find a one bedroom apartment for rent, you will not have as much individual property, but the surrounding grounds are often very expansive, and it is not uncommon to find pools, fitness centers, laundry facilities and more available for tenants.

Choosing between these neighborhoods really comes down to the size and type of rental you are looking for. Ashton has more small units available, while Sandy Spring is mostly single family homes with at least three bedrooms. In fact, it is not uncommon to find homes with 10 or more bedrooms, though most of the homes this size are for sale or rented month to month as vacation rentals.

Living in Ashton-Sandy Spring

The location in Ashton-Sandy Spring really is one of its best features. It offers all the benefits of living in a major city, without the crime, congestion and pollution. For major city fun, like visiting nationally ranked art galleries and museums, Washington D.C. and Baltimore both offer a wealth of options. The Smithsonian is always worth a visit, along with the newly renovated Washington D.C. Zoo. In Baltimore, the National Aquarium and stunning Inner Harbor offer a fun summer evening. For closer-to-home shopping and evenings out, Montgomery County has several other options, including Silver Spring, Germantown, Rockville, Bethesda and Gaithersburg.

Each of these areas caters to a slightly different clientele, so you have a lot of options. Silver Spring is generally considered a D.C. suburb, while Rockville has an established population with solid neighborhoods and some incredible shopping. Penzeys, formerly a New York icon, has a Rockville location for those interested in some top spice blends and very fresh herbs.

Bethesda has plenty of temporary housing. Walter Reed, one of the nation's top military hospitals is located in Bethesda, which makes finding month-to-month rentals easier. Of course, these are not luxury rentals, so if you are interested in going upscale, be sure to check the listings in Ashton-Sandy Spring.

The minimal public transportation servicing this area does mean that owning a car is a must. Even with a car, you might want to park and ride the train to get around, which saves you from having to find parking. In some areas of Baltimore and Washington D.C., parking is very limited, particularly during the tourist season. The D.C. Metro picks up in Silver Spring, and Amtrak has several stops between Baltimore and Washington D.C., making commuting a relatively quick and painless process.

With all the convenience, entertainment and shopping within a short drive, Ashton-Sandy Spring really does offer the almost perfect blend of quiet suburbia and urban excitement.