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For a PDF version of this page with a list of buildings, click here.
Housing
Hi, I am the Kesher Israel volunteer housing coordinator. I hope you find your time here in DC to be enjoyable
, and I hope you find our shul and community to be an important part of your new home. I am available to answer general questions
about housing near the shul, and help you find housing or roommates near Kesher via the Kesher Israel housing listserv. Pages 1-3
of this document provide general housing advice, while pages 4-9 list some buildings near Kesher Israel. If you have any
questions, feel free to contact me at housing@kesher.org.
General Housing Information
Kesher Israel is located at the corner of 28th and N Street, NW, in Georgetown (2801 N Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20007). If you are interested in living in D.C. within walking distance of Kesher, your housing search should focus on the
Foggy Bottom, West End, Georgetown, and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. Some people who attend Kesher also live in Rosslyn, VA,
which is a longer walk but has cheaper apartments.
On average, studies and efficiencies near Kesher rent for $1500-$2200 a month, 1-bedrooms rent for $2000-$3000 a month, and
2-bedrooms rent for $2800-$5500 a month. Some of the apartment buildings near Kesher are condominiums, so you may end up renting
from individual apartment owners rather than a company that runs an entire building.
Before you begin your housing search, I strongly recommend that you take some time to think about your minimal housing
requirements (e.g. level of Kashrut, allergies, pets, etc.). I also recommend that you begin your housing search at least two
months before moving to DC. In general, a mixture of internet searches, phone calls, and in-person apartment viewings is the
best way to find a place.
The Kesher Israel Housing ListServ
To keep abreast of housing information, I strongly encourage you to subscribe to the Kesher Israel Housing
Listserv by sending an e-mail message to Kesher_Housing- subscribe@yahoogroups.com. After I approve your membership, you will be
able to:
Other Jewish Housing Forums
There are two other Jewish organizations in DC that have good housing forums. While not specifically Orthodox,
their housing forums are used by the wider DC Jewish community:
- DC Minyan Bulletin: To subscribe, email bulletin@dcminyan.org. You can then
email that same address with a one paragraph ad to post in the Housing Wanted section of the bulletin. If you have
housing and need a roommate, send the ad to post in the Housing Available section of the bulletin.
- GatherTheJews has a housing message board resource for young Jews in DC at
http://www.gatherthejews.com/bulletin-board/bulletin-board/
Shabbos Observance
With some exceptions, many buildings in DC now use electronic key-fobs to open their front doors instead
of physical keys. Many Shomer Shabbos Jews will either wait for other tenants to walk into their buildings on Shabbos and
follow them in, or work out an arrangement with the front desk staff of their building (if there is a 24-hour front desk) to
either buzz them in or physically open the door. Make sure to discuss this with the building leasing office or condo owner
before signing a lease. If necessary, consult with your local Rabbi as well.
Apartment Search Websites
There are a number of websites that are good resources on apartments for rent in the DC area. While the
details vary, you will generally be asked enter an area code, city, and/or neighborhood (Foggy Bottom, West End, Georgetown,
and Dupont Circle), and will be given a list of available places, their prices, pictures of the apartment, and a point of
contact. The following sites are a good place to start:
Craigslist
Many condo owners (and some apartment buildings) advertise through Craigslist. Craigslist lets you narrow
your search by price range and type of apartment (studio, 1 bedroom, etc.). If you type the name of one of the neighborhoods
near Kesher in the search bar, you should get 15-20 ads. I recommend responding by e-mail to each ad that interests you.
Do not be too surprised or discouraged if some people do not respond to your inquiries. If you get one response for every
three inquiries you send out, then you are doing well.
In order to save time, you may want to create a form letter for responding to Craigslist ads. Here is an example: Dear
Sir or Madam: My name is(your name). I currently live in (current living location), and am looking for a
new apartment by (desired move-in date). Your ad on Craigslist intrigued me, as the apartment seems a reasonably
priced and sized (studio/one- bedroom/two-bedroom) at an excellent location. Would it be possible to view the apartment in
the next few days? I am available most weeknights after (time), as well as on Sundays. Thank you for your kind
consideration. Sincerely, (your name).
One last note: while many Craigslist housing ads are legitimate, some may be scams. For more information, please see:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.
Short-Term Housing
If you are looking for short-term housing, internship housing, or are having difficulty finding long-term
housing, see the following websites:
For a PDF version of this page with a list of buildings, click here.
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