Towns around Baltimore city?? (Towson, Owings Mills: apartments, rent, how much)

[TeachingJ]

Hello everyone,

I, a young single female who prefers to live without a roommate, am considering accepting a job offer in Baltimore city. My questions are what are the names of some of Baltimore's surrounding towns and how reasonable is it to commute into the city each day? Also, do these areas have affordable housing? I'm thinking a studio or one bedroom for around $1000 a month.
Thanks

[KodeBlue]

Originally Posted by TeachingJ

Hello everyone,

I, a young single female who prefers to live without a roommate, am considering accepting a job offer in Baltimore city. My questions are what are the names of some of Baltimore's surrounding towns and how reasonable is it to commute into the city each day? Also, do these areas have affordable housing? I'm thinking a studio or one bedroom for around $1000 a month.
Thanks

You have alot of choices for $1000 a month. I would say Owings Mills because the subway takes you into downtown and you can park your car in the garage at the station. Also, Towson or Lutherville are nice areas.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

If you're a teacher, are you sure you can afford $1000/mo in rent?

[TeachingJ]

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

You have alot of choices for $1000 a month. I would say Owings Mills because the subway takes you into downtown and you can park your car in the garage at the station. Also, Towson or Lutherville are nice areas.

Thanks. I'll check those places out. If I'm not taking public transportation, how long would the commute be from those areas?

[TeachingJ]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

If you're a teacher, are you sure you can afford $1000/mo in rent?

I'm supposed to be earning $46,000 a year. However, I'm not sure how much of that I can take home after taxes. What rent bracket should I be looking at?

[Miss Crabcakes]

Originally Posted by TeachingJ

I'm supposed to be earning $46,000 a year. However, I'm not sure how much of that I can take home after taxes. What rent bracket should I be looking at?

You should be fine in that rent bracket. I loved Mt. Washington. I used to live in Bonnie Ridge Apts. Its close to 83 and only 20 mins from downtown.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by TeachingJ

I'm supposed to be earning $46,000 a year. However, I'm not sure how much of that I can take home after taxes. What rent bracket should I be looking at?

If I were you I'd try to go a bit cheaper so you can save some cash. The good rule of thumb is that rent should be 1/3 of your take-home pay, and I'm just guessing with a salary of 46k you'll be bringing home somewhere between 2000-2400, depending on your deductions.

Answering your question about commuting, it's a big city, and your commute time will be wholly dependent upon where your job is.

Given that you'd prefer no roommates, renting out a basement apartment in a row house might not be a bad idea.

[TeachingJ]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

If I were you I'd try to go a bit cheaper so you can save some cash. The good rule of thumb is that rent should be 1/3 of your take-home pay, and I'm just guessing with a salary of 46k you'll be bringing home somewhere between 2000-2400, depending on your deductions.

Answering your question about commuting, it's a big city, and your commute time will be wholly dependent upon where your job is.

Given that you'd prefer no roommates, renting out a basement apartment in a row house might not be a bad idea.

Do you know where these kinds of apartments are advertised? Will I have to visit the areas to find out about them or...?

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by TeachingJ

Do you know where these kinds of apartments are advertised? Will I have to visit the areas to find out about them or...?

Just look on Craigslist for apartments and the posters on this board can help you out if you have any questions about a particular area. Some neighborhoods will be definitely no good, some will be ones you should check out. When you have a list of 5-10 compiled, go visit them, and go with your gut.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Also - the sooner you know exactly where you will be working the easier it will be to make recommendations.