After vacationing in Charleston many times (even at the height of the heat and humidity) - our family has decided we would like to move there. We currently live in Northern Virginia and there really isn't anything "holding" us to the area.
Obviously, we enjoy a stable job market and ... well, that's likely the only redeeming quality I can think of at the moment.
I am the office manager for a federal sales team (no clearance) I don't manage people though I have before, I manage day to day operations. I am also a licensed Cosmetologist and have managed spas/salons in the past. I am not opposed to go back to doing hair but would prefer an office environment or strictly managing/marketing a salon environment rather than seeing clients all day but I do realize that most salon managers do both.
My honey has a clearance and is a network engineer - design and implementation. He works on a federal contract and this area is a really stable environment for either of us to find jobs though we both love our current positions and have not moved jobs recently.
Both of us have more "southern roots" than metro though we blend in just fine around here
Our children are 17, 8 & 6.
We have $1200 a month in portable income plus about $50k to put down on a house. There is the slightest possibility that I could become a remote worker with my current company in another position but I have to assume that wouldn't happen and consider worst case.
Since it is easier to move somewhere with a job, my honey is considering us moving, getting settled in Charleston and commuting to DC weekly until he finds a position in Charleston. He has other coworkers that do the same and have made successful transitions from DC to areas with less robust job markets.
I am not necessarily worried about us finding work really but rather don't want us to toss ourselves into poverty.
We are in our 40's and feel like if we don't make a move now we are relatively locked into the DC burbs until retirement because we'd like to be young enough to pay off a home, have the energy to "scratch out a new life" etc... we both have some pain and arthritis issues so needless to say we love the heat down south.
We are both hard working and of the mindset that "failure is not an option" but Charleston's job market reputation is a little scary! Having looked at real estate online it looks like we could find a home in the 200kish range in Summerville etc... we'd like one level living in around 2000-2500 square ft.
Are we being dumb here? I don't want us both to end up on minimum wage and suffering when we're doing 'just fine" around here. Quality of life isn't that great here, we don't like the winters, traffic is a nightmare, you get a postage stamp of a yard with your neighbors literally within arm's length. We do not go into "DC" for the nightlife or any of that - more homebodies that love the beach, bbq'ing at home and having a quiet life.
We've looked at plenty of job listings in Charleston but they don't always list salaries and statistical information isn't as helpful as local insight. Imminent failure or should we go for it? What's the minimum amount of income needed to live a modest/comfortable life in that area - I know... there's no magic 8 ball.
Thank you for any insight in advance.
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