Help! Is $40,000/yr enough to live on in Charlotte?? (Huntersville: low income, sales) - City-Data Forum

ruby_9c · 10-31-2006, 11:07 AM

I'm thinking about attending school in Charlotte. The career I will have after graduation pays about $40k/year for recent grads in Charlotte. That's a great salary where I'm from in central Pennsylvania, but is it a good salary for a single person to live off of in Charlotte? What I mean by good is...can I afford a decent house payment, car payment, etc and still have $ to spend on 'fun' things?? Thanks for your input!

SurfSwamis · 10-31-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruby_9c

I'm thinking about attending school in Charlotte. The career I will have after graduation pays about $40k/year for recent grads in Charlotte. That's a great salary where I'm from in central Pennsylvania, but is it a good salary for a single person to live off of in Charlotte? What I mean by good is...can I afford a decent house payment, car payment, etc and still have $ to spend on 'fun' things?? Thanks for your input!

That depends entirely on if you buy a house and car that you can easily afford on $40k per year. Do yourself a favor. In spite of your desires and what you will be told by re agents and car sales people, don't buy anything that is at the top of what you can afford. My rule of thumb is figure out what I can afford then scale it back 25%, you'll always be comfortable. Good Luck with your adventure where ever it leads you.

lovesMountains · 10-31-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruby_9c

I'm thinking about attending school in Charlotte. The career I will have after graduation pays about $40k/year for recent grads in Charlotte. That's a great salary where I'm from in central Pennsylvania, but is it a good salary for a single person to live off of in Charlotte? What I mean by good is...can I afford a decent house payment, car payment, etc and still have $ to spend on 'fun' things?? Thanks for your input!

As a single person, yes. As a family man, no (just my humble opinion). You would need to look in areas likes Huntersville or Harrisburg to find your best deal on a home in your price range, but it could be done. Just don't plan on being able to live close in to uptown Charlotte necessarily, or in south Charlotte at all. Good luck!

oandino · 10-31-2006, 12:23 PM

lovesmountains,

Is it fair to say that your statement above implies that in those two areas is where you'd find lower income families/singles?

lovesMountains · 10-31-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oandino

lovesmountains,

Is it fair to say that your statement above implies that in those two areas is where you'd find lower income families/singles?

No, the opposite. Houses near to uptown or in south Charlotte are very desirable. It is hard to find anything in those areas now for less than
$200,000.

lovesMountains · 10-31-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oandino

lovesmountains,

Is it fair to say that your statement above implies that in those two areas is where you'd find lower income families/singles?

Sorry, did you mean Huntersville and Harrisburg? No, those areas are not necessarily where you would find low income housing at all. Singles, yes. It's just that those areas are a bit further out and many homes are still affordable there.

oandino · 10-31-2006, 12:36 PM

Thank you, lovesmountain. You've answered my question.

cheers

erick · 10-31-2006, 09:04 PM

What you can afford will depend a lot on the type of mortgage you get.
There are numeous types of mortgages rangeing from 30 yr fixed, 5/1yr ARM,
to 40 yr fixed 10 yr interest only......

What you should be doing is discussing your option with your banker.
If you need any advice, feel free to contact me.

Eric

lady105 · 11-01-2006, 04:54 PM

Whatever you do don't go to harrisburg!!! I know some people who were transfered there from Ny by their company and are so unhappy. They say that the people there are the most unfriendly in all of the Charlotte areas.
I was just there looking around to buy a condo, and people I know there( who have lived there all their lives) told me that it is absolutely true!!

We are looking in the Pineville area, still staying in Charlotte city limits, which is a great area!! Don't know about singles though.

Good luck!

Hopeful of moving to charlotte someday,