what price is considered "affordable" rent in Virginia Beach? (Norfolk: insurance, crime)

[telemonster]

Right. Groups like the NAR, and all sorts of wacked out TV shows and Realtors told people that they should make 20% a year on buying a house. But really, there is no reason houses should appreciate faster than inflation. Really, in my opinion, houses are like cars. Why should they increase in price at all? Location is the only factor. I think it's baked into people minds and they don't question it. Even though, a new house should be worth more than a used one (unless the used one is a Ferrari and the new a Civic or something.)

If someone bought a house for $500K in the past 5 years I wouldn't really bet it's worth $500K today. The same people getting the loans that they cannot pay, who probably put down 0% or even -3%, are the ones that competed with each other bidding against each other to buy houses "before they are priced out" or before someone figures out that they can't afford or shouldn't be buying a house.

It's those people that ran prices up to where they are now. And now everyone seems to think that what we have should be reality. When it's not.

The productive output of Americans won't fund the current prices on pressboard boxes.

The loans will outlast the poor (and often illegal workforce) construction.

[Spazkat9696]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

The military is forced to pay rents and mortgages here. However, they dont pay, the taxpayer pays, however they run the housing prices up, and keep them from falling back down.

I personally, do not know anyone under the age of 30 years old who wants to be here. It has nothing to do with adapting, it has to do with complete lack of opportunity for upwardly mobile people in almost all career fields.

Last time I checked the military paid taxes too.

[telemonster]

Originally Posted by Spazkat9696

Last time I checked the military paid taxes too.

The taxpayer funds the DoD.

And I believe a portion of the benefits the military get are tax free. I didn't know it, but someone else posted about it (perhaps on here).

[froggin4colorado]

I work on Fort Carson (army) here in CO and all the active duty people I know pay taxes. They get the short end of the stick if you ask me.

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by froggin4colorado

I work on Fort Carson (army) here in CO and all the active duty people I know pay taxes. They get the short end of the stick if you ask me.

Cant think of any other profession that continuously gets cost of living adjustments.

[mommamia b]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Cant think of any other profession that continuously gets cost of living adjustments.

Nursing!

[Spazkat9696]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

Cant think of any other profession that continuously gets cost of living adjustments.

Teaching


BTW you see very anti-military from your posts? why? Do you realize just how little people in the military make vs what they endure? The military life is not easy, and before you say they picked that life keep in mind you picked your life path as well.

[froggin4colorado]

And for so many, it was their chance to escape and provided opportunites otherwise unavailable.
Fire fighting too. Shoot, look at CEOs, you want to complain about money! They get ridiculous amounts of money for bonuses.
What other job gets paid so little to be shot at? Yes, the police, but at least they are on U.S. soil. The majority of soldiers don't want to be at war or separated from their family 12-15 months at a time, go home for a couple months only to be deployed again. It tears up the family and essentially traumatizes them. But right now, the military is the only secure job out there right now. No ones job is guaranteed tomorrow, we are all expensible with 150 applicants wanting our jobs.
I salute our military and have no problems with buying lunch!

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by Spazkat9696

Teaching


BTW you see very anti-military from your posts? why? Do you realize just how little people in the military make vs what they endure? The military life is not easy, and before you say they picked that life keep in mind you picked your life path as well.

First of all, I am a Navy brat of a retired enlisted man, who spent all but 2 of my 18 childhood years in the service.

Second of all, teaching does not get cost of living adjustments like the military. If they did, teachers would actually be able to afford to live in the cities they teach in.

Third, I dont get where you feel I am "anti-military". However, I believe they are highly overcompensated for what they do. Between 1980 and 2000, there was only a short period of time (Gulf War) where a large percent of soldiers risked their lives. In fact, during that time, most spent pretty much their whole career stateside, behind a desk or fixing equipment.

Why. exactly did they deserve untouchable benefits, including basic housing allowance, while professions such as police officer and firefighter, who actually did risk their lives every day between 1980 and 2000, not get anything even close, and have been increasingly being pushed out of areas they serve?


Finally, I did not "pick my life path". I worked with the cards I was dealt with, which severely limited my "choices".

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by froggin4colorado

What other job gets paid so little to be shot at? Yes, the police, but at least they are on U.S. soil.

The only reason they are getting shot at, is because they are at war.

Between 1900 and 2009, the US has been in 6 major conflicts involving a majority of the active duty forces.

WW1 lasting 1 year, WW2, lasting 5 years, Korea, lasting 4 years, Vietnam lasting 12 years, the first Gulf War lasting less then a year, and the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict lasting 8 years.

That is 31 years out of 109 that most soldiers were not simply desk jockies twidling their fingers in their home bases (most on US soil).

109 out of 109 years cops risked being shot at and were in dangerous predicaments.

The difference? It you calculate in pretty much free housing, free health care, and free or reduced almost everything else, even the lowest ranks of soldiers are better compensated then cops who have been on the job for years.