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Randomdude has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to income in Virginia Beach. For those of you who are actually concerned about income potential in Virginia Beach, don't fret. Some areas and their neighborhoods which are very wealthy, with their residents earning very good income: Great Neck area (Great Neck Point, Estates on the Lynnhaven, Wimbledon on the Bay, Meadowridge, Broad Bay Point Greens, Chelsea, The Reserve, Broad Bay Island, Green Hill Farms, Alanton, Brighton on the Bay, Baycliff, etc), Oceanfront (Bay Colony, North End, Croatan), Other (Sandbridge Beach, Church Point, Lagomar)...My point in listing all of those was to show that there are high-income areas and residents, which shows that there is a good potential to earn a good living in the Hampton Roads area. If you want to do well, get an education and get a good job. Virginia is one of the top states for business in the country, and there is a good deal of money to be earned in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Randomdude has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to income in Virginia Beach. For those of you who are actually concerned about income potential in Virginia Beach, don't fret. Some areas and their neighborhoods which are very wealthy, with their residents earning very good income: Great Neck area (Great Neck Point, Estates on the Lynnhaven, Wimbledon on the Bay, Meadowridge, Broad Bay Point Greens, Chelsea, The Reserve, Broad Bay Island, Green Hill Farms, Alanton, Brighton on the Bay, Baycliff, etc), Oceanfront (Bay Colony, North End, Croatan), Other (Sandbridge Beach, Church Point, Lagomar)...My point in listing all of those was to show that there are high-income areas and residents, which shows that there is a good potential to earn a good living in the Hampton Roads area. If you want to do well, get an education and get a good job. Virginia is one of the top states for business in the country, and there is a good deal of money to be earned in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
The 'wealthy' in HR always crack me up. They think that because they have a house that could sell for $800K or $1-1.5 million they're 'rich.' They think driving Mercedes C class makes them rich.
In reality, they're all wanna-be's.
I am not rich, but know people in NY, NJ and FL that are rich. They don't think twice about dropping $1500 or $2000 on dinner. Their vacation homes are usually around $5M.
I don't mean to say a million dollar home is bad, or driving a C class is bad, but what I am saying is don't think you're superior or part of the wealthy because you're really not.
Can we please have one of these topics made into a sticky? Or is it just this way around the rest of the forum? By that, I mean 1,000s of people descending in, all asking the same question: "Considering moving to Hampton Roads...please help."
I advocate self-help and reading (at least the first page of topics) before posting.
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Randomdude has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to income in Virginia Beach. For those of you who are actually concerned about income potential in Virginia Beach, don't fret. Some areas and their neighborhoods which are very wealthy, with their residents earning very good income: Great Neck area (Great Neck Point, Estates on the Lynnhaven, Wimbledon on the Bay, Meadowridge, Broad Bay Point Greens, Chelsea, The Reserve, Broad Bay Island, Green Hill Farms, Alanton, Brighton on the Bay, Baycliff, etc), Oceanfront (Bay Colony, North End, Croatan), Other (Sandbridge Beach, Church Point, Lagomar)...My point in listing all of those was to show that there are high-income areas and residents, which shows that there is a good potential to earn a good living in the Hampton Roads area. If you want to do well, get an education and get a good job. Virginia is one of the top states for business in the country, and there is a good deal of money to be earned in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Do you know the difference between wage income and non wage income, and do you know the difference between single and multi income households or did you take too many golf balls to the head?
Randomdude has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to income in Virginia Beach. For those of you who are actually concerned about income potential in Virginia Beach, don't fret. Some areas and their neighborhoods which are very wealthy, with their residents earning very good income: Great Neck area (Great Neck Point, Estates on the Lynnhaven, Wimbledon on the Bay, Meadowridge, Broad Bay Point Greens, Chelsea, The Reserve, Broad Bay Island, Green Hill Farms, Alanton, Brighton on the Bay, Baycliff, etc), Oceanfront (Bay Colony, North End, Croatan), Other (Sandbridge Beach, Church Point, Lagomar)...My point in listing all of those was to show that there are high-income areas and residents, which shows that there is a good potential to earn a good living in the Hampton Roads area. If you want to do well, get an education and get a good job. Virginia is one of the top states for business in the country, and there is a good deal of money to be earned in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
I agree with your post and its the younger families that are living in these upper class neighborhoods also.... so its not old money as someone here on this board likes to use as an excuse.....
I am 50 my wife is 48, we live in a upper class neighborhood here at the beach. We are the oldest couple on our block. Most everyone else is in their mid 30's with young kids. These families consist of a mixture of both single and double incomes. I think you will find the same age group in many of the upper class neighborhoods you listed. I dont have any stats, charts or graphs to make my point but I believe the young professionals (mid 30's and below) far out number the older professionals in Virginia Beach.
I agree with your post and its the younger families that are living in these upper class neighborhoods also.... so its not old money as someone here on this board likes to use as an excuse.....
I am 50 my wife is 48, we live in a upper class neighborhood here at the beach. We are the oldest couple on our block. Most everyone else is in their mid 30's with young kids. These families consist of a mixture of both single and double incomes. I think you will find the same age group in many of the upper class neighborhoods you listed. I dont have any stats, charts or graphs to make my point but I believe the young professionals (mid 30's and below) far out number the older professionals in Virginia Beach.
One chart that you dont have that I would love to see is how many of those "young professionals" are living in affordable housing, by the HUD standards of the term.
You're looking at about $1000-$1500 a month for an apartment. Probably closer to the $1100-$1250 marker.
It sounds as though you're not much in to culture or activities since you're not a fan of DC and what it has to offer, so you might actually be okay here.
Just for the sake of argument, what do you exactly mean by "you're not much in to culture or activities". I just moved to Va Beach in the Town Center area because I don't plan to buy a car in the near future (I rent when I need one). I don't know yet how much "culture" you have here, but I'm very happy to be near the Art Institute, an art studio, and theaters, bookstore, retail shopping and restaurants and, needless to say, the beach -- both here in Va Beach and across the chunnel.
I've lived in DC, NYC and California in town and you don't "do" cultural activities daily -- once a week maybe; once a month more likely. You get to do more if you're a tourist. Ok, I'm being honest here, you don't experience the vibe of NYC here in Va Beach by simply being here. I haven't found a neighborhood here yet where I can sit al bistro, drink coffee for hours, and just watch people go by -- which you can do in Manhattan and Paris and other similar cities. But you don't experience that either in DC -- if I may be biased, there is no other place in the world like Manhattan -- not even Paris (a city I love and know)
The rest of the time, you work or do something else and spend some evenings with friends or dine out. You can do that anywhere. Both DC and NYC are so close by car or train or plane from Va Beach. If you plan carefully, you won't miss the important cultural events in both cities because they are accessible. True, you just can't hop on the metro or subway or bus -- but you need to face the fact that sometimes you must compromise.
You might be curious why I moved to Va Beach. I can live more cheaply here and have bigger accommodation to suit my needs (I'm a confirmed renter and will not want to own a house). Besides -- and I may have an advantage here -- I am just a bridge away to Cape Charles where I have unlimited access to a great beach house. What is there not to like?
I have also noted in the short time that I've been here that everyone -- yes, everyone -- I've met has been friendly and helpful. Retail service workers go out of their way to help. Even customers (!) -- what a pleasant surprise -- help out with your bags. And, yes, I feel safe where I live.
$2500 and up? Are you kidding me? I can literally turn up 100 new apartment listings a day on Craigslist with no fees under that. You actually have to look very hard to find ANY apartment in Harlem, Spanish Harlem, Washington Heights or Morningside for that or more. In fact, I have had absolutely no problem finding apartments below Central Park for less then $1500 a month, and quite a few of them include utilities and/or cable. You get a few less square feet then you would for the same price here, but then again, comparing living in Murray Hill, Gramercy or The East Village, isnt exactly like living anywhere here.
Sure, the income taxes are a little higher, but who cares? The fact that you dont need a car (I can get a monthly metro card for less then I spend on gas a month), and nice little perks like, no sales tax on clothing under $200, and huge tax abatements and low property taxes if you ever do buy anything, are more then enough to make up for it.
As for "experiencing the culture", it does not take money to "experience" anything in NYC. Ive been there twice, had a great time, and spent more money on the tolls getting to NYC then I did in NYC itself. There is unlimited free crap to do every day of the year.
Sure, if you think NYC culture is living on the UES in a doorman building, and eating at trendy $50 a plate restaurants before your $100 opera show every other day, then I can see how you would go broke. On the other hand, Im pretty sure I could live in NYC for no more then Im putting out here.
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I don't know if you actually visited those apartments you mentioned for $1500. That's the current market price in upper Brooklyn or Queens. Housing expense is huge in NYC unless you don't mind living in a walkup in a tenement-type building in a rather shabby street and you plan to live like a university student. But to live there permanently in not-so-great accomodations is another matter.
I lived in Manhattan for 14 years and you can walk or take the subway to activities (some free; most not) and that's what makes it special. And, yes, part of the culture of living there is going to a trendy restaurant or neighborhood place, Broadway, Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera, museums and Central Park. You'll get tired of the city freebies eventually and will need to dole out cash for the occasional (not even every other day, as you say) avant-garde event or show. Of course, the daily routine of just walking the streets is a cultural experience in itself and ducking into a wonderful hole-in-the wall restaurant, and food shopping in Chinatown and standing up close and personal in a crowded subway car -- you will get that vibe only if you've lived there.
Food and everything else is plentiful and if you shop well and you have good taste, cheap.
So, my point is, for those of you good people looking for a Manhattan vibe in Va Beach or elsewhere, you must be joking.
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