What would we need to make??? (Aiea: real estate, rental, condo)

[mike6623]

My girlfriend and I are planning on moving to oahu in about 4 years(that's are goal). Now how much would we both need to make to....make it. We have 2 dogs, no kids. We are obviously going to save money so we don't stuggle when we get there. So between the both of us how much do you think we would need to make combined to live decent. Not in a luxury, but decent?

Any feed back woudl be great.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by mike6623

My girlfriend and I are planning on moving to oahu in about 4 years(that's are goal). Now how much would we both need to make to....make it. We have 2 dogs, no kids. We are obviously going to save money so we don't stuggle when we get there. So between the both of us how much do you think we would need to make combined to live decent. Not in a luxury, but decent?

Any feed back woudl be great.

A lot can change in 4 years. Right now, rents are dropping. In 4 years, they will probably be up. Search craigslist and local, Oahu real estate sites for rental info.

It also depends upon what types of skills and education you have. Remember that the islands have essentially zero manufacturing jobs.

[hotzcatz]

"Decent" is a relative term. On Oahu that could be a 650 sq. foot third floor walkup to some folks whereas other folks would consider it horrible. What are you used to?

[mike6623]

We lived in a 2 bedroom apt on the second story. Pretty small. Now we own a house 3 bedroom, but still quite small, not huge. She is going to get a degree in buisness by the time we are there. I work in a halfway house as a residential aide team leader, with managment experience. I am planning on getting at least a associates degree to have to fall back on. We just want to find somewhere pet friendly. We thought about purchasing a home, but I think renting a house, or condo, or apt would be best first. I seen a few online in EWA an pearlridge, AIEA, Milliani, and royal kunia that were bteween 1350-1500 a month.

[mike6623]

I mean If we made say(just and example) 50,000 between the both of us with no kids. Would we be ok?

[MeginSchool]

It really depends on the lifestyle you want. Do you entertain friends on a regular basis, do you want to take up scuba diving, do you want to be able to go out and see shows and whatever else?

My advice, is to basically create a budget for what you believe you will need on a monthly basis, including eating out and emergency fund. Whatever it is add $250 per month, and you will probably be fine with whatever that number is. This is how we have decided that we can afford the move, with the lifestyle changes we are expecting to take place in our lives. Turns out we only need to make about 950 dollars a month more in Hawaii than we do here in Ontario to have the same quality of life, but I am sure it helps that the grocery prices here are similar to those on Maui, and what we spend on utilities now (heat and such) will be absorbed to make the rent increase...

It really is all about what you want out of the life you want to make yourselves in Hawaii.

[mike6623]

We would not want to entertain friends on a regular basis, we tend to eat in, not out. Maybe once a month we eat out, we like snorkeling which is less epensive than snorkling(obvioulsy). Shows? No, unless a bad we like is in town. That help?

I can't seem to get a awnser here. Like I said before. We have 2 dogs, no kids, don't need or want lavish living nor do we ant ghetto living. Just wanted to know how much we would need to make combined to be able to enjoy life on Oahu.

[PalmSpringsDan]

Originally Posted by mike6623

We would not want to entertain friends on a regular basis, we tend to eat in, not out. Maybe once a month we eat out, we like snorkeling which is less epensive than snorkling(obvioulsy). Shows? No, unless a bad we like is in town. That help?

I can't seem to get a awnser here. Like I said before. We have 2 dogs, no kids, don't need or want lavish living nor do we ant ghetto living. Just wanted to know how much we would need to make combined to be able to enjoy life on Oahu.

My wife and I are basically in your exact situation - want to move in 3-4 years, no kids, and 1 dog. We've thought about it a lot and I came up with the number of $90,000 combined income for us to be able to live in a decent neighborhood, a decent rented house (that takes a dog), make all our payments, keep buying the same food we do now, plus have money to do things once in a while.

[MeginSchool]

I don't think anyone really wants to give you an exact number, because what if they are wrong? What if someone say sure 50K is great, but you get out to Oahu and learn you are going to have a baby, or that rent has increased in 4 years when things should economically should be better.

I would offer you the numbers I have figured, but we are looking at Maui, and have a child and plan on one more eventually, so my numbers wouldn't help you at all. Also, we are planning to buy a condo (a specific requirement list because I am picky), and that wouldn't help you either. But I can tell you how I came up with our numbers.... research!

[mike6623]

Originally Posted by PalmSpringsDan

My wife and I are basically in your exact situation - want to move in 3-4 years, no kids, and 1 dog. We've thought about it a lot and I came up with the number of $90,000 combined income for us to be able to live in a decent neighborhood, a decent rented house (that takes a dog), make all our payments, keep buying the same food we do now, plus have money to do things once in a while.

Yeah, that sounds about right. 45k a year each should do just fine I would assume. I have seen some decent condo's for rent that accept dogs for about 1500 a month and had a pool and stuff. It wasn't in waininae(spelling) either.