relocating-can I make it on $2K month

[christosNY]

The houses in my price range up here are in "questionable" areas too.
I've been preapproved for $75,000 w/ $1500 taxes.
I was hoping my money would stretch more in the south, but it sounds like it won't be much different. We live in the projects right now, but there aren't any gun shots or stabbings. Just a lot of single moms making $8 hr.
It seems that I'll be in the same exact situation anywhere.
I'm also a full-time college student. The college is only a couple miles down the road too. That's a big plus.
It sounds like I should just stay put for now.
Thanks.

[shell29bell]

You also might want to look at an income restricted place to rent at first. I make a little more than you and live in a town home community that is income restricted. We pay $695 month for a 3/2.5 town home. We are close to everything and is not to bad.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by christosNY

The houses in my price range up here are in "questionable" areas too.
I've been preapproved for $75,000 w/ $1500 taxes.
I was hoping my money would stretch more in the south, but it sounds like it won't be much different. We live in the projects right now, but there aren't any gun shots or stabbings. Just a lot of single moms making $8 hr.
It seems that I'll be in the same exact situation anywhere.
I'm also a full-time college student. The college is only a couple miles down the road too. That's a big plus.
It sounds like I should just stay put for now.
Thanks.

From your original price point of $100k you would not have to live in a "questionable" neighborhood or even an "up and coming/gentrifying" neighborhood in Jacksonville. You would not have to move to a rural area either. You can find a home in the low $100's in Jacksonville and be in a safe, stable neighborhood with decent schools. The catch would be that for good location you're compromising on the house itself. So you might be looking at a house with small square footage and in need of major updating/repairs. Take a peek online at homes in the zip codes of 32207 and 32217 to see what I mean. There are homes in your price range, they are just very modest.

I think you can make plans for Jacksonville if this is where you want to be. I don't think your cost of living will be any less than where you are though.