Is Annapolis right for me? (Baltimore, Severn: low income, best city, for sale)

[superkyle]

Hey y'all, I'm a 27 year old gay teacher, originally from Newport News, VA and Atlanta I lived in Portland, Oregon for the last 3 years. It's a really great city, but I miss the proximiy to the coast of Newport News, I'm sick of rain 7 months long (althoguh the other 5 months are really great, sunny hot and not humid in the least), sick of hippie types ad the usual crowd you get in Portland. I even miss a real swampy humid summer, with thunderstorms and temps above 100F

I'd like to be closer to my family in Newport News, without ever living in Virginia again (no offence to those who do). I'd like to know if it is possible to survive in Annapolis with 33K a year without living in a ghetto area. I am also gay, but I heard tht that would be accepted in Annapolis, being so close to DC and Baltimore. Would it? I'm not the typical gay guy, I'm not interested in shopping and clubbing, I'm into sports, dress 'normal' go drinking a beer once a week and have mainly male straight friends. I'd like to live in a not so big town with big city amenities, like shopping centers, book stores, coffeshops, a historic old town, and most of all I love the sea. Is there any beach-bathing in the Annapolis area? Thanks everybody

[Nober]

From reading other posts, it seems the starting salaries for teachers in Maryland are in the mid forties. You should be able to find an apartment in a nice neighborhood with or w/o a roommate with that salary.

The DC and Baltimore suburbs have a large and diverse gay community and you should be able to find many people who share common interests with you. The vast majority of small/medium-sized cities in these suburbs have big-city amenities in suburban town centers or historic districts. Annapolis is known as "America's Sailing Capital," so the area is abundant with water-related activities on the Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic Ocean beaches are about an hour to the east while the mountains are an hour and a half to the west. For beaches on the Bay, try searching for Sandy Point and Chesapeake Beach in the Annapolis area.

Good luck!

[cel14]

I grew up in Annapolis and it seems that by the description of what you're looking for, Annapolis might be a really great fit for you. My boyfriend is also a teacher, working at a private school, and in his first year is taking in 40k a year, so I would like to believe that with some experience you'd be able to make at least that.

As a whole Annapolis has all the big-city ammenities you would need and the downtown area is beautiful and has that quaint historic feeling. It also has one of the highest density of low-income housing neighborhoods in the entire state, I think at least 10, so you need to be extra careful in looking if you don't want to live in the ghetto. It's an expensive place to live so I would suggest doing a lot of research to truly see if it's doable. Some other, possibly more affordable, places to look within close proximity to Annnapolis and the water are Severna Park, Arnold, or even some places right over the bridge on the Eastern Shore.

As far as sunbathing goes, there are a lot of beach (chesapeake bay) front communities in Annapolis, but most are private beaches. The ocean is a pretty short drive through the Eastern shore, 2-3 hours.

As for the gay community in Annapolis, I can't really say much one way or another. I know some gay people living in the area and have seen no issues with them and they seem to be happy and enjoy living in the area. It's a pretty laid back area, but as we all know there are judgemental, close-minded people everywhere. Hope this all helps and good luck!

[2movers]

I just moved from Annapolis to Newport, RI. I was in Annapolis 3 years. Be careful where you look for a house. It's a strange town....you can have a million dollar home, next to a dump with a chain link fence. The best thing to do is to rent for a year and get to know the area FIRST. Thats what we did when we moved from Pa. It was the smartest thing. There are a LOT of condo's/apartments to chose from. I literally looked every day for a house, so I got to REALLY know Annapolis. I didn't want to be in Arnold/ Severna Park b/c that is more for families with kids. I like going out to dinner and going shopping. I love "downtown annapolis" so I wanted to be close to that. Eastport is great but you DO NOT want to live on any street named after a president. It's a BAD area. The ideal place to teach I think would be St. Mary's priavte school right in the heart of annapolis. As far as being gay, I don't know of that many gay people in annapolis. Baltimore would be more of a going out on the town city for gay people. It's a lot bigger. Annapolis is a sailing town with earthy people, wealthy people and very low income. It's like a Charles Dickens town in December! Cute as can be! No beaches though. Thats what I didn't like. Sany Point Park (beach) is not where you want to go to sunbathe. TRUST ME! The bay can be dirty. The best thing to do is rent at an apartment complex that has a pool..it's great! I could go on forever about annapolis, so let me know what else you want to know. I'll tell you all the in's and out's!

[Moth]

I would avoid Edgewater.

[2movers]

I agree staying away from Edgewater. It's not that nice. But you have to go to Yellowfin on the water for happy hour! Parking is tough so get there early.

[1dad]

As an Annapolis resident, welcome!!! I think you would find renting a place in the historic district would be very charming. 18th century row houses on cobblestone streets. Within walking distance you would find some very nice places for shopping and food. For schools, there are several to choose from, I would personally recommend Key School, but there are many. The public schools for the city itself are frankly a mixed bag, lots of public assistance kids, the high school failed no child left behind standards 5 years and the entire staff was let go. But you could do a reverse commute and work out in Cape St Clair if you wished to work in a public school and avoid these issues. Stay away from eastport area of town as that tends to be where the crime is clustered.

As to buying a home, Smart Money just forecast that the DC area will be going down in price by 41%. Annapolis will probably be about the same, there were insane appreciations over the past few years which are now working their way down. Places which were intended to go Condo are now rentals and from Zillow - Real Estate Valuations, Homes for Sale, Free Real Estate Information searching 21401 or 21403 and you'll find that the prices are starting to drop, some have lowered their prices already by 5 figures, it will be 6 figures next year. Let's face it, being turtled in a loan is far worse than renting.

The Chesapeake is wonderful for boating around, not so great for swimming! But in 2 hours you can be out in Delaware on the ocean enjoying some fabulous beaches.

[RachStar12]

Annapolis is the best city everrr! There's lots to do, and everyone is very nice. Close to the city and to the suburbs if you want to commute. I love it here.