Info about Anne Arundel County (Baltimore, Annapolis: real estate, apartment, low crime)

[MissySJ276]

I'm a recent college grad with a degree in Elementary Education. I've been looking into moving to Maryland and have applied to a few counties. Anne Arundel recently contacted me for an interview.

I live in what I guess you would call suburban Pennsylvania (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre actually) and wanted to stay away from inner city Baltimore/DC etc. I am very unfamiliar with Maryland and was wondering if this area would sort of fit this mold (suburban). I don't know where I would be exactly within the county yet...but are there any areas I should stay away from? I also am not in the position to be picky.

Also, what sort of salary would be required to live comfortably there? I believe the starting salary is 39K/year. Would this be do-able?

ANY tips/advice would be greatly appreciated!

[emsgoof]

Originally Posted by MissySJ276

Also, what sort of salary would be required to live comfortably there? I believe the starting salary is 39K/year. Would this be do-able?
ANY tips/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Not enough, unless you have no bills or large expenses.
The big political thing I've heard on the radio the past few days is "We need to give our first responders (me), teachers, and police more money so they can live in the communities they serve". They've been saying it since 2001 though, and they haven't done a darn thing about it.
If you have no bills, very low car payment, and a short commute (gas is horrible right now, $3.25 or so), you MAY be able to find something in the Baltimore / DC area for that salary if you're by yourself.
Maybe look at Queen Anne's County (depending on what part of AA county they want to put you in.) It's right across the Bay Bridge from AA County.

[Rmx Christina]

I work and lived in Anne Arundel county. I lived in Severn way back when and my in-laws still live there and I work in Odenton. They just build a new mall called Arundel Mills a few years back. It has the largest movie theater - 24 screens. Even though I live a bit north now, I still come down to watch movies here. I think Odenton, Hanover, Severna Park, Millersville, Gambrills, umm....Annapolis and Crownsville, if you like the water are all in the central area and will make you feel right at home.

The area has been developing with new construction and land value went up.

I guess the salary/doable part is up to you... =)

But for a reasonable answer, if your plans were to buy a real estate, you might want to save up and plan. Actually, AA county offers up to $40K program to help first time homebuyers. And if you are teacher or cop, etc. there are extras in terms of additional assistance. Pretty good program...they gave a seminar to explain their new program back in the spring...

[le19555]

You should look into Arnold, MD. Townhomes and signle family homes, very suburban and very low crime. 5 mintues from Annapolis and in Anne Arundel County.

[Thruway]

Is this common or is most of the Eastern Shore off limits, rural, and not a commuter spot?

[Njrover0216]

They have a program for police officers? The cop next door program, is that what you are talking about? That offers cheaper homes in bad areas???

[mbieber1029]

I did exactly what you did last year (moving from suburban PA to MD for a teaching job right out of college). If you can find a fellow graduate to move down with you it makes affording everything much easier. The cost of living is generally higher than PA but it is doable on a teacher's salary, as long as you are cost concious. I would reccommend looking in the classifieds online for the capital. Annapolis, MD - News, Sports, Lifestyle, Naval Academy, Government from The Capital and try to find a privately owned apartment, they seem to be cheaper. The only place that has a somewhat bad rep in the county is glen burnie but even there is not that bad, just some small bad sections I think.

[tacoman]

The Eastern Shore has loads of commuters. A good percentage of those who live on Kent Island/Grasonville/Centreville commute across the bridge. I've known people who commute from Denton, Easto, and Cambridge across the bridge. The Shore offers the most bang for the buck, specifically just off Kent Island. We've lived in Grasonville for 3 years now in a great famil-oriented neighborhood (The Woods). We got the most bang for our buck here (our same house on Kent Island would cost $100K more). Many in our neighborhod commute across the bridge, which is less than 10 minutes away.

[Thruway]

Is the area suburban though or rural?

[tb1704]

I live in the Severn area in a very nice townhome community