SO is Fort Evans Rd area a bad one to live?? (Reston: section 8, sales)

[guitarman710]

I am completely new to this forum and have done some reading and searching to learn as much as I can. I like it so far by the way. Very informative. Anyway, I am probably going to be moving to the Leesburg area for a job and wanted to know about the area listed in the thread title in particular. There are some townhomes in that area (around the E Market St and Fort Evans NE intersection) that might be a good deal if this is not a horrible part of town. I will be moving with a family so it is important to me. If I were moving alone I wouldn't be so worried but you know how that goes. Any info would be great! Thanks.

[5stones]

that are is not the best, not the worst (which is just up Ft Evan and Plaza) where the section 8 HUD apts are. Petty crime, cars burglies, domestic calls etc... nothing like huge inter city problems, but i'd look elsewhere

I look into other neighborhoods (esp since you'll have kids with you) TH in Exeter, Potomac crossing for example. North of Edwards Ferry is all pretty nice and family orientated.

What is your budget?

[guitarman710]

Originally Posted by 5stones

that are is not the best, not the worst (which is just up Ft Evan and Plaza) where the section 8 HUD apts are. Petty crime, cars burglies, domestic calls etc... nothing like huge inter city problems, but i'd look elsewhere

I look into other neighborhoods (esp since you'll have kids with you) TH in Exeter, Potomac crossing for example. North of Edwards Ferry is all pretty nice and family orientated.

What is your budget?

The budget part of things is probably the hardest. I will be the only one working as my wife has a second on the way and our first is just now a year old. I am trying to only think of my salary when looking for a place it seems that the more I look, the more I see that my salary will not be that great (at least for the first year). I am supposed to start at $42000 with the guarantee that it will pretty much double within a year or so. It worries me that the only places I see online are extremely expensive or in the "ghetto" so to speak. I have nothing against the "rougher" parts of town individually, but with a family my thoughts have changed significantly. The job is certainly a good one though and worth the move. I will look into those areas you mentioned. Thanks for the info and please shoot any other suggestions my way.

[Denton56]

Can you rent somewhere until your income increases? I would not move a family into the area where you mentioned. I was by there today and it's ok in the daytime, but I wouldn't want my family around there after dark. Yes, it is pretty ghetto. You might do better heading north out of Leesburg. Housing in cheaper in Purcellville and Round Hill and even farther out, West Virginia. (I am assuming that you will be working in Leesburg.)

What kind of job has a guarantee of doubling your salary in a year? That's awesome. Around here, the highest paying jobs for new college grads are teaching, with a beginning salary of $45,000 (working 3/4 of a year) and computer engineers beginning in the high $50's and up. Most government jobs start new college grads at a GS 5 or a GS 7, or about $35,000 for a GS 5 and $42,000 for a GS 7. Some agencies have slightly higher beginning pay scales, those in intelligence and law enforcement.

[guitarman710]

Denton,

Thanks for the reply. I would definitely love to rent first until things smooth out income wise. I may be a little "optimistic" on the pay scale thing. I am really new to the whole government scene but will hopefully controlling air traffic in VA. The payscale really does not double until you are closer to fully certified, which would take longer than a year....so I guess maybe renting a little longer then?

Anyway, I would certainly commute if the route to and from work wouldn't kill me. I am not used to that kind of thing where I am from. As I said, family is the most important thing, so with that starting income what places do you think I ought to look? Again, thanks for the info.

[SteelCityRising]

As luck would have it I currently earn a $42,000 salary myself, so I can hopefully provide you with a bit of insight as to how difficult it will be to afford to live in the over-priced housing market of Northern Virginia!

I just mapped out a new budget for myself now that I definitively know each one of my paychecks will be roughly $1,135 (gross) for a whopping $2,270/month.

$2,270 Monthly Net Income
($1,135) Rent
($100) Internet/Cable
($150) Car Insurance
($200) Groceries
($100) Utilities
($100) Gasoline
($200) Student Loan Payments (Kicking in Soon)
$285 For Incidentals (Thankfully my parents are generous enough to be making my car payments and cell phone payments for my first year until I receive a substantial raise to bring me out of poverty).

If you're trying to raise a family on that same salary alone you're going to be draining all of your savings for sure, as I'd assume you'd be looking to rent at least a 2-BR unit, have higher grocery expenditures, have to buy diapers/formula, etc. My advice would be to pick up a second temporary job bartending on Friday and Saturday nights until you get that coveted raise. I'm thinking myself of picking up a Friday-Sunday afternoon/evening job at the Home Depot near my home in Reston because I have four years of great sales experience at Lowe's already and would probably be making around $11/hr. for that reason. It won't be "fun" to work 40 hours per week as an auditor followed by 24 hours per week in retail sales while every other 20-something in Reston is driving around in a BMW or Audi, but then again I wasn't born into affluence either.

[guitarman710]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

As luck would have it I currently earn a $42,000 salary myself, so I can hopefully provide you with a bit of insight as to how difficult it will be to afford to live in the over-priced housing market of Northern Virginia!

I just mapped out a new budget for myself now that I definitively know each one of my paychecks will be roughly $1,135 (gross) for a whopping $2,270/month.

$2,270 Monthly Net Income
($1,135) Rent
($100) Internet/Cable
($150) Car Insurance
($200) Groceries
($100) Utilities
($100) Gasoline
($200) Student Loan Payments (Kicking in Soon)
$285 For Incidentals (Thankfully my parents are generous enough to be making my car payments and cell phone payments for my first year until I receive a substantial raise to bring me out of poverty).

If you're trying to raise a family on that same salary alone you're going to be draining all of your savings for sure, as I'd assume you'd be looking to rent at least a 2-BR unit, have higher grocery expenditures, have to buy diapers/formula, etc. My advice would be to pick up a second temporary job bartending on Friday and Saturday nights until you get that coveted raise. I'm thinking myself of picking up a Friday-Sunday afternoon/evening job at the Home Depot near my home in Reston because I have four years of great sales experience at Lowe's already and would probably be making around $11/hr. for that reason. It won't be "fun" to work 40 hours per week as an auditor followed by 24 hours per week in retail sales while every other 20-something in Reston is driving around in a BMW or Audi, but then again I wasn't born into affluence either.

I know what you mean about the affluence thing! Yeah, I am not sure how, but I really want to make it work up there. I am thinking if I am able to commute a bit further then I could get a better rent rate (considerably hopefully). While I am waiting for this job I am trying to stock up the bank account so that I will have something to dip into until the raises come into sight. It seems as though Reston is just as bad as Leesburg in terms of rent. I am guessing that I am going to have to move out 30+ minutes from Leesburg to drop the rent at all. Fun fun fun!!!

[Denton56]

Is your job in Leesburg? If so, you can find cheaper rent by going farther out, plus it's beautiful out there! Head west young man, head west.

I live out in the boonies, and we have several pilots in our neighborhood who commute to Dulles. A 30 minute commute is nothing around the DC area. Most people would LOVE to have a 30 minute commute.

[Denton56]

BTW, congrats on the new job. My pilot neighbor (American Airlines) said that Dulles is desperate for more air traffic controllers. He said that they just can't hire and train them fast enough.

What qualifications do people need to become an air traffic controller?

[guitarman710]

Originally Posted by Denton56

BTW, congrats on the new job. My pilot neighbor (American Airlines) said that Dulles is desperate for more air traffic controllers. He said that they just can't hire and train them fast enough.

What qualifications do people need to become an air traffic controller?

Thanks for the congrats! In terms of qualifications, one must either have been a military controller, have gone to school for an aviation related degree, or have a bachelor's and some progressively more responsible work history. I fall under the third category. While I work for American Airlines right now, I have no past controlling experience. It has been an adventure so far to say the least (and I am not even in training yet!!). And yes, the job is in the heart of Leesburg.

About moving out west, I am all for that! I would love to be in the country as much as possible and still not have to travel an hour plus. What are some good starting cities? Maybe I will look more on Google Maps to find some surrournding areas. That is what I have been doing so far and coming up with not a whole lot. Thank you again very much for the info!