Straight Forward advice please (Savannah, Warner Robins: to rent, crime, mortgage)

[SSgtNovember]

Good Morning everyone. I am currently looking at moving to Savannah in the next 6months after completing 9 years in the USAF. I visted the city quite a bit while stationed in Warner Robins and pretty much fell in love. There are however a few issues I am running into, and I was looking for advice.

The first issue is work. I will be attending college full time but will also need to have a job. My background is in Security/Law Enforcement with 5yrs Management experience. However, from what I have found, most security firms there pay between $9-15 dollars an hour. This is large pay cut from what I make now, but I am also used to living in Las Vegas. Will a $13 dollar an hour job make ends meet with the cost of living in Savannah?

Additionally, I am looking for a livable fixer-upper type home, but I cant seem to find much under $80,00 in an area that isnt to bad crime wise.*

For a 28yr old moving with a new wife, will I be out of luck job and house wise in the area? Any advice would be much appreciated.


(*I have been cross referencing address with the different crime data sites I have found that show the locations of reported crimes posted on google maps)

[Padgett2]

I doubt that you are going to find a house like you want in a low-crime area. Going to school full time and working isn't going to leave you much time to do any "fixing up" One solution might be to rent temporarily until you find exactly what you need. Getting a mortgage to buy a home would be a problem under your circumstances would be hard unless your wife had a good income.

Crime statistics vary from block to block. You need to see the places and get to know the area before you buy. You might be able to pick up a bargain in an area that doesn't look good, but is actually not all that bad. It would take living here to really see how things are. Google just looks at the numbers.

Once you buy, you are stuck with the house for a long time. Please think about renting, for if you do pick an area with a bad crime situation, you might not be able to sell and move.

[ellie]

Yes, you should rent, to begin with. Home prices are still inflated.

I guess you've checked the city's website? They're always hiring police officers. Human Resources-Employment

[bellhead]

In the Air Force were you security or a cop? You can look in the Windsor Forest area which is close to Armstrong, is this where you will be going to school? Also what are you looking at studying?

[WanderingImport]

I second what Ellie said. Rent before you buy.