How much do you pay for housing? (Seattle, Olympia: real estate market, 2011)

[70Ford]

In relation to your income...how much do you pay for housing? I'm including the incidentals of taxes, maintenance and insurance.

I'm looking at it from a percentage point of view. Many moons ago, I read that your payment for housing should not be more than 3 times your salary.

Well, my salary was running at 25 bucks an hour. With overtime I was making ~ 80 K a year. Which means I could afford (max) a home of ~240K.

My rent runs me $1,432. That's $17,184 a year. Which was ~21.5 percent of my pay. That gave me the option of spending all my money on candy. My god, I love candy. Woops! - I mean to put in my 401K and the kid's college plan, etc...

I can't afford a home, I don't think. Then again, my wife doesn't work. Blame it on Early School Wednesday. Blame it on how much child care costs vs. how much she can take home vs. how much we think a mother's worth is. (Answer? Priceless!)

I was just wondering how much of your take home pay you actually spent on housing. You don't have to say how many dollars. Just a percentage. Why?

I'm curious. that's why.

Ah, you are wondering why do I care. See, I have a plan. I'm thinking of buying a home around Seattle, around 2011, or when the market tanks a bit more....using my VA loan. I'm just wondering if it is possible to do it on 60-70ish K...all while funding our retirement, kids' college, etc.

I'm sort of wondering if anyone would be - or is - in the same boat and if was as difficult for you...as I think it will be for me.

I could do it now - I'm working in Iraq - BUT...I won't be here too much longer, and going back home, I figure I can find something in the 25 to 30 dollar range.
I hope the 30 dollar range.

(25 bucks an hour is $52,000 a year. I really don't want to do 746 hours of overtime again...but I will...but...I can't depend on overtime to make house payments.
That's an invitation to disaster.)

************************
Thanks for your time and input!*
************************

[jwb123]

One question...

I'm thinking of buying a home around Seattle, around 2011, or when the market tanks a bit more....using my VA loan.

Why don't you just move somewhere else where you can buy a home NOW? Why extend your buying a home till 2011? Quality of life.... quality of life....

I'm just wondering if it is possible to do it on 60-70ish K...all while funding our retirement, kids' college, etc.

NO!!!

My husband was making 6 figs and we struggled. We wanted more for our life and happiness....

Which means I could afford (max) a home of ~240K.

Do you know what $240k can get you in a more liveable area??

[CityGirl72]

For our mortgage (with property taxes included) we spend 12.6% of our income.

Our house was 310K when we bought it - it's appraised at 550K now

[CityGirl72]

But I should state - that's after we both got raises. I bet it was closer to 30% when we bought the house

[70Ford]

Heh. Quality of life...I live in a 5' X 10' area in Iraq, at the moment ( I have a twin sized bed and a wall locker, woopee!) ..and spend many of my evenings in a bunker... but me and the wife want to continue living in Seattle, when I get back. As of the moment, we're still renting in Sammamish. But, like a lot of people, we want a house. Unlike a lot of people in recent years, I realized I couldn't afford one...so I didn't buy one......HA HA HA!

She's Japanese and likes the asian population/food stores/schools... etc. We've already lived in Atlanta and Colorado Springs, so Yeah...I know that houses are cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes, quality of life is about being comfortable...even if the comfort comes at a higher cost of living. You can live in a KOA in a tent...... and yeah, its cheaper than crap.......It's not exactly my cup of tea, though.

I think Seattle is fine if you're making a buttload of money.
Hrmmm...wonder what others will have to say....?

[sean98125]

It is certainly possible to buy a home in the area for that wage range, but you'll need to be serious about clearing yourself of any consumer and car debt and saving up toward a down payment. It's likely that you're going to see a steady appreciation in your home value, unlike other real estate markets that don't have the economic base that this region does.

You could certainly buy more house for the money somewhere else, but for some of us the sacrifices are worth the personal and professional advantages we have living here. It's not for everyone, though.

[VeronikaW]

Well, we rent, and we spend 14.9% of our salary on housing. We can't afford a house, as we have no down payment for one. But in 3 years and 2 months, that's all going to change for us (thank you Amazon).

V. =)

[PencilMeIn]

That will be tough. Do you have to live in Seattle? What about surrounding areas that are less expensive? Snohomish county seems to be more reasonable. Or south to Olympia. I think it's great that your wife is home with the kids.....and it is priceless.

And thank you for your service.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

One question...



Why don't you just move somewhere else where you can buy a home NOW? Why extend your buying a home till 2011? Quality of life.... quality of life....



NO!!!

My husband was making 6 figs and we struggled. We wanted more for our life and happiness....

Do you know what $240k can get you in a more liveable area??

Because quality of life is subjective, and to some people it is about more than just being able to afford a large house.

[cobolt]

The OP won't have to worry about a downpayment with the VA loan, as he states he will use. I tend to think you're really going to be pinching pennies even so, just with the mortgage payments, and finding what little 200 whatever K home will buy you.

My best to you though, and from one vet to another military brother, thanks and godspeed.