Can we afford Asheville? (Morganton, Waynesville: apartment complex, to rent, credit card)

[smilinginside5]

Hi everyone, I have a somewhat simple question.. My hubby and I are looking for a place that's a lil warm, east coast, and he loves to snowboard. I suggested Asheville cause I drove through there once and LOVED the scenery.

We are 22, 32 years of age, and have 2 kids, 6 months and 2 years. He makes 40k/year as a restaurant manager and we now pay $700/month for a 3 BR with heat&water inc. We JUST get by here now but only because credit cards have us bogged down and medical bills from when my son was recently born (We hope to have those paid off soon - definitely before we move) So I wanna know from the natives... can you make a living and not be too strapped by renting a decent apt. in Asheville. We are renting here but own one property in WI. So we're ONLY interested in renting. We need a 3 BR that's pretty decent, nice neighborhood... doesn't have to be the greatest but not the worst... and are there a lot of restaurant management/hospitaLIty food/beverage jobs out there. ANY help I can get would really be appriciated. I need some ppls point of views, not just facts on the census page

Thanks everyone!!!

[mm34b]

In my opinion, I would say no to $40K for a family of four in Asheville.

[Asheville Native]

Rent is going to be a shock for you. 3 bedroom in a safe apartment complex is going to run you 950 - 1000/month, plus utilities. A 1200 sq/ft 3 bedroom house, 1400/month.

[smilinginside5]

Yeah that's what I've been seeing. One more question, where in he asheville area are there a lot of Restaurant management job opps? Right there in town? Or in like surrounding areas is there anything?

[smilinginside5]

ALSO i have to point out that we fall JUST like 50/month SHORT for medicaide here! Because of that we fork out 580/month in Health ins. Perhaps we'd qualify there like we did in WI before we moved here. We were making the same, if not more with only a family of 3 before my son was born.

Our quality of living was better back in WI ... because of that. The only reason we moved to OHIO was our family pizza business went under... got a job offer in OH.

The other thing that comforts me is that i know my hubby can prolly make a lil more than he is now... if the opp is there... and that we'll be rid of 400/month in medical bills and credit card bills... so i'm hoping that'll help in the meantime to save and afford it... i just LOVE the scenery and my hubbby has fallen in love with the mountins

I've read all the other posts on Asheville, or for the most part... sounds ok, doesn't sound any worse than Sheboygan, WI where i'm from, only a lil bigger which is what i want... sounds like a great place... juts need to hear more about it... from a natives perspective, not a web-site that polishes anything.

I was looking at the Meadows... how are those apts? in a good neighborhood? the sq. footage, amenities, and price seems right... but could be too good to be true? any help or advise on a good ap. complex?

[Allandi]

There are restaurant jobs in Asheville but uber ZONING has raised the rents and the ratio of pay to rent is one of the worst in the country. You can get cheaper rent to the east in Old Fort but few jobs and a bit of a commute. The commuter bus goes half way, to Black Mountain. Also may be cheaper in Marshall to the north, Canton to the west, or Fletcher to the South.

[smilinginside5]

Wow thanks that was very helpful

[cafetbird]

You might look at some of the outlying areas - Marion, Morganton, Bryson City, Sylva, Waynesville. There are still some rural areas there with affordable housing, and the tourist traffic should give him some employment opportunites, with a bit of a commute...