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I hope you made a typo and meant "aren't" going up.
I happen to be in the #2 highest taxed county in the country (Nassau). The tax base is tapped out and exhausted, but they don't care. I got a flyer in the mail today inviting residents to attend a library seminar on how to apply for foreclosure prevention and relief. This is our new normal.
Keep in mind that 10% of your income is going to be taken out for state retirement benefits. That percentage is increasing to 10.7% in 2015. Also, state employees health insurance plans just increased by 10% on July 1st. Make sure you factor those costs in and compare them to what you might be paying now.
I moved to Albuquerque in July 2013, and at the time I took a decrease of 25k ... I thought things would be worse, but somehow even with that huge cut in pay I am doing better financially than I did in Texas. I don't get it. My bills are the same, in fact I bought a new car. My rent is about the same, the utilities are a lot less, and I'm not paying 500 a month for auto insurance. Produce is a lot cheaper here to ... in Texas one bell pepper was anywhere from 1.50 a piece on up. I am not sure how it happened but the decrease actually made an increase in my life ... I am sure that sounds weird to most of you, but it's the truth.
I moved to Albuquerque in July 2013, and at the time I took a decrease of 25k ... I thought things would be worse, but somehow even with that huge cut in pay I am doing better financially than I did in Texas. I don't get it. My bills are the same, in fact I bought a new car. My rent is about the same, the utilities are a lot less, and I'm not paying 500 a month for auto insurance. Produce is a lot cheaper here to ... in Texas one bell pepper was anywhere from 1.50 a piece on up. I am not sure how it happened but the decrease actually made an increase in my life ... I am sure that sounds weird to most of you, but it's the truth.
Well I guess it depends on how much you were making before the 25K drop... But thanks for the feedback, because I'm thinking about making the move again, and again the job (if I get another offer) won't pay more than 40K. I won't be buying any new new cars but I do need a new old car, and fast.
Up until last year, I'd been living on less than 40K ever since I moved here in 2008. My over 40K last year was a fluke (I'm self employed). It's very do-able, and you don't have to sacrifice to live here. Under 30K might be tough though, but a single grossing 35k-40k is manageable.
Up until last year, I'd been living on less than 40K ever since I moved here in 2008. My over 40K last year was a fluke (I'm self employed). It's very do-able, and you don't have to sacrifice to live here. Under 30K might be tough though, but a single grossing 35k-40k is manageable.
The problem I'm finding, like before, is still housing cost. It seems like everyplace that fits my needs is $800- $1000 for 400 sq feet. I've lived in 400 sq feet before and can do it again, but it only cost me $400 and my income hasn't doubled since then. I don't see how I can afford that and have anything left over for savings. I don't see how anyone can.
Where in heaven's name are you looking? Or are you only looking at houses?
I'm in a triplex in nice area of town (NE), about 750-800 SF, 2 bed/1 bath, rent is $650. There are about 3-4 blocks of rentals on my street, just around me (more all up and down the whole several miles of this road). Rents go from $550 (iffy landlords) to $750 (better landlords), average is $650-$700.
I've been looking at rentals, both privately owned and complexes, and the max I'm willing to pay is $799/mo. I'm finding a lot under $799, including some very nice complexes in the NW part of town, and older but nice (well maintained) private rentals in the UNM area. South RR is about that range too (from Southern south that is, any farther north is too far for me). I'm also seeing 1 and 2 bedrooms in that range.
House rentals, however, have skyrocketed since I moved here. What was renting for $795 in 2008 is now averaging $1300-$1400.
As (I think) I said earlier, I'm used to living in the country on acreage. So the most important thing to me is not big, or fancy, or new, or stocked with all the latest appliances and electronics. I can live without all of those. I don't mind a small older place that needs work. I don't need acreage. But I do need privacy and elbow room for me and my large, energetic dog without being too far from the city. So multi-dwellings are out of the question, because I would be miserable. I think there are some places around that fit the bill, but they don't seem easy to find (esp when I'm not there). I've been looking at places recommended earlier in this thread, like North Valley/Los Ranchos/Corrales. I've seen a few in the 700 range, but I'd really like to trim it down closer to 600. Which may not be possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yukon
Where in heaven's name are you looking? Or are you only looking at houses?
I'm in a triplex in nice area of town (NE), about 750-800 SF, 2 bed/1 bath, rent is $650. There are about 3-4 blocks of rentals on my street, just around me (more all up and down the whole several miles of this road). Rents go from $550 (iffy landlords) to $750 (better landlords), average is $650-$700.
I've been looking at rentals, both privately owned and complexes, and the max I'm willing to pay is $799/mo. I'm finding a lot under $799, including some very nice complexes in the NW part of town, and older but nice (well maintained) private rentals in the UNM area. South RR is about that range too (from Southern south that is, any farther north is too far for me). I'm also seeing 1 and 2 bedrooms in that range.
House rentals, however, have skyrocketed since I moved here. What was renting for $795 in 2008 is now averaging $1300-$1400.
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