[JayCT]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Got to remember that land was much like rural low cost farmland when Ryder opened. Development changed that.

I am surprised that Ryder hung on as long as they did. That property was prime commercial development land for as long as I could remember. Jay

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I am surprised that Ryder hung on as long as they did. That property was prime commercial development land for as long as I could remember. Jay

I am, too, but I think family knew politically it would be a battle to sell. Seniors vote. They also protest to legislators.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Nep was probably 8 years younger when he first started talking about buying a home. Still demanded a lot, maybe even more than today. Jay

Uh, what? His Fairfield County home search (which you originally referred to when mentioning how picky he's being) was last year.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Uh, what? His Fairfield County home search (which you originally referred to when mentioning how picky he's being) was last year.

Before that he was living in the Hartford area where he moved several times (Vernon, Middletown, Plainville). He started talking about home purchases then and would not buy anything but a completely move-in ready newer home on a larger private lot on a very quiet street in a nicer town. His budget then was not going to get him that but he refused to compromise. Needless to say he changed jobs or lost his job and began the search that led him to Stamford. Jay

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Before that he was living in the Hartford area where he moved several times (Vernon, Middletown, Plainville). He started talking about home purchases then and would not buy anything but a completely move-in ready newer home on a larger private lot on a very quiet street in a nicer town. His budget then was not going to get him that but he refused to compromise. Needless to say he changed jobs or lost his job and began the search that led him to Stamford. Jay

and had to have covered garage and good cafeteria at work. Plus can't work OT. A clock watcher.

He is ultra picky, and now after too much job-hopping (which is determined by the buyer (hiring mg) , not the applicant, he is likely out of options.

I suspect he got Stamford largely due to his first job being a great industry to get experience in-from hiring managers perspective. But that boost wore out via never committing long-term to even one employer.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by nep321

I am not really a job hopper. Yes, I should have kept my job in Stamford. But I voluntarily changed jobs three times in an 9-year period. That's really not uncommon for early career professionals. It's very, very normal, in fact. But due to being involuntarily terminated three times, it has given employers the impression that I cannot commit, even though that is far from the truth. It's just something I have to deal with now. So, I partially blame myself and partially blame the employers.

At this point, our survival of the fittest, capitalist system is pushing me out and I can feel it. No one wants me, so I'm left to die, basically. What an epic waste of talent, skills and experience. All down the drain.

By my count, you had 3 jobs over a 4 year period (Stamford, Columbus, Middletown). That dear friend is a job hopper. Jay

[Sigequinox]

Indeed 100k is still a salary where many can feel broke in CT. We sure did. If you are super modest couple or family without many expectations from life you will be comfortable at 100k. If not, errrr, not so much. We are having our first child shortly and I have clinical grade night terrors of my wife deciding she will never go back to work again and our income halved, back to the days of justifying every single purchase.

If you are okay with an old beater car + modest new car, renting or small home, don't wish to travel much, grocery shop regularly, eat out almost never, don't want more than 1 kid and don't intend to pay for kids college, want to retire at 70+ years, and don't care about material things...the. 100k will make you feel Completely at ease here.

However, if you want more than 1 kid, pay for those kids colleges, pay for daughter(s) wedding, send them to camp, travel and explore some of the country and world with them, comfortably retire (at least one partner) at 60-65, wind down later in life, have toys like jet skis/the best TV/vacation home or condo, remain debt free, or well controlled and managed debt, and to go to the store and not have to think "should I really spend $20 on THAT?", then no...100k is completely inadequate in CT.

For our lifestyle, our desires, our life plans, we will need HH income of ~250k in CT.

To be fair, in this day and age, 100k will not achieve the latter in most of the very desirable places. 125-175k will though. CT problem is not only that it doesn't meet that financial freedom range, but it's also not on the desirable list...even if it could....

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by nep321

When I lived in Norwalk and worked in Stamford a couple years ago I was making $77K +22% bonus and was living comfortably as a renter. Granted, my apartment sucked, but that's besides the point. Home ownership was unattainable, however, in order to maintain a reasonable commute and not live in a fixer upper on a busy road.

Now I live in Hartford County and have determined that I can live comfortably here and save money on a salary as low as $40K. Contributing to retirement savings, however, would not be possible. The good news, is that I would qualify for the health insurance premium tax credit (Obamacare subsidies) if purchased on the marketplace, at that income level as well as food stamps and possibly Section 8 housing. I'm looking into it as we speak, because that could be a reality for me in a couple months.

Really Nep, living comfortably? There's about 800 pages of content from 30+ threads on this forum that suggest otherwise.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

Indeed 100k is still a salary where many can feel broke in CT. We sure did. If you are super modest couple or family without many expectations from life you will be comfortable at 100k. If not, errrr, not so much. We are having our first child shortly and I have clinical grade night terrors of my wife deciding she will never go back to work again and our income halved, back to the days of justifying every single purchase.

If you are okay with an old beater car + modest new car, renting or small home, don't wish to travel much, grocery shop regularly, eat out almost never, don't want more than 1 kid and don't intend to pay for kids college, want to retire at 70+ years, and don't care about material things...the. 100k will make you feel Completely at ease here.

However, if you want more than 1 kid, pay for those kids colleges, pay for daughter(s) wedding, send them to camp, travel and explore some of the country and world with them, comfortably retire (at least one partner) at 60-65, wind down later in life, have toys like jet skis/the best TV/vacation home or condo, remain debt free, or well controlled and managed debt, and to go to the store and not have to think "should I really spend $20 on THAT?", then no...100k is completely inadequate in CT.

For our lifestyle, our desires, our life plans, we will need HH income of ~250k in CT.

To be fair, in this day and age, 100k will not achieve the latter in most of the very desirable places. 125-175k will though. CT problem is not only that it doesn't meet that financial freedom range, but it's also not on the desirable list...even if it could....

Rent in Waterbury you save alot lol

[nep321]

Originally Posted by JayCT

By my count, you had 3 jobs over a 4 year period (Stamford, Columbus, Middletown). That dear friend is a job hopper. Jay

You're missing the point. You should only be judging me on voluntary resignations as a litmus test to determine if I'm a job hopper or not. During this 11 year period, I have only voluntarily resigned from 3 jobs. Sure, it could have been only 2 resignations, but 3 isn't THAT bad for a young professional over the course of 11 years. It is completely unfair to call me a job hopper when the last two jobs were eliminated at the discretion of the employer and my intent was to stay put at both jobs. Even national labor statistics show that American workers aged 25-34 change jobs about every 3 years on average. It's very, very common, and in fact, often beneficial to developing professionals who want to advance their career and earn more money.