Denver's missed opportunity

[emm74]

The reality has always been that people in popular urban areas pay a premium to live there and end up forking over a high amount of their income in rent. I think it's a problem when someone in their 20s thinks that it's realistic to expect to pay 25% of their NET income on a 1 bedroom apartment in a popular city. Whether that's because they don't realize that's the case for all cities or they don't Denver "deserves" to having expensive housing, I have no idea. But despite the price increases here, which are undeniable, I paid a much higher percentage of my income to live in Boston in my 20s - and that was in an apartment with 2 roommates!

[Pesare]

Originally Posted by emm74

The reality has always been that people in popular urban areas pay a premium to live there and end up forking over a high amount of their income in rent. I think it's a problem when someone in their 20s thinks that it's realistic to expect to pay 25% of their NET income on a 1 bedroom apartment in a popular city. Whether that's because they don't realize that's the case for all cities or they don't Denver "deserves" to having expensive housing, I have no idea. But despite the price increases here, which are undeniable, I paid a much higher percentage of my income to live in Boston in my 20s - and that was in an apartment with 2 roommates!

Also, a lot of this has to do with location as well. Some people are willing to pay more of their income to be in a particular location and it has to be worth it to that person. I assume we have just as high of a price in desirable locations here as other big cities and probably lower prices in so-so areas. An acquaintance of mine just moved here about a month ago and for one of the better locations in Platt Park which was within walking distance of the light rail and Pearl Street they were trying to rent out a room in a duplex for close to $900 a month and it had a shared bathroom.

They ended up finding a 2 bedroom apartment all to themselves in DTC for close to $1200 which had easy access to the highway and light rail although it isn't as pedestrian friendly they are getting a place for themselves for $1200 and they can find a roommate for $600 if they desire to bring down their rent.