Minimum GS level to buy a home in NOVA (Arlington: apartment, condo)

[NOVAEER]

With so many federal employees making Northern Virginia their homes, what would you say is the minimum GS level to reach before buying a house in the area?

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by NOVAEER

With so many federal employees making Northern Virginia their homes, what would you say is the minimum GS level to reach before buying a house in the area?

You are gonna have to qualify house. You talking 3 bed condo or TH? Or 4-5 bed SFH?

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

You are gonna have to qualify house. You talking 3 bed condo or TH? Or 4-5 bed SFH?

And in Arlington, or in Woodbridge, or in Centerville? On just one government income? Or is there a working spouse in the picture?

[WASHINGTON BULLETS]

What part of NOVA?

[boyd888]

You will be able to afford a house somewhere, the question is how far are you willing to commute as a trade off to owning?

Ask anyone that lives in Prince William County and spends two hours a day commuting into DC. The home that's $350K in PWC is $900K in Arlington for a reason.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by boyd888

You will be able to afford a house somewhere, the question is how far are you willing to commute as a trade off to owning?

Ask anyone that lives in Prince William County and spends two hours a day commuting into DC. The home that's $350K in PWC is $900K in Arlington for a reason.

I live in PWC and I do not spend 2 hours a day commuting. Having said that, I don't get to "sleep in" and work later hours either. I go to work in DC at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. I have a 40 minute drive that's quite easy. If I chose to work starting at 8:30, yeah, I'd be in trouble.

Good thing about federal service jobs, they have fairly flexible start times even within one department.

There are trade-offs to the "cheaper" housing option. If your job is rigid, you would want to live closer if you can afford to.

[mlv311]

I'm not sure there is a clear cut answer for your question. What you qualify for will depend on your salary, your debts, and what you have saved for a down payment.

I purchased my first "home" in NoVA as a GS-11. I was single, had paid off my student loans and had some savings. For the same "cost," I could have purchased a TH in the suburbs, but I chose a small condo in Court House. I didn't own a car and I liked the area and being walking distance to the metro.

[terrence81]

I've never been the biggest fan of this question. The reason is that what works for one person won't work for others. I know a guy with a very nice apartment in the city and doesn't have 4 roommates, makes less than I do but is always flying off for a fabulous vacation. I know a guy who makes way more than me but lives in a rather shabby place. I know a guy with a six figure salary but has plenty of roommates while others who make less have their own place. There are so many other factors that one can't base buying a home totally off income.

[VRE332]

Gs-245

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by terrence81

I've never been the biggest fan of this question. The reason is that what works for one person won't work for others. I know a guy with a very nice apartment in the city and doesn't have 4 roommates, makes less than I do but is always flying off for a fabulous vacation. I know a guy who makes way more than me but lives in a rather shabby place. I know a guy with a six figure salary but has plenty of roommates while others who make less have their own place. There are so many other factors that one can't base buying a home totally off income.

Not to mention the pay difference between, say, a GS-13 STEP 1 vs. a GS-13 STEP 10.