Offered A Job In Sterling (Herndon, Fredericksburg: apartment, rental market, student loans)

[Frank523]

Hi, I've just been offered a job in NoVA. They are offering me $42,500/year for a salary. I think that's a pretty decent income, but I have been looking at apartment prices in NoVA, and they just keep going up and up. Do you think I can survive off of this income? I calculated, and it suggests I spend no more than $1,085 on rent. That's a lot easier said than done in NoVA though. Any suggestions? I'd be working in Sterling, and prefer not to have to live too far out, because I know how bad the commute is. I live in Fredericksburg now, and going up and down I-95 occasionally is a nightmare!

[gomason]

It can definitely be done but it won't be easy. Consider roommates.

Do you have student loans to pay? Do you have a car payment?

[greekchampion04]

Fredericksburg to Sterling commute will be torture, don't do it.

42,500 is not high cotton in NOVA, but you should be able to get by. You may need to get an apartment with a room mate to be close to work and keep it in your budget. I don't know much about the rental market or neighborhoods in Sterling.

[NOVA_guy]

A buddy of mine got an apartment in Sterling and he pays $1650 for a 1 bed room. It's relatively new.

I don't know too much about Sterling but my understand is it isn't super cheap but it's not as expensive as other parts of NoVA so I would look into Sterling itself and see if you see anything. I definitely wouldn't commute from Fredericksburg though.

[Carlingtonian]

I'd tell them no unless they can pay you more. Especially if you're making enough now that you can live in F'burg without roommates.

[Frank523]

I wish that I knew more people up in northern Virginia, but I do not. I have considered renting a room from people like a large living basement or something. I'm definitely leaving Fredericksburg due to personal issues in my life. I do have a car payment that's roughly $200/month, and my student loans are only about $150/month, so both of those payments aren't bad. I also do have to budget for other things though, such as food, utilities, and other costs incurred.

[Old Guard]

Sterling should not be much more expensive than where you live now. The thing to consider is what are your options? Does this job have more potential to lead to better jobs? Does it give you better opportunity? Do you like your current job?

Sterling is kind of in the middle of nowhere. I will get flack for that but really? Sterling?

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Frank523

I also do have to budget for other things though, such as food, utilities...

Eh...those things are overrated!

[Frank523]

It's not more expensive than where I live now. However, I live in Fredericksburg now with my soon to be ex, so obviously I'm going to live on my own and foot a lot more of the bills and rent. The job seems to have potential. I'd be working for Discovery Networks. I have a B.A. in Film, Video, and Media, so it's pretty tough to find decent paying jobs in that field in the first place. Freelancing strictly wouldn't do it for me either.

[LakeLifePA]

Consider a roommate in either Sterling or Herndon, and you'll do OK with a short commute. Going it alone in either town would be pretty tough, because you'd be looking at around $1,300 a month for a one bedroom apartment.