Whats the minimum salary YOU would be comfortable with (areas and caveats inside)

[Vectorhead]

Originally Posted by fcyolo

If you want decent schools, decent house and a decent location you will need to spend at least 1 million for a house.

Anything lower and you need to compromise on one or more of the above.

We make double but live exactly like our friends who make half out in ashburn, the difference in money goes to our mortgage.

Oh for heaven's sake, you don't need to spend a million for a house. Yes, housing is expensive, but not THAT expensive!

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by fcyolo

If you want decent schools, decent house and a decent location you will need to spend at least 1 million for a house.

Anything lower and you need to compromise on one or more of the above.

We make double but live exactly like our friends who make half out in ashburn, the difference in money goes to our mortgage.

What in the world? You don't have to spend a million to live here. You can get good schools, good houses, and good location (although location depends on a lot of things including where you work) for $500k. Unless "decent house" and "decent location" means new construction 5 bedrooms next to the metro. What a crock...

Examples: a 4 bed 3 bath sfh in Vienna near metro for $600k or a new construction 4 bedroom 4 bath in East Falls Church near metro for $800. There are tons of wonderful options well under 1 mil.

[Lemming95]

Wow lots of numbers on that blooming number tree we are harvesting. When I came here I told then I didn't know what the exchange rate was between Oregon dollars and NOVA dollars. They offered a number and I accepted. If you are a better negotiator by all means look it up on a salary comparison site or COL comparison and go for the highest you think it will bear.
Fairfax county has some of the best schools in the nation. If you like houses in the county in your price range, each town has it's advantages.

[fcyolo]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

What in the world? You don't have to spend a million to live here. You can get good schools, good houses, and good location (although location depends on a lot of things including where you work) for $500k. Unless "decent house" and "decent location" means new construction 5 bedrooms next to the metro. What a crock...

Examples: a 4 bed 3 bath sfh in Vienna near metro for $600k or a new construction 4 bedroom 4 bath in East Falls Church near metro for $800. There are tons of wonderful options well under 1 mil.

Sorry you aren't going to find a 90s or new standard 3500sf single family home with garage for under a million in an area with good schools and in a good location in or near the beltway. When I say standard I mean your typical home you expect coming from the mid west or south.

In Vienna anything around 600k is teardown territory, builders will buy and teardown at that price.

I just did a search for new homes near East falls Church metro and the lowest is 1.5 million and go up to 1.8 million.

This area is expensive.

[rpe290]

Originally Posted by fcyolo

Sorry you aren't going to find a 90s or new standard 3500sf single family home with garage for under a million in an area with good schools and in a good location in or near the beltway. When I say standard I mean your typical home you expect coming from the mid west or south.

In Vienna anything around 600k is teardown territory, builders will buy and teardown at that price.

I just did a search for new homes near East falls Church metro and the lowest is 1.5 million and go up to 1.8 million.

This area is expensive.

I have already spec'd (at least per the OP) that I am looking at places MUCH further west than that (putting in the commutes I have found that I am OK with)--NOT working DC or riding rail in.

3500 sq ft is quite big as well (almost 2X the size I would look for), I really would be ok with a 2000-2500 as long as there is a garage, basement and 4 bedroom setup, I don't need to keep a ton of "stuff"

But I do appreciate the opinion, just want to make sure its pointed the right direction...

Thanks!

[setisail]

We are just above median income for Stafford County, and a 3500 sq ft sfh I'm seeing low 400s on up. New construction of $450-600k and rush hour can take 1.5-2 hours at times.

Can take the vre but that adds to commute cost just as much.

[SteelCityRising]

I would think ~$150,000/year should be adequate. I don't know how some people can do it on much less. I was making ~$50,000/year as a single 20-something with no dependents and felt like I really struggled renting a 1-BR apartment and clipping coupons. I couldn't imagine making just twice that and trying to support a stay-at-home spouse and three children, too, along with buying a relatively expensive home.