Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Virginia > Northern Virginia
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 07-18-2016, 04:48 PM
 
Location: HSV
329 posts, read 513,278 times
Reputation: 286

Advertisements

Let's say Mr. X is making roughly $75K in Huntsville, Alabama. He has a wife (Mrs. X), no kids, no plans on having kids and lives in a small 3 br/ 2 ba house that is 5 years old and cost in the low $140K range.

Mr. X may take a job in Manassas, Virginia that may pay at least $85K.

Mr. X is aware of the higher cost of living in northern Virginia.

Mrs. X also works (from home which she can do anywhere) and brings in about $3000/mo.

Any ideas where Mr and Mrs. X should live? Mr. X doesn't mind commuting a little.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-18-2016, 04:58 PM
 
179 posts, read 299,644 times
Reputation: 225
Live in Manassas.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2016, 05:18 PM
 
Location: Reston, VA
2,090 posts, read 4,256,412 times
Reputation: 1332
Manassas
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2016, 05:27 PM
 
9,893 posts, read 14,181,970 times
Reputation: 21853
Agreed.

Any further east, you'd b paying more than you need to.

Any further west, you'd b dealing with more traffic than you need to.

(btw, I'm not sure that a $10K increase makes up for the difference in COL. You'd need to pay at least 3x your current ($140K) for equivalent housing here.)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2016, 06:25 PM
 
Location: HSV
329 posts, read 513,278 times
Reputation: 286
Thanks for the input. $85K is just a starting point right now. Haven't even gone up for the formal in person interview yet.

What is COL?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-18-2016, 06:31 PM
 
9,893 posts, read 14,181,970 times
Reputation: 21853
Quote:
Originally Posted by ingsoc75 View Post

What is COL?
Cost of Living
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-19-2016, 04:46 AM
 
Location: HSV
329 posts, read 513,278 times
Reputation: 286
Quote:
Originally Posted by spencgr View Post
Agreed.

Any further east, you'd b paying more than you need to.

Any further west, you'd b dealing with more traffic than you need to.

(btw, I'm not sure that a $10K increase makes up for the difference in COL. You'd need to pay at least 3x your current ($140K) for equivalent housing here.)
Wow! So in the Manassas area, a newer 3br 2ba home in the 1400 sq ft range would be over $300K?

How far out does one have to go to get something equivalent for less?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-19-2016, 04:47 AM
 
Location: Spartanburg, SC
4,902 posts, read 7,471,346 times
Reputation: 3877
I'd also suggest renting to learn about the area before you buy a house. If you're from Alabama, there will be tremendous culture shock. Best of luck.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-19-2016, 05:43 AM
 
Location: Heart of Dixie
142 posts, read 273,473 times
Reputation: 147
Native Alabamian here...


I don't think you'll find a house anywhere in Virginia for Bama prices...and the property tax in Virginia is about 4x what you pay in Alabama.


Lived in Alabama for 26 years, been in Virginia for 6. My advice...stay in Huntsville.


and if you know anyone hiring, send me their name
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-19-2016, 05:58 AM
 
2,262 posts, read 2,411,557 times
Reputation: 2741
Quote:
Originally Posted by LynchburgLover View Post
I'd also suggest renting to learn about the area before you buy a house. If you're from Alabama, there will be tremendous culture shock. Best of luck.
Agreed.

You will for sure have culture shock.

You may do ok somewhere like Fauquier County which is outside of NoVa, it's still different from Alabama but I don't think you guys would experience as much as culture shock. It's cheaper too. Not sure what part of Manassas you'll be working in though.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2022 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Virginia > Northern Virginia

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top