Affordable Housing within Southern Maryland

[sleuth]

And how many law firms are located in Dahlgren :shrug: I've worked for almost 17 years perfecting my talents here in a particular field at that :shrug: why should I just throw it away and flip burgers or something :shrug:

I don't have a clue. :shrug: But maybe you can be the first. You'll have a monopoly.

Look... Dahlgren, Bloomington, whatever. I'm sure there's places out there, and some of them within a couple hours driving distance, where you can practice law and find affordable housing.

I'm not trying to be mean. But it sounds to me like you just don't want to look. You only want to complain.

I bought a house just over a year ago with nothing down. I shopped for months before finding a home loan package that wouldn't penalize me for that. I bought a house that was destroyed by the previous owners and fixed it up, month by month. But it's mine. And I didn't make a lot of money relative to the price of housing. Roughly 2/5 of my paycheck goes to my mortgage every month.

Like someone said... it's about priorities.

 

[itsbob]

I am a single person with a moderate salary. I recently bought my "dream house for now", and I'm able to afford the monthly payments only because I make smart decisions on how to spend my money. I'm stuck with slow-azz dial-up at home because I don't want to spend money needlessly. I rarely go out to dinner - although I do splurge on lunch. I don't go to the movies or rent DVD's very often. I don't take many vacations, and I shop when sales are going on. And when times were particularly lean, I worked part-time jobs to supplement my income. You just have to prioritize your needs and wants to be able to afford a home in today's market. If you choose to spend that extra $5.00 on footbal pools, that's your choice. But you need to have a broader vision for what you want to do with your life, and where you want to live. A lot of people here have made some excellent suggestions on how to afford your very own house - you should heed them. By the way, I love my house, and feel extremely grateful to be living there. But I ate a lot of Ramen noodles and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese to be able to do it.

AMEN Seester!

Been there, done that, couldn't afford the t-shirt!

 

[dems4me]

I don't have a clue. :shrug: But maybe you can be the first. You'll have a monopoly.

Look... Dahlgren, Bloomington, whatever. I'm sure there's places out there, and some of them within a couple hours driving distance, where you can practice law and find affordable housing.

I'm not trying to be mean. But it sounds to me like you just don't want to look. You only want to complain.

I bought a house just over a year ago with nothing down. I shopped for months before finding a home loan package that wouldn't penalize me for that. I bought a house that was destroyed by the previous owners and fixed it up, month by month. But it's mine. And I didn't make a lot of money relative to the price of housing. Roughly 2/5 of my paycheck goes to my mortgage every month.
Like someone said... it's about priorities.

Well good for you to have gotten into a low mortgage rate situation.... and again its not like you are looking around today... you did this over a year ago... :shrug: No, I'm not complaining and not doing anything and I don't practice law - there are more components to a law firm than attorneys. And yet again, we are back to the couple of hours of driving distance... -- that's what I'm already doing. Thanks anyways though.

 

[BadGirl]

AMEN Seester!

Been there, done that, couldn't afford the t-shirt!

I bought you a dang t-shirt, but you won't wear it. So stop complaining, fool.

 

[Chain729]

AMP, CC, BadGirl, Pix, Bob, and Pete, y'all just got kicked up a few notches on my respect ladder- that doesn't happen often. Dems, you kicked a few more down- that happens quite a bit.

I'm where quite a few of you were years ago; saving as much as I can and considering my options.

Dems, if its any consolation, I'd be willing to talk with about where you could save more- if you're interested. I might be much younger, but I'm apparently much better with cash flow- of course I am a Jewish guy The only two stipulations I have are that A) you don't argue with the numbers, and B) you hear me out and use some form of logic before you decide that I'm wrong.

 

[fttrsbeerwench]

I could never be considered a money-minded person. I work I pay my bills, I ask my folks for help when I can't. I have always thought I had it pretty good. As I read this thread I figured I would do some checking in to just how much money I would need to make an hour to buy a house in this area at the monthly cost someone had spoken of(@ $1500). The way I see it, I would need to make AT LEAST $65,000 a year before taxes to buy one on my own. I took in to account day care, health insurance and a car payment plus an average on the little things( cable, internet, cigarettes) If I want to live large, as they say, it would be considerably more and that does not eliminate the possiblity of needing a buffer( savings or Mommy)...Sadly , I don't think bartending, house keeping or anything else I have ever done would make me that kind of money.
Anyway, say I want to stop renting and making feeble attempts to move to nicer places with cleaner neighbors. Just what kind of job would I need to make that kind of cash??? Is there a place I could look up some sort of list with average salary starts? I registered to go back to school before I had my kids, I wanted to be a vet tech, but the salary maxes out at around 23,000. I always like doing things outside or fun jobs. If I want a house in So MD,I better get my butt going huh?

I don't want to sound like I am a winer :whaaa:, I serious want to know what kind of job pays that much money, if it sounds like something I would like, then I am all for it.

 

[kom526]

Quitting smoking will save you oodles of cash. It CAN be done, I did it, but I refuse to preach about it.
There is a book out called "The Truth About Money" by some guy named Ric Edelman, he also has/had a show on MSNBC, that will show you how to get your financial ducks in a row. You just have to decide to do it and stop thinking about it.

 

[CMC122]

I could never be considered a money-minded person. I work I pay my bills, I ask my folks for help when I can't. I have always thought I had it pretty good. As I read this thread I figured I would do some checking in to just how much money I would need to make an hour to buy a house in this area at the monthly cost someone had spoken of(@ $1500). The way I see it, I would need to make AT LEAST $65,000 a year before taxes to buy one on my own. I took in to account day care, health insurance and a car payment plus an average on the little things( cable, internet, cigarettes) If I want to live large, as they say, it would be considerably more and that does not eliminate the possiblity of needing a buffer( savings or Mommy)...Sadly , I don't think bartending, house keeping or anything else I have ever done would make me that kind of money.
Anyway, say I want to stop renting and making feeble attempts to move to nicer places with cleaner neighbors. Just what kind of job would I need to make that kind of cash??? Is there a place I could look up some sort of list with average salary starts? I registered to go back to school before I had my kids, I wanted to be a vet tech, but the salary maxes out at around 23,000. I always like doing things outside or fun jobs. If I want a house in So MD,I better get my butt going huh?

I don't want to sound like I am a winer :whaaa:, I serious want to know what kind of job pays that much money, if it sounds like something I would like, then I am all for it.

Could you be a nurse? They make great money, practically make their own schedule and have great benefits

 

[Chain729]

I could never be considered a money-minded person. I work I pay my bills, I ask my folks for help when I can't. I have always thought I had it pretty good. As I read this thread I figured I would do some checking in to just how much money I would need to make an hour to buy a house in this area at the monthly cost someone had spoken of(@ $1500). The way I see it, I would need to make AT LEAST $65,000 a year before taxes to buy one on my own. I took in to account day care, health insurance and a car payment plus an average on the little things( cable, internet, cigarettes) If I want to live large, as they say, it would be considerably more and that does not eliminate the possiblity of needing a buffer( savings or Mommy)...Sadly , I don't think bartending, house keeping or anything else I have ever done would make me that kind of money.
Anyway, say I want to stop renting and making feeble attempts to move to nicer places with cleaner neighbors. Just what kind of job would I need to make that kind of cash??? Is there a place I could look up some sort of list with average salary starts? I registered to go back to school before I had my kids, I wanted to be a vet tech, but the salary maxes out at around 23,000. I always like doing things outside or fun jobs. If I want a house in So MD,I better get my butt going huh?

I don't want to sound like I am a winer :whaaa:, I serious want to know what kind of job pays that much money, if it sounds like something I would like, then I am all for it.

You could lower your price bracket. It can be done and still find what you need. Usually, you can pay less in mortgage than you do in rent (apt's and rooms excluded)- at least around here.

I suggest going to the front page of this site, then click the real estate link, then open up Century 21's website. They have search engine on all MLS listings. That should give you an idea of how much its going to cost for what you want/need. Then, go to www.fool.com and scroll through their calculators for one for mortgage payments- very useful tools.

 

[sleuth]

I could never be considered a money-minded person. I work I pay my bills, I ask my folks for help when I can't. I have always thought I had it pretty good. As I read this thread I figured I would do some checking in to just how much money I would need to make an hour to buy a house in this area at the monthly cost someone had spoken of(@ $1500). The way I see it, I would need to make AT LEAST $65,000 a year before taxes to buy one on my own. I took in to account day care, health insurance and a car payment plus an average on the little things( cable, internet, cigarettes) If I want to live large, as they say, it would be considerably more and that does not eliminate the possiblity of needing a buffer( savings or Mommy)...Sadly , I don't think bartending, house keeping or anything else I have ever done would make me that kind of money.
Anyway, say I want to stop renting and making feeble attempts to move to nicer places with cleaner neighbors. Just what kind of job would I need to make that kind of cash??? Is there a place I could look up some sort of list with average salary starts? I registered to go back to school before I had my kids, I wanted to be a vet tech, but the salary maxes out at around 23,000. I always like doing things outside or fun jobs. If I want a house in So MD,I better get my butt going huh?

I don't want to sound like I am a winer :whaaa:, I serious want to know what kind of job pays that much money, if it sounds like something I would like, then I am all for it.

Monster.com has a salary database... you can check there.
Depending on where you bartender, you can pull down $70K a year.
I know a guy who bartends up at the Cornerstone Grill in UMD. Has an engineering degree but has yet to go be an engineer because he's making $70K a year as a bartender, mostly on tips.

To start out as an engineer, he'd have to take a $20K pay cut.

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

Its really not what kinda job pays that type of money but where. In order to make a decent living and not be what is considered a Skilled worker or a Technical worker then you would need to go Downtown. Secretaries in SOMD top out at like maybe 35 a year and thats after some years. Where those same people downtown could be in the 40's a year. Legal secretaries is one field that is very disparaging when it comes to salaries in the area. If your a tech worker of course you could work for any of the number of DOD contractors in the area and make a decent income. Or if you like working with your hands there are tons of trades you can do like the SteamFitters, Electricians Unions and such that have decent pay scales. But again you would more then likely be traveling to DC and Northern VA for most of the work. You need to find something your interested in and just go and get it done.

 

[itsbob]

I bought you a dang t-shirt, but you won't wear it. So stop complaining, fool.

Are you SURE?? I swear I wore it at least ONCE!!

(we are talking about the "I'm with Stupid" T-shirt right?)

 

[BadGirl]

No, it's the one that reads "I AM Stupid".

 

[itsbob]

Could you be a nurse? They make great money, practically make their own schedule and have great benefits

Takes ONE year of school to be an LPN, and around here you can make $25 an hour (+50,000 a year) two years for ASN (RN) and they can get pay up to $40 an hour Four years for a BSN.. MORE money.. Nurse Practioner in 6 or 7.. HUGE money.. Nusrse anesthitist (sp??) OBSCENE money!!

MOst around here go to USM for their four year RN program and after a year take their boards for LPN, use the money they make as an LPN to get through the second year, then take their LAST boards as an RN (ASN).. I don't think I have met ANY current schooling nurse that is going on for their 4 yr or BSN. Good money for very little time commitment.. and the job of an LPN isn't bad here..

There is a severe shortage of Nurses here, as there is everywhere else, which means the money will only be going up!

 

[itsbob]

No, it's the one that reads "I AM Stupid".

I Yam, what I Yam...

 

[dems4me]

Secretaries in SOMD top out at like maybe 35 a year and thats after some years. Where those same people downtown could be in the 40's a year. Legal secretaries is one field that is very disparaging when it comes to salaries in the area. .

Where did you arrive at this $$ figure -- generally we make more than paralegals :shrug:

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

Where did you arrive at this $$ figure -- generally we make more than paralegals :shrug:

And where do you work? Try to find a job in St. Marys county making the same pay as you do now.. There is a reason alot of people work in DC and thats because the pay is a ton better.

 

[dems4me]

And where do you work? Try to find a job in St. Marys county making the same pay as you do now.. There is a reason alot of people work in DC and thats because the pay is a ton better.

yes, but its significantly higher than mid $40s -- You stated that was the DC rate is all :shrug: I work in DC and am a legal secretary... my bosses all refer to me as their legal assistant :shrug: and the pay is higher than you stated for DC is all... :shrug:

 

[CMC122]

Takes ONE year of school to be an LPN, and around here you can make $25 an hour (+50,000 a year) two years for ASN (RN) and they can get pay up to $40 an hour Four years for a BSN.. MORE money.. Nurse Practioner in 6 or 7.. HUGE money.. Nusrse anesthitist (sp??) OBSCENE money!!

MOst around here go to USM for their four year RN program and after a year take their boards for LPN, use the money they make as an LPN to get through the second year, then take their LAST boards as an RN (ASN).. I don't think I have met ANY current schooling nurse that is going on for their 4 yr or BSN. Good money for very little time commitment.. and the job of an LPN isn't bad here..

There is a severe shortage of Nurses here, as there is everywhere else, which means the money will only be going up!

Plus there are ton's of grants available for nursing. Think next year I'm gonna finally start school

 

[dems4me]

Plus there are ton's of grants available for nursing. Think next year I'm gonna finally start school

Maybe Fittrs makes to much to qualify for a nursing grant... I know when I was in college... I couldn't get any aid because they said my salary was too high... however, if I had a greencard or a few babies it wouldn't have been a problem I thought the Republicans were to blame for this but now I'm starting to wonder if the Dems are really to blame for this theory of "the greencard will get you further in financial aid than working hard to support yourself and then being told you make too much money"...