[sharpyure]

Originally posted by Flubber
I increased my mortgage payments so that it now represents about 30% of my net pay.


This does not include my wife's income or taxes and insurance.


Its also far more than we need to pay. I believe our REQUIRED payments would be more like 18% om my income-- ( but we will own our house in 10 years)

Took me 7 years to pay mine off. I was putting like 70% in. . Maybe a little less, I never figured it out.

[pokerbonuscod]

I don't think chicks are impressed with the fact that I own a house.

I can't drive around with my house. I'd rather have a hot car. .

If I spent the amount of money I spent on my house on a car, I might get laid. . err, probably not.

[sadgpokx]

7 years, just paid it off last month. I sent them a $4500 check.

Maybe I'll buy a winnebago and cruise the strip in that. Definate chick magnet. And you can live in it!

[lammaredder]

I was only kidding. Only old people drive those things. I don't think I have ever seen a young person in one. And I'm not really that interested in scoring anyways.

Sorry for the threadjack.

I think in a lot of cases, people only pay the minimum payment. And aren't willing to allocate a lot of their income to their home. They are too busy buying electronic gadgets and wasting their money. I had no problem putting over 50% of my income to my house. I don't live an expensive lifestyle, however. Don't drink much, and I don't gamble.

[HottBrorb]

12.34% of gross income.


Spec.

[jobsfancy]

Originally posted by Timexwatch


Columbia Heights and Georgia Avenue/Petworth aren't atrocious right now. So-so rowhouses needing a little TLC were going for about $500 to 850k last time I heard. Prices seem to drop on this side of Rock Creek Park once you get north of Military Road. So let me get this straight: I could buy a so-so property in an ok-but-not-great neighborhood, and -- if I bought on the low end, and managed to put 20% down (right, 'cause I've got 100k just lying around), the monthly mortage -- just mortgage, no taxes, no utilities, nothing else --should only cost me, oh, half of my take-home pay. Of course, if my downpayment were a more realistic 3-5%, then the mortgage would eat up 3/4 of my monthly take-home. And I'm much, much closer to the top of the civil service pay scale than not.

I honestly don't understand how federal workers live in the capitol, I really don't.

[sniskelsowwef]

Originally posted by Bosh

They commute, right? The capitol is for lobbyists... The immediate surrounding area is just as bad. You could live way the hell out -- I have a colleague here who recently worked in DC while living in West Virginia --but then you're offsetting your commute with other costs, both tangible (e.g., gas costs) and intangible (a 2-hour commute each way each day is 20 fewer hours/week spend with family and friends, on hobbies, or just sleeping. It's just crazy.

[Qrhzbadu]

Originally posted by Bosh
They commute, right? The capitol is for lobbyists... As Rufus said, real estate prices continue to be fairly absurd well outside DC.

[Beragagnu]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly


So let me get this straight: I could buy a so-so property in an ok-but-not-great neighborhood, and -- if I bought on the low end, and managed to put 20% down (right, 'cause I've got 100k just lying around), the monthly mortage -- just mortgage, no taxes, no utilities, nothing else --should only cost me, oh, half of my take-home pay. Of course, if my downpayment were a more realistic 3-5%, then the mortgage would eat up 3/4 of my monthly take-home. And I'm much, much closer to the top of the civil service pay scale than not.

I honestly don't understand how federal workers live in the capitol, I really don't. The other alternative is to live in Maryland and commute via train from the Baltimore area. The MARC is fairly reliable....

[sbrpkkl]

Roughly 60% as an estimate, probably more.

Regardless of what people say, the north isn't cheap.

[ThekvandoVideo]

Originally posted by Timexwatch
Columbia Heights and Georgia Avenue/Petworth aren't atrocious right now. So-so rowhouses needing a little TLC were going for about $500 to 850k last time I heard. Prices seem to drop on this side of Rock Creek Park once you get north of Military Road. I was putting Georgia Avenue/Petworth into the category of "the vanguard of gentrification." Much of Columbia Heights as well.

[flowersnewacq]

Originally posted by DanS


It's a good thing that you're spending time now looking. I wouldn't give up on general areas, even though I might give up on a particular neighborhood.

Do you have two incomes coming in? That must be how most government workers manage.

Regarding West Virginia, it might be a 2-hour one-way commute, but it's on the train, so you can sleep, read, or do whatever with your time. Also, it should be pointed out that as a gov't worker, your schedule is known, and there are commuter buses that cast a wide net in the suburbs. We should havee 2 incomes coming in, but my wife will have to find work once we get stateside -- she's a freelance editor right now -- so there's no way to predict what that second income will be or how quickly it will start coming in.

We've talked seriously about the Baltimore option. The only problem there is that our daughter will be in college, so we'll be free to enjoy adult life without parental responsibilities -- and, on a nightly basis, we'd rather enjoy DC than Baltimore.

It's certainly a lot to think about.

[NewYorkDoctorD]

Originally posted by DanS
It sounds to me like the city is a big criteria for you. Am I right? Would you be miserable in West Virginia?

FYI, dc.craigslist.com is a great way to get a feel for prices in different neighborhoods.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/s...=max&bedrooms= Yup, city is a huge criteria. City-like suburb, such as Bethesda or Silver Spring, would be ok (but not N.Va. -- too suburban).

[id2008]

If you want city, you will pay for city. That's kinda how it works...

-Arrian

[lorryuncori]

Originally posted by Krill
Roughly 60% as an estimate, probably more.

Regardless of what people say, the north isn't cheap. Blighty is a cruel place to live, that's for sure.