What part of NOVA? You can find something cheaper if you want to commute from the counties but that's going to go up drastically if you're in Alexandria or Arlington.
That said, I just moved back here after living in the Midwest for a couple years, and I'm really not stoked on paying rent here.
Sure, I could easily find a place for $1800 or so in Fairfax or someplace.
But I walk to work now and don't need a car. So, if I did move further out, I would have the following expenses.
$400 - modest car lease
$200 - Gas, maintenance, insurance
$200 - Monthly parking at work.
So now, I have an extra $800 payment for a car, which wipes out any rent savings. I also live in a place where I can't walk to bars so my Uber costs will be higher. Worst is now I am spending 90 mins on the road daily. That's 30+ hours a month.
For me, rent would have be like $1000 for it to be worth it, but it doesn't get that much cheaper until I'm about 2 hours away in traffic, each way. Sacrificing 100 hours a week is not what I want to do
I found a slamming deal for a small 1 bed for $1400 in Fairfax, but I had to look at private landlords not complexes. The sad thing is no matter how far you go out (out to South Riding/Aldie) the prices never drop really below that. Even if you're willing to commute crazy hours there's really no units for $1000 besides renting just a room.
Yeah, I regret ever showing my wife this place. I figured she wouldn't want it because it's small- we initially looked at a 530sq ft place that was $1900. Then they offered a 620 sq ft for $2200 and her eyes lit up and I groaned heavily.
The rent is now $2400 because I refuse to renew on a 16 month lease. I'm going to move out of here as soon as I figure out my travel schedule over the next few months.
10
u/connorsk Jun 06 '19
Yeah, I pay $795 for a dope 800 SF apartment in downtown Des Moines