Are millennials under 25 in the DC area priced out of getting married, having kids, owning a home?

[Anonymous]

Long story short.
I recently had to discourage an extended family member (recent grad) from relocating to the DC area.
I told her it made better sense financially to stay in her home state (midwest) where the cost of living is lower. Much lower.

She asked for my advice and I gave it to her.
Should I have been more optimistic?

[Anonymous]

Did she have a job in DC?

[Anonymous]

Did the recent grad want to do those things? When I got out of school I was happy to live with roommates and cheaply explore the big expensive city I was living in.

[Anonymous]

What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

I got married at 23, had my first child at 24. We bought a home too (new construction started before we married, closed and moved in a few weeks after we married.) This was in suburban San Diego, similar housing market to DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she have a job in DC?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

If getting married, having kids and owning a home is a pipe dream right now can you imagine in 10 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

I got married at 23, had my first child at 24. We bought a home too (new construction started before we married, closed and moved in a few weeks after we married.) This was in suburban San Diego, similar housing market to DC

So did my mother (birth control was more complicated back then). But she doesn't put her experience out there as one to be emulated. She ended up divorced with two young children, never had a real career, and never got to live as a single young adult.

I think your advice was reasonable, OP, if a little pessimistic. It is hard to live in DC if you don't have some parental support -- group houses are rare, entry level jobs don't pay much, and it costs money to live the high life. We got by eating free tacos at happy hour. Now a drink is $12 and the tapas ain't free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

I got married at 23, had my first child at 24. We bought a home too (new construction started before we married, closed and moved in a few weeks after we married.) This was in suburban San Diego, similar housing market to DC

Still not typical for this area, and it's not clear from the op if that's what the recent grad is looking to do.

[Anonymous]

Any young person who wants to come to DC doesn't want to be married and have kids in their 20s. They come here to work and have a nightlife. And I don't blame them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long story short.
I recently had to discourage an extended family member (recent grad) from relocating to the DC area.
I told her it made better sense financially to stay in her home state (midwest) where the cost of living is lower. Much lower.

She asked for my advice and I gave it to her.
Should I have been more optimistic?

People with decent jobs can do it. They just can't expect to have a 3-4 bedroom colonial right out of the gate. Start with a smaller townhouse in the burbs. Work up.

[Anonymous]

Nope, I think you're right. And DC has some of the highest rents in the country- much higher than, say, Los Angeles, which is a much more world-class city.

If you are going to pay that much in rent, I wouldnt pick someplace as boring and soulless as DC. There are better options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

I got married at 23, had my first child at 24. We bought a home too (new construction started before we married, closed and moved in a few weeks after we married.) This was in suburban San Diego, similar housing market to DC

So did my mother (birth control was more complicated back then). But she doesn't put her experience out there as one to be emulated. She ended up divorced with two young children, never had a real career, and never got to live as a single young adult.

I think your advice was reasonable, OP, if a little pessimistic. It is hard to live in DC if you don't have some parental support -- group houses are rare, entry level jobs don't pay much, and it costs money to live the high life. We got by eating free tacos at happy hour. Now a drink is $12 and the tapas ain't free.

Agreed.

My $5 metrorail one day pass now costs $14.50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What 24 yr old wants to be married with kids anyway?! Your 20's is for building your career.

I got married at 23, had my first child at 24. We bought a home too (new construction started before we married, closed and moved in a few weeks after we married.) This was in suburban San Diego, similar housing market to DC

Did you marry a wealthy older man or have parental help?

Because otherwise I don't believe the story of two 23 year olds buying a SFH at DC prices. Nope. No way.

[Anonymous]

Married, it's easier. Built in roommate to share income and costs.