Living in Brevard

Cost

Cost was rated as the most important factor in choosing a community. All segments rate this as a critical issue. Historically, this has been a competitive advantage for Brevard County. However, the doubling of home prices in the last five years without comparable increases in salaries has lessened the extent to which cost is a competitive advance when it comes to attracting employees.

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I am SERIOUSLY considering a move back to my previous state for several reasons, but the biggest being that I took a $17K pay cut to come here, and a comparable house is a comparable neighborhood is $40K more! While it is a sellers' market here, my home, for sale in another state, just sits! I don't know what Brevard County can do to improve this issue unless salaries are raised, or the market changes to become a buyers market.
Reduce the cost of housing by building more affordable housing on the West side of I-95 allowing first time homebuyers an option other than renting.
Cost of living is becoming insane in Brevard County when compared to our pay scale. This is especially hurting people that are just starting their career (New Grads, in particular). This may have been the place with very affordable real estate, but now that is not the case.
Housing is skyrocketing and will continue to do so there is probably no stopping it. To make people feel like they can afford to live in the area pay should be adjusted so the average person with school loans and some credit card debt should still be able to afford a standard 30 year mortgage by themselves on a house that is in a safe low crime area.
My salary puts one over the top when relative to high-quality living in Brevard. While new grads here are buying houses, our peers in other states are renting and taking metros.
I don't think Brevard is out of line, I think our pay scale is outdated. It appears that the cost of living in Brevard is catching up with the rest of the country. Our pay scale is based on the previous notion that Brevard’s cost of living was much lower. It is not lower any longer and consequently, we need to update its pay scale and give appropriate adjustments to employees that are here, not just new ones.
The housing market has boomed to the point that an incoming new grad cannot afford a new, middle class house. We need a program to help with the down payment for new grads wishing to purchase a house in a decent neighborhood for their family.