I was wondering if you guys were able to buy a house with your LVN salary?

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Specializes in Home healthcare.

I’m a new poster here, hope this is the correct way to post a question since this is a new format for me.

 

I’m on my way to becoming an LVN in CA, and everyone is already pushing me to do my RN. 
 

I was able to get the LVN certification for free basically through a program, and I like the lower responsibilities I have compared to RN’s.

My true goal is to own my own home since I grew up very housing insecure, so if I were to work overtime’s and such would I be able to have the income necessary to buy a house on this salary (plus I look to apply to the first time homebuyer programs where you pay 3% down so would that also help?) 

If I can get my goal of home ownership I’ll be all good as I personally do not want to continue my education to RN seeing how difficult the program was for LVN and would instead try to go to WGU to get a teaching degree.

If you have any home buying experience as an LVN please feel free to share every single detail about it so I know what to expect.

Thank you in advance!

 

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Specializes in Home health, Addictions, Detox, Psych and clinics..

I think so much of your question has to do with where in CA you’re looking to buy. It would be hard on an LVN salary to afford a home on a single LVN salary in any of CA’s metro areas or adjacent. Can it be done, pretty sure, but I wouldn’t be easy. Good luck to you ?  

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The aeas where an LVN could buy a house in CA typically would not have a great deal of work available to LVNs. If your job goes south you want available alternative employers within a decent driving distance. For instance, living in Victorville and driving to south LA to work is not sustainable in the long run.

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Specializes in Corrections, LTAC.

I personally am moving out of state once I complete my LVN program for this reason. You and I share similar reasons for wanting the dream of becoming a homeowner. I will be graduating from a CA LVN program and taking NCLEX here, but I will be moving to my husbands’ hometown soon after graduating and passing NCLEX. We have already started to “scout” home prices in the new state we are going to, and they are totally affordable on a LVN salary. My husbands’ profession provides similar pay to LVNs. There are some beautiful homes down South and Midwest between 80-120k, in some nice quaint towns not far from metro areas. If that’s your thing...that’s what I’m going for at least. We’re happy knowing we can achieve the goal we want together knowing it’s within reach! I would consider thinking of moving at some point if you are comfortable with that change. California is expensive, very competitive for furthering education beyond LVN...Good luck to you! I wish you all the best. 

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Specializes in Home healthcare.

Honestly, since I have dual citizenship in another country way cheaper than here I was considering moving there to get back to my roots. 
 

There aren’t many people of my culture where I live and some become hostile when they hear my nationality because people still have Cold War era propaganda (you guess which country). And from researching the houses in that country the houses are the cost of a manufactured house in California except these homes are near capitals, but the education most importantly is free there if you have can pass a certain test, and tuition if you don’t pass it is super affordable.

It would be extremely hard to move across the country due to all my stuff and the fact that I have never lived anywhere else than California before, but the prices for housing is becoming too high, and the pay rate isn’t matching it.

 

At least in that other country most people are able to buy an at least an apartment of their own within their life time and not have to go without a huge chunk of salary just to get it.

I guess if the prices never stop rising and no affordable housing is built in Cali I will have to move ?

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I would not let others push you into an RN program. This decision should be something you make on your own. I definitely understand the desire for home ownership, but there are so many things to consider. I would definitely move out of CA for so many different reasons. After that, you'll have to pick an area and stay there for awhile. It will be very important to consider whether you even like the area or are a good fit for it. Also consider the small chance that you may get burnt out of nursing. Should you get a home, what will happen if you somehow didn't have that nursing job anymore? 

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I bought my home in 2009 for $228k in Pittsburg Ca. Now it’s worth upper 500k. Even making 87k a year, I wouldn’t be able to buy my own home again. And 87k is with 14 years experience as a LVN. 

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Specializes in Knowledge is POWER! Go on and get some!.

Get your LVN license, get a job at a prison.  You will earn more as a prison LVN than anywhere else and you don't work as hard, meaning, not a huge liability (G-tubes, traches, you get the picture).  Esp. in Ca.  Once you work as an LVN for about 6 months to a year, plan on buying your home.  3% down, FHA, first-time home-buyer program, and get some roommates, or just do it all on your own.  You can do this.  I did.  Become an RN and work for the state prison.  RN's in prison earn close to $10k/month.   YOU CAN DO THIS. Just save your money, as much as you can for a down payment.  Look at paying close to $15k for closing costs etc.  Save at least $20-$25k.  Easy to do especially if you don't have kids.  If you have kids, it's a little harder, but still possible.  

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Specializes in Knowledge is POWER! Go on and get some!.

Right now, registries are looking for CNA's, LVN's, MA's and RN's as covid nurses top pay!  CNA's are making more than I am right now during Covid.  $38/hour.  LVNs $60/hour, RN's $100/hour at the prisons in California.  Look it up!  Huge demand at Avenal, Corcoran, California Men's Colony, San Luis Obispo.  This is your chance to make more money as a CNA than ever!! 

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All the registry offers I been getting in SF Bay Area offer $28-35 a hour. That’s not enough. 
the best places to get highest pay is UCSF, Kaiser and Sutter. Anywhere else you will make ***. 

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Specializes in Knowledge is POWER! Go on and get some!.
10 minutes ago, neanea415 said:

All the registry offers I been getting in SF Bay Area offer $28-35 a hour. That’s not enough. 
the best places to get highest pay is UCSF, Kaiser and Sutter. Anywhere else you will make ***. 

You're right, registries don't pay all that much. I was making that kind of money as a new grad, it seems not much has changed in terms of pay increase!  But, due to Covid, there are registries that are paying for COVID nurses to work in prison.  The pay for Covid LVN is $60/hour.  Check out Indeed.com, they have a ton of job offers for LVN's and RN's. (I checked last week)  

Living in S.F. Bay Area is crazy expensive!! its like, the cost of living goes up, but the pay stays the same.  So, you're basically screwed trying to make it in the bay.  I know, because I lived there.  

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On 9/19/2020 at 8:36 PM, LVN_Flower said:

Get your LVN license, get a job at a prison.  You will earn more as a prison LVN than anywhere else and you don't work as hard, meaning, not a huge liability (G-tubes, traches, you get the picture).  Esp. in Ca.  Once you work as an LVN for about 6 months to a year, plan on buying your home.  3% down, FHA, first-time home-buyer program, and get some roommates, or just do it all on your own.  You can do this.  I did.  Become an RN and work for the state prison.  RN's in prison earn close to $10k/month.   YOU CAN DO THIS. Just save your money, as much as you can for a down payment.  Look at paying close to $15k for closing costs etc.  Save at least $20-$25k.  Easy to do especially if you don't have kids.  If you have kids, it's a little harder, but still possible.  

Correctional LPN is great pay but there is that liability factor, being sued by the inmates.  If you are great at documentation that will save you.  Also you can be subpoenaed to court also.  If that doesn't bother you great career.

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