I did it! My boys can swim!

[930addict]

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[Rodeo]

Congratulations! Sounds like you need to read the "moving to Utah" thread

I don't think you need to make a decision for 2-3 years, maybe 4. Until the child gets older, the neighborhood won't make much of a difference, or the schools. The only problem is a possible RE "correction." If your decision is to move in 2-3 years, I'd consider selling now and renting in the meantime.

[cantdrv55]

Sounds like you want to move to Folsom? Couldn't you find a decently priced house in the SF Bay Area and commute to your present job?

I don't know where you work now but where I live in Solano County, the school system is pretty damn good. Even the folks who live by the water in multimillion dollar homes send their kids to public school. Plus, there are homes here in the $500K range (older and needs a little TLC but so what).

I live on a court with only 5 homes on it and one of my neighbors is selling. Small house with a detached structure he uses as a gym - $659K and it sits on a 1/4 acre. Nice view of the straits from the front of the house too.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by 930addict
small novel snipped .....
Your thoughts? My gut tells me to make the move. I think as a family we would be much happier in the other house.

We could hash and rehash all the pros and cons about your life, but your last sentence sums it all up. How can we argue with you about you?

Congrats!

[cantdrv55]

I guess I didn't read that last sentence on your post. TerryH has it right. Move.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by TerryH
We could hash and rehash all the pros and cons about your life, but your last sentence sums it all up. How can we argue with you about you?

Agreed...I made significant career changes in my life so that my family had the best environment possible. Never looked back.

You get multiple chances at a career...you have one shot at raising competent, secure, loving children, which is the best career of all.

Congratulations...all the best.

[86 911]

Cool! If you want a great school district with very very low crime, I'm going to suggest Lafayette/Orinda/Moraga. The Acalanes school district was rated 2nd best in CA last year too. The people can be "snobby", but what do you expect when living around millionares? Remember that the cost of housing here is around $1 million for a decent home, $800K if you get lucky. I like it a lot just because of the almost no crime and the great schools. Good luck!

Oops, just re-read your 2nd paragraph about buying a home in the bay area not being an option.

[nostatic]

I can say that moving to a more expensive house to get a better school is a less than idea solution unless you're loaded with money. While there were plenty of other issues, the serious "golden handcuffs" of a big mortgage definitely helped push my marriage into oblivion.

But you do have a few years to sort this out. If I had it to do over again, I'd likely take a different course, but every situation is different...whatever works best for you and your family.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Congrats! I always tell people, if I knew how much fun kids were, I would have given in to my wife and agreed to have one sooner. Our son is 22 mo old now, and we're starting to think about another. Funny how they make you re-evaluate your life, isn't it? I think you have the right idea, and it sounds as if you're putting the best interests of your family first. Being debt free with a large nest egg to invest is the best possible situation, I can't imagine a better start to a family. Again, congratulations!

[TerryBPP]

Congrats!!!!!

[JavaBrewer]

As long as you KNOW you'll never want to move back to Cali then it sounds like an excellent plan. The Utah housing market will never keep pace with Cali and eventually you'll be priced out. Starting back in the 60's to current I've known many families who moved out of state and found that 5-10 years later they could not afford to move back. Over the past few years I've seen many many homes on the market in Utah and nothing selling. My brother-in-law who lives in Draper experienced the same and actually saw values decrease as folks who lost jobs couldn't sell and got forclosed. I hear now that things might be improving but regardless I would consider a move to Utah (SLC in particular) a permanant one. Best of luck to you.

[Laneco]

Okay, first - when I saw the title of this forum I thought you had just given your children swimming lessons with great success... Had to really laugh when I realized what you meant by "my boys can swim"...

We live in southern Oregon where the housing is somewhat overpriced given the average income level. Median housing price here is something like 280-290,000. Most of the jobs here in the valley don't pay enough for a single income family to afford the housing here. But we have a huge number of CA transplants. They sell their pricey CA homes and cash one out here. Then the lower income level is a pretty moot point as there is no "golden handcuffs" mortgage. They get decent schools, wonderful outdoor activities and some FUN FUN roads to drive on.

The most important thing to you is your family. You have already answered your question. You believe your family would be better off to move. The situation you describe will allow you to move, cash out a nice home, live in a good neighborhood with good schools. You'll trade off a bit in your job. But your job is only part of your life. You probably are contributing 60-70 hours per week to work (commute etc). But that leaves the other 100 hours to "life." Set yourself in the position that affords the majority of your time (the 100 hours) to the best situation.

You are in a very good position to steer your life down a most pleasant path for your entire family. I suggest you take it. angela

[tc-sacto]

My opinion, Family takes precedence. I moved from the bay area to a small town outside Sacramento. Got a much larger home, close to Folsom lake for outdoor activities and 1.5hrs. from Tahoe. Don't regret it for a minute. Can't wait till kids are old enough to take fishing and skiing.

Schools, still not great, but better than bay area. I was really scared about getting some wacked out liberal teacher cramming their agenda down my kids throat...(don't want some crazy neocon either, but seems less of chance of that in the bay area.)

Contemplating home school....wife was a 4.0+ student and very patient.

Best of luck and congratulations.

[onewhippedpuppy]

tc, if I may interject, please don't home school. Academics are very important, but worthless if your kids can't interact in a normal way with other kids. One of my best friends was home schooled until high school, and he is the first to admit that he was "socially retarded". His brothers had trouble as well, the same for all others that I knew that were home schooled. If needs be, augment your children's school learning with that of your own, but don't deprive them of that important social development. Best case is to find good schools, even private or religious ones if available and affordable.

[tc-sacto]

Good point wiped, yes we are looking into private schools as well. I went through public school in L.A. (Lower Alabama aka North West Florida) and loved sports and school, but that was a different environement than California.

Oldest child is only 2.5, so I have a few years to figure it out.

930addict: Here's what you have to look forward to!

[cstreit]

Congratulations!

Just wait, you'll be boring your friends (as I did) with the ultrasound pictures of the grainy little grey bean that is yours.

You do have time to make a decision, use it to make sure that you get into the area you want and that you can live with it as well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm sure you can find a good balance, just so they get plenty of exposure to other kids. Often times school through churches are good too, if you're religious. In our case, we'll probably send our kids to Catholic schools because our public schools suck. They have a great reputation for quality education, as well as being cheaper than a true private school.

[targa911S]

geez and I thought this thread was about Red Cross water safety instuction for kids! I am getting old.