Moving to the West Coast ????

[pookie]

I am hopefully getting a new job but will more than likely be getting relocated to the West Coast. In reality it looks like I might have a choice of Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco. I realize there are a ton of West Coast pelicans and was looking for some info. Let me begin with if we do end up moving out there I will get a company car which will allow me to drive up to 50 miles from any of these cities.

Now some info about me. Married, no kids, planning on starting soon, within the next year, one large black lab. Both of us are from small towns, I lived all over though as a military but consider myself small town. Both like the small town pace but like the amenities of living near a big city, lived near Charlotte NC, and currently about an hour from Washington DC. Both like to be outdoors, riding in the 911, or 4 wheeling in the Jeep, also do a little bit of canoeing, and some camping. My usual weekday routine is work, gym, and home. Not into the party lifestyle or going out to clubs. We do eat out and like to take in movies and plays a little. Also like to go watch hockey and love college football. I also like to shoot skeet, hunt, and fish (in shore saltwater and freshwater). Assuming all goes well we will be in Cali for at least 1-2 years but maybe up to 5 years. We will be moving at least 2 cars 911 and her Liberty. Debating on whether or not to move my Jeep as with the company car that would put us having 4 cars and 2 drivers. So I'd prefer to have a garage and not be in an apt. Will most likely rent though for at least the first year not only till we figure out what is going on but I hear housing prices out that way are horrible. Also all friends and family are withing MD to FL so pretty much be on our own at first. Both of us are looking at it as an adventure.

What I know about Cali-lots of gun restrictions, lots of liberals, lots of crime, expensive and lots of hussle and bustle. Although I hear it is car lovers mecca and pcar heaven, and I'll take sunshine over snow, we do like seeing all four seasons. So of the cities I listed I need to know the pluses and minuses of each and which one would be most conducive to our lifestyle. As looking at wheather, housing cost, economy, traffic, starting a family, etc.

So...

Los Angeles
San Jose
San Francisco
and a 50 mile radius.

Thanks

[nostatic]

how much money you bringing?

[scottmandue]

Commuting is a b1tch, try to live as close to where you work as possible, trust me you don't want to commute 20 miles much less 50. That is presuming the location of the job is in or near a reasonably nice neighborhood. Neighborhood is important, in S.F or L.A. you can go from million dollar condos to homeless people camping on the streets in fifteen minutes or less driving in your car. You might want to look into public transit if possible, we don't have a lot out this way but there is some, for instance if you live in Pasadena you can hop a train into downtown LA, SF has the BART.

Need more info on where specifically you will be working.
Generally SF is a smaller town easy to walk around but very hilly,great food and entertainment. A little on the cooler side temp wise.

LA anything goes, you can see and/or do anything but it is spread out, you can drive for an hour and still be in the city.

Both cities are near beautiful beach's and a short drive to the mountains.

[pookie]

Nostatic--- not alot compared to what a lot make out there figure $50K first 6 months, $60K after, just me. Not sure what my wife will find or where she will find it at. But mine is given. She shouldn't have a problem finding a job with her degree and resume should be ok but it might be tight for a little while.

I think I would work slightly off ours like 7-3 or 8-4 to offset some traffic.

[nostatic]

Where exactly will the jobs be? That should dictate everything else.

You are in for a rude awakening with regards to housing/living costs. And commuting is painful. Location is EVERYTHING out here. Outdoors activities can be had, but you'll have to travel for them, again depending on where you are.

[scottmandue]

8-4 won't get you anything on traffic.
What is your wifes dgree in?

[syncroid]

San Jose is a nice place to live. Its expensive though. Our public transportation is excellent. If you are into mountain biking or even road biking, there are many many excellent places to ride. Off setting your work times is a good idea. I live 14 miles from my work and I leave the house at 6:30am. It usually takes me 20 minutes on average. San Jose is kind of in the middle of everything. The ocean is only a half hour drive as well. Good luck with your move.

[ckissick]

A lot of your likes (small town lifestyle, hunting, camping canoing, restaurants) make you sound more like a Norcal person, although I like Socal and it has a lot of nice things going for it.

Weather: SF is cold and foggy in summer, LA and SJ, hot. No 4 seasons anywhere.

Liberals: They're everywhere, but SF has the most, of course.

Scenery: SF. No contest.

Traffic: Could be a deal killer in LA and SJ, as both are in the middle of sprawl. Parking is difficult in SF, but they have BART.

Small Town Feel: I live in a place that has a Mayberry small town feel, and I'm 20 minutes from downtown SF. I love it. SF is most accessible to small towns in Marin, the San Mateo County Coast, and even parts of the East Bay, if you take BART.

I know a lot of hunters around here, and a lot of ocean fishermen.

[pookie]

Yeah the thoughts of moving to Cali are kind of culture shock for sure.

If in San Jose it will be near San Jose State University.

If in San Fran it will be southeast of China town near the Ferry Building

If in LA it will be near the Staples Center. North east of the staples center.

I don't know what any of that means, but that is what I have been told.

Does that help?

Wife's degree is in business management, currently works for a private university in admissions. Hopefully between that and her past 4 years with a large company that will find her something. If not she might go back to school for her masters.

Also not ruling out apartments since we have no kids, just want something nice and safe. Safe for her if she is left at home while I am traveling, don't really care about safe for the car it can be stored somewhere safe. Material things can be replaced, my better half can't.

[nostatic]

umm, unless you're making 6 figures and walking in with over $100K in cash for a down payment you *will* be in an apartment.

Can't say much about SJ.

SF is WONDEFUL and I highly recommend it as a place to live for a couple of years, preferably before you have kids. You will have to rent, but public transportation is great, food is great, culture is great...amazing place. If you want outdoors stuff you can drive north or east. But live in the city, not on the peninsula.

LA near Staples Center is downtown. There are some decent neighborhoods within reasonable commute distances, but you'll rent, not buy. Los Feliz is cool, Silver Lake, and parts of downtown are regentrifying. Pasadena is nice and close to outdoor stuff but the commute to downtown, even though it is only 12-15 miles, can take an hour of driving. There is light rail though.

[scottmandue]

Los Angeles -> Pasadena, nice town, lots of resturants and shopping, close to the mountians, train to down town & staples center, a lot of cool old houses-some for rent.

[vash]

san fran has great public transportation. if you work near the ferry building SWEET! live near a bart line, and you are golden. if you pick somewhere on the east bay side, you can even take a ferry to work. bring that sweet targa over here. i guarantee you a great time. most big companies give you an allowance for public trans. look into it.

SF has the rubicon nearby, fishing, hunting (but we keep it on the "down low"), and all sorts of other outdoor activities. all walks of life live here.

[daepp]

Make sure you check rents and commuting costs. I am afraid you may be in for a rude awakening.

Most 20-30 year olds find themselves commuting in from long distance in order to afford housing. Most of the good jobs are in expensive-to-live-in places.

I worked in OC for 20 years, and it was difficult to find someone to work in the $50K range as they had such a long drive - they mostly did not live in OC. I suspect the same is true for SF, LA and SJ. Just an opinion of course!

[scottmandue]

RE: Nostatics comment,

I would move to SF in a heartbeat if my family and real estate wasn't here. (LA)

[pookie]

Sorry I thought I prefaced the other with going to rent. Doubt we will ever buy in Cali. Just not something we want to do.

[pookie]

Should have also added we are in our 20's, well I will be for the rest of this year. Ha.

[vash]

dont write off owning. hell, i own, and it is a total miracle. from my house to downtown SF, it takes approx $8 to bart to and fro. so it does add up. 45 minutes of extra sleep either direction.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by pookie
Sorry I thought I prefaced the other with going to rent. Doubt we will ever buy in Cali. Just not something we want to do.

Why? If you can afford it, buy. Even if you leave later you'll make more money here than you would in the ssme period at "home". Now affording it is a whole other thing. My 25 year old son is looing for his first real estate purchase, probably a 1000 sq. ft. condo and it'll cost him over $400,000 in north orange county. That's just insane for easterners to relate to, but it is the market here. And it'll be worth a lot more than that in a couple of years....probably

[scottmandue]

Dan,

What does a decent little two bed one bath house rent for in Pasadena... around $2000 a month?

[pookie]

Housing prices buy or rent are crazy in Cali. In SC we bought a 1700 square foot house 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage, 1+ acre lot our payments were $1100 month. Our house here in WV which is brand new concstruction is 2000 sqr feet, 3 bedroom w/office and 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage 1/4 acre lot, rents for $1150 a month. In any place in Cali I am sure that same amount might get us what 1 room efficency? I know we are going to have to suck it up for awhile, but which place is the best?