Announcement

**karim0028** · May 08, 2009, 08:20 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Cali is expensive as hell... Its fun to live there ( i used to live in San Jose); but with the economy around there centered around high tech, good luck finding a job...

Once the housing collapse reaches its bottom (in a couple more years) houses should be more affordable, it will be a good place to live, but i expect the govt will tax the living day lights out of its citizens until they cry uncle with all the spending they are currently doing....

**cjppjc** · May 08, 2009, 08:34 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by plinko View Post

Hey all,

I've been in Texas for a good part of my life since childhood (and it is also where my parents live), yet despite itulips warnings about living in California, I'm currently interviewing for an engineering position out in the bay area. I don't plan to purchase real estate or necessarily stay there my whole life.

I have a fairly stable job where I am now in Central TX, and can save over 50+% of my take-home pay, but have had a personal want to live somewhere else that'll let me snowboard and surf on weekends, and enjoy my twenties before they disappear.

Anyways, what should I expect as far as compensation (for an undergrad engineer w/ 4 years experience)? Bankrate.com's cost of living comparison says I'll have to get a 64% increase in salary to keep the same cost of living, putting me into the mid-lower six figures for income. Should I expect to get an offer that high?

Should I just stay where I am in fear of SHTF?

Can some Bay Area Itulipers give me some info on how bad the situation is out there? Would you rather be living in Texas right now? :p

Comments appreciated

Do your home work regarding pay. Hell life isn't just about the cost of living. Surfing on the weekends. Nice.:cool:

**plinko** · May 08, 2009, 08:36 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

I work in the high tech field already, so job-hunting shouldn't be nearly too bad for me, lest it keeps falling out there. There's also a small Jim Rogers in me that tells me to consider travelling to Asia more, so living in California would motivate me in that direction.

Hah, I like how your current location is "getting cheaper by the minute", karim!

**Sharky** · May 08, 2009, 09:22 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by plinko View Post

Bankrate.com's cost of living comparison says I'll have to get a 64% increase in salary to keep the same cost of living, putting me into the mid-lower six figures for income. Should I expect to get an offer that high?

It depends on the niche you're working in, the details of the benefits package, etc. A software engineer with a degree and 4 yrs experience might earn $90 to $110K in Silicon Valley.

You might have a look on craigslist to get some idea of rent in the area you're interested in. It's not cheap.

Originally posted by plinko View Post

Can some Bay Area Itulipers give me some info on how bad the situation is out there? Would you rather be living in Texas right now?

I lived in CA my whole life before moving to New Zealand a couple of years ago. Texas was my second or third choice.

You will find government regulation in CA to be amazingly stifling. Since the state is in the process of going broke, I would expect to see a flurry of knee-jerk legislation in their attempts to delay the collapse.

**CanuckinTX** · May 08, 2009, 10:39 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

If you want my 2 cents then I say this is an excellent time in your life to go and do something like this. I assume you have no wife and kids holding you down right now and one day you'll wish you'd taken advantage of the time when you just had yourself to take care of.

I work a lot in San Francisco and I really love the city. I live in Austin and as much as I love this city because I have a family, I would rather be in SF if I was single. There are so many good looking women there and not so many 'eligible' men if you know what I mean so the odds are in your favor! The women seem to be classier in SF too or at least they just dress that way downtown.

Now is a great time to sell a property in TX since the prices haven't fallen too much yet and if you go rent in SF you'll be fine. Sure it will be expensive and smaller than what you can get here but you can do the things you said you're thinking about like surfing.

I'd recommend living right in SF though - don't live out in the burbs. It's definitely going to be cheaper out there but if you are moving for the lifestyle choice then do it up right and you'll get the best taste you can of what life in SF is like.

You can always come back to Central TX in the future when the big city life gets to you but I've lived in many different cities in my life and I highly recommend moving around when you get the chance to keep things fresh and see new perspectives.

**BrianL** · May 08, 2009, 10:52 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

I never thought of the bay area as a great surfing destination. Cold water, lots of overcast days, not much in the way of waves. Most of the surfers I knew in the bay area wanted to move south.

**jimmygu3** · May 08, 2009, 10:54 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by plinko View Post

Hey all,

I've been in Texas for a good part of my life since childhood (and it is also where my parents live), yet despite itulips warnings about living in California, I'm currently interviewing for an engineering position out in the bay area. I don't plan to purchase real estate or necessarily stay there my whole life.

I have a fairly stable job where I am now in Central TX, and can save over 50+% of my take-home pay, but have had a personal want to live somewhere else that'll let me snowboard and surf on weekends, and enjoy my twenties before they disappear.

Anyways, what should I expect as far as compensation (for an undergrad engineer w/ 4 years experience)? Bankrate.com's cost of living comparison says I'll have to get a 64% increase in salary to keep the same cost of living, putting me into the mid-lower six figures for income. Should I expect to get an offer that high?

Should I just stay where I am in fear of SHTF?

Can some Bay Area Itulipers give me some info on how bad the situation is out there? Would you rather be living in Texas right now? :p

Comments appreciated

I'm with you, bro. I'm moving from Atlanta to LA as soon as I sell my goddamn house.

I'm almost 40 and have 2 kids. It definitely complicates things but it's never too late. The cost of living worries me, but I think I can manage. If not, I can always come back to Atlanta as the guy who worked in Hollywood. Same applies to you with Silicon Valley. Do it.

Jimmy

Jimmy

**plinko** · May 08, 2009, 11:09 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by CanuckinTX View Post

I live in Austin and as much as I love this city because I have a family, I would rather be in SF if I was single. There are so many good looking women there and not so many 'eligible' men if you know what I mean so the odds are in your favor!

funny, I can somewhat disprove that:

and for taste, it correlates with water acidity!

although the maps don't necessarily account for the "non-'eligible'" men (and women) out there

**jimmygu3** · May 08, 2009, 11:44 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by plinko View Post

funny, I can somewhat disprove that:

and for taste, it correlates with water acidity!

although the maps don't necessarily account for the "non-'eligible'" men (and women) out there

They should make one of these maps that's based on percentages rather than raw numbers. In a big city like LA, the "most male" city, a difference of 89,459 is less than one half percent.

And to address the elephant in the room, there is a large gay population in San Francisco. I have only anecdotal observations to go by, but it seems skewed toward males, which could easily account for the predominance of males in these stats.

Jimmy

**ThePythonicCow** · May 09, 2009, 01:33 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

It seems to me, looking at that map of men vs women in American cities, that the older cities, and the state capitals, have more women. The cities that have grown the most recently have more men.

I guess single men are more likely to "move west, young man" than single women.

In response to the opening question on this thread, I'd recommend getting out of California, not in. A little over a year ago, I moved from Silicon Valley (California) to Denton (Texas, north of Dallas - Fort Worth). I had a good opportunity to return. No way. California was the place to be ten, twenty or thirty years ago for those like me in the high tech business. But the place is going to the dogs now. Their economic, political, government, regulatory, taxation and real estate structures are in serious trouble.

**don** · May 09, 2009, 02:11 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

A common complaint among Women in the Bay Area (I've lived here 40 years and have heard this unchanged for that duration) is that "All the good guys are either married or gay". San Francisco is loaded with a high percentage of good looking babes. Every time I eat there I feel I'm in a candy store. It gets a little tricky with my wife present but what the heck, there's always dark glasses. I would give it a 4-star rating for straight single guys. Be choosy, you lucky dog!

**plinko** · May 09, 2009, 05:03 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Originally posted by don View Post

San Francisco is loaded with a high percentage of good looking babes. Every time I eat there I feel I'm in a candy store. It gets a little tricky with my wife present but what the heck, there's always dark glasses. I would give it a 4-star rating for straight single guys. Be choosy, you lucky dog!

Funny, I was talking to a friend who moved from Austin to the Bay Area tell me the women are better looking in Texas. Problem is, I tend to run into too many women that are either already in a serious relationship/married, or just too psycho for my taste. Perhaps my choosiness will work better in SF :p

**c1ue** · May 10, 2009, 10:22 AM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Considerations for pay when moving into California from Texas:

1) State income tax. You aren't paying that now in Texas, but you will be in California. The rates also will be going up.

To give you an idea of what this means: the average state income tax paid in 2002 was $941 (total receipts divided by population), while median income was $31,734. While median tends to lag average - it is safe to say that you should expect to be paying at least 3% in state income tax and likely more.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/State'...ll-a0116284980

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/aboutFTB/press...4/04_53a.shtml

2) Housing cost:

In Texas - even Austin - it is still possible to buy a house for under $200K. The average in the Bay Area is roughly double. Rents are also significantly higher - I'd expect again double.

3) Miscellaneous government fees:

These are also higher. Expect much higher vehicle registration fees, etc etc. Buy a car before you get to CA - sales tax paid on car purchases is much higher in CA vs. TX.

4) Food:

Food is generally cheaper - at least store wise. Restaurants of course can be all over the map. Heavy taxes on alcohol and cigarettes - so expect much higher spending if either/both are something you regularly indulge in.

5) Entertainment expenses:

Much higher in CA. Drinks in a fancy place in SF are going to cost from $6 to $12 per.

While the days of $1 Thursdays in Austin are probably over, it is also equally unlikely that it is anywhere near what you should expect in CA.

6) Energy costs:

Generally somewhat higher, but not as much as you'd think.

As for pay: if you can get mid/lower 6 figures - which means $200K to $400K, then none of the above is a problem

I'd be careful of the company you get into though - some of them are hire/fire types.

7) Skiing/Surfing:

I don't know if you know this, but the sea water in California in general and the Bay Area in particular is friggin' cold. You WILL need a wet suit. And shark repellent.

As for skiing - while theoretically the slopes are only 3 hours away, in reality any decent snowfall often leads to 7 hour jams on the mountain roads. FWIW.

**plinko** · May 10, 2009, 05:35 PM

Re: HELP: Thinking about Moving to California

Bam! This is great c1ue, thank you so much!

I'll try to follow-up this thread to tell you what I settle on. At the very least I may try to do a road trip out there next month to test the waters.

Just curious, even though I don't have any plans to buy RE, how do CA property taxes compare to TX?