BIG MOVE - from West Michigan to Bay Area California (San Jose: apartments, rent)

[mindspinguy]

Background:
My wife and I have 2 young children, a cat, and a giant breed dog. We are actively planning a move from Grand Rapids, MI to somewhere in the bay area in the next 18 months. I am a career entrepreneur making a living through the web and tech. We currently live in an extremely conservative Christian area (Hudsonville, MI) and would like to move to a place that is closer to the tech community and offers more diversity, culture, and liberal thought. At the same time we would like someplace that offers family oriented amenities like farmers markets, parks, and museums. Our main purpose is to find social groups that more closely align with our value system and other areas of interest such as family activities, technology/science, and business. We have lived in West Michigan (WM) all our lives and we are ready to make a change. WM is is a great place to live but has not offered much opportunity in business or diverse social activities.

Our plan:
Our goal is to save $45,000 to cover 12 months rent, a reliable used vehicle, and moving expenses. We plan on selling most of our belongings, and operating our web business in the bay area. Our current net income is about $75,000/yr. We plan on renting indefinitely until we know more about the area and have decided on a place to stay. Commuting will not be an issue as I will work from home or a coffee shop within walking/biking distance. My business is also flexible enough where I could manage a full-time job (if needed) and still maintain the web business income. My wife stays at home with our young children. We are changing our lifestyle from a bloated (big house, big cars, high overhead) lifestyle to a more minimalist lifestyle that is focused on what we feel is important (people and experiences). This is a complete life overhaul.

Our main interest is finding a good/safe school system anywhere in the bay area that offers a reasonable cost of living. We are considering Clayton, South San Jose, Palo Alto (I know it's expensive), and Walnut Creek. Rent appears to range around $1500-$2000 for a 2 bedroom from the ads on craigslist. We really don’t know anyone in the bay area, so needless to say this is a HUGE move for us. We are concerned about connecting with new people, finding a good neighborhood/school system, and finding a place that will accept our giant breed dog.

Any insights on our plan or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[Archan]

Here is a website for you to get a feel for apartments in the area and a website for the Clayton Newspaper. Clayton is a really small town tucked in at the base of Mt. Diablo. It has a really small town feeling. Walnut Creek is larger and has more in terms of shopping, dining, art galleries and a regional theater. Unfortunately, they don't have anything like the BOB. Clayton and Walnut Creek are fairly close together. Good luck!

California apartments and apartment reviews - ApartmentRatings.com

Clayton Pioneer: It's Your Paper

[mindspinguy]

Thanks for the feedback Archan. We have lived in mostly small towns 40k-population for most our lives. We like the medium towns with shopping, dining, and parks. It would be ideal if we could live within an hours drive to a big city. Towns in Contra Costa county seems to be a good match as it is reasonably close to San Francisco.

[Archan]

My pleasure. I was born and raised in Concord, which is right between Walnut Creek and Clayton. There are many farmers markets in the area. About a 20 mile drive to Brentwood, you can actually go to orchards and pick your own fruit off the tree! California is the largest agriculture producer in the country.

There is the BART system that will take you from the area right into downtown San Francisco. It is a very nice public transportation system. Can get a little pricey for daily commuters though.

BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit

[humboldtrat]

Check out towns on the peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose such as San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City (about 20 - 25 miles from these towns to either SF or San Jose). These towns are all nice safe middle class suburban areas and a little cheaper than Palo Alto. $1500 - $2000 for a 2 bedroom apt is very doable, however the big dog might be a problem.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

To the OP: You realize of course you'll be abandoning a place which has continued to prosper in spite of the recession (e.g. the Grand Rapids Metro) for a place with serious economic problems, a crumbling infrastructure and many serious challenges to confront in the coming decades. But if social environment matters more to you than stability and prosperity, not to mention being in a family friendly environment, I suppose no one will talk you out of it.

Closing thought: Leaving the Grand Rapids Metro is not a prerequisite to achieving your lifestyle overhaul, you could accomplish that in situ without putting your family through the ardors of a 2000 mile plus move.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

To the OP: You realize of course you'll be abandoning a place which has continued to prosper in spite of the recession (e.g. the Grand Rapids Metro) for a place with serious economic problems, a crumbling infrastructure and many serious challenges to confront in the coming decades. But if social environment matters more to you than stability and prosperity, not to mention being in a family friendly environment, I suppose no one will talk you out of it.

Closing thought: Leaving the Grand Rapids Metro is not a prerequisite to achieving your lifestyle overhaul, you could accomplish that in situ without putting your family through the ardors of a 2000 mile plus move.

Come on man! Have you ever been to Michigan?! I live close and there are tons of people fleeing Michigan due to their "crumbling" economy. You think your state (CA) is bad? Many are just as bad or worse off.
Why do you constantly forbid anyone to come to California just because you hate it? I hate Indiana with a burning passion but I understand that it fits other people quite well, AND I RESPECT THAT.
Not trying to pick a fight here, but ya know...

[Oakland City]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

To the OP: You realize of course you'll be abandoning a place which has continued to prosper in spite of the recession (e.g. the Grand Rapids Metro) for a place with serious economic problems, a crumbling infrastructure and many serious challenges to confront in the coming decades. But if social environment matters more to you than stability and prosperity, not to mention being in a family friendly environment, I suppose no one will talk you out of it.

Closing thought: Leaving the Grand Rapids Metro is not a prerequisite to achieving your lifestyle overhaul, you could accomplish that in situ without putting your family through the ardors of a 2000 mile plus move.

I don't think you've ever been to Michigan have you?

[10,000Lakes]

Are you guys prepared to live somewhere with no family support? Is your wife close to her parents/siblings/cousins/friends etc? Just asking because it's really hard without anyone. Not trying to be a downer. Just realize that no matter how much you try to visit or have family visit it's not the same as them being there for the small things like kids concerts at school, etc. If your close to your family, or if your spouse is that may be the hardest hurdle you face.

[uptown_urbanist]

Good point about family; cost of living in the Bay Area is also very high (which of course you know), but it goes beyond just high rent. Almost everything (except produce, maybe; love the affordable produce in SF!) is going to be more expensive than where you are now. If you do want to regularly visit family elsewhere just remember to work it into the budget. Flying a family across the country even once a year can add up, and if you're living on $75,000 a year as a family of four that can take a significant chunk out of the budget. I don't mind living away from family, but that was sort of the tipping point for us. I know others who are able to travel more frequently and have the financial means to do it, so for them that's not as much of an issue. At least once you're living in the Bay Area you'll probably have friends and family eager to come visit you in CA, especially when it's cold and snowy back in the Midwest!