Another "I want to relocate" thread (Los Angeles, San Diego: rental, low crime)

[GlassPipe]

Ok, I know there are thousands of these on here. But, needed some good fresh replies.

Currently we're in Michigan and chugging along on the GM express - I'm a technology contractor - not UAW. We're trying to get out of GM and Michigan before it all goes kapoot.

My wife likes the idea of California, as do I. Prefer from the bay area on up to Oregon. Still like a little cool in the winter, but not 4' on the hood of the truck every morning. That coupled with the obvious - friendlier attitudes towards pr215 folks.

Questions...

#1 - Need for us to both be able to work. I can do anything from construction to computers and from mechanics to dishwashing. I've held numerous jobs and have bounced all over Michigan a couple times. My wife is good at office type work. So where are there abundant jobs available? Smaller towns are cool too, as long as being able to get to a larger city isn't too far for commuting.

#2 - Cali is known out here in the middle of the corn as being over priced in just about all aspects. But, from what I've been able to dig up, a rental house is still fairly reasonable in smaller cities. Looking for something that we would be able to pick up for around $1000 a month. More if the salary allows for it. Coupled with the job aspect, where would you suggest? I'd prefer the coast and am willing to drive to work every day, just not too far as traffic makes me go bonkers, to say the least.

#3 - Good schools? We have a 5yo and 10mo - both boys. The 5 yo is smarter than whodunit - we're hoping his little bro will be the same way. So we want a challenging district - in other words, no teachers that are there for the 3 month vacation every year, we want educators who love what they do in a school where they won't be bored/left out/feel threatened by idiot hood rats.

#4 - Still thinkin'...

Any other suggestions/comments would be welcome.

We'd like to drive out there within the next couple of months and get a feel for what there is and hopefully go on a couple job interviews.

Anyone else relocate out there care to chime in on how you landed work? We'd definitely need secure jobs before moving. I know that some folks will just pick up and go, take a tent and hope for the best, but I've got two kids too worry about and a little collection of dogs/cats that I don't want running around in the cab of my truck. lol

Thanks all, sorry to ask this same question again but everyone has their own questions to be specific about.

[humboldtrat]

While not as bad as Michigan, the economy in CA is starting to go downhill. The state is virtually broke and Arnold the governor says the state will start paying it's obligations in a few months with IOUs. And there will be cutbacks in education. Of course they want to raise our taxes even more. Businesses are laying off people and I think after Christimas, a lot of retailers will do the same or close their doors for good.

A $1000/month to rent a house is not realistic along the coastal part of CA. The cheaper places would be inland, probably in the Central Valley, such as Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, etc. which are fairly large cities that would offer jobs.

[sav858]

I don't think this is the best time to come to CA right now. A $1000 month rent wont get you anything more than a one bedroom at most anywhere near the coast. The Central Valley is the only place that will be that cheap in Northern CA to get a house. Also CA's schools are pretty bad overall, basically you need to live in a upper middle class suburb to have good schools and the $1000 a month rent cap will pretty much prevent that. If you're looking to start over and get ahead I don't think CA is a good place to do that w/o a lot of financial and job resources. I love my state but its a very difficult place to start out IMO with a young family and not a lot of money. This state is also dealing with so much crap right now I would hold off until things improve before thinking about coming here. I think somewhere like CO and TX might be a better place to look honestly.

If your determined to move to CA I'd check out the Sacramento area and its surrounding suburbs or farther out towns near it.

[Jonotastic]

Edit: Thanks for pointing that out humboldtrat. I completely missed that line.

I'd be concerned with $1000 rent with 2 children. I agree basically with everything sav858 mentioned.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

I think if you want detailed answers you should narrow it down to....within an hour drive from San Francisco, within an hour drive from Los Angeles, within an hour drive from San Diego etc.Because as you know, California is a huge state.

The OP said he was interested in the San Francisco Bay Area up to the Oregon border.

[grimstuff]

Originally Posted by GlassPipe

Ok, I know there are thousands of these on here. But, needed some good fresh replies.

Search the forums a little, and you'll find answers to all your questions and more. You can also pick up a handy book in a book store called "Cities Ranked and Rated."

[eureka1]

This is funny! I've been reading your posts on the Michigan board because I'm retiring before the end of the year and may have to leave California (reluctantly) in favor of a place where I could buy a house outright. Concur with the previous posters, you couldn't have picked a worse year and Jan-Feb will be RAINY. Concur with whoever recommended Sacramento; it's a beautiful city,lots of history and you can now get houses for $200K which we haven't seen in awhile. Jobless rate here is approaching 9%, so look before you leap. Good luck with all that.

[AKgirlinCA]

You have been provided lots of excellent advice. Like they all said, if you can't wait....the best place for your budget would be Sacramento. If you aren't deadset on CA....I would highly, HIGHLY recommend you check out TX. Specifically, Dallas or Houston. Both have thriving economies, low cost-of-living combined with good paying jobs (as good as CA or even better sometimes), and better weather than Michigan. Texas has a surplus now....CA is completely broke and like they all said...our taxes will probably be getting raised and our schools suck. This is going to be a very hard place for you to start with your young family. CO is nice as well, with over 300 sunny days a year. Denver has plenty of jobs and is more affordable than CA. If you want better weather, please keep in mind that there are plenty of states that have nice climates and a better job outlook than here. Expand your search a bit, perhaps? Hope this helps....

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by AKgirlinCA

You have been provided lots of excellent advice. Like they all said, if you can't wait....the best place for your budget would be Sacramento. If you aren't deadset on CA....I would highly, HIGHLY recommend you check out TX. Specifically, Dallas or Houston. Both have thriving economies, low cost-of-living combined with good paying jobs (as good as CA or even better sometimes), and better weather than Michigan. Texas has a surplus now....CA is completely broke and like they all said...our taxes will probably be getting raised and our schools suck. This is going to be a very hard place for you to start with your young family. CO is nice as well, with over 300 sunny days a year. Denver has plenty of jobs and is more affordable than CA. If you want better weather, please keep in mind that there are plenty of states that have nice climates and a better job outlook than here. Expand your search a bit, perhaps? Hope this helps....

Yeah but he wants to move to NorCal, rent a house on the coast for $1000/mo and smoke weed.

[johnnyz]

Davis,Ca. would be great. It's got a population of around 60,000, with great public schools along with UC Davis and you'll be 15 minutes from the state Capitol of Sacramento as well as just over an hour from San Francisco and the Bay area. Another great thing to consider is that Davis also has a pretty low crime rate from what i've been told. I used to live there in the mid 90's and am contemplating relocating my family there.....or Austin,TX.