Wondering about Cali (San Diego, Temecula: best cities, apartment complex, rent)

[filamgirl618]

Hi there. My husband and I are newly weds and we've kinda been contemplating our future. We're thinking about moving within the next 3 years or so and we were just wondering about Cali and the best cities to live in. I myself was thinking about San Diego since I will be completing school with a degree as a veterinary technician and I've heard that Cali has some of the best paid vet techs. As far as my husband, he'll be finishing school probably as a RN or something of that nature, so I'm fine with the fact that he'll be able to find a job no matter where we go.

We're not that picky, but we do want somewhere that's fairly warm. I'm not bias to a winter with possible snow, but seeing as we're from Kentucky (he's actually from Morocco), we'd appreciate weather that's much more predictable than here. As far as the neighborhood, we'd like it somewhat safe (as we'll probably be starting a family wherever we move to) seeing as the apartment complex we live in now is very shady. We also have a dog and three cats right now, but that could very well change within a couple of years, so we also want a place that is pet-friendly.

I guess what we're asking for is whether San Diego is the place for us and possible suggestions as to where else might be nice. As far as our budget, my mom will be helping us by giving us anywhere between 10-20 thousand for a down payment. Thanks.

[buckeyenative01]

San Diego's job market is pretty terrible right now.

Also, even though I'm an ex-Californian, most natives and longtime residents despise the nickname "Cali"

[Steve97415]

Okay...you need the how-to-live-when-you're-just-starting-out lecture. I've given it a number of times, so I'm just going to copy it off another post I wrote in the Oregon forum:

Don't try and write your own ticket fresh out of school. When you buy your first home, you get a "starter home" -- often a disappointingly small house, a duplex or townhouse. Later on, you buy a "move-up home" and eventually your "dream house".
Cities are the same way. Fresh out of school, you need a good career-starter city: someplace that has a favorable compensation to cost-of-living quotient. You're right to presume that won't find that in California. ...After you've gained some job experience, saved some money and built some home equity that you can transfer, you'll be in a better position to make the sacrifices that come with picking and choosing exactly where you want to live.

It's a bubble-burster, I know. But the alternative is to throw yourself into a city where the salary-to-COL quotient is so low, that you'll never get ahead. You'll never be able to buy a house and you'll never be able to start a family because you'll be living paycheck-to-paycheck spending all of your money on rent and utilities and not having any discretionary income to sock away. Your choices are more limited when you're just starting out. Look for someplace with a lower cost of living than California. Some place in Texas or New Mexico might better suit your needs. After you build some transferable equity you can think about relocating to California. Personally, I wouldn't dream of moving to California with less than $200,000 in transferable equity as a starter nest egg.

[jaynetarzana]

California's proposed tax on veterinary care draws fire - Hundreds of veterinarians send letters to CVMA in protest to tax proposal - DVM

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

Also, even though I'm an ex-Californian, most natives and longtime residents despise the nickname "Cali"

A-men.

[filamgirl618]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

San Diego's job market is pretty terrible right now.

Also, even though I'm an ex-Californian, most natives and longtime residents despise the nickname "Cali"

Oops. I didn't know that "Cali" was so despised. I think it's kinda cute, but then I guess that's how you differentiate from the non-Californians. Anyways, thanks for the heads up on their job market.

Originally Posted by Steve97415

Okay...you need the how-to-live-when-you're-just-starting-out lecture. I've given it a number of times, so I'm just going to copy it off another post I wrote in the Oregon forum:

Don't try and write your own ticket fresh out of school. When you buy your first home, you get a "starter home" -- often a disappointingly small house, a duplex or townhouse. Later on, you buy a "move-up home" and eventually your "dream house".
Cities are the same way. Fresh out of school, you need a good career-starter city: someplace that has a favorable compensation to cost-of-living quotient. You're right to presume that won't find that in California. ...After you've gained some job experience, saved some money and built some home equity that you can transfer, you'll be in a better position to make the sacrifices that come with picking and choosing exactly where you want to live.

It's a bubble-burster, I know. But the alternative is to throw yourself into a city where the salary-to-COL quotient is so low, that you'll never get ahead. You'll never be able to buy a house and you'll never be able to start a family because you'll be living paycheck-to-paycheck spending all of your money on rent and utilities and not having any discretionary income to sock away. Your choices are more limited when you're just starting out. Look for someplace with a lower cost of living than California. Some place in Texas or New Mexico might better suit your needs. After you build some transferable equity you can think about relocating to California. Personally, I wouldn't dream of moving to California with less than $200,000 in transferable equity as a starter nest egg.

Well, here's the thing about that. We're pretty much currently living from paycheck-to-paycheck seeing as at the current moment I'm a receptionist at a vet clinic and he's a server. I know that California's a big stretch but our choices were going for either NY, California, or Florida. I know all of them are a stretch but we're willing to work our way up. We're not expecting anything big and we're willing to live paycheck-to-paycheck until we can get to a point where we don't have to do that. I do understand your point of salary vs. COL...actually I think that's what I was trying to ask about in the first place. I'm very long winded but thanks for your advice.

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

California's proposed tax on veterinary care draws fire - Hundreds of veterinarians send letters to CVMA in protest to tax proposal - DVM

Yeah, I've actually heard about that, I just didn't know it was taking place in CA. In Kentucky right now we aren't worrying about the taxes, but I do understand the worry it triggers. That's actually making me re-think CA, so thanks for that.

[Twinkle Toes]

There are lots of people in CA. Not everyone's rich, and a lot of Californians are living paycheck-to-paycheck. If you like California, I'm sure you'll find your spot. If you live paycheck-to-paycheck, you won't be a novelty - there are lots of people just like you living here already. Don't be discouraged. You already said you didn't mind the paycheck-to-paycheck existence. Personally, I'd rather live in CA and be broke than to live anywhere else and be broke.

[smilinpretty]

Originally Posted by filamgirl618

Hi there. My husband and I are newly weds and we've kinda been contemplating our future. We're thinking about moving within the next 3 years or so and we were just wondering about Cali and the best cities to live in. I myself was thinking about San Diego since I will be completing school with a degree as a veterinary technician and I've heard that Cali has some of the best paid vet techs. As far as my husband, he'll be finishing school probably as a RN or something of that nature, so I'm fine with the fact that he'll be able to find a job no matter where we go.

We're not that picky, but we do want somewhere that's fairly warm. I'm not bias to a winter with possible snow, but seeing as we're from Kentucky (he's actually from Morocco), we'd appreciate weather that's much more predictable than here. As far as the neighborhood, we'd like it somewhat safe (as we'll probably be starting a family wherever we move to) seeing as the apartment complex we live in now is very shady. We also have a dog and three cats right now, but that could very well change within a couple of years, so we also want a place that is pet-friendly.

I guess what we're asking for is whether San Diego is the place for us and possible suggestions as to where else might be nice. As far as our budget, my mom will be helping us by giving us anywhere between 10-20 thousand for a down payment. Thanks.

What you need to do is visit San Diego and see if it is to your liking. The cost of living is high there and housing is expensive. Temecula which is 60 miles north of San Diego might be a better choice because housing is less expensive.
Best of luck,

[jaynetarzana]

The problem with the paycheck to paycheck plan is what happens when one or both of those paychecks decrease or go away altogether. A LOT of people are losing their jobs and people are not making a decent living in the service industry right now relying on tips, commissions etc... So then the taxpayers of CA will be supporting them via unemployment benefits. I wouldn't encourage anyone to move to California right now without some substantial savings and a very solid job with healthy benefits.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

San Diego's job market is pretty terrible right now.

Also, even though I'm an ex-Californian, most natives and longtime residents despise the nickname "Cali"

I was going to say the same thing. Cali is a city in Colombia, headquarters of the cocaine cartels.

It would be nice if geographically challenged people from out of state could avoid calling California the name of the cocaine capital of South America.

Do we call New York "Newie?"

Do we call Nebraska "Nebby?"

Do we call Tennessee "Tenny?"

You get the idea...


And don't call San Fransisco "Frisco." I'm not from there but I hear the locals hate it!