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I've lived in California (primarily Bay Area) for most of my life, earned a BA and Master's Degree along the way, and have been working as a professional librarian since 2007. I have a good stable job with a county system, and some of my immediate family and close friends are still here, but I'm soooo ready to leave!! The Bay Area has its ups and downs, but the "downs" are making me feel trapped and depressed... insanely high COL (I pay a whopping $2100/mo for a 1br duplex - and that's considered a "good deal" here), bad traffic, self-centered and entitled people, obsession with technology, boring weather, etc. I just can't take it anymore.
Recently one of my best friends, whom I originally met in Eugene Oregon 20+ years ago, has moved back there... she's been trying to talk me into joining her, and since we were roommates for 4 years not long ago, I know we make compatible housemates. So if/when I move there we'll get a place together, making the COL difference even greater (compared to here). So what's the problem? Problem is that despite my respectable $77K salary, I haven't saved squat because of the high COL. I'd get about $10,000 from work upon separation, for last 2 weeks of pay + unused sick and vacation (I have a ton), and another $2500ish from my current landlord. So maybe $12-13K total, which isn't going to sustain me that long without a job.
If I were unemployed or had a "low-skilled" job here, I'd just pack up and take my chances. But I can't give up 5+ years with the county, good benefits, retirement, etc, for an uncertain employment situation. And given the fact that I have a Master's in my field (MLIS), I also don't want to throw away the years and money I spent on education and building a career. I'd be willing to do something else for a short time, but eventually need a library or school job, and so far I can't find anything. I've been applying and interviewing long-distance for a while now, but in my experience it's always easier to get hired as a local. And unfortunately I'm limited on what other jobs I could take, due to some physical issues that eliminate things like retail or manual labor.
Sorry this is so long, but you need to understand where I'm coming from to offer advice - as people who don't know the details are always like "move and find a job at a bookstore!" or something else that's just not feasible. I'm quite good with computers and writing, though, so I could do general office/clerical work for a time. But what if I NEVER find that library/school job? Then I've given up my whole career, unless I want to relocate again, making the original move from here pointless. Argh. So what would you do in my situation?
P.S. I'm a 40 (almost 41) year-old single woman with no children, and fine with that for now. I'm sociable in general, but well beyond the need for "partying" or a super active social life.
P.P.S. I might be able to get a substantial sum of money (80-100K) from my father for a house, since that's already been offered as a down payment here; but it would ONLY be for that purpose, and if I used it here in the Bay, I'd still be unable to afford the mortgage. In a place like Eugene, I could put maybe 30-50% down on a duplex, and rent out the other side to help with monthly payments.
Why not send resumes to potential employers in Eugene and get started on a job search there?
I have been looking and applying for jobs up there, but my profession doesn't really allow for cold-sending of resumes... it's almost entirely public service or school district jobs, where you have to wait until an opening is announced, and then go through their usual application process.
I actually did apply with Eugene Public Library about a year ago, when they announced THREE openings for reference librarians. Got a phone interview, but didn't make it to the next round... which is unusual for me, but phone interviews (I've only done a few) are kinda awkward. If only they'd invite me for an in-person interview, I would have a MUCH better chance! Unfortunately not much else has opened since then, although I do have an application pending with Corvallis/Philomath (about 40mi north of Eugene).
I guess the "TL/DR" version is this: I have a good job here in the Bay Area, and can't find appropriate work in places where I want to move... so I can't relocate without a new (and relatively equivalent) job lined up, but have yet to find one, and am going a bit crazy in the meantime.
I grew up in CA, moved away to WA, then TN, then back to WA, then back to CA.
I have owned real estate in both states.
It's really important for you to understand that property is taxed way differently in CA than most other states. In CA, your taxes - forever - are based on your sales price. This is due to Prop 13, which went into effect many, many years ago.
Property taxes are generally much higher everywhere else.
So, when you look at all of your options, keep this in mind, too.
Have you researched corporate jobs that could use MLS? There must be some! Seems like marketing research, HR compensation specialist, Organizational Training and development might all be areas you where could transition your skill set. In my former career I would have hired a promising candidate with your degree in my HR compensation team. I needed detail minded analytical researchers with great people skills. I hired candidates with a variety of degrees.
I've lived in California (primarily Bay Area) for most of my life...
I have a good stable job with a county system...
but the "downs" are making me feel trapped and depressed... insanely high COL
P.S. I'm a 40 (almost 41) year-old single woman with no children... I'm sociable in general
The PS should be the headline.
You need to share a larger place with someone who earns at least as much as you do...
and by that to align your housing costs with your income. Target 25% of net income.
You should be doing that anywhere you might live but in a high COL area especially.
You need to share a larger place with someone who earns at least as much as you do...
and by that to align your housing costs with your income. Target 25% of net income.
You should be doing that anywhere you might live but in a high COL area especially.
She's going to have a difficult time doing that in the Bay area. Her rent outlay won't change much if at all.
She's going to have a difficult time doing that in the Bay area.
Her rent outlay won't change much if at all.
I'm aware. But it's still a valid target and if choices are being made they should reflect it.
After funding the several pretax retirement account options available...
the WEEKLY net should still be able to cover the MONTHLY housing costs (incl utilities).
If circumstances require paying more... be fully conscious what other choices you can't make.
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