Questions about relocating to Monterey-Pacific Grove-Carmel in 2012!!

[SmoothBBQ]

I agree with MtnSurfer that you should have at least one job lined up where you can show the property manager that you will have income coming in once you get here. Just like the job market is some what competitive here, so is the rental market. Prop managers can say no all day and still have a long list of applicants to go through. It wouldn't look as favorable to you in the prop managers eyes if under employment their isn't anything there. I wish you the best of luck and hope you're able to achieve your goal.

[sweetiebt]

Someone a few posts back said that Accountants do pretty well in Monterey? I am currently looking at Accountant jobs and finding nothing in the Monterey area, and the positions posted aren't great salary-wise! I really don't want to work in San Jose, but it seems like that is where all the jobs are. Where are these so-called accounting jobs?...haha

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by sweetiebt

Someone a few posts back said that Accountants do pretty well in Monterey? I am currently looking at Accountant jobs and finding nothing in the Monterey area, and the positions posted aren't great salary-wise! I really don't want to work in San Jose, but it seems like that is where all the jobs are. Where are these so-called accounting jobs?...haha

No one ever said it would be easy, especially compared to finding work in the larger metro areas like the Bay or San Jose. Of course you'll finding more work there. I do know people who have done well in finance/accounting in the Monterey area. Places like the Pebble Beach company are good to work at when they are hiring. Others are more entrepreneurial running their own buisinesses providing service to their own customers. This takes more time and effort to establish than your typical accounting job at corporation XYZ - plenty of those in San Jose however.

Derek

[Beccarose]

I currently live in Monterey, CA, and honestly when I moved to the bay area, I initially moved to Santa Cruz and could not find a job!! I'm an operating room nurse. There were tons of jobs in San Jose and Silicon Valley, but I did not want to live there. I found a job in Monterey and I am so happy because I love it here!! I do know the job situation is not the best, but there are jobs out there if you're willing to work outside of your area of specialty if you can't find a job (I was willing to even work in a restaurant, there are lots if I couldn't find a nursing job). I live on the border of Monterey and Pacific Grove, rent is not too bad, and I agree with you, silicon valley, SF area, the rent is much higher than Monterey Peninsula. My husband and I found a small house for the two of us and our small dogs. Pacific Grove and Carmel are the more expensive areas. There are other options for less rent options, Carmel Valley can be less, Monterey is less than PG and Carmel, and there is Seaside, Marina. I have heard from many people the PG and Carmel school districts are excellent (I'm sure that's why the rental prices are higher). I feel if you look hard enough, you will find something. But you need to have alternative options in case it doesn't work out, like other posters have said, there are many jobs in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which could be a good back up area.

[jaijai]

Originally Posted by Beccarose

I currently live in Monterey, CA, and honestly when I moved to the bay area, I initially moved to Santa Cruz and could not find a job!! I'm an operating room nurse. There were tons of jobs in San Jose and Silicon Valley, but I did not want to live there. I found a job in Monterey and I am so happy because I love it here!! I do know the job situation is not the best, but there are jobs out there if you're willing to work outside of your area of specialty if you can't find a job (I was willing to even work in a restaurant, there are lots if I couldn't find a nursing job). I live on the border of Monterey and Pacific Grove, rent is not too bad, and I agree with you, silicon valley, SF area, the rent is much higher than Monterey Peninsula. My husband and I found a small house for the two of us and our small dogs. Pacific Grove and Carmel are the more expensive areas. There are other options for less rent options, Carmel Valley can be less, Monterey is less than PG and Carmel, and there is Seaside, Marina. I have heard from many people the PG and Carmel school districts are excellent (I'm sure that's why the rental prices are higher). I feel if you look hard enough, you will find something. But you need to have alternative options in case it doesn't work out, like other posters have said, there are many jobs in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which could be a good back up area.

It's really nice (and refreshing) to hear from someone who moved somewhere and is happy with the choice!

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Beccarose

I currently live in Monterey, CA, and honestly when I moved to the bay area, I initially moved to Santa Cruz and could not find a job!! I'm an operating room nurse. There were tons of jobs in San Jose and Silicon Valley, but I did not want to live there. I found a job in Monterey and I am so happy because I love it here!! I do know the job situation is not the best, but there are jobs out there if you're willing to work outside of your area of specialty if you can't find a job (I was willing to even work in a restaurant, there are lots if I couldn't find a nursing job). I live on the border of Monterey and Pacific Grove, rent is not too bad, and I agree with you, silicon valley, SF area, the rent is much higher than Monterey Peninsula. My husband and I found a small house for the two of us and our small dogs. Pacific Grove and Carmel are the more expensive areas. There are other options for less rent options, Carmel Valley can be less, Monterey is less than PG and Carmel, and there is Seaside, Marina. I have heard from many people the PG and Carmel school districts are excellent (I'm sure that's why the rental prices are higher). I feel if you look hard enough, you will find something. But you need to have alternative options in case it doesn't work out, like other posters have said, there are many jobs in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which could be a good back up area.

Great post. I think you describes in many ways why ppl like living in smaller central coast towns like Monterey, Carmel, PG, Santa Cruz, etc... vs. the larger metros (LA, SF, SJ, OC, etc...). I've lived and worked in both and really prefer getting out of rat race. So any sacrifices in doing so are worth it for our family. I've been offered higher profile positions in SJ/SF. But the quality of life trade off is simply not worth it for us. However I do know ppl in my field (IT) who prefer the Silicon Valley for obvious reasons. One friend commutes into SJ from Monterey to work the large corporations (Oracle, Cisco, etc...). They let him telecommute some days. So its not quite as bad, still not my cup of tea.

Derek

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by scottfb

-I'm 52, my wife is 36.
-We have 2 small boys ages 7 and 15 months.

You go Scott!