Sacramento, CA-Could it be?! (Stockton, Davis: ski resorts, real estate, apartment)

[lukeache]

Hi all:

Me and my fiance are considering a move out of Minneapolis/St Paul area mainly because of the cold weather. I love it here but she cannot take the cold anymore due to health problems. I have researched many "warm cities" and honestly, they are mostly crap. I have lived in Houston, Albuquerque and Phoenix and honestly I do not think she would adjust well to any of these cities. I have been to CA many times and although I love it there, the cost of living in LA, SF and SD is a major turn off. I just recently started learning more about Sacramento and from what I have gathered, it might actually be the place we are looking for, here what we are looking for:

-Relatively affordable homes- I did some research on homes in Sac and they are just a bit more expensive than here in Minneapolis. If the place is really good, I would not mind paying a bit more

- Good job market-We are both college graduates- She in HR and I work in the financial sector, I am looking for a city where I can start my MBA part time and also find some decent financial jobs (financial analysis/management) I am not expecting Sac to be Wall Street but we need a city with a good job market.

-Nice weather all year round- This is probably the most important factor.

-Skiing- I am an avid skier and I could not live without it. I was actually feeling bad about moving to Houston because I would have to fly somewhere to ski and that would suck. I understand the drive from Sac to Lake Tahoe isnt too bad, that would be like a dream coming true.

If you think Sac might be the place for us, let me know and I will schedule a visit right away and see what I think of it. Thanks!!

[GLS]

Originally Posted by lukeache

Hi all:

Me and my fiance are considering a move out of Minneapolis/St Paul area mainly because of the cold weather. I love it here but she cannot take the cold anymore due to health problems. I have researched many "warm cities" and honestly, they are mostly crap. I have lived in Houston, Albuquerque and Phoenix and honestly I do not think she would adjust well to any of these cities. I have been to CA many times and although I love it there, the cost of living in LA, SF and SD is a major turn off. I just recently started learning more about Sacramento and from what I have gathered, it might actually be the place we are looking for, here what we are looking for:

-Relatively affordable homes- I did some research on homes in Sac and they are just a bit more expensive than here in Minneapolis. If the place is really good, I would not mind paying a bit more

- Good job market-We are both college graduates- She in HR and I work in the financial sector, I am looking for a city where I can start my MBA part time and also find some decent financial jobs (financial analysis/management) I am not expecting Sac to be Wall Street but we need a city with a good job market.

-Nice weather all year round- This is probably the most important factor.

-Skiing- I am an avid skier and I could not live without it. I was actually feeling bad about moving to Houston because I would have to fly somewhere to ski and that would suck. I understand the drive from Sac to Lake Tahoe isnt too bad, that would be like a dream coming true.

If you think Sac might be the place for us, let me know and I will schedule a visit right away and see what I think of it. Thanks!!

While I certainly wouldn't "schedule a trip right away", there are many attributes to recommend the Sac area. I emphasize area because towns 15 to 30 miles outside Sac might match your needs better. If weather is your most important factor, i.e. you want to visit snow, but your fiance doesn't want to be cold, check out the foothills. You can get to the first ski resort in about an hour from Auburn on I-80. If your skills require more challenging slopes, Squaw Valley is about 2 to 2.5 hours from Auburn depending on traffic. Don't try Friday afternoon. If you want to ski south Lake Tahoe, look at Placerville. The drive to Heavenly is about an hour. Again, don't try Friday afternoon. In the summer, Sac is certainly better than the oppressive humidity of Houston. However, it is hot! Too hot for me. Did I mention it was HOT!!!

In terms of your other requirements, SAC is an excellent job market for the background you described. Being the State capital, there are numerous jobs in government, even with some anticipated cut-backs. Also, large hospital systems like Sutter, Mercy, UC Davis, can always use talented HR professionals.

I saved housing for last. SAC housing is in an absolute crisis. The Sac/Stockton area is currently the worst for foreclosures in the nation. If you are coming here for a 2 year MBA an plan on moving, I would rent. However, if you plan on staying for at least 5 years, you will never get a better opportunity to buy a house than now. Without being insensitive to the plight of many hard-working people losing their homes (and a few greedy "flippers" whom I hope get screwed), the SAC housing market downturn could represent a once-in-a-lifetime investment. Familiarize yourself with Adam Smith's "invisible hand" and the concept of creative destruction. You will be one step of your colleagues in your MBA program.

Good luck!

PS Considering the fact that my 401K is now a 101K, there will be a
"decent financial job opening for you at Merrill Lynch if my broker walks
in front of my car.

[lukeache]

GLS, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Actually, I am very familiar with Adam Smith's theories and the concept of creative destruction, I was an Economics major and those concepts were beat into my head many times over. As far as purchasing a home, I am thinking at least 2 years, with the subprime mortgage meltdown and the credit crunch crisis, I anticipate that it will take at least another two years for things to go back to normal. If we could buy a house in Sac when the market finally bottoms out, it could be a great investment indeed. Something to think about.

[Kingsnkali]

As an ex-Minneapolitan, take it from me, you will love Sacramento weather!

Sure, there will be some hot spells in summer. There will be some soupy fog days in the winter.

And there will also be about 320 days a year that are simply wonderful. We are just now coming off the peak fall leaf colors in Sacramento. Lots of leaves to rake yet. We are bracing for our upcoming 2 month "winter" ahead. Then we get the lawn mowers back out in early February to cut the green grass.

Plus, if you get a Minnesota urge to see snow or put on your winter clothes, just drive for an hour or two up the hill and jump into a snowbank or go skiing around Tahoe.

[lukeache]

Originally Posted by Kingsnkali

As an ex-Minneapolitan, take it from me, you will love Sacramento weather!

Sure, there will be some hot spells in summer. There will be some soupy fog days in the winter.

And there will also be about 320 days a year that are simply wonderful. We are just now coming off the peak fall leaf colors in Sacramento. Lots of leaves to rake yet. We are bracing for our upcoming 2 month "winter" ahead. Then we get the lawn mowers back out in early February to cut the green grass.

Plus, if you get a Minnesota urge to see snow or put on your winter clothes, just drive for an hour or two up the hill and jump into a snowbank or go skiing around Tahoe.

Thanks for your reply, Kings. It is nice to hear this from a fellow Minnesotan. I absolutely love Minnesota but when I fantasize about not having to deal with the winter and still be able to go skiing, it almost seems unreal. I have lived in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas but ended up moving back to Minnesota because I always found the quality of life to be much better here. I am still doing my research on Sac but I like what I have heard so far.

[DMenscha]

Sacramento is NOT the worst in the nation for foreclosures, Stockton is. Stockton has 31 foreclosures per 1000 homes or 3.1% of the homes there. Sac is still up there, but facts can be your friend

[GLS]

Originally Posted by DMenscha

Sacramento is NOT the worst in the nation for foreclosures, Stockton is. Stockton has 31 foreclosures per 1000 homes or 3.1% of the homes there. Sac is still up there, but facts can be your friend

Not to argue with a real estate professional, but please re-read my post. I specifically said: "The Sac/Stockton area is currently the worst for foreclosures in the nation." This acknowledges the city of Stockton as #1, but also accounts for current trends in the suburban sprawl which makes it hard to divide exactly where the Sac AREA ends and Stockton begins. Elk Grove is rapidly catching up with Stockton, and the trend for "South Sac" and the Natomas area where I have an apartment is only one or two ARM adjustments behind. Now what was that you said about facts being your friend?

[KidBlue]

I think Sacramento would meet all of your needs. Coming from St. Paul, the weather will seem nice even in the winter. The skiing is excellent, but can be icy until January and February and some ski areas are only about a 1.5 hour drive away.

Another plus for Sacramento is that the California State University, Sacramento offers both a regular four-year MBA program and an executive program (costs more but only takes about a year). I received my MBA from CSUS and found the program to be a good one. The program was ranked number 24 in the nation the year I graduated.

Being in the financial sector, you may want to check out State jobs, particularly the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). You can make pretty good money if you earn your CFP in addition to your MBA and they usually have openings. PERS operates like a combo state agency and private agency so the benefits and location are very nice.

Good luck.

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by lukeache

Hi all:



- Good job market-We are both college graduates- She in HR and I work in the financial sector, I am looking for a city where I can start my MBA part time and also find some decent financial jobs (financial analysis/management) I am not expecting Sac to be Wall Street but we need a city with a good job market.

-Nice weather all year round- This is probably the most important factor.

-Skiing- I am an avid skier and I could not live without it. I was actually feeling bad about moving to Houston because I would have to fly somewhere to ski and that would suck. I understand the drive from Sac to Lake Tahoe isnt too bad, that would be like a dream coming true.


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If you end up in Sacramento, check out the website for job openings with the UC Davis Health System at UC Davis Health System, Human Resources. You will likely find positions for which you are qualified. On occasion, your wife may find a position in HR as well.

I know you will find the weather in Sacramento to be a big improvement over the weather in Minnesota. We have mild winters in the Sacramento area. Summers can be hot, but we have little or no humidity.

From anywhere in the Sacramento area, you will have a relatively short drive to numerous ski resorts In the Sierras east of Sacramento.