SLC or Tampa? Or stay in California? (Salt Lake City, Sandy: real estate, rental)
Salt Lake City areaSalt Lake County - Davis County - Weber County
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Hi, I'm new here but I need some advice. I will try and make this as short as possible, even though its quite complicated. Basically my husband and I have been living in Palm Springs, CA for the past 8 years. There are a few things we like but a lot of things we don't like about living here.
The pros: 2 hours away from family in my husbands hometown of San Diego, 1.5 hours away from LA, no snow, beautiful mountains and palm trees, and mild winters.
The cons: too small - Palm Springs is pretty much a vacation and/or retirement destination so me being in my early 30's, its VERY hard to meet people my age. The summers here are BRUTAL! I'm talking 120 degrees and when the monsoon season hits in Aug, that adds humidity to that 120 degrees. It NEVER rains; this is a desert! If you get one cloud in the valley, it makes the news, lol! No potential for job growth...none.
Which brings me to our current dilemma...should we move for a better job situation which could open more doors for us down the road? My husband has two offers; one in Salt Lake City and one in Tampa.
Salt Lake City: My husband and I both went to school in UT so we're already familiar w/ the city. We have family and friends there and we love spring and fall there and the mountains are beautiful - those are the pros. The cons...we hate driving in snow and we are well aware how depressing the winters can be there. I'm sure we could adapt but here's the biggie...the job there would pay $16K LESS than the Florida job.
Tampa: I know very little about this city other than what sports teams play there. We went to Miami a couple years ago but we've never been to Tampa (what are the differences/similarities between he two)? I do happen to have an old high school friend who lives in Tampa and he loves it so that's at least 1 person I know there, lol. I realize Florida will be a humid heat so we would be trading our extreme dry heat for humid heat. I did live in Houston for 4 years in the 90's so I am familiar w/ living in humid conditions. I really don't like either, to be honest. I've had miserable summers here just like I did in Houston. Tampa is bigger than SLC and much bigger than Palm Springs. The job opportunity there is a good one; great paying w/ great benefits.
So our options are: stay put in Palm Springs in a Valley we've outgrown, w/ no possibilities for job growth BUT near some great cities like San Diego/LA where we have family. OR take the Salt Lake job where we love the mountains and we know the area BUT for $16K less. OR take the Tampa job and move to a part of the country we are very unfamiliar with but for a better job w/ better pay and benefits.
Just a little about us: we like mountains but we don't ski - they just look pretty, lol. We love the beach. We like museums, sporting events, shopping, movies, trying out new restaurants, working out, meeting new people and socializing/going out. We also love to travel and sight-see. If anyone has any thoughts or any advice, I'd love any feedback. Thanks!!
I honestly think it depends on what climate and culture you are most likely to enjoy. If you can stand the humidity that comes with Tampa, and the flatness of the landscape in florida, then go for florida. I am very familiar with Palm Desert, and it is extremely hot in the summers. But as you said, you aren't far from the beaches to cool down. We moved from the Phoenix area to Draper a year ago, and I would take the snow over that raging heat any day. You can't go to the playground, you can't enjoy the out doors for like 5 months out of the year in that desert heat. At least in the Salt Lake area, you can bundle up and let the kiddos play outside, go for a walk, go sledding or tubing, etc.
The humidity of Florida is just simply not for me. I could not stand it. Based on 16,000 dollars a year less.... to me it would be worth it to have four seasons, and escape to Saint George in the winter some times to get away from the snow.
I am originally from Southern California, so I know the pain of deciding to leave there. However... as you said you have family there and can take vacations... so great escape from the snow if you want it.
I would avoid Florida like the plague. But that's just me. My Aunt moved to the Ocala area about 20 years ago, and she hates it there. She wants to sell her house and move back somewhere east of the Rockies, but she needs the housing market to get better before she can sell.
Utah has a lot to see, a lot to do. There is a night life, despite what people will tell you. It has a fun down town, and the TRAX system is fun, and you can make a night or a day of it that way.
If you can afford it, Park City is a great place to be, and would be great to live if you like the more artsy fartsy sort of culture.
Anyway good luck with your choice. I can't make it for ya, but if it were me, I'd pick Salt Lake and get out of Palm Desert. I know the retirement feel of the place that you are describing. It drives me nuts too
Well Ocala ain't Tampa. Totally different. But to the OP's question, SLC sounds like a better long-term solution, if you are worried that you can't grow in CA. At least in Utah, its possible to visit family in CA. FL is very far away. We moved to UT from FL and have relatives in CA and FL. Its far more expensive to fly to FL hence we see those relatives only once in awhile.
Well Ocala ain't Tampa. Totally different. But to the OP's question, SLC sounds like a better long-term solution, if you are worried that you can't grow in CA. At least in Utah, its possible to visit family in CA. FL is very far away. We moved to UT from FL and have relatives in CA and FL. Its far more expensive to fly to FL hence we see those relatives only once in awhile.
The humidity alone would make me pick SLC. Last evening, I was sitting on the patio, enjoying a cool breeze. Felt just perfect. Then I noticed it was 93 degrees. I refreshed the phone to be sure of that. Yep! But it was 8% humidity and it was delightful.
Hurricanes happen frequently but you get the advance warning. Earthquakes are VERY infrequent but there is no warning.
Me, you couldn't pay me enough to move to FLA.
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I forgot to add something to my original post...this job move will only be for a couple of years. To be exact, if we choose SLC it will be 2 years and if we choose Tampa it will be 3 years. I guess it could end up being longer if we choose to renew our contract there but as far as we know, SLC will only be for 2 years and then after that? Who knows. We'll have to see where life's journey takes us after that I guess.
I'm surprised no one mentioned to stay in California...that's what my mother-in-law wants us to do because she doesn't want us living so far away from her. BUT...you know what they say about mother-in-laws...so us living farther away wouldn't really bother me too much if you know what I mean, lol.
I want to thank everyone for your comments; good points were made and you guys have been very helpful, I really appreciated reading them...thank you! I think we'll be making our decision sometime next week so I'll let you guys know what we decide.
It's pretty clear that you're both ready to leave, and with two opportunities to choose from, now seems like the time.
Of course we're all biased here since it's the SLC forum, but a few things to consider:
1) $16k less is tough, but softened some when you consider that cost of living in Florida is higher than in Utah, even in SLC
2) Though I know your cons for SLC involve unchangeable things like weather, know that the Utah you are familiar with from college could be considerably different now. I don't know how long ago you both lived here, but SLC, in particular, has come a LONG way in the last 5 years. There's a profoundly more cosmopolitan dining scene, and cultural opportunities have increased as well.
3) I don't know where you lived when you were here before, but when I moved from a southwest suburb into SLC proper, I was shocked at the difference in the winters. It sounds strange, I know, that ~10 miles could make such a difference, but snowstorms that would require driveway shoveling and create a serious impact to driving in West Jordan/Taylorsville... barely made a dent in downtown SLC and Sugar House. I hated winter much, much less once I was downtown (and I abhor snow). In the 'burbs, there was nothing happening in the winter months but in SLC, there was still plenty going on around town, and I could use TRAX if I didn't want to drive.
When I was in college (years 1997-2001) I lived w/ my aunt who lives in Sandy. I didn't have a car so I had to take a couple different buses to get to the U ~ not my ideal way to travel to school, lol. I like Sandy and my grandparents live in Holladay. I have a brother who lives in Bluffdale and a lot of cousins who live in SLC; around the Sugar House area. If my husband and I choose the SL offer, we've talked about living downtown. We don't want to buy because this job will only be for 2 years so renting a fairly newer condo would fit us just fine. We don't have kids so we wouldn't need a lot of room and we wouldn't have to worry about schools.
You made some good points Zionide, thank you. The last time I was in SLC was spring of 2009 and the time before that was Thanksgiving 2004 so I know what you mean by how much the city has changed because even from the time between those two visits, I noticed the changes. I like it there more now than I did when I was in school. You know I was actually born in SLC! I lived there until I was 5 and then my parents moved us to Colorado but we would visit often.
We're still so torn...we can't even sleep at night because one day we'll lean towards Tampa and then the next we'll lean toward SL. And a part of us wouldn't mind staying in California near my husband's side of the family so we really do see the pros and cons of all options. This is just such a tough decision for us.
When I was in college (years 1997-2001) I lived w/ my aunt who lives in Sandy. I didn't have a car so I had to take a couple different buses to get to the U ~ not my ideal way to travel to school, lol. I like Sandy and my grandparents live in Holladay. I have a brother who lives in Bluffdale and a lot of cousins who live in SLC; around the Sugar House area. If my husband and I choose the SL offer, we've talked about living downtown. We don't want to buy because this job will only be for 2 years so renting a fairly newer condo would fit us just fine. We don't have kids so we wouldn't need a lot of room and we wouldn't have to worry about schools.
You made some good points Zionide, thank you. The last time I was in SLC was spring of 2009 and the time before that was Thanksgiving 2004 so I know what you mean by how much the city has changed because even from the time between those two visits, I noticed the changes. I like it there more now than I did when I was in school. You know I was actually born in SLC! I lived there until I was 5 and then my parents moved us to Colorado but we would visit often.
We're still so torn...we can't even sleep at night because one day we'll lean towards Tampa and then the next we'll lean toward SL. And a part of us wouldn't mind staying in California near my husband's side of the family so we really do see the pros and cons of all options. This is just such a tough decision for us.
I think SLC is much better, close enough to drive and spend a long weekend or something with the family. I posted in the tampa post too suggesting here.
Im just trying to live vicariously through you since im stuck here in Tampa lol
If you simply like the view but are not into outdoor sports, I'd go with Tampa. Cost of living is nearly identical and if you're getting more money then it's not worth the trade off IMO.
I like SLC better because I like the outdoor lifestyle. I like skiing, hiking, camping, travel, national parks etc. None of which you'll be doing (from what I understand.) I don't like driving in the snow either, but am willing to as a trade off for that particular lifestyle. However I don't think I'd consider driving in the snow for less money and a better view if I didn't do those things.
Tampa weather is nothing like the west at all. It's GORGEOUS for about 5 months out of the year. Then there are another 3 months that are pretty warm, but (to me) a comfortable warm and cool at night (60-70's.) The other 4 months are hot as hell (again I'm used to this.) The humidity is VERY similar to Houston IMO. The closer you are to the gulf, the more of a breeze you get and the heat doesn't bother you as much. Tampa has better restaurants, is very eclectic, fresh produce markets, fresh seafood, great fishing, better air quality and access to some of the most beautiful coastlines you can imagine. Northern Pinellas county, about 25 mins west of Tampa are great areas too: Palm Harbor, Dunedin and Safety Harbor. Plenty of homes under 250k and 10-15 to the beach.
SLC is more beautiful IMO, although that's all subjective of course. I know plenty of people who could care less about a mountain view. Travel wise I also prefer SLC because you can get to Vegas, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Moab, Zion, San Francisco etc...all fairly quickly by auto or plane. SLC also has better infrastructure and is a cleaner city than Tampa. The SLC population is very homogenous to me, one of my biggest complaints about the city. I like Tampa and (especially Miami) because there is a great blend of people there.
Miami is absolutely NOTHING like Tampa. Miami is an international city with a much higher cost of living, property taxes, home owner insurance and gets hit by hurricanes often, compared to Tampa which rarely does (by comparison.) While there is a large Latin population in Tampa, it is nothing compared to Miami. Some people hate Miami for this reason, but I think that's what gives the city it's flare (again, I like a big mix of people with a heavy Latin Influence.) There is a better breeze down there which helps offset the heat compared to Tampa IMO. Miami also has horrible traffic (think Houston traffic, but the drivers are blind folded and going 90 MPH.) Tampa would be MUCH EASIER to live in than Miami.
Real Estate has bottomed out in Tampa and you can get a lot of home for the money down here. IMO you can get a much nicer home in Tampa than SLC for the comparable price right now. Miami would be much higher and not even comparable. You can pay cash for a home down there and taxes/insurance would still be like having a mortgage. I still love Miami though and thinks it's an amazing city. Not sure if I could live there (I've thought about it trust me) but we visit as often as possible.
My house is under contract down here and closing in about two more weeks. After that I'll do a short term rental in St. Pete before moving back to SLC. We like Tampa, we really like St. Pete, we also love Miami, but the thought of clicking into some skiis and hitting that powder is incredible. The idea of backpacking up little cottonwood canyon in the summer gets us pumped up and ready to be there. But again, that's what draws us to SLC. If you're not into those things, then I'd take the money, no snow and enjoy Tampa.
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