What do I need to know about Relocating to California??? (San Jose: real estate, apartment)

[Amanning007]

I am a single mother of one. I currently live in CT, and despise the snow. I am looking for an area that has decent industry, warm weather yearly with dry to nil humidity.

Also, any information that anyone can provide on the sitting for the CPA exam in CA or Accounting firms, preferable small ones would be great. I am trying to make this as painful as possible and know next to nothing about life in California.

I am looking for information about elementary school systems, private and public. I am also looking for data about Housing markets, inflation, and the relative Cost of Living. CT is expensive, but we have a fairly decent Housing Market.

Anywhere anyone can point me, I appreciate it thanks.

[SportyandMisty]

The greater Silicon Valley area includes many great places to live, and some that suck. Public Schools in California tend to not suck relative to public schools back east. Fortunately, there are exceptions, and some of the best schools in the state are right here. If you can afford it, evaluate Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga & Los Gatos. Expect to pay from about $1.25 M to $5 M. If that is out of your price range, then look at the communities of Mt. View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Fremont, Campbell and sections of San Jose. You will find many fine neighborhoods that are more affordable.

For Elementary school, some of the better school districts line up with the pricier communities. Some great private schools include the Harker School, Castilleja, Hillbrook, Menlo, Pinewood, etc.

Your best bet is to contact a few real estate agents to ask more detailed questions.

The weather: it will dip below freezing at night several nights/year. Summertime highs: typically in the 90s but every now and then will break 100. The humidity is no where near as crushing as New England, but it isn't Las Vegas either. If you want "dry to hil humidity" you won't find it here. What you will find here is actually pretty nice compared to CT. If you want single digit humidity, you need the desert.

HTH

[sonarrat]

1. The San Jose metro area has the highest median rent in the nation, at just a hair over $1500. If you plan to be a long-term renter and not buy one of the very expensive houses, you will spend more in the Silicon Valley than anywhere else in the USA.

2. Schools vary widely by area. Some are very nice with state of the art facilities, some are depressed in poor areas. All, however, have in common that they have experienced severe funding cuts. About 16% of parents in my particular ZIP code send their kids to private elementary/middle schools vs. public.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by SportyandMisty

The greater Silicon Valley area includes many great places to live, and some that suck. Public Schools in California tend to not suck relative to public schools back east. Fortunately, there are exceptions, and some of the best schools in the state are right here. If you can afford it, evaluate Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga & Los Gatos. Expect to pay from about $1.25 M to $5 M. If that is out of your price range, then look at the communities of Mt. View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Fremont, Campbell and sections of San Jose. You will find many fine neighborhoods that are more affordable.

For Elementary school, some of the better school districts line up with the pricier communities. Some great private schools include the Harker School, Castilleja, Hillbrook, Menlo, Pinewood, etc.

Your best bet is to contact a few real estate agents to ask more detailed questions.

The weather: it will dip below freezing at night several nights/year. Summertime highs: typically in the 90s but every now and then will break 100. The humidity is no where near as crushing as New England, but it isn't Las Vegas either. If you want "dry to hil humidity" you won't find it here. What you will find here is actually pretty nice compared to CT. If you want single digit humidity, you need the desert.

HTH

I think this is accurate, except for the weather. Summer highs here are typically in the 80s, not the 90s. San Jose averages 18 90F days per year. For 2010, we only had around 14 or so. Places like Mountain View, Sunnyvale, & Palo Alto are cooler than San Jose in summer. Places in South San Jose, Los Gatos, and probably Los Altos are a bit warmer.

Humidity is not desert low but definitely lower than in CT. Usually, when we have heat waves, the humidity is very low.

The main thing about this area is that the cost of living is tough, especially if you're a single parent. It pretty much takes 2 full time professional incomes in order to be able to afford a Plain Jane 3BR tract house in a mediocre neigborhood in San Jose (unless you've got lots of equity in from a home in CT).

Rent is also high, but is more affordable for many.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

1. The San Jose metro area has the highest median rent in the nation, at just a hair over $1500. If you plan to be a long-term renter and not buy one of the very expensive houses, you will spend more in the Silicon Valley than anywhere else in the USA.

2. Schools vary widely by area. Some are very nice with state of the art facilities, some are depressed in poor areas. All, however, have in common that they have experienced severe funding cuts. About 16% of parents in my particular ZIP code send their kids to private elementary/middle schools vs. public.

^^^^^I second what sonnarrat is saying here^^^^

It's true for pretty much all public services here. Cuts everywhere. Although there are pension reforms being made which are not good for public sector workers, but good for the taxpayers. But relief from budget cuts will still be several years away, at best. There will likely be tax/fee increases as well.

[Sharla May]

Hi there. I too am considering relocating. I'm not too savvy about doing this so if I'm posting incorrectly or in the wrong place please let me know. I am living in Oregon and want to relocate to the Paso/Templeton area. Job is waiting for us, two people. Won't be buying a house. Looking to rent, apartment or small house. Combined income will be about 40,000 to 45,000. No need to know about schools. Not too worried about crime. Most concerned about water/food quality. Main question is: Can we afford to live there even with our jobs? We have no debt. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Sorry I don't have a reply to the OP. As I said, I think I may be on the wrong page, let me know if so. Thank you, SM

[marcopolo666]

Well, first, you are posting in the San Jose forum. San Jose is about 160 miles from Paso Robles. *IF* there's a San Luis Obispo forum, you should ask your questions there.

Secondly, you are posting to a thread that is almost 3 years old, and adding nothing to the thread except "me too" - that is considered bad form, in general.

[Sharla May]

okay, thanks, good to know. I will try to correct these problems.

[JoeSV]

I'd also like to know.

Is the weather/humidity in San Jose like this:

The weather: it will dip below freezing at night several nights/year. Summertime highs: typically in the 90s but every now and then will break 100. The humidity is no where near as crushing as New England, but it isn't Las Vegas either. If you want "dry to hil humidity" you won't find it here. What you will find here is actually pretty nice compared to CT. If you want single digit humidity, you need the desert.

Or like this:

Summer highs here are typically in the 80s, not the 90s. San Jose averages 18 90F days per year. For 2010, we only had around 14 or so. Places like Mountain View, Sunnyvale, & Palo Alto are cooler than San Jose in summer. Places in South San Jose, Los Gatos, and probably Los Altos are a bit warmer.

Humidity is not desert low but definitely lower than in CT. Usually, when we have heat waves, the humidity is very low.

I hate the heat & humidity, and one of the things I was looking forward to in San Jose is the low humidity and year-round mild temperature, 80 F tops.......not the case?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Check the weather channels on the internet. We have some hot days, but mainly, it's really mild.