Headhunted from So Cal to NoVa (sales, real estate, car registration)

[Mint Sauce]

I got a call out of the blue back in September for a job offer in NoVa (Ashburn).

I currently live in Los Angeles & have never lived in or spent any significant time in NoVa, however I have family in the area & am open to the move.

The offer is attractive, however it's a contract to permanent position, no binding contract & it's been tough negotiating relocation costs. I'm surprised at the high cost of living in this area compared to LA considering there are no palm trees, beaches & dry temperate So Cal weather.

My current employer has been making sweeping job cuts & the few left in my department seem to think we have less than a year left in our jobs. Also, a few people who were laid off have been re-hired at a lower rate.

So far I have negotiated a slightly higher rate with some funds up front to cover moving costs. The rate would then be reduced to pay back the initial up front fee.

Any thought on the NoVa job market & sustainability?

[TechRider]

Originally Posted by Mint Sauce

I got a call out of the blue back in September for a job offer in NoVa (Ashburn).

I currently live in Los Angeles & have never lived in or spent any significant time in NoVa, however I have family in the area & am open to the move.

The offer is attractive, however it's a contract to permanent position, no binding contract & it's been tough negotiating relocation costs. I'm surprised at the high cost of living in this area compared to LA considering there are no palm trees, beaches & dry temperate So Cal weather.

My current employer has been making sweeping job cuts & the few left in my department seem to think we have less than a year left in our jobs. Also, a few people who were laid off have been re-hired at a lower rate.

So far I have negotiated a slightly higher rate with some funds up front to cover moving costs. The rate would then be reduced to pay back the initial up front fee.

Any thought on the NoVa job market & sustainability?

I think you will get more specific responses if you include the job type or profession etc

[Mint Sauce]

Video, home entertainment.

[Ben 'n Jen]

Ugh...this is a tough answer to give, but I'm gonna give it a go.

We relocated from Cali to Nova, and comparing the two, I have to go with Cali...and before the bashing starts, I'm an eastern native.

Were we happier in Cali...Yes...but...there are things about Nova we like more. 4 seasons, the foilage, proximity to family, schools, housing. But the DC metro area is congested as bad as LA. Not as many people, but the road infrastructure here isn't as efficient as LA's. Tax rates in Nova are higher for real estate and personal property. There's much more outdoor activity in Cali, Bear Mountain, beaches, the desert.

The job market here is obviously govt-focused. Anything outside of that is just as risky as anywhere else in the country. However, with the constant influx of govt people, DC will always have a big need for retail businesses to support the large govt population. So there's probably a better chance that a commercial business will thive here as compared to other areas.

[Caladium]

Job market here is better than most other areas of the country, but that's mostly for government, medical or research type jobs. I don't know anyone in the home entertainment business here in Nova, so I can't say for certain how the job security in that field is here. You might have better job security in California since that's where Hollywood is.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Ben 'n Jen

But the DC metro area is congested as bad as LA. Not as many people, but the road infrastructure here isn't as efficient as LA's. Tax rates in Nova are higher for real estate and personal property. There's much more outdoor activity in Cali, Bear Mountain, beaches, the desert..

Yeah but you're not tripping over 30 million other people when you're doing the outdoor activities around here. I think CA car registration is just about as high as personal property tax, particularly on older model cars. Sales and income taxes in CA are about double what they are here. This area is a heck of a lot more beautiful than Southern California, at least to me. The job market is much better in Northern VA. CA is in meltdown mode. Get out while you can.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I think CA car registration is just about as high as personal property tax, particularly on older model cars.

That was the case for us, we paid less after we moved here. California does have the beach, though. If you love love love the beach you might think twice about how you;d feel living several hours away from the ocean.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I don't know anyone in the home entertainment business here in Nova, so I can't say for certain how the job security in that field is here.

I'd say Blockbuster= not so good. Best Buy and HH Gregg seem to be doing ok.

[Ben 'n Jen]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Yeah but you're not tripping over 30 million other people when you're doing the outdoor activities around here. I think CA car registration is just about as high as personal property tax, particularly on older model cars. Sales and income taxes in CA are about double what they are here. This area is a heck of a lot more beautiful than Southern California, at least to me. The job market is much better in Northern VA. CA is in meltdown mode. Get out while you can.

I was an opinion dude, from someone who's lived in both areas. No need to quote a post and start arguing points.

[Mint Sauce]

Thanks for the responses!

I'd say it's in melt down mode here in Cali. My GF has struggled to find decent work & my current co-workers are all looking for ways out. So many people have been laid off in the entertainment industry & there are too many people for too few jobs. It's defiantly a case of get out while we still can, save up some cash & plan the next stage, maybe back in CA in a few years or who knows... Life's an adventure, right?

I should have my job sorted out this coming week & we'll work on housing & a PT job for my GF.

We're used to the road congestion of LA, but I plan to live close to work to eliminate as much of the commuting as possible so I have more leisure time. I do mountain biking, kayaking, work out, snow-boarding & she dances, equestrians among other activities, although we're not looking forward to the humid summer...