Would you do this relocation? NC to CA (Orange, Durham: renting, mortgage)

[pjnugget]

Originally Posted by Coloradomom22

If the new company pays for relocation (yes, you pay taxes on the moving costs of course) it's not that big of a risk to try it out. Kids are resilient and can easily move when they are young. If OP's kids are not yet in school then even if they try So Cal out and decide to move again their oldest probably won't be older than 6 or 7, not a tough age to move. If OP's kids were middle or high school I'd have a different opinion.

Recruiter said they would provide relocation assistance so that's what made it more attractive for us. At worst we would have to move back on our dime.

The main difference from doing our initial calculation and salary calculators end up our mortgage here vs bump in rent and putting 2 kids in daycare here vs no daycare in CA. It actually ends up being kind of a wash. This is assuming those web calculators are accurate. Unless I'm missing any other hidden fees in california.

[IonRedline08]

We moved to So Cal from SC last year and we love it here. Every place has its trade off's.. Here it's expensive and the traffic sucks.. Otherwise, we love everything else about it.

Taxes are certainly higher.. And like someone(s) said, live as close to work as possible, having a long commute will cost you a lot and will wear you down.

[convextech]

Originally Posted by pjnugget

Recruiter said they would provide relocation assistance so that's what made it more attractive for us. At worst we would have to move back on our dime.

The main difference from doing our initial calculation and salary calculators end up our mortgage here vs bump in rent and putting 2 kids in daycare here vs no daycare in CA. It actually ends up being kind of a wash. This is assuming those web calculators are accurate. Unless I'm missing any other hidden fees in california.

Taxes, food, cable, gas, EVERYTHING in California is more expensive.

[Stephy0519]

Originally Posted by convextech

Taxes, food, cable, gas, EVERYTHING in California is more expensive.

Not true. I moved from the Northeast (like OP said they did, originally) to SoCal. I'm a renter and I find rent comparable to NYC--slightly more expensive. Buying, is a different story. That absolutely is more expensive, without a doubt. But--since they said renting at first, great places can be found for good deal--you just have to dig and jump on things, as soon as they come out. I landed in a completely updated (wood floors, stainless steel) gated, over 800 sq foot apartment, with a private garage and utilities included, on the Westside in a GREAT area, for 2200. It can happen.

However--food is cheaper, way cheaper. Be it to buy from a store OR go out to eat. My car insurance went way down, from what it was. Internet and cable, even bundled, are cheaper. Gas is slightly more expensive--but Costco gas takes care of most of the difference.

Traffic is also nothing compared to a NYC tri-state commute. OP, you will find this easy if you are used to that.

While I don't have a family, I also took a job out here that was a big career and salary increase. I say go for it--as you said, you can always move back. And, since you will have gone up the career ladder, you will be more likely to find a job that would help you relo back East, anyhow.

[C24L]

I would not go thru with the move

[vision33r]

Originally Posted by convextech

Taxes, food, cable, gas, EVERYTHING in California is more expensive.

CA is ruined by the 1% and the 48% that don't pay any taxes.

[pjnugget]

Originally Posted by Stephy0519

Not true. I moved from the Northeast (like OP said they did, originally) to SoCal. I'm a renter and I find rent comparable to NYC--slightly more expensive. Buying, is a different story. That absolutely is more expensive, without a doubt. But--since they said renting at first, great places can be found for good deal--you just have to dig and jump on things, as soon as they come out. I landed in a completely updated (wood floors, stainless steel) gated, over 800 sq foot apartment, with a private garage and utilities included, on the Westside in a GREAT area, for 2200. It can happen.

However--food is cheaper, way cheaper. Be it to buy from a store OR go out to eat. My car insurance went way down, from what it was. Internet and cable, even bundled, are cheaper. Gas is slightly more expensive--but Costco gas takes care of most of the difference.

Traffic is also nothing compared to a NYC tri-state commute. OP, you will find this easy if you are used to that.

While I don't have a family, I also took a job out here that was a big career and salary increase. I say go for it--as you said, you can always move back. And, since you will have gone up the career ladder, you will be more likely to find a job that would help you relo back East, anyhow.

We do ALOT of our grocery shopping at those big box wholesale stores and we typically make dinners at home. On occasion, we will go out to eat but not alot, and occasional fast food when the wife and kids are at the park.

Tri-state commute is no joke, if it's less than that then I'm ok...doesn't other cities like ATL have big traffic problems too?

I'm searching on zillow and hotpads and I def see 3br rentals in AV/MV/Irvine for under $3k.

[Stephy0519]

Originally Posted by pjnugget

We do ALOT of our grocery shopping at those big box wholesale stores and we typically make dinners at home. On occasion, we will go out to eat but not alot, and occasional fast food when the wife and kids are at the park.

Tri-state commute is no joke, if it's less than that then I'm ok...doesn't other cities like ATL have big traffic problems too?

I'm searching on zillow and hotpads and I def see 3br rentals in AV/MV/Irvine for under $3k.

Costco is great out here--I find way better choices than back east. Farmer's markets are also year round, out here, and are GREAT for cheap fresh veggies and meat (although meat is more expensive there, as it's usually grass fed, locally raised.) If you do occasionally fast food...you can't get much cheaper than In-N-Out.

The freeways have times they can suck, but I've never sat on them, not moving, for 20-30 minutes, like you do for literally no reason back east (like anywhere, if there is an accident, that's a different story.) If you do live further from your job, see if you can work it in to either get in earlier/leave earlier or get in later/leave later. Either way, you can do it, easily, if you did the tri-state.

Check westside rentals and apartments.com, too. That's where I found my current place--I have awesome landlords and love my place.

[slamont61]

Originally Posted by pjnugget

Money isn't everything...neither is a 2500+ house. I don't know, I guess when we first got married and went on honeymoon in Hawaii, we wanted to move there...we just knew that wasn't practical without jobs.

We then were deciding between NC and CA to move from the Northeast and we got an opportunity in NC but CA was always our first choice.

I wasn't looking for a job in CA...a recruiter reached out to me and I decided to go for it...now I'm in the final stages of the interview process with a realistic shot of getting job.

The other part that is lost is that this is also a really good step up in my career. If we move and don't like CA, me accepting this job could potentially open up many more doors in my industry and I can always take that experience and move back to a LCOL area.

I will take everything posted on here under consideration before making a final decision.

Sometimes you just have to follow your heart. Opportunity doesn't knock often.


I'm no stranger to relocation. It surely can work. Best of luck.

[ackmondual]

Originally Posted by pjnugget

Haha, didn't even think to put North Korea in consideration. That's def going under the con.

I see what you did there