Where are silicon valley companies moving? (Modesto, Orange: houses, school districts, quality of life)

[Wintermomma]

Originally Posted by mdwstrnkid

You should check out Boulder, Colorado. Here's a recent NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/bu...14boulder.html

I lived in Boulder for six years (got a PhD at CU) and loved it there.

I was also going to say Boulder, and it's so lovely. It also seemed that aside from SV, every other job in that Dh looked at was Houston, TX. I don't do Texas weather so we never pursued further.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by dan596821

Right now, my top choice to relocate is portland. Just have to live with the rain.
I've lived in Austin. It's way too hot, and I don't like the political climate.
My sister lives in Denver. It's too cold. I don't like exercising at altitude.
Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill seems nice. Probably my #2 choice.

I've lived in the San Jose, Eugene (Portland) and Raleigh areas. Have you posted in each of those forums to get a reaction? Portland is an interesting city, but I don't think it's doing well as a tech center. The few major companies are just holding on. Raleigh is very much a pharma/bio-tech center. I know there are some computer startups in RTP. I was surprised at how many biotech firms there are versus hitech.

[dan596821]

Hey zitsky. Thanks for the info. I haven't posted in other forums yet. I'll try the Denver one next. Thanks for the biotech info about Research Triangle. Didn't know that.

[dan596821]

Boulder / Denver looks better everyday.

[hsw]

Depends on specific type of tech but many cos., both BigTech and start-ups, stay HQd in SV for various economically rational reasons

Vast majority of world's smartest engineers want to live&work in region, both for its superb QOL and maximal career liquidity if want new employer or want to start own co.
Most of world's top VCs are on SandHill Rd and often prefer to invest in start-ups within 30mins drive, and BigTech often prefers to buy SV start-ups for easier diligence and integration

Examine where world's most valuable BigTech cos. are HQd and where are most promising start-ups that BigTech continually buys
Bos region hasn't created a valuable tech co. in decades and has a puny tech industry, nor has Seattle (or MSFT alums) created anything of significance in 15yrs since AMZN...let alone lesser regions like SD or Irvine or Austin

Tech is a high profit margin industry w/high-income engineers (many of whom are Stanford or Berkeley or IL alums) who probably demand SV location more than COL-obsessed workers not seeking career liquidity, upward mobility and potential equity upsides...but true low-IQ, grunt engineering and back-office stuff can easily be offshored to even cheaper Bangalore anyway...much like Apple makes all its stuff in China, but engineers all work in Cupertino and live in PaloAlto area

[dan596821]

Hsv, many good points hsv, but I've already been with one small business that made a decent amount of money. Don't want to have to spend all the money on a house. If my startup fails, I want to have enough money leftover to try to start another one. Don't want to live in a community where it takes 200k/yr and many years for down payment to afford a good house.

I would consider moving to a silicon valley commuter city to start my business. Which cities can you get a modern 5 bedroom house for 300-500k w/ good public schools?

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by dan596821

Hsv, many good points hsv, but I've already been with one small business that made a decent amount of money. Don't want to have to spend all the money on a house. If my startup fails, I want to have enough money leftover to try to start another one. Don't want to live in a community where it takes 200k/yr and many years for down payment to afford a good house.

I would consider moving to a silicon valley commuter city to start my business. Which cities can you get a modern 5 bedroom house for 300-500k w/ good public schools?

No where.

[MtnSurfer]

I find this interesting in a number of ways. You are considering relocating your company both for a more affordable area and a nice place to live. Of course each company will define this last one differently based on corporate culture and demographics. I agree with your assesment of the areas in question. After living in Colorado and working in the High Tech industry I prefer the West Coast. This is not to say that the business climate is bad in CO. I just enjoy life on the West Coast more than living a mile high+, with significantly colder Winters and and longer snow season starting in Sept. lasting into April and May. That is how long the lakes and trails are frozen in the Rockies. Many ppl tend to hibernate during snow season basically going from work, to the gym, to the store, then home. You can't going skiing every day, its too far. And many locals don't ski anyway. Plus the cold is bone chilling, much more so than the CA mountains. It's a quality of life issue really and no place is perfect.

I recommend Portland. The Silicon Forest is a great place to do business. Plus you have the beauty of the PNW right at your doorstep. With the Gorge, Mt. Hood and the rugged PNW coast it's an awesome location for outdoor activity and natural beauty. We almost moved there after living in CO. But proximity to family brought us back to CA. Another consideration is Vanvouver, WA right across the bridge from Portland. We have family who moved there from CA and love it. Also there is no state income tax in WA.

Derek

[dan596821]

California business relocation list
The Business Relocation Coach: Updated Again: California's Hostile Business Climate -- 129 'Business Disinvestments' (http://thebusinessrelocationcoach.blogspot.com/2010/05/updated-again-californias-hostile.html - broken link)

The Orange County Register likes to report on all the companies leaving california.
http://jan.ocregister.com/2010/05/13...springs/37271/

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by dan596821

Hsv, many good points hsv, but I've already been with one small business that made a decent amount of money. Don't want to have to spend all the money on a house. If my startup fails, I want to have enough money leftover to try to start another one. Don't want to live in a community where it takes 200k/yr and many years for down payment to afford a good house.

I would consider moving to a silicon valley commuter city to start my business. Which cities can you get a modern 5 bedroom house for 300-500k w/ good public schools?

How about Scotts Valley? What a great location. Better than the SV in terms of natural beauty and access to the coast. Yet not far from the center of things.

Check Redfin.

Derek