Is SJ worth trying? (San Jose: apartments, for rent, house)

[staples4paper]

Hi, I'm new to the forum...

I'm seriously considering a move to San Jose - SV, back to the U.S. (don't have an offer though). I currently live in Spain, where I studied and lived for some long years now. I'm married and have two kids. We both want a change.

I work in the tech business and am not suffering the suffocating crisis, yet am a bit stuck to the position.

Would it be too difficult to land a job before crossing the ocean? Have a BS and some years work experience.

How is life for kids? Public or private schools?

Any comments welcome!

Cheers

[Snort]

I had a job offer when I moved back to the U.S. from Spain 10 years ago. I'm not in the same field as you are, but you can go to the websites where you'll find your type of employment and then ask to have an interview by phone.
I'll also be working in San Jose, as I just got a new job there. Rents are pretty expensive compared to much of the U.S. and even compared to most places in CA. Have a look at craigslist.

[gone down south]

Tech is hiring like crazy here, but I'm not sure I would gamble with a wife and kids.
Maybe at least have some solid leads, make a visit or two to the area, before making any decisions.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by staples4paper

Hi, I'm new to the forum...

I'm seriously considering a move to San Jose - SV, back to the U.S. (don't have an offer though). I currently live in Spain, where I studied and lived for some long years now. I'm married and have two kids. We both want a change.

I work in the tech business and am not suffering the suffocating crisis, yet am a bit stuck to the position.

Would it be too difficult to land a job before crossing the ocean? Have a BS and some years work experience.

How is life for kids? Public or private schools?

Any comments welcome!

Cheers

This is a tough place to raise kids because of the high housing costs (either renting or owning). It's excacerbated by the fact that the schools are lousy...so renting/owning in a good school district is even more expensive. It typically takes 2 full time professional incomes in order to afford a bland 3BR tract house here. Unless you are earning 200K per year or more, you are probably not going to be able to afford private school, and even then money will probably be tight.

[staples4paper]

Thanks for the feedback.

OK, sounds good from the job perspective...

Now for housing, we're used to living in a tiny apartment here (about 750 sq ft - not so strange around here). We would like something quite bigger though...

It's excacerbated by the fact that the schools are lousy...

I'm most probably not going to reach those 200k... I guess you're referring to lousiness in public schools... what's the matter with them over there? I've been checking stats here on city-data and don't find a major issue...

[Snort]

For schools: California School Performance Maps
For apartments, craigslist, of course, and you can supplement by looking at the map given on:
Apartments for Rent - PadMapper Apartment Search for Oodle, Apartments.com, Rent.com, Kijiji, and Craigslist Apartments

What I like about the area is you have a number of very nice dowtowns in a variety of towns here, and you're close to "the city", which is less than an hour away by car from almost anywhere in the South Bay.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by staples4paper

Would it be too difficult to land a job before crossing the ocean? Have a BS and some years work experience.

If you were a US citizen, it would not be difficult at all.
I imagine as an immigrant, it would be more difficult to line up the H1-B, but nowadays it should still be possible because a lot of companies here are bringing in international workers to fill the demand.

[staples4paper]

Originally Posted by Snort

For schools: California School Performance Maps
For apartments, craigslist, of course, and you can supplement by looking at the map given on:
Apartments for Rent - PadMapper Apartment Search for Oodle, Apartments.com, Rent.com, Kijiji, and Craigslist Apartments

Wow, those links are awesome, helpful!
The area is a bit expensive yup...

Originally Posted by 80skeys

If you were a US citizen, it would not be difficult at all.

This is the case . Though I have to calculate like if I were the only income source, cause my spouse's English is a bit weak yet.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by staples4paper

Wow, those links are awesome, helpful!
The area is a bit expensive yup...


This is the case . Though I have to calculate like if I were the only income source, cause my spouse's English is a bit weak yet.

Not an issue around here.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

Not an issue around here.

Yup. Fluent King's English is something of a rarity around here. Which makes it that much more of a plus when trying to secure employment.