Relo to San Jose from New Jersey (Santa Barbara: prices, housing)

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by meameame12

Fremont--again, dump. I tried--I really, really, really tried to like this place. I lied to myself, convinced myself, etc., but I need to say exactly what I think on this. a DUMP. Minus Mission area of course.

Originally Posted by meameame12

Yes--Sunnyvale was awesome, and truly, probably our 1st preference.

After 9 years in the Bay area I do not see a lot of difference between Sunnyvale and Fremont, except that Fremont is less crowded, slightly newer and has the Bart train to SF. Both places have great Indian food.

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by capoeira

After 9 years in the Bay area I do not see a lot of difference between Sunnyvale and Fremont, except that Fremont is less crowded, slightly newer and has the Bart train to SF. Both places have great Indian food.

I was also a little surprised about the OP's perception of Fremont. There definitely are some rundown neighborhoods in Fremont, although they're usually still perfectly safe. There are also may very nice areas as well. It's a somewhat large city with quite a few housing options.

[SportyandMisty]

To the OP -- I mean this with respect, and I do not mean to be flippant. Your compensation is not in line with your desired lifestyle in Silicon Valley.

It is reasonable to tell your employer that you'll require a compensation differential to relocate to this high-cost-of-living area.

To put things in perspective, I've had employees accept -- then turn around and say the compensation package just doesn't work after they went house hunting.

If you don't ask, you certainly won't get anything.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by SportyandMisty

If you don't ask, you certainly won't get anything.

Thumbs up on this. Do some research - find out what the average salary here is for your job title/duties, and if you're earning less than you need to speak out and make sure they pay you in line with it.

[ccm123]

Great advice.

Originally Posted by SportyandMisty

To the OP -- I mean this with respect, and I do not mean to be flippant. Your compensation is not in line with your desired lifestyle in Silicon Valley.

It is reasonable to tell your employer that you'll require a compensation differential to relocate to this high-cost-of-living area.

To put things in perspective, I've had employees accept -- then turn around and say the compensation package just doesn't work after they went house hunting.

If you don't ask, you certainly won't get anything.

[teoreticar]

I would move to Cali just for weather even if is same salary.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by teoreticar

I would move to Cali just for weather even if is same salary.

Totally. The weather is really great out here. I should say, for coastal California (along the coast and within about 20-30 miles inland.) Once you get farther inland the weather is not appealing.

[ceteague]

This area is older but lots of new business is moving in, New Industrial parks, New condos from there to Coyote valley and Morgan Hill. Amtrack is very close if your company has train shuttles. sorry, but the allergies will show up within a year. Grass everywhere. I would locate your better school districts and work from there. Use agents that live there. as long as the jobs are here your home will appreciate with the market even though the buy in is high.

[demograph]

Meameame12, this was a good trail to follow .. but any new updates to this story and any more insights you can share? thank you,

Originally Posted by meameame12

Thanks--I felt awful after I ranted. I calmed down after a few days, of extreme disappointment. Reality has now settled in...

weather is incredible, no question

[calicoastal]

Originally Posted by meameame12

Final thoughts on what we experienced:

houses for the most part are either SMALL, or having major issues, in one way or another, in desirable areas up to our price range of 800k. CRAP! You can buy a POS in a great neighborhood, or a MANSION--for the most part--in a DUMP. In short, we were scraping the bottom of the barrel.

I know how you feel, this was me a few years ago. If your budget is at the low end for an area, you are going to be sifting through a lot of bad foundations, weird layouts, makeshift additions, and so on. I finally went for a fixer upper and renovated it. I'm very happy now. The downside is that renovating is a pain. Anyway, don't dismiss the POS right off the bat, it could be a diamond in the rough. You get a lot of that in the Bay Area in large part because of Prop 13.