Thinking of re-locating to Silicon Valley from Chicago (San Jose: transplants, real estate)

[chicagodude01]

Currently, I work for Accenture (large tech consulting firm) in Chicago as Systems Administrator in a Software Quality Engineering group (primary skills are Windows/SQL 2005 Server admin for Web-based systems using IIS and troubleshooting issues raised by test team in those environments). My wife works in Chicago as an Executive Administrative Assistant for a commercial real estate company. We both want a change of lifestyle away from the midwest and the valley looks appealing. We have some in-laws out there and hope to meet people that way. My question is would we be able to find jobs based on our experience and is living near the big tech companies doable? We can afford $1400/month. I have 10 years experience in IT and the wife has about 5 years in administrative assistance. Thanks.

[DarezGhost]

I moved to the valley last year. I didn't come looking for a job, I had a few offers in different states already, but almost all of them were in relatively expensive parts of the US. I chose to pick an offer here because I wanted to be in a progressive society, which you generally associate with NoCal. Anyway, finding an apartment was a bit difficult. To give you an idea (and hopefully not discourage you too much), I had to allocate a $1500/mo budget for a small 1 bedroom apartment. That was sort of my upper limit, I was hoping to find something a bit lower but it was impossible to find anything close to my work place (within 10 miles) in that range. I did end up finding a good 1 br apartment for $1475/mo, and that too was only because the previous tenant of the apartment had to leave in the middle of their lease and the owner was trying to fill the spot ASAP, so she had this discounted price.

As for finding a job here, well personally I would never take such a step, i.e., move to an expensive place and then look for a job. In fact I would only consider moving here if I had a sure thing (a job offer in hand), and one which would give more than what I would get in another state to compensate for the increased cost of living. Also, note that right now a lot of companies, including the very well known top tech firms, are laying off people in large numbers. Those that aren't have hiring freezes. And it seems that this would continue until the economy picks up.

[krudmonk]

Yeah, don't relocate on a whim.

[hsw]

Would relocate after finding job in SV

Would argue more opportunities for wealth in SV than in Chic....more smart engineers and financiers starting new cos. than anywhere in world

QOL for hard-working guys is arguably best in world....near-perfect weather, great driving roads, some of best schools on planet (given IQ concentration/education focus of parents), easy proximity to SF for good grub (slightly weaker than Chic's best restaurants)...or LA/LV for a wkend trip, etc

Many Chic transplants in SV (many U-IL and U-MI engineering alumni)....it's a refreshingly cosmopolitan place

BTW, great deep-dish pizza in PA (Patxi's)....first thing I do when visiting Chic is get deep-dish pizza and take it to PeninsulaHotel, where staff is accustomed to many business travelers doing same thing

[MaikeerinWA]

Accenture has a lot of Bay Area employees. Have you looked into a transfer?

[mysticaltyger]

$1400 a month will get you a nice 1BR apartment. But you won't get a decent 2BR at that price (if you can find one at all). I would advise you to think long term. It doesn't sound like you have kids. Do you plan on having them some day? This is not a great area for people raising kids unless their incomes are in the 150K plus range. Even at that it often takes 2 incomes to hit that 150K, creating a rat race lifestyle where people spend all their time at work and not having any time to spend with their kids.

Even with house prices dropping, this is still an expensive area.

I'm not saying don't move here.....but try to think 5 or 10 years down the line.

[mysticaltyger]

[quote=mysticaltyger;7101572]$1400 a month will get you an ok 1BR apartment, but nothing luxurious. The key is to stay away from the large apartment complexes. Apartments are generally cheaper in San Jose than in other Silicon Valley cities, but it varies somewhat. You won't get a decent 2BR at that price (if you can find one at all). I would advise you to think long term. It doesn't sound like you have kids. Do you plan on having them some day? This is not a great area for people raising kids unless their incomes are in the 150K plus range. Even at that it often takes 2 incomes to hit that 150K, creating a rat race lifestyle where people spend all their time at work and not having any time to spend with their kids.

Even with house prices dropping, this is still an expensive area.

I'm not saying don't move here.....but try to think 5 or 10 years down the line.

And definitely don't move here without a job offer unless you enjoy living on the financial edge.