Waiting for a job offer, not sure if I want to relocate (Seattle: real estate)

[Brodda]

I am waiting for a job offer from the Spokane area (Liberty Falls if you want to get specific). I m a hardware engineer and one of my concerns is if there are enough tech type jobs in the area. I'd hate to move from Boston (No jobs here by the way) and have something happen to the job and have to move yet again for work in a few years.

Also a few other questions if people feel like indulging me:

1) How many families in the area have stay at home moms? My wife is a stay at home and she gets board becasue every other mom in Boston has to work.

2) I'm debating moving to Spokane or Liberty Falls. Pros and cons of each area?

3) I know what the cost of living index says, but is it really that cheap to live in Spokane? It is saying that making $100K in Boston you only need to make $70-$75K in Spokane to have the same lifestyle.


Anyway thanks for reading this. I've been looking through the forum for a week now lurking, but the chance I'm going to be moving is getting frighteningly real.

[Swigchow]

Originally Posted by Brodda

I am waiting for a job offer from the Spokane area (Liberty Falls if you want to get specific). I m a hardware engineer and one of my concerns is if there are enough tech type jobs in the area. I'd hate to move from Boston (No jobs here by the way) and have something happen to the job and have to move yet again for work in a few years.

Also a few other questions if people feel like indulging me:

1) How many families in the area have stay at home moms? My wife is a stay at home and she gets board becasue every other mom in Boston has to work.

2) I'm debating moving to Spokane or Liberty Falls. Pros and cons of each area?

3) I know what the cost of living index says, but is it really that cheap to live in Spokane? It is saying that making $100K in Boston you only need to make $70-$75K in Spokane to have the same lifestyle.


Anyway thanks for reading this. I've been looking through the forum for a week now lurking, but the chance I'm going to be moving is getting frighteningly real.

!. Many, she will meet many other woman especially if you have kids. Also, most of the professionals are not natives but from Seattle, Cal, and East coast.

2. prob no difference. I am assuming you mean Liberty Lake. LL and Spokane are close enough to each other, not much difference. But closer to activites, other than work, if you live in Spokane, or at least Spokane Valley.

3. Cost of living should be much lower, including housing, in Spokane compared to Boston.


If you decide to move, make sure you hit all the fine Boston restaurants before you leave, since good eating is scarce here.

[Brodda]

Originally Posted by Swigchow

!. Many, she will meet many other woman especially if you have kids. Also, most of the professionals are not natives but from Seattle, Cal, and East coast.

2. prob no difference. I am assuming you mean Liberty Lake. LL and Spokane are close enough to each other, not much difference. But closer to activites, other than work, if you live in Spokane, or at least Spokane Valley.

3. Cost of living should be much lower, including housing, in Spokane compared to Boston.


If you decide to move, make sure you hit all the fine Boston restaurants before you leave, since good eating is scarce here.

1) We have a 1 year old, so I'm hoping that helps.

2) I did mean Liberty Lake, I went to edit it after I caught my mistake and it was to late. So if I want to be close to stuff to do then Spokane is my better bet?

3) I knew it was much less (I know it is hard to be higher), but I wasn't sure if it was 20%+ less expensive.


As for food, I'm not to picky. And let me tell you beeing allergic to Lob'sta in Boston makes it hard to eat out

[skinem]

1. Spokane has plenty of stay-at-home mothers from all social strata.
2. Spokane will be closer.
3. From my experiences in Boston, it may be greater than 20% cheaper...your taxes will be for sure. No state income tax...so far. Lower property taxes and fewer of them...again, so far.

[Infidel]

Originally Posted by Brodda

I am waiting for a job offer from the Spokane area (Liberty Falls if you want to get specific). I m a hardware engineer and one of my concerns is if there are enough tech type jobs in the area. I'd hate to move from Boston (No jobs here by the way) and have something happen to the job and have to move yet again for work in a few years.

Also a few other questions if people feel like indulging me:

1) How many families in the area have stay at home moms? My wife is a stay at home and she gets board becasue every other mom in Boston has to work.

2) I'm debating moving to Spokane or Liberty Falls. Pros and cons of each area?

3) I know what the cost of living index says, but is it really that cheap to live in Spokane? It is saying that making $100K in Boston you only need to make $70-$75K in Spokane to have the same lifestyle.


Anyway thanks for reading this. I've been looking through the forum for a week now lurking, but the chance I'm going to be moving is getting frighteningly real.

1) This is a big conservative+Christian area. Stay-at-home moms are certainly common. Home-schooling is too I think.
2) If you're going to be working in Liberty Lake, the obviously living there is closer than not. Your choice will most likely depend on how far you want to drive to work and what character of neighborhood you want (and schools). Anything to the east, in the Valley, is going to be a lot newer than in Spokane proper. In any event, you can kiss those hour-each-way (or more) commutes goodbye.
3) Taxes are much lower, but most impressive to you will be the cost of real estate. It's probably 1/5 that in the greater Boston area. But a new car will cost the same anywhere in the country, so will a loaf of bread, so will clothes, etc. When people talk about the "cost of living" I always get confused b/c other than RE and taxes and maybe utilities, those costs are pretty much uniform throughout the states.

The Bankrate.com salary calculator says $100K = $71K in Spokane but I don't know how accurate the numbers are.
Cost of Living comparison calculator