Move From East Coast To Palo Alto (1 Viewer)

[James Daulton]

Likely nothing will come of it but in case it does, aware me on Palo Alto.  Currently live in a Baltimore suburb that I enjoy very much.  Kids will be seniors in college and high school next year.  I've worked at the same company my entire career but fairly recent corporate and leadership changes have me start to dislike working there which prompted the search.  Anyway, that would obviously be a radical move for someone who's in their late 40's.  Family wouldn't keep me here as while we're close enough, moving away wouldn't be an issue.

Is Palo Alto nice?  Nice enough to move across the country?  I'm a pretty adventurous guy (no job changes none withstanding) and I'm pretty active and like doing stuff outside.  I know the cost of living is way higher there, say I'd get a 2/3rds salary bump (and I'm currently doing pretty ok), would that be enough to offset the higher cost?

I just have a phone interview set up so 90% chance nothing comes of it but it's fun to think about anyway.

 

[Eephus]

Palo Alto is lovely.  Bring your wallet though.

A lot would depend on where you can afford to live.

 

[FatMax]

Palo Alto is the home of Stanford University, so you get all the good and bad that comes from an area with a major college.  In general, it's very nice with the exception of East Palo Alto which is a dump, but pretty much every urban area has its less desirable spots.  There are a lot of people in the bay area, but coming from the Baltimore burbs, it probably won't be any huge adjustment.  Weather is miles better than almost anywhere else in the country.

 

[Eephus]

East Palo Alto is still the bad part of town but median home sales prices there have tripled ($250K to $750K) in the past five years.

 

[FatMax]

East Palo Alto is still the bad part of town but median home sales prices there have tripled ($250K to $750K) in the past five years.

Hory ####e.  Did not know that.  Wasn't it just 20 years ago or so that it claimed the esteemed title of murder capital of the US?

 

[FatMax]

These language filters, they good

 

[James Daulton]

If one is not worried about a school district does that make the housing search any easier?  Also don't need anything huge, are apartments or condos abundant there?

 

[needanap]

Anywhere on the peninsula is going to be very pricey.  Any place you find affordable would not be worth moving across the country for in my humble opinion.  

 

[James Daulton]

Anywhere on the peninsula is going to be very pricey.  Any place you find affordable would not be worth moving across the country for in my humble opinion.  

What kind of rents for a 1 bedroom are we talking about in the nicer areas?

 

[James Daulton]

Great place to live if you can afford it. I'm sure it beats the crap out of Baltimore. 

Halfway between San Francisco and Silicon Valley but still smallish. Good culture/food/music and great weather.

If you make 100k or more it's probably a no-brainer, especially if you don't have to commute. 

Let's say you'd make more than double that, and only need a 1 bedroom apartment.

 

[dickey moe]

Great place to live if you can afford it. I'm sure it beats the crap out of Baltimore. 

Halfway between San Francisco and Silicon Valley but still smallish. Good culture/food/music and great weather.

If you make 100k or more it's probably a no-brainer, especially if you don't have to commute. 

100k salary isn't going to get you #### in Palo Alto.

 

[James Daulton]

How much do I need to make in order to live in a nice place?

 

[Mario Kart]

Did you invent some new, wild app that Stanford needs to see?

 

[pats3in4]

Most of your 3-bedroom family homes are going to be 750k or $2500 to rent. I'm estimating as its been a few years since I've lived there. On your income you could easily live comfortably. Be ready for the high state income taxes everybody that lives somewhere else likes to complain about, though. Totally worth it IMO. Have you ever visited the west coast?

Much much higher now.  $2.5M+ to buy.  For a 1br rental, though, $3000 to $4500 per month, depending how nice and where.  For over $200k/year, though, very doable.

 

[phandango]

Well there you go, lol. I just doubled what it was ten years ago and obviously that wasn't even close. Just move to Redwood City.

We've lived in Redwood City for nine years. I don't know what the condo market is like, but the housing market is insane. For $1.2 million, about the best you can hope for is a 3-bedroom, maybe 2-bathroom, 1200-square-foot place previously owned by retirees who haven't updated the place in 30 years. Another half million will get you an updated house, but you won't be the only offer. Rentals in our neighborhood (mostly 3- or 4-bed, 2-bath homes) are going for more than $5000 per month. If all you're looking for is a condo to rent, they have been building a ton of them in the downtown area, which has been steadily growing over the past decade (large movie theater, tons of restaurants, music in the square on summer Fridays, Caltrain station). It's only 10-20 minutes to Palo Alto.

 

[The Gator]

Taxo Alto?

 

[flapgreen]

Much much higher now.  $2.5M+ to buy.  For a 1br rental, though, $3000 to $4500 per month, depending how nice and where.  For over $200k/year, though, very doable.

Wowowow!  That's beyond comprehension. 

 

[Eephus]

The whole Bay Area is insane but the City is insaner.

A 1000 sq ft condo in a new building two doors up from me in SF went for $1.4M.  It's 2BR, 2BA but how many rooms can you fit in 1000 sq ft?

 

[FishTacoTuesday]

Daulton, wait! 

 

[CurlyNight]

Most of your 3-bedroom family homes are going to be 750k or $2500 to rent. I'm estimating as its been a few years since I've lived there. On your income you could easily live comfortably. Be ready for the high state income taxes everybody that lives somewhere else likes to complain about, though. Totally worth it IMO. Have you ever visited the west coast?

It has been awhile for you.... In the east bay you pay $2200 a mo to rent a 800 something sq ft 2 bedroom/ 1 bath apt in a decent area.

 

[CurlyNight]

Much much higher now.  $2.5M+ to buy.  For a 1br rental, though, $3000 to $4500 per month, depending how nice and where.  For over $200k/year, though, very doable.

There is no stopping the rising housing costs in the Bay Area. Have to look at that too and not just what's up now. There's no rent control in PA or really the decent areas on the Peninsula.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

There is no stopping the rising housing costs in the Bay Area. Have to look at that too and not just what's up now. There's no rent control in PA or really the decent areas on the Peninsula.

Well, rent controls make a housing market more expensive overall, even if they benefit those who are lucky enough to get a rent controlled apartment.

The southern penninsula is one of the very nicest places in the entire country and is priced to match. 

 

[tjnc09]

Even if you get a 2/3 raise to your salary (unless the signing bonus is incredible), I don't think your quality of life will be any better since the cost of living is so high.  Since your kid is a high school senior, I wouldn't do it.  Anywhere else in the country, go for it.

I honestly don't think the housing prices in that area are sustainable and there is no way I would ever consider buying something there right now.  A market correction easily could end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 

[Sconch]

The whole Bay Area is insane but the City is insaner.

A 1000 sq ft condo in a new building two doors up from me in SF went for $1.4M.  It's 2BR, 2BA but how many rooms can you fit in 1000 sq ft?

My aunt and uncle own a few duplexes  in San Mateo (near the Foster Towers).  About a year ago the were thinking of tearing down and putting in a multistory condo building.  I don't remember the exact number but the price per unit they were expecting was ungodly.

 

[CurlyNight]

My uncle bought his 3 bdr 2 bath home in PA for $300K in 93. In 2004 he knocked it down and built a gorg 2 story home. Now it's worth easy over 2 mil. Man, hindsight is 20/20.. Everyone is buying homes here in cash. It's the most amazing thing to witness.

 

[Eephus]

Even if you get a 2/3 raise to your salary (unless the signing bonus is incredible), I don't think your quality of life will be any better since the cost of living is so high.  Since your kid is a high school senior, I wouldn't do it.  Anywhere else in the country, go for it.

I honestly don't think the housing prices in that area are sustainable and there is no way I would ever consider buying something there right now.  A market correction easily could end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The region has handled previous market corrections much better than the rest of the country.

 

[James Daulton]

It's kind of cool to think about even though the talks are early and the odds are long.  I've loved my job for a long time but corporate and leadership changes have soured me for the last 2 years or so.  Unfortunately I don't see this changing so I will hopefully be moving jobs within a year or so.  As I said, I really do like where I live now and would see a move like this as kind of an adventure.  Could be permanent, could be temporary.  The wife would stay back in Baltimore until my daughter went to college and then she'd come out to join me.  At least that's the half-baked plan we talked about while walking to our town happy hour yesterday.  

Ok, let's assume I'd be able to find a decent place to rent.  Are the mountains and beaches very accessible from the Palo Alto area?  I'm already pretty liberal so the hippy, tree hugging politics shouldn't bother me that much.

 

[eoMMan]

How stable would the new job be?

I think renting for a little while is the right move. It would suck to plop down $1 mil plus on a house only to lose your job or find out that you don't really like the area.

 

[James Daulton]

How stable would the new job be?

I think renting for a little while is the right move. It would suck to plop down $1 mil plus on a house only to lose your job or find out that you don't really like the area.

Very stable (hopefully).  If this were to happen I definitely would not buy any time soon.  I'm really just trying to get a feel for whether or not the area is worth moving across the country for.  Sounds like it's very nice from the posts ITT.

 

[mr fancypants]

Very stable (hopefully).  If this were to happen I definitely would not buy any time soon.  I'm really just trying to get a feel for whether or not the area is worth moving across the country for.  Sounds like it's very nice from the posts ITT.

If it's good enough for Mark Zuckerberg, I'm sure it will fill your requirements.

 

[captain_amazing]

Area median rents for Palo Alto.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

I've lived in Baltimore and the Bay Area and there is no comparison of the two.  If you have the opportunity and the finances work out, get out to Palo Alto.

 

[eoMMan]

Does earthquakes scare anyone in California?

I feel like sometime in the 30 years or so, CA or somewhere on the west coast, is gonna get hit with a bad one.

I think the Rock will be too old at that point to save the day.

 

[CurlyNight]

One thing great about the bay area is you are about a couple hours away from everything desirable. Carmel/Monterey areas are my fav to visit. Muir Woods is heavenly. Half Moon Bay is about an hour away from PA. You drive west on Page Mill Road in PA and you are in beautiful woods and cute towns along the way. Lots of beautiful hills you can bike/drive up to to see gorg sites. Not to mention downtown PA is very hopping and cute 24/7. So while many talk of Santa Cruz and places that are more of a drive, you don't really need to drive far to find beauty here. Hence the cost of living, and it's not just the rent. My dad lived here for a year working on the Bart project as head engineer and down to the toiletries was more expensive than in Irvine.

As for earthquakes.. I missed all the big ones. Moved here in '92. I've felt some bumps and rolls but nothing that scared me. As for the big one, it will happen when it happens. Why worry about something out of your control? I'd rather live here than in areas where there are tornadoes, hurricanes--- things that happen yearly.

 

[madshot31]

Does earthquakes scare anyone in California?

I feel like sometime in the 30 years or so, CA or somewhere on the west coast, is gonna get hit with a bad one.

I think the Rock will be too old at that point to save the day.

Not scared. Just don't be dumb and buy or live on fill land that would turn into jello when a quake hits. Building codes and construction methods are much much better and safer than back in the old days.

 

[32 Counter Pass]

If one is not worried about a school district does that make the housing search any easier?  Also don't need anything huge, are apartments or condos abundant there?

Yes, that will make a big difference. For example, Cupertino is a neighboring city that has a very strong reputation of good school. Prices are super inflated in Cupertino as a result. I have heard of people getting $10K per month in rent for a 3/2 in Cupertino. I find that hard to believe, but rents of $5K+ per month are common in that  area. 

There are still relatively reasonable house prices in the Almaden area of San Jose. But it comes with the requirement to commute to Palo Alto on highway 85. That is not a commute I would wish on anyone.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Very stable (hopefully).  If this were to happen I definitely would not buy any time soon.  I'm really just trying to get a feel for whether or not the area is worth moving across the country for.  Sounds like it's very nice from the posts ITT.

Aside from cost of living considerations and setting aside politics, it is hard to think of a more idyllic place in the country than the southern penninsula. As others have pointed out, there is amazing outdoors stuff to do in every direction. The weather in that part of the Bay Area is fantastic.

Commute time would be a consideration, but if you are living relatively close to where you are working, that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[32 Counter Pass]

One thing great about the bay area is you are about a couple hours away from everything desirable. Carmel/Monterey areas are my fav to visit. Muir Woods is heavenly. Half Moon Bay is about an hour away from PA. You drive west on Page Mill Road in PA and you are in beautiful woods and cute towns along the way. Lots of beautiful hills you can bike/drive up to to see gorg sites. Not to mention downtown PA is very hopping and cute 24/7. So while many talk of Santa Cruz and places that are more of a drive, you don't really need to drive far to find beauty here. Hence the cost of living, and it's not just the rent. My dad lived here for a year working on the Bart project as head engineer and down to the toiletries was more expensive than in Irvine.

As for earthquakes.. I missed all the big ones. Moved here in '92. I've felt some bumps and rolls but nothing that scared me. As for the big one, it will happen when it happens. Why worry about something out of your control? I'd rather live here than in areas where there are tornadoes, hurricanes--- things that happen yearly.

It is funny how people in other parts of the country worry about earthquakes in Cali, but suffer thru miserable winters year after year. The last big quake happened almost 30 years ago. Sure you can argue that the state is due, or you can take the view that they are so infrequent it is a non issue. For myself I would much rather live with the "threat" of earthquakes than the frequency of ice storms, tornados, blizzards, hurricanes. But that is just me.

 

[CurlyNight]

It is funny how people in other parts of the country worry about earthquakes in Cali, but suffer thru miserable winters year after year. The last big quake happened almost 30 years ago. Sure you can argue that the state is due, or you can take the view that they are so infrequent it is a non issue. For myself I would much rather live with the "threat" of earthquakes than the frequency of ice storms, tornados, blizzards, hurricanes. But that is just me.

We've been due for the big one forever now. We don't think about it until one we feel makes the news. Then it's forgotten and quickly back to daily living without a thought.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

It is funny how people in other parts of the country worry about earthquakes in Cali, but suffer thru miserable winters year after year. The last big quake happened almost 30 years ago. Sure you can argue that the state is due, or you can take the view that they are so infrequent it is a non issue. For myself I would much rather live with the "threat" of earthquakes than the frequency of ice storms, tornados, blizzards, hurricanes. But that is just me.

People tend to overestimate the probability of sensational, yet highly rare, dangers and underestimate the probability of more mundane, but commonplace, ones.

 

[tjnc09]

The region has handled previous market corrections much better than the rest of the country.

Good point.  The money right now in that area is silly.  It's hard to imagine that seven figures for a 50 year old fixer upper is sustainable, but it has to do more with the location of the land than the actual home.