Big Decisions Tomorrow - DC to LA Move?

MrBuhl

Well I've been struggling all weekend with a big decision, everyone we know, and all our family is on the East Coast, but my dream job opened up in Los Angeles with my company, and I have been asked if I'd be interested in it. It's probably the ticket to a whole new level of bigger roles for me for the next decade if I can pull if off.

I have never lived off the East Coast, (Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia), and my wife is from here. Two early teen girls to consider as well.

I think I'm going to take it, but anyone have any amazing pro's that I might haven't of thought of for moving to LA (at least for a year or two, probably not stuck there forever unless we love it). ...Or cons for that matter - I know housing is the biggest expense, we'd probably end up renting there.

I'd love to hear some thoughts if any of you fine folks have lived out there?

motorhead43026

Go west young man, or old. Whatever your case may be.

F1nut

Best to ask that question to your family and friends. Me, I want nothing to do with LA.

voltz

Can not offer any advise Ed but I'm glad you got the offer and hope whichever way you choose to go, that it works out great for you and the family!

MrBuhl

@F1nut definitely agree and I have, though we're all East Coasters, so was hoping that some here had or do live out there that could shed some local light.

@motorhead43026 I'll take that as an endorsement!

txcoastal1

Talk to @nooshinjohn he made the big move

....Dibs on the Dodd

EndersShadow

MrBuhl wrote: »

...Or cons for that matter

Its California. They take stupid laws and regulations to a whole new level.... and everything is remarkable overpriced....

F1nut wrote: »

Me, I want nothing to do with LA.

Agreed........., but make that the entire state of California....

However it sounds like its what you want, so if its what you want, go for it...

Personally I just despise all things California.....

maximillian

Agree with the California comments. But, you have to consider what this position opens up for you. If you are young, then working for a few years for a job that will open up a better job/pay-grade/experience/etc. may be worth it to live temporarily in a place you make not like.

And as been said, make sure you make this a family decision.

Nightfall

Cost of living in California is ridiculous, is it not?

MrBuhl

^^ when you run the calculators, to my surprise pretty much everything except gas and housing were actually lower in LA ^^ So I know that's the stereotype, but I'm not sure it's true necessarily. DC is a very expensive area to live as well.

txcoastal1

MrBuhl wrote: »

^^ when you run the calculators, to my surprise pretty much everything except gas and housing were actually lower in LA ^^ So I know that's the stereotype, but I'm not sure it's true necessarily. DC is a very expensive area to live as well.

But isn't gas and housing 2 of the highest expenditures

rooftop59

Ummm, SoCal. Sunshine, beaches, great food, culture and entertainment is endless. If it was San Diego I would think you are crazy for thinking about it this long...except for the housing part, the cost is pretty nuts.

For me the main consideration would be my wife and kids. But part of that consideration (for me anyway) is my ability to help pay for their college education, and to have a healthy retirement so I am not a burden on them. If this job will help you accomplish those long term goals, then I think it should be strongly considered. YMMV...

george daniel

LA was nice to visit,,,, ask your family their thoughts and feelings. Good luck

Jaybeez

I've been all over the country and wouldn't live anywhere else (except San Diego).

My company moves folks here all the time. Most arrive kicking and screaming and cry when they have to leave.

gudnoyez

Didn't they just have a earthquake between San Diego and LA the other day? I lived in San Diego and would go back if my job took me there. I will probably move back when I retire. I'm wondering what part of LA your looking at the Suburbs are nice the traffic is terrible if you have to commute.

nooshinjohn

The best words I can think of for the OP come from Nancy Reagan, and are true for many things besides drugs... "Just say NO!"

nooshinjohn

EndersShadow wrote: »

Personally I just despise all things California.....

Thanks for that...

rpf65

Sjould you live in DC or LA sounds like the start of a bad joke in Texas.

You're in a lose/lose situation. Dream job versus the end of an average teenagers life. Don't envy you one bit.

Willow

Doesn't pfb live in the L.A area? That alone would dissuade me.
Just make sure you're not pulling a "coach" from Friday night lights. If you're not then by all means do it if the family support you. With that said we moved often when I was young and it affected me big time as I got older. Not saying you have moved often. But I never really got to make good friends.

motorhead43026

^^I went to 5 different high schools^^

oldmodman

I have lived in West Los Angeles for the last 61 years.
Question 1) How much money will you get for your old house to use as a down payment on a house here?
Question 2) How much will you be making a month. It would be wise to stay under 40% of your salary to go to loan payment per month. Don't forget the high cost of power, water, gardener, and of course, property taxes. Property taxes will be 1 to 1.5 percent of the value of your new house per year.

As an example a decent, not amazing house in a local bedroom community named Westchester has seen a lot of houses sell recently. For 1.2 to 2.5 Million. These are on postage stamp sized lots with 1700 to 2600 sq ft houses on them. If you want to live near the beach in Santa Monica expect 3 to 5 million. Brentwood that same 5 million will get you tear down with a nice sized buildable lot.

I own two houses next door to each other. The lot size is 50 by 150 per lot. I am asking 7 million for the two lots, combined. If I develop them myself I can go up three stories and build 27 Condos. Condos are selling for 1.2 million each around here. More in highly desirable near beach areas.
If I ever move away I will never be able to move back again. Unless I build those Condos

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

Best to ask that question to your family and friends. Me, I want nothing to do with LA.

I'll second that. Been there many times and nothing to me is desirable. Plus with teen girls....I think your putting them behind the 8 ball by moving them there. If you didn't have kids, maybe worth the experience but with kids....lots of headaches await you.

oldrocker

First off, congrats on the offer, it seems your company recognizes your work talents and feels very comfortable in your abilities.

My cousin lives there as have a few other family members that have since moved back to the mid west.

The biggest complaint I hear is the heat, the traffic, the demographics and of course the cost of living.

Whenever we visit it seems very very busy out there. Lots of neat things to see and do but..busy and expensive.

Would it be possible for your company to let you and the wife go out there for a while to look things over?

Best wishes either way you go..

EndersShadow

nooshinjohn wrote: »

EndersShadow wrote: »

Personally I just despise all things California.....

Thanks for that...

I still consider you and Nooshin Hoosiers, so your not included in that ... and the other forum members over there are too bad

MrBuhl

gudnoyez wrote: »

Didn't they just have a earthquake between San Diego and LA the other day? I lived in San Diego and would go back if my job took me there. I will probably move back when I retire. I'm wondering what part of LA your looking at the Suburbs are nice the traffic is terrible if you have to commute.

At this point, I've been directed to the West side of LA, that's where the job is, so Santa Monica, Pacific Pallisades, Brentwood area. I won't know till I get the lay of the land though. Also, with the lower rainfall, I plan to bike commute quite a bit which will save me some traffic woes.

motorhead43026

Wow, that is a beautiful area. One of the more desirable areas to live.

Jimbo18

You have to ask yourself, where do you want to be when the Big One hits and @steveinaz suddenly finds himself with beachfront property? Just sayin.....

nooshinjohn

MrBuhl wrote: »

gudnoyez wrote: »

Didn't they just have a earthquake between San Diego and LA the other day? I lived in San Diego and would go back if my job took me there. I will probably move back when I retire. I'm wondering what part of LA your looking at the Suburbs are nice the traffic is terrible if you have to commute.

At this point, I've been directed to the West side of LA, that's where the job is, so Santa Monica, Pacific Pallisades, Brentwood area. I won't know till I get the lay of the land though. Also, with the lower rainfall, I plan to bike commute quite a bit which will save me some traffic woes.

You can't even buy a condo there for less than 1.2 million. My wife and I go to Palisades all the time, as it is less than a half hour from our home in Woodland Hills. I would look at Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village. You can take the canyons through to the area where you will be working and cut you housing costs in half or better.

Emlyn

Two bedroom condos in Santa Monica seem to start around $3500 per month in rent, and really basic and old three bedroom single family homes start around $6500 per month. Rent can of course be reduced by living further out and commuting long distances. Is the company paying relocation expenses and accounting for the cost of living at that office location?

There are other long term expenses to consider like air fare to visit family back on the East Coast a certain number of times each year for all involved. Trips to visit colleges nearing graduation dates. The cost of setting up a new home in a completely different and expensive location should not be underestimated.

I'd consider moving to San Diego if the financial side and local school quality worked out, but the LA basin would be a really tough sell for me. The offer would have to be guaranteed to be lucrative for me to want to uproot kids and move there.

The worst thing you can do for your career is to lead your employer to think you really are interested then back out of the move after thinking about it for too long.

msg

When I first read this last night, I thought, what a fantastic opportunity! I've never lived in CA, but always wanted to go check it out. So much of what I enjoy lifestyle and activity wise seems more readily accessible on the west coast as opposed to where I live in VA on the east, and the west coast and pacific northwest have always held some measure of inexplicable allure for me.

Now, after reading a lot of the feedback and info from those with experience... holy woses, no, I would go crazy with long commutes and cost of living, unless it could be truly commensurate with existing lifestyle.

Mista B - either way, I hope you reach a comfortable decision, though it'll be kind of a bummer to lose you to the west coast.

nooshinjohn wrote: »

The best words I can think of for the OP come from Nancy Reagan, and are true for many things besides drugs... "Just say NO!"

John, do you not like it there?

scubalab

Some great advice and input here, so not much I can add. Reading all the posts, I agree that if it were me, my children would be the deciding factor. Depending on age, uprooting them can have some not-so-great effects on them. I was fortunate to grow up in the same town without ever moving, and the friends I had growing up are the friends I've kept to this day.

Sounds like there are a lot of pros and cons... I don't think there's any harm in taking your time to make a rational decision. This isn't something you want to rush and have any regrets afterwards.

Keep the wife and kids equally involved in the decision!