I'd really like to move to California, but I have no idea where to start. I mean, I do know where I'd like to relocate to but I'm afraid to go out there without already having a job and a place. And I'm completely understanding that it costs more to live out there I just don't have the cash to go out there, look for a job and a place. Come back home, get my stuff and then go back out there. I'd like to be there and thats it. Can anyone help me, with a constructive answer?
2007-02-01 02:51:22 · 5 answers · asked by purdy220 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
We are moving to California in a couple of months (maybe sooner - our house is for sale, so whenever it sells - market is still good in Virginia!) We are moving to Temecula, which is about an hour from San Diego, about 2 hours from L.A. (longer during rush hour). We went out for a week and LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! We have friends there, so that helped. We've been planning this move for a year, so here is a place to start (I did all this in the past year:)
1) If you can't get out there to visit, try finding a forum that has residents of the area that you can talk to, maybe in an interest you already have (sewing, cars, your job field, etc.)
2) Once you have acclimated to the forum and have gotten to know the people on it a bit, ask questions about housing, utilities, recreation, traffic, job market, cost of groceries, taxes, schools, etc. It's MUCH more accurate getting this info from people who live there than some "statistics" site.
3) Find the chamber of commerce and/or tourism web sites for the area you are interested in. They usually have free information they will send you on their town.
4) Subscribe to the local newspaper. For a modest extra fee, they will mail you a subscription wherever you live. That way, you can check out the want ads, housing ads, etc. I found this to be a lot of fun - it was like I lived there already!
5) Go to rentclicks.com, rent.com, etc. and search for real estate companies in the area you want to go and search what is available for the amount of money you have to spend per month on rent. MAKE SURE you ask other people who live there (if you can) what their utilities are. We found we can get a very large house in Temecula for not a lot of money, but because it does get pretty hot there in the summer, the electricity bill to cool a house that size can get really large. So we are going to rent a bit smaller.
6) Check Monster and other job sites for available jobs in your field in the area (the newspaper is even better, as mentioned above)
7) GET RID OF STUFF!! You didn't say if you live at home still or on your own, etc., but it is PRICEY to move stuff cross country. We are doing a self-service move (meaning they bring the truck, we load it and they haul it to CA while we fly out). We got rid of TONS of stuff (but we HAVE been married 17 years and have a teenage daughter, so we had a LOT of stuff! LOL!)
8) Depending on how much stuff you have, check out movingscam.com for reviews on movers and pricing. If you are going to do it yourself, check into U-Haul or other rent-a-truck companies, but keep in mind how long it will take you to make the drive, the cost of gas, hotels, food, etc. It may be just as cheap to send it via moving truck and fly out.
9) If you aren't planning to already have a job lined up, make sure you save at least a month's salary (over and above your moving expenses) so you'll have something to live on while you get a job and wait for that first paycheck to arrive.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but that's a good place to start! Good luck!!
2007-02-02 09:37:53 · answer #1 · answered by piratemoviepage 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
California is a large state from North to South and much of the growth has been in the middle of the state such as Sacramento, Modesto due to afforabilty and job growth.
Your desire and dream is a good one, however set you goal from one year from now, save money, and you can look on line for jobs etc.
Come out for a week in your search and this may help you in your deciscion.
Good Luck
2007-02-01 03:07:20 · answer #2 · answered by Jimmy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure. Start by looking at another state. It's completely over-rated and not worth the cost of living.
2007-02-01 02:54:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
where do you want to be in California, and what kind of job are you looking for? that will make a big difference.
I love love love Cali, moved from Minnesota 13 years ago. Just bear in mind: smaller homes, smaller yards, more traffic...plan accordingly.
2007-02-06 09:39:21 · answer #4 · answered by singingsoprano 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Rent.com
2007-02-01 02:58:39 · answer #5 · answered by Crazy cat lady >^ ^< 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋