social culture , extra curricular activities etc similar to here in San Diego? I know about the cost of living with housing etc. but i want to know people's knowledge of the other stuff?
Any info or insight will help us all .Thanks
12 replies (most recent on top)
ADDENDUM TO 117917: Also, traffic sux and it's way more crowded than it was when I lived there back in the 90's. (I used to sell real estate.) And you have to drive over 17 to Santa Cruz to get to get to the nearest beach--where the water is usually much colder than here. But there is plenty to do in SV. Plus you are only a few hours drive of Yosemite, and other interesting sights.
There are pros and cons. The weather is similar in summer, but cooler in fall and winter. Houses are just as tacky, but much more expensive. Exception: there are a few historical districts--but a small house in some of those areas will often cost you over a million. Best school districts: Still Cupertino, Palo Alto, Saratoga. Burlingame is also good. (If you're really rich, Atherton, and Portola Valley.) For the increase in price you pay to go to a public school in some areas, you can buy a nicer home in a less affluent area, like Sunnyvale, and send your kid to private school--which a lot of parents do, anyhow, since many districts have cut back on GATE programs. Cost of living: groceries will cost at least 15% more, depending where you shop and how you eat. Dining out: Probably the same as here. Electricity: Less. SDG&E gouges us. Water: Also slightly less. (Ditto for MWD.) Cable: Depends--but at least you don't have one of those deals where people on one side of the river can only get Time Warner! Gas: At least 50 cents per gallon cheaper. Insurance: Varies. Repairs and other services: Usually about 25% more on average. But more job opportunities. Unfortunately, hours just as bad. Base pay: Look for at least 15% higher for same job level/title.
'694, I'll call BS on that one. For instance, https://www.redfin.com/CA/Cupertino/10461-Castine-Ave-95014/home/692454. 2100 sq feet for 1.7, not 2.5. (well, thats ask, not sold) Not the best looking, but put 150k into that and clean it up. Yes, its expensive, but thats one of the best school districts. If you don't need that, then scale back to a school that is "just" an 8 or a 9 and save 500k.
Earthquakes. The big one.
No thanks.
'06 San Jose != SV. Its a big area, do your homework.
San Jose is a giant Clairemont Mesa. Nothing very special. Mostly old and suburban without any real partitions of areas. I wouldn't live there for anything.
Have lived on both areas, and Bay area beats SD hands down. Much more to see and do here and employment opportunities are 10x SD. This layoff situation @ QC would be a non event up here. There are some downsides to living here, but SD is just so lame in comparison that its no contest. Do yourself a favor and book a weekend flight up on Southwest, hook up with some ex-QC people that have already bailed on that place, and see for yourself.
WRTO OP question: it depends if you are young and single or older and married. If you're older and married, it doesn't really matter. The schools aren't that great, unless you llive in Cupertino, Palo Alto, or Mission San Jose in Fremont. (Basically, where all the asian parents send their kids to public schools). But in those places, home prices are extremely expensive. A small home in Cupertino will set you back about $2.5million. That's like spending $2.5million on a home in carmel valley that costs maybe $1million. Palo Alto is even worse.. Many parenets that don't live in those areas end up sending their kids to private schools. Especially if you live in SF.
If you're single, down in Silicon Valley, you have slim pickings in terms of a decent looking woman, and the ones that are good looking are usually already taken because you have a bunch of geeks all drooling over the same woman. Your best bet is to go up to SF and find some nice smart beautiful lady that also happens to be a doctor, lawyer, banker, etc. Chances are she'll be asian too. Don't piss her off, because she probably manages her money better than you do, and she probably makes a hell of a lot more than you do, unless you happen to strike it rich with the stock options.
If you are an outdoor person, there's plenty of things to do. My favorite is going to Laguna Seca to race. In the winter, Tahoe is about 3 hrs drive, which isn't bad for good snow. There's plenty of white water rafting in Sacramento. For wine snobs, there's always weekend trips to Napa and Sonoma.
I miss the Bay Area. But I'm doing financially better down here. And it's hard to beat the better deal in housing down here.
North County tends to be in the 1% category, so it's no surprise it tends to be more oriented toward money conservatism....
If you are under 30 and aren't liberal, you have no heart. If you are over 30 and are still liberal, you have no brain
Anybody else find San diego stifling -particularly conservative and cookie cutter with north County winning the prize for these 2 things????? Outside the " kid activities " it seems to lack any sort of culture or liberal mentality ?????
BUT hell is is beautiful!!!!
Anybody see this?
Everything is better but the hours might even be longer