Context: Starting at FB soon, and moving down from NorCal to the Bay. Mid 20's, Married, no kids (not planning to for another 3 years). I have been seriously considering picking a Seattle based team due to better quality of life and increased savings, here's my logic: Bay Area: - 1.6M gets you a single story old home with low curb appeal, in a run down looking area, with a potentially bad commute - Income tax eats up additional 10% of paycheck - World class weather Seattle: - 1.6M gets you a brand new 3300+ sqft. modern home with all of the bells and whistles in a great school district - Commute isn't as bad - No income tax, more money left over to invest - Cloudy skies and/or rain most of the year I feel like I'd rather hang out in a Seattle mansion with cloudy skies over a basic home in sunny California. And I eventually want to keep my aging parents under my roof, getting a big enough house in the bay would be $2.5+ mil. For a married guy like me, wouldn't it be worth it to move my wife and parents to Seattle and live like a king?? If anyone has made the move, please share your experiences!
Why not move to Texas and have a Mansion for 1M 🤔. Your logic of same money More space is not relevant. Personally for me the biggest no-no is the Depressing Gloomy weather of Seattle 9 out of 12 months
Have considered Texas but it doesn't seem to be as big of a tech hub as Seattle. Also not sure I can get quite as high TC in Texas. Even if I save money on housing in Texas, I'd still be saving more in Seattle. I guess I just need to visit to see if I can handle the weather
I would say 7 to 8 months, not 9 but yes the rain has started here.
Consider where you want to spend the rest of your life. If you haven't been to seattle trust me the differences between it and the bay are a lot more than weather.
Hmm, do you think spending a weekend in Seattle will give me enough perspective? Or is it something that sinks in after a longer period of time?
It'll take longer than a weekend. I moved from a big city and it was a major adjustment. People are very different, a lot more introverted, food scene is noncomparable, I have yet to find any great food out here. I see most restauarants and stores closing super early. There isn't really a whole lot to do in terms of city life. In the winter most of the day is darkness, which can really take a toll, drains all motivation to do anything after work, not that there are many options. Really the only reason I would reccomend moving here is if you love the nature. I do so I'm managing with the rest.
I have lived Seattle and California (LA), and decided to move back to Seattle for similar reasons, I haven't lived in the Bay but as far as housing situation it is far worse than LA, I miss LA fun and weather, but I would still go for Seattle for settling down.
I worked at Google for 5 years living in SF. Moved to Seattle 2 years ago and never regretted it — my savings are growing much faster here and I like the weather better. And yes I bought a nice place here. Much improved quality of life all around.
I live in Seattle and have contemplated the move to Bay Area several times in the past. However, the biggest barrier has been the home prices and traffic. In Seattle, whether is perfect 5 months of the year, good for other 3 and sucky for rest of the 4. Like this year, it was good until October 15th. There is lots to do here, in winters ski resort is 45 mins from the house, summers are just perfect. Your money will go farther in Seattle than in the Bay Area, you will get 3 times the home at 1/3rd the price if you compare to a place like Palo Alto. There is no night life in Suburbs but Seattle / Bellevue has great pubs, restaurants and bars, so that’s covered.
TC? Probably going to save $25K/income earner in the household. That compensates for a lot of rainy days. Seattle weather is like London or Vancouver, which you rarely hear people complain about as much as Seattle for some reason.
Seattle has Sales tax, we don't have income state tax.
Whoops, fixed