Need your advice, moving from CA to TX

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi, I’m a ICU nurse working in Los Angeles. My husband and I and a group of friends and family (80% of us nurses) are seriously thinking of moving to North Texas for political reasons. Our area has become too far left and our values oppose it. Looking at houses, housing prices look very affordable compared to our area. Gas prices are great, groceries and eating out cost the same as Los Angeles. However, the pay is more than -50% of what we make here... it was very disheartening. I got my BSN and CCRN and all the certs but they were only able to offer me a rate that would dramatically change our lifestyle. 
 

Is there anyone here who has made the leap and can offer advice? How did you adjust to the change in income? I know that California is a dead end for my family.

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Specializes in Surgical Technologist.

I moved from Los Angeles to Central Texas in 2016. The pay was not as big of a sacrifice as I thought it’d be because the cost of living is significantly cheaper; I’m no longer renting for $2000 a month and had a custom home built two years ago. It’s the best move I’ve ever made. 

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You are moving towards the wrong direction. Dallas is about to become Blue. Actually the whole Texas will soon turn Blue. ?‍♂️

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Specializes in Surgical Technologist.
26 minutes ago, JustANurseDaw said:

You are moving towards the wrong direction. Dallas is about to become Blue. Actually the whole Texas will soon turn Blue. ?‍♂️

I didn’t move towards the wrong direction at all. I don’t let politics drive where I live or how I live my life. I moved to Texas to better my life and that’s what I’ve done. Sorry if my place of birth offends you. 

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On 3/21/2021 at 4:58 PM, JustANurseDaw said:

You are moving towards the wrong direction. Dallas is about to become Blue. Actually the whole Texas will soon turn Blue. ?‍♂️

I really pray NOT.  The beauties of Texas is that it's red.  That's what keeps living costs so cheap.  They keep moving here and turning it blue it'll be the next California.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Welcome, we're glad to have you! I live very close to Fort Worth; I was born and raised here, so I can't speak to the logistics of a move from CA, but I can hopefully give some insight into the plethora of options you would have in searching for a home here. The great thing about this area is that there are several small towns, small-medium cities, and two large cities in very close proximity. You have a wide variety of areas to choose from without having to worry about a killer commute. There are a few large hospital networks in DFW and many different facilities; most of them, understandably, are located in downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas, but there are various hospitals scattered everywhere.

Because you have several different small-to-big areas all within a doable distance of each other, you've got a lot of options in terms of finding a home that will suit your income. Personally, I think that Grapevine and Keller are nice suburban areas; to the north are smaller towns like Haslet and Justin, where cost of real estate can be cheaper or more expensive, depending on if you want land or not. No matter where you are, highways connect everything.

I know it's scary to take a pay decrease, but all the nurses I personally know live quite comfortably. The amiable cost of living really cannot be understated in comparison to CA. I'm assuming it would be an adjustment and possibly a bit of a sacrifice for a while, but I've heard good things from other people who have made a similar move.

It is true that Dallas is turning quite blue, but there are still many people in the Metroplex who you will find like-minded, especially in the Fort Worth area. And, going off of your account name, I feel inclined to mention that you'll find many spectacular churches all over the place here. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thank you for your comment @Shan! It helps that there is no state income tax and my husband wouldn’t have to work 2 jobs anymore so we get more family time and church on Sundays. Our stuff are actually getting hauled by the movers and our LA home is in escrow as I’m typing this. Hopefully Texas is a better environment for our children. 

Keller looks like an amazing neighborhood, so beautiful! We are also looking at Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Celina, Prosper, Fort Worth, but we have to do some exploring to look at the neighborhoods arounds Fort Worth as we are not familiar. Although I will be working in downtown Dallas, we like living in the suburbs so I don’t mind driving a little. 
 

Thank you for the warm welcome!

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nurse4Christ said:

Thank you for your comment @Shan! It helps that there is no state income tax and my husband wouldn't have to work 2 jobs anymore so we get more family time and church on Sundays. Our stuff are actually getting hauled by the movers and our LA home is in escrow as I'm typing this. Hopefully Texas is a better environment for our children. 

Keller looks like an amazing neighborhood, so beautiful! We are also looking at Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Celina, Prosper, Fort Worth, but we have to do some exploring to look at the neighborhoods arounds Fort Worth as we are not familiar. Although I will be working in downtown Dallas, we like living in the suburbs so I don't mind driving a little. 
 

Thank you for the warm welcome!

@nurse4Christ I know it's been almost 2 years since you were last here, but if you see this...... I'd love to know how the move worked out for you.  I'm also in CA looking to leave to pretty much anywhere.

And before I get all the "Don't California my Texas" crowd chiming in, no.......I'm not that type of Californian.  LOL   I love what Texas has going on. Many apologies to your great state for the influx of "blue" people escaping what they voted for in CA. 

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