Me and my wife are thinking about relocation to a family friendly livable city in US with warm climate.
We are from Vancouver Canada area, both of us are RNs but my wife has been a stay home mom for last few years (and going to keep doing it for another couple years).
We have 3 kids who need elementary school, I will be looking for a full time position in critical care. We will be looking at buying a house too.
In the mean time we were looking at SF California area and central Florida...
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hi everyone,
Me and my wife are thinking about relocation to a family friendly livable city in US with warm climate.
We are from Vancouver Canada area, both of us are RNs but my wife has been a stay home mom for last few years (and going to keep doing it for another couple years).
We have 3 kids who need elementary school, I will be looking for a full time position in critical care. We will be looking at buying a house too.
In the mean time we were looking at SF California area and central Florida...
What would you suggest?
Thanks!
I think you're limiting your options. There are more warm states than California and Florida. And what exactly do you mean by "warm climate?" Someplace that is hot in the summer and has mild winters? Someplace that is warm all year round? A desert climate? I think you need a lot more research.
I live in California. If you do decide on Southern Ca, outskirts are best, but in Los Angeles there are areas in the Valley (Studio City, Northridge, Pasadena, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Burbank) and Long Beach that are affordable. I would secure a position beforehand though. Perhaps you could take a trip out here and get educated on the market, schools, traffic patterns, etc.
Los Angeles is not a great place to raise kids in my honest opinion, but good parenting kind of takes care of that. There are some nicely rated charter schools and other types in some areas. Zillow is a good website to check that stuff out. It really just depends on how much you want to spend on a house and if you have a $ nest for the time it takes you to get a work visa, etc. the real estate prices are about 14% over valued at the moment due to the big investor buy up of rental properties we just had recently, but they mostly have pulled out and a seller will have to come down on price for a smart buyer or risk not selling. So, just do your homework.
Yes, the cost of living is high, however if you are smart and budget savvy, there are a variety of options to making it work.
Yup...the average 50-year-old 3 BR, 2 BA house in some parts of California (such as the Bay Area) can easily be $900,000 and up. If you put 20% ($180,000) down your monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance would be close to $5,000. That's about $60,000 per year! Plus, California has one of the highest state income taxes in the country (I believe it tops out at over 13%) and a hefty sales tax.
The weather is great, but it's some very expensive sunshine.
Very true! My best friend and her husband lived in Santa Barbara. They rented a converted 1 car garage with a small yard area. They were paying $2400 a month. Outrageous!!
Very true! My best friend and her husband lived in Santa Barbara. They rented a converted 1 car garage with a small yard area. They were paying $2400 a month. Outrageous!!
It is outrageous.
Santa Barbara is known for housing many of the wealthiest people. I wouldn't suggest buying or renting there, but that's only one area in Los Angeles. There are other places that are a lot more affordable.
I lived in central FL on the east coast near Rockledge/Viera/Cocoa Beach. Loved it! Close to all the theme parks. Good schools. Buyers market right now.
Southwest Florida is GORGEOUS and I think the best option of your choices.
It depends on the part of SW FL.
However, though it may be gorgeous, the working conditions and pay rates in many, many facilities are rather deplorable. And no, the lack of state income tax does NOT make up adequately for it.
And with ForProfit, "take the fifth" healthcare criminal Rick Scott as governor, those things are not likely to change.
However, though it may be gorgeous, the working conditions and pay rates in many, many facilities are rather deplorable. And no, the lack of state income tax does NOT make up adequately for it.
And with ForProfit, "take the fifth" healthcare criminal Rick Scott as governor, those things are not likely to change.
Oh I get it totally. But of the choices the OP listed that was the best in my opinion. Don't get me started on the biotech subsidies that bankrupted (or will) Florida. I was there. I saw it happen. East coast. They promised all kinds on things. All they got was the shaft. I know of at least one of the biotech companies that transplanted that has literally robbed the state blind u see the guise of research. It's disgusting.
PoodleLover86
26 Posts
I've lived in NC, VA, WA state, and now FL....Go with Florida.