Cross Country Move

Beth, Bronx, New York:

My husband and I both grew up in Westchester, NY, but it now seems impossible to return there and raise a family due to the extremely high cost of living. We are in our early 30's and just had a baby, so we were anxious to find a more reasonably priced community in Southern California in which to buy a home. My husband is an engineer and I would like to work part-time. From our Internet research it appears Fullerton may be the area to consider for affordable housing?  I have read other threads and it seems like most people relocate to SoCal from areas like Northern California and states like New York, Utah, Colorado, Oregon and Texas. What about people from southern CA? Would we experience a big culture shock? I have only been to the O.C. for a week - otherwise I don't have a lot of experience in SoCal. I have never lived outside of New York, so I am a bit nervous about any change - let alone across the country. We want a house and a safe place to raise a child. We had thought about AZ, checked it out and hated it mainly because of the heat. My primary concerns are finding affordable housing and outdoor activities. We aren't sure if we will be able to first check out SoCal before we move there, so any help from anyone who made the move to SoCal would be greatly appreciated!

Adam, Apple Valley, California:

Beth, don't be nervous about moving here.  I used to live in New Jersey.  Southern California is as culturally diverse as New York although it is much larger than the NY metro region.  SoCal covers an enormous area roughly equivalent in size to Beijing, China, which is about 6500 square miles.  To answer your question about the best place in SoCal to buy?  For most that will depend on where your jobs are located.  Contrary to media hype, there are "pockets" of affordable housing everywhere within SoCal, even in Orange County (OC) and around exclusive areas of Los Angeles.  Finding gems that are true bargains will depend on how up-to-date your real estate agent's knowledge of available homes on the market really is.  Of primary importance to me in choosing an agent was his or her knowledge of what the current inventory is at any given time and their ability to match the perfect home, as I described it, to my emotional and financial abilities and needs.  Dean Harris really does stay informed about the best properties over the largest area, from Bakersfield to San Diego.  Dean and his group of real estate professionals helped me buy my home in Apple Valley as well as a very reasonable investment condo in Los Angeles near Hollywood. You should call Dean at 949 290-5348 to talk about the specifics of your move.  There's no charge (except maybe the phone co.) and you'll be very happy you did.

Do You Pay a Moving Company Based on the Number of Miles?
Dave, Ventura, California

My company is moving me, but will only pay up to $7500 for the move. The moving company estimates it will cost $7300 to move 5500 lbs. We are moving coast-to-coast. Our friends are being charged $2600 for 7500 pounds for a 700 mile move. We are both using relocation packages offered by our companies. Are we being penalized for the extra distance? Or could it be something else?  If anyone has a sense of whether this is a fair price for a move... I'd be curious to know too. We're being charged $1900+ for an extra months storage too!!
Amy, Glendora, California
While it is true that many moving companies will charge by the mile, there are many that charge a flat fee which is often based on the regions between your previous home and your destination.  You should be concerned about paying $7,300 just for the mover if your company is only offering a total of $7,500 for all aspects of the move.  Keep in mind, though, that your out-of-pocket moving expenses will be deductible on your income taxes.