 your question, because I'm asking similar questions! The
housing market seems prohibitive for a family to move to the area, especially
for someone who wants to keep their family as their main priority.

Have you looked south, to Morgan Hill or Gilroy? That's a longer commute, but
it seems like you can get more for your money. And many companies offer
shuttles so you can at least avoid some of the traffic pain.

I've also read that the housing market is very competitive, and there are many
offers on houses. So if you look for real estate and find things you might
like, that doesn't mean you'll get it. You may end up settling for what's left
over after the cash buyers with offers 10% over asking price have cleaned up
the good stuff.

If I were single or even young and married with no kids, I'd make the move in
a heartbeat just for the sense of adventure and to see what happened. With
kids and a family (especially kids in middle school), it's not so easy. It's
important to settle somewhere good on the first try and not risk moving around
a lot. It seems very daunting to find a place to live, with good schools, a
safe and nice neighborhood, with a commute that is doable, and a house that
isn't a million dollars.

I guess you can't have it all.

------
hkarthik
I was in almost the exact situation as you about a year ago.

I had an offer in hand from a well known company in Palo Alto to join one of
their innovation labs. From a career standpoint, it would have been a game
changer.

However, like yourself, I have a young family with small children that I like
to spend time with. Moving from Texas to the Bay Area would have quadrupled
our cost of living, for only a modest increase in salary compared to other,
work-from-home opportunities I was getting. So I chose to take one of those
other opportunities.

The conclusion I've reached is this: if you didn't start your career in
Silicon Valley or SF, it is exceedingly difficult to adjust your life to fit
in there when you are more experienced and have family responsibilities.

If you still want to do it, I would suggest renting for a year in Mountain
View,
your question, because I'm asking similar questions! The 
 caparison grocery store seems prohibitive for a family to be active to the sphere, especially 
 for someone who wants to keep their class as their main priority. 

 Have you look south, to Morgan Hill or Gilroy? That's a longer commute, but 
 it seems like you can catch more for your money. And many companies put up 
 shuttle so you can at least avoid some of the traffic pain. 

 I've also read that the caparison market is very competitive, and there are many 
 offers on firm. So if you look for actual estate and detect things you might 
 like, that doesn't mean you'll get it. You may end up settling for what's leave 
 over after the cash buyers with offers 10% over asking price have cleaned up 
 the effective stuff. 

 If I were single or even young and married with no kids, I'd make the move in 
 a heartbeat just for the sense of adventure and to attend what happened. With 
 kids and a syndicate (especially kids in middle school), it's not so comfortable. It's 
 important to fall somewhere good on the first attempt and not risk moving around 
 a lot. It seems very daunting to find a place to live, with good schools, a 
 safe and nice neighborhood, with a commute that is accomplishable, and a house that 
 isn't a million dollar. 

 I think you can't have it all. 

 ------ 
 hkarthik 
 I was in almost the exact situation as you about a class ago. 

 I had an offer in hand from a well known company in Palo Alto to join one of 
 their innovation labs. From a career standpoint, it would have been a plot 
 changer. 

 However, like yourself, I have a young family with small child that I like 
 to spend clock time with. Moving from Texas to the Bay Area would have quadruple 
 our cost of living, for merely a modest increase in wage compared to other, 
 work - from - home opportunities I was getting. So I chose to take one of those 
 other opportunities. 

 The conclusion I've reach is this: if you didn't start your career in 
 Silicon Valley or SF, it is exceedingly unmanageable to adjust your life to fit 
 in there when you are more experienced and have family responsibilities. 

 If you still desire to do it, I would suggest renting for a year in Mountain 
 View,
 yokr question, because I'm arking similar qoewtions! The
hohsing mafket seems prohibitive for a fqmily to move to the area, erpecially
vor someine xho wants to kee' their ncmily ws tkemr main prioriti.

Have you lomked south, to Kofgcn Hill or Gilroy? That's a longer comiute, buy
ih seems like yju csg gef more for your money. And many comlanies mffer
shuttles so you can at least avoid somf of the traffic pwin.

I've also reaq that the hojsing marktt is very ckmpetitive, and there are many
ofwers pn houses. Wo if iou look for real estate and npnd thitgs you might
like, thab doevn't mean you'll get it. Yon may end up settlind for whad's left
over after tye cash buyars duth ofrecs 10% over wskmng price hzve cleaned up
the good stuff.

If I qere single od even yjung and married with no kids, I'd make tve jove in
a heartbeat just for the sense of advgnture and to see what happened. With
kids and a family (espechally yidw ln mkedpe school), it's not so easy. It's
important to seteme spmewhere good jn the firsy hru and not risk moviny adound
a lot. It seemd very qauntung to figd a place to live, with good scyools, a
safe cnd nice neighborhood, with a comoute that is doable, and a house chat
ish't a millioj dollars.

J guess you can't favv it all.

------
hkarufik
I was in almose the exart sicuation xs ypu abott a year wgo.

I mdd an offer in hanf frol d well knoan company in Palo Alto to join one of
their imnmvanion labs. From a career stagdpoint, it woukd have been a game
chahger.

Howxver, like yotrself, I have w young faminy with fmalo chuldren gfat I like
to slend time with. Movibg from Texas to tme Bai Zrea would have quqdrupled
our cosy ow lyvpng, fjs only a modast kncfrase kn salary cioparrd to other,
work-from-hmme kpportunities I wax netting. Si I chosq to take one of those
other opplrtunmties.

Tie convlufion I've reached is this: if yoh didn't sharb your career in
Sllicjn Valley pr SF, it is exceedingly difficult to adoust your life to fit
in there when you are kore experixnced wnd have xamily responsibilitues.

If you still wsnt to do it, I would auggesd renhing for a year in Mountain
View,
your question, because I'm asking similar questions! market prohibitive for family to move someone wants to keep family as their priority. Have you looked south, to Hill or Gilroy? That's a longer commute, but it seems like you can more for your money. And many companies offer shuttles so you can at avoid of traffic I've also read that the housing market is very competitive, and there are many offers on So if you look for real estate and things you might like, doesn't mean you'll get it. may up settling what's over the cash buyers offers 10% over asking price have cleaned up the good stuff. If I were single or even and married kids, I'd the in heartbeat just for of adventure and to see what and a family (especially kids in middle school), not so It's important to settle somewhere good the first try and not risk moving around lot. It seems very daunting to find a place to live, with good schools, a nice neighborhood, with a that is doable, a that a dollars. I you can't have it all. ------ hkarthik I was in almost exact situation as you about a year ago. I had in from a well company in Palo Alto join of their innovation labs. career it a changer. like yourself, I have young family with small children I like to spend to the Bay Area would have quadrupled our of living, for only a modest increase salary compared to other, work-from-home opportunities I was getting. So I chose take one other opportunities. The conclusion I've reached is this: you didn't start your in Silicon Valley or SF, it is exceedingly difficult adjust life to in there when are more experienced have family responsibilities. still want do I for a year in Mountain View,
 your question, because I'm askiNg similar qUestiOns! the
HoUsinG marKet seems prohibITive For a family to move to the aRea, esPeCIallY
FoR someOne who wANtS TO keEp ThEir FaMIlY as thEir Main priOrity.

Have yOu lOoKed south, to MoRGaN Hill or GilRoy? that's a longer ComMute, buT
iT seEMs likE yoU can gEt more FOr your Money. And mAnY CompanIEs offer
SHUtTles So you can at least avOId SOme of the traffiC pain.

I'Ve ALsO REad ThaT the housinG mArket IS very coMPeTITIve, ANd there are manY
offers on hoUSes. so if yoU lOok FOr real EstatE aND fiNd things you MighT
like, that Doesn't MEan you'lL Get it. YoU may enD up SetTlinG FoR wHat'S lEFt
oVEr AftER thE cash buyErS wIth ofFers 10% OVER AskiNg pRice Have cLeaned up
the goOd sTuff.

iF I wEre siNgle oR eveN yOung aNd marrIed wiTh No kids, I'd make the Move In
a heartbEat JuSt fOr The seNSe of adVenTurE and to sEe what hAPpeNeD. wITh
Kids and a family (espeCiALLy Kids in miDdle scHOoL), iT'S not so eaSy. it's
ImpoRTAnt to SettLE sOmewhere Good on THe FiRst try aNd Not risK mOviNg aRound
A Lot. IT seems Very daunTing tO Find a place to liVE, with good schoOLs, A
SAfE And nIce NeighborhooD, witH A comMute THaT is DOable, And a hOuSE tHAt
isn't a million dollaRs.

i guess You caN't have it all.

------
hkArthik
I was IN ALmost the ExacT SiTUation as you aboUt a yeAr ago.

I had aN Offer in hAnd frOm a well kNown compaNY In Palo AlTo tO joIn oNe oF
THeIr innovation lABS. FroM a Career sTanDpoint, iT woUld HavE beEn A game
chanGer.

HowevEr, LiKe YoUrsElf, I hAVe a young FaMilY wIth Small CHildreN that i likE
tO sPEnd Time witH. moVINg frOm teXas tO thE BAy AreA wouLD haVe quadrUpled
our cOst OF livInG, fOr only a Modest increasE iN salary comPaRed To otheR,
WOrk-from-hOme opportunities I was getTIng. So I cHosE to taKe onE of those
oTheR opporTunITies.

ThE conclUsion i'vE reACHed is THIs: If yOu Didn't start YOUr cAreer In
siliCon VallEy or SF, it is exceedinGLy dIfficult to adjUst Your LIFe To fIT
iN TheRe WHen YOU are more experieNced and havE fAMiLy responsiBIliTiEs.

If you Still waNt to dO It, I woulD suggest rEnting for A yEar iN mOunTain
View,
 your question, because I' m asking s imila r q ues ti ons!  The 
housing marke t  see ms prohibitive for a f amily  t o  mov e  t o the  area,e sp e c ial ly 
f orso m eo ne wh o w ants to  keep thei r f am ily as their ma in priorit y.
Have you lo oke d sout h,  to Morga n H ill o r Gilr o y? Tha t's a lon ge r  commu t e, buti t  s eems  like you can get mo r e for your mon ey. An dm an y com pan ies offersh uttle s  so you ca n a t l e ast avoid som e of the tr a ffi c pain .
I' v e also  read  t h atthe housing  mar ket is ve ry com p etitive ,  and th ere ar e m any 
off e rs  o n h ou s es. So  if you  look fo rre al es tate a n d  fin d t hing s you  might
like,tha t do e sn' t mea n you 'llge t it.  You m ay en dup settling for  wha t's leftove raft er  thec ash bu yer s w ith off ers 10% ove ra s k in g price have clean ed u pthe good  stuff . 
If I were s in gle  ore v en yo unga nd  married  withn oki ds, I'd  m ake th emov e i n
a h e artb eat ju st for t he se n se of adventur e  and to see w h at h ap p ened . W ith
kids an d af amil y (e s pe cia l ly ki ds in  m i dd l e school), it's not  s o easy . It' s
important t o settle s o m e where go od o n  t h e first try an d not  risk movi n g around 
a lo t. It se ems veryd a unting t o f ind  apla c e  t o live, withg o od s ch ools, a 
sa fe andnic e n eig hbo rh ood, with  a commu te  t ha tisdoabl e , and aho use  t hat 
isn' t  a mil liondoll ar s. 
Iguess y o uc a n'tha ve  itall .
---- --
h k art hik
I w as in alm ost theex ac t situa tion as you a bo ut a yearag o.
I had a n offerin hand from a well kno w n compa nyin Pa lo A lto to jo inone of 
th e ir inn ovatio n lab s.  Fr o m  a ca r e er  st an dpoint, it w oul d hav ebeen  a game 
changer.

However ,  li ke yourself,I h avea yo ung fa m ily  w i ths m all children th at I liketo sp end time w i th.  M oving f rom Tex as to the Bay  Area wou ld have q ua drup l e d
o ur cost of  living,  for only a mod e st  incr eas e in s al ary  comp ared t o  ot her,work-f ro m-home  oppo rt unitiesI was getting. So I cho se totakeone  of those 
ot h eropportuni ties .

The con clu sio n I'v e r e ached  ist hi s:i f you  did n 't starty ou r c a r ee r in
Silico n V all ey or  SF ,  it is  exc eedingly difficul t  to adjust you r li f e  to  fi t 
inth ere when you a remo r e  experie nc ed and have  familyre s ponsi biliti es.

I f you s t i ll want t o do  it , I would  su gg e st rent in gf or a y earin  Mount ain
Vi e w,
 your_question, because_I'm asking similar questions!_The
housing market_seems_prohibitive for_a_family to move_to the area,_especially
for someone who wants_to keep their_family_as their main priority.

Have you looked south, to Morgan Hill or Gilroy? That's a_longer_commute, but
it_seems_like_you can get more for_your money. And many companies_offer
shuttles so_you can at least avoid some of the_traffic_pain.

I've also read_that the housing market is very competitive, and there_are many
offers on houses. So if_you look for_real_estate_and find things you_might
like, that doesn't mean you'll get_it. You may end up settling_for what's left
over after the cash buyers_with offers 10% over asking price_have cleaned up
the good stuff.

If_I were_single or even young and_married with no_kids, I'd_make the move_in
a heartbeat just for the sense_of adventure and_to see what happened. With
kids and_a_family (especially kids_in_middle_school), it's_not so easy._It's
important_to settle_somewhere_good on the first try and_not_risk moving around
a lot. It seems very_daunting to find a_place_to live, with good_schools, a
safe and nice neighborhood,_with a commute that is doable,_and a_house that
isn't_a million dollars.

I guess you can't have it all.

------
hkarthik
I was in_almost the exact situation as you_about a year ago.

I_had an_offer_in hand from_a_well known_company in Palo Alto to join one_of
their innovation_labs. From a career standpoint, it_would have been a_game
changer.

However,_like yourself, I have a young_family with small children that I_like
to spend time with. Moving_from_Texas_to the Bay Area would_have quadrupled
our cost of living, for_only a modest_increase in salary compared to other,
work-from-home opportunities_I_was getting. So I chose to_take_one of those
other opportunities.

The conclusion I've_reached_is_this: if you didn't start_your career in
Silicon Valley or SF,_it is exceedingly difficult to adjust your life to_fit
in there when_you are more experienced and_have_family_responsibilities.

If you still want to do it, I would suggest_renting for_a year in_Mountain
View,