As I stated earlier, I am a hairstylist and personal shopper from Oakland, CA.  I have a five year old daughter and am ready for a challenging, yet, rewarding career that I have found here in the bay area.  I would like to live somewhere similiar to the Bay Area, as far as the weather.  The cost of living and real estate is too high and very discouraging. Any suggestions?
199834
Anywhere is an improvement over Oakland.  If you like California, go to the central valley.  Tracy is booming, so is Modesto.
183860
I had to leave my hometown because I never could have started my business and been successful there.  The market for what I wanted to do simply did not exist there.  I moved to Southern California from Ohio.  When I first moved out here, I phoned almost daily and visited several times a year.  I missed my Papa immensely and felt a huge hole in my heart without his presence in my daily life.  But, he always encouraged me, gave advice when asked and never made me regret moving so far from home.
310845
Hi Christian!\nNow that the housing market is finally looking up, it's the perfect time to seek out a new place to live. This summer you need to shake off that "lucky I even have my folks to live with" mentality, polish up your shoes, and explore your living quarters options! There are fun, flexible, fantastic places out there just waiting for someone like you!\nNow, get out there and pound the pavement. Beat on some doors until you latch onto that incredible tree house or fort you always wanted!\n(I heard the esperanza area is a great place to find a cardboard box near the dumpster behind a pizza joint?)\n-zealnik
573754
a previous writer was right - cheap and in expensive are oxymoron's- you need to add more info- where will you be working? will you be driving < using public transportation ?will you need to get to a mosque, synagogue, or a church on regular basis  ? things to consider. \nBrooklyn like all  New York boroughs is a collection of small-for new york-ethnic towns with all the positives and negatives that brings. Me I' d live in Bay Ridge
503920
We used to live in California, and the situation you describe is precisely why we left.\n\nWe were both professionals making good money, but we couldn't afford a home and couldn't afford much else.  We moved to Texas and have been happy ever since...
84227
GO there and do what?  You should first look into how you would make a living there.  You should have a better reason to move than just weather.
191193
You must live in the same place I do because my kids and grand kids all complain about the job market and low wages. I know that the wages are higher "up north" but I lived there and it's more expensive so its a wash. I feel sorry for you guys cause when I was young when you took a job you had a chance to work your way up, that doesn't seem to be true now. I hope you are successful in finding a decent job.
263295
California is very expensive.  Even a modest house can cost a million dollars.  Land is at a premium because of heavy development.  Since you have a professional skill, it shouldn't be very difficult for you to submit your CV to potential employers, who can help you line up a work visa.  check out http://www.state.gov for more information on visas, or visit your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy.\n\nThere are numerous sports academies to be had.  Hell, in the urban coastal cities, whatever you want, you'll probably be able to find it.  But if I were you I'd avoid living in the really big cities like L.A., San Francisco, and San Diego.  They are crowded, impersonal, and have become dog-eat-dog business centers.  The outlying suburban towns and villages surrounding the major cities are much more likely to be receptive to a new immigrant.\n\nBear in mind, many people who were born and raised in California (like me) have left.  It has become chaotic, crowded, and expensive.  If you want to move to the U.S., please research other parts of the country that might be better for settling in.  Particularly consider medium-sized cities like Denver, Omaha, or Kansas City, where housing is more affordable and the job market isn't quite so cut-throat.
160259
My dad was stationed at Schofield and I loved living there. There are many issues you will need to consider. First off the cost of living is pretty high. Everything costs more and I mean EVERYTHING. There are lots of jobs but you are going to get crackin' right now on finding employers that will work. There are a several civilian companies that do lots of work with the military and hire many people such as yourself. If you check out monster, hotjobs, etc you should see some open jobs at Hickham and Pearl Harbor. That would be a good place to start. Since your wife is from Hawaii she can prepare you for the culture shock.
186291
Bay Area of California?\n\nwww.craigslist.org\nwww.opportunityNOCs.com
124698
I would you need alot more hours then 15! You need to do some research before you move and make sure that the job is stable enough for you to move so you can provide for your family! Also make sure that it is a good place for your daughter you don't want to be stuck in a bad neighborhood with a crappy job! I'm looking to relocate myself but its scary I don't know if I would be worse off then I am now! Its a huge step so put some thought in it. GOOD LUCK
168145
NAPELS IS WAY OVER PRICED, LIKE A LOT OF PLACES IN CA. I THINK SOME AREAS WILL IMPROVE, SOME WILL STAY THE SAME, AND THOSE THAT ARE EXTREMELY HIGH WILL DECLINE. WISH MY PLACE WAS THERE. I WOULD MAKE A PRETTY PENNY IF IT WAS SOLD DOWN THERE.
102325
Well, I just did this about 2 yrs ago - from San Francisco to Chicago.  My first step was actually putting my place on the market in San Francisco -- while actively seeking a job in Chicago.  You both seem to be professionals, and should register with some headhunters in Arizona -- they will do much of the work for you.  I flew to Chicago a few times for interviews, and also scoped out the neighborhoods.  Once my house sold in SF (which was very fast) I flew to Chicago again and signed a 6 month lease.  I thought this would be best, so I wouldn't be tied to a place i wasn't overly familiar with.  It proved to be a good starting point.  \n I'm sure there are other ways to handle it --- but really, it's sort of an all or nothing decision.  So, take the jump, and go for the ride.  It's exciting, scary, and in the end, rewarding.  Good luck.
25374
I moved to the SF bay area from Wisconsin last summer and I am totally loving it out here.\nWeather here is not as nice as southern CA, but never gets below like 40.
435398
It depends quite a bit on where, in each city or state, you want to live, and what kind of apartment you're looking for. You can get a nice (not spectactular, but nice--clean, big enough, etc.) 1-bedroom apartment on the North side of Chicago for $800 or so. I don't know what rents are like on the South side. Manhattanis a nightmare--a closet-sized, cockroach-infested studio apartment will easily run you $1200 at least, and on top of that you will probably have to hire a broker to GET you that rat trap, so there's another grand or so out the window. San Francisco is also quite expensive, although the apartments I've seen seem nicer than the ones I've seen in New York. A decent 1-bedroom in Los Angeles will run in the neighborhood of $1000. I don't know about other areas in California. Of all the places mentioned here, Chicago is the cheapest.
334581
California is pretty expensive, especially near the larger cities. I'd recommend finding a roommate that way you can live someplace somewhat decent and stay in the city. Try Los Angeles, Hollywood area, or Long Beach. If you don't have much money, there's prolly no way you can afford to have a place of your own. I'm from L.A., but the rents have gone up so much since I've been gone that Bakersfield (which is almost 2 hrs north) is as close as I can get. I have a 2 bedroom here and pay $680 a month. In L.A. a 2 bedroom will prolly run ya $1,200+. Good luck.
321120
calgary is a great place to live! Jobs are every where! less than a 1% unemployemnet rate however homes are expensive and hard to come by so be cautious!