allergysufferersmom

Hi,

My family is considering a move to San Jose or San Diego for my daughter who is suffering from allergy and we thought relocating to moderate climate might help. Besides the weather, two important factors for us are job market and housing price. My husband and I are both in IT field. I know this is a travel forum, but didn't know where else to go to get the current information for both cities. Didn't have much luck from google search. Anyway, I'm planning to visit both cities in the next few months. Thanks for your help...

Pam

My vote is for San Diego..less pollution,less land locked, less traffic and lower real estate costs.
San Diego Children's is a good hospital should your daughter need it.

J Correa

I can't speak for SD, but I can speak for SJ. I've lived here for the past 7 years and enjoy living here. I moved to SJ for college and stayed.

The 2 major drawbacks as I see them are high cost of housing and traffic. Also, related to the traffic issues is a less than adaquate public transportation system.

Other than that, I think the Bay Area in general is a good place to live - there are several professional sports teams, lots of events at the Arena, PacBell park and other venues, there are plenty of restaurants, concerts, festivals, and so on.

San Jose itself doesn't have a lot of natural beauty, but the coast is just over the hill, the redwood forests are close by, SF, the Sierras are only about a 4 hour drive.

The weather is pretty nice. It can get pretty warm in the summer in the inland areas and sometimes breaks 100, but it doesn't stay that way for more than a couple days at a time. In the winter time we get rain, but there are usually only a few nights below freezing each year, if that.

Right now the economy here is in the tank, esspecially in the computer industry. I know plenty of engineers and IT people who have been laid off an are currently looking for work. The competition is pretty tough for the jobs that are availible. On the plus side, the real estate market is a little soft right now and may soten up even more this year, so if you can find a job, this may be a good time to get into the housing market.

Faina

The job market must be really awful in SJ area after the collapse of Silicon Valley. Before you go send you resumes to employment agencies, make appointments and talk to the agents even if you don't plan to look for a job yet.

Amy

I've lived in both cities, and am currently working in San Jose.

Both are great, but what you're looking for, I would suggest San Diego. The housing market here is still unbelievably inflated, with no signs of adjusting soon - and i've been looking, along with what seems like everyone and their brother. Housing prices are definitely much more realistic down south. I've had several friends move to San Diego recently, who were unable to buy here, but able to get something great there.

As for the job market, it's still tough. We've got a higher unemployment rate in San Jose than the rest of the state. Seems like it's going to be like that for a while longer, and I haven't heard much promising news for those in IT.

As for the cities themselves, I LOVED San Diego and didn't want to leave. It's got a great lifestyle and great natural surroundings. The Bay Area is a great place as well, lots to see and do, and there's always a great day or weekend trip to be found from this area.

Susan

Both cities are very nice and there are advantages to living in both areas. But I will suggest to you that the climates are not as similar as you might be thinking. If it is a drier climate your daughter needs, then San Diego is by far the best choice. If smog is a consideration, I'd think again San Diego would win out. There is smog in all metropolitan areas in California, but the valley in which San Jose sits has more of a hold on the smog than the San Diego area. There is more rain in San Jose, though it is probably drier than where you are coming from. Can you spend a week or so in each place and see which fits your needs better? Also, if mildness of climate is your main goal, might I suggest a third possibility, the San Luis Obispo area. Housing is a bit cheaper than in the bay area and the climate is a bit milder, but not as dry as San Diego. Good luck!

xxx

Unless you can afford a minimum of $600,000 for housing, I wouldn't even bother to come out and look. All of these areas are extremely expensive and the unemployment rates are high. San Diego has some of the lowest pay rates in the nation (because everyone is willing to sacrafice for the opportunity to live there). San Jose is conjested and has a lot of unemployed IT people.

yyy

Have you discussed this move with your daughter's physician? For example, if she's allergic to pollens, flowers bloom year round in both locations.

Doctors used to recommend Phoenix or Las Vegas for a dryer climate with fewer pollens, but people in both of these cities water so much that people now have allergy problems there too.

Claire

My boyfriend lives in San Diego and has horrible allergy problems. He always seems to feel a little better when he comes up to LA to see me for the weekend. If he didn't have such a killer job down there, he'd move for a better allergy climate (too much moisture and pollens).

Brice

Claire
He feels better cuz he's with you.Silly