Should I move to Santa Barbara?

October 26, 2005 7:36 PM

Husband and I considering a move to Santa Barbara where he has a job offer in a high-tech company. Is this feasible from an economic standpoint?

Our initial thought is that housing prices are too outrageous and long commutes are not conducive to quality of life issues. We'd be moving from Tucson, AZ (where houses are cheap in comparison) - so besides the great weather - is there something Santa Barbara offers that would make this move worthwhile?

posted by TorontoSandy to work & money (23 comments total)

It depends a lot on money- how much you have, and how much this new job offers. Care to share?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:47 PM on October 26, 2005 [1 favorite has favorites]

Job pays around $100,000. We have some savings but nothing spectacular. Our age might be a factor, he's 38 and I'm 42.

We tend to go by the live simple but well philosophy. I don't want to lay awake worrying about paying a huge mortgage.
posted by TorontoSandy at 7:52 PM on October 26, 2005

I've lived in Tucson and I've spent a fair amount of time in Santa Barbara.

Go to Santa Barbara if you can afford it. Don't look back. There's nothing Tucson offers that Santa Barbara (or nearby cities and communities) doesn't offer. Plus, Santa Barbara is beautiful and on the ocean. It's a very wealthy area though. Tucson is *much* cheaper, in every respect, than Santa Barbara. Just plan on everything being more expensive (and I mean everything).
posted by ryanhealy at 7:56 PM on October 26, 2005

Good air
In a geographically beautiful location
On the coast but also close to the mountains
Lots of great restaurants
Only 1.5-2 hrs from LA if you need access to a big city
SB wine country
Traffic not normally a problem
Generally a low-stress place to live

But I think a $100,000 income wouldn't be that easy to live on in Santa Barbara these days, particularly if you are looking to buy.
posted by shoos at 7:56 PM on October 26, 2005

Shoos said it: If you're not planning on buying I'd say go for it. Starter condos in SB/Goleta are pushing $500k these days.
posted by whozyerdaddy at 8:08 PM on October 26, 2005

Any idea on what the rental market is like? In Tucson, our rent was 700.00 a month and that was on the high side for Tucson.
posted by TorontoSandy at 8:13 PM on October 26, 2005

Triple that rent (at least) for a comparably sized rental.
posted by ryanhealy at 8:15 PM on October 26, 2005

You get what you pay for. The salary is higher, so's the rent, but you get an ocean and beautiful weather. Is that a trade that makes you happy? 'Yes' is OK, so is 'no'. :)

I will say that given higher rent areas, everything else is typically not all that much more expensive (save gas in that area, perhaps). It's not like everything triples in cost.

Spend a few hundred dollars on a weekend trip and do some scouting, see if it makes you happy or indifferent to be there.
posted by kcm at 8:18 PM on October 26, 2005

Without knowing how the $100k compares to the income you two have in Tuscon, it's hard to say whether that's enough to maintain the lifestyle you have now. There have been some cost of living comparison calculators cited in previous threads (which naturally I can't find at the moment, but someone else will). Definitely consult those. I've known a number of highly paid professionals who were lured to town by salaries well in excess of $100k, several of whom still bailed after less than a year because they just couldn't afford the kind of housing and schools they were used to giving their family elsewhere.

Right now the housing bubble it still at a peak so you'll pay top dollar if you buy, with the real risk of selling for less if you only plan to hold it a few years. The rental market traditionally has low vacancy, but if possible try to move when the student population isn't (i.e. Dec-Mar is good, May-Sep isn't)-- you can find landlords much more willing to negotiate when there aren't 100 applicants all pounding on the door at the same time. Still, yes, the area is MUCH more expensive than Tuscon (or than just about anywhere else in the country that isn't NYC or coastal CA).

As for weather, SB's climate is pretty mild year round. Cool foggy mornings, followed by warm sunny afternoons. There's a rainy season (~Nov-Mar), and every couple of years the coastal hills overlooking town get a brief sprinkling of snow. Whether that's great or not is a matter of your preference. Many people adore it, others feel like the sense of seasons is lost. Temp >85 is pretty unusual. There are many spectacular views to be had, and many lovely beaches (which go criminally under-used IMO) to visit.

"Long commutes" are not the norm, unless you choose to live well outside of town (e.g. Santa Ynez Yalley, Ojai, Lompoc, etc.). Rush hour traffic on 101 can be a pain, but it's easy to get around without using the highway.

SB is generally considered great from a "quality of life" standpoint. But it's up to you to decide which qualities are the ones you most value. For instance, some people go stir crazy from being that far away from a major city and the customary urban amenities (LA is 1.5-3 hours away depending on where you're trying to go and what time of day you're doing it). Decide what's important to you two, and what the priorities are for the next few years. Will you be able to find a suitable job there too? Is the higher CoL going to make it harder to progress on the dreams you two share? Do you feel comfortable making friends there? Do you see opportunities to maintain your favorite pasttimes or try out new ones that intrigue you? (Hint: if you like golf or polo, consider yourself Home Sweet Home)
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 8:31 PM on October 26, 2005

I just moved to CA from a cheaper PNW area but I am 30, got a great job and plan to leave after about 3 years. My advice if you're looking to buy or to settle permanently is: think a lot about it, particularly due to the housing bubble. Maybe you can buy a place back in Tuscon and rent it out or do something similar to offset your enormous outlay on rent and cost of living.

State income tax in CA is over 8%, sales tax is about the same, food is expensive (way worse than when I lived here 10 years ago), car registrations are something like 3-5% of your vehicle value so hundreds per year on a new car, insurance is ungodly and the people are likely not as friendly as you are used to. Having said that SB is beautiful and the ocean is gorgeous there, there is a lot to do and lots of cool stuff nearby too.
posted by fshgrl at 8:52 PM on October 26, 2005

To get an idea of rental prices and availability visit:
preferred rental and
bdc management.
Also check out the classified section of
Santa Barbara New-Press.
posted by tcy at 9:43 PM on October 26, 2005

Santa Barbara, Salinas and Santa Cruz, all in California, [are] the nation's least-affordable housing markets. Santa Barbara is indeed a beautiful place, and I prefer it to Tucson, but I think you'd be better off renting. I could see living there for a few years, but not permanently ... a bit too small and too yuppie for me.
posted by lukemeister at 9:49 PM on October 26, 2005

Triple that rent (at least) for a comparably sized rental.

Ouch.

If your husband makes more than $35,000 in Tucson, it would seem to make more sense to stay there.
posted by russilwvong at 11:11 PM on October 26, 2005

Would the job offerer consider a cost of living adjustment?
Would declining the offer result in being "stuck" in AZ forever?
This might not be a bad thing, if you both are happy to stay there. Reluctance to relocate is a black ball in some industries, and the offers might stop coming in.
posted by Cranberry at 11:46 PM on October 26, 2005

I took a 4-month trip down the west cost ealier this year, stumbled upon SB and absolutely loved it! stayed for a week before realizing I couldn't afford it - many rentals were going for $7-800 for a SHARED 1 bedroom. I found a few shared houses for around $6-700, but my budget was less and I ended up in Sacramento for a few months. However, I think you and your husband would do fine there, as you're making considerably more money than I was. If you're willing to rent, check out craigslist (under housing). I would be hesitant to buy in the SB area as you probably won't get a return on your investment(?) considering the inflated housing marker. Perhaps with lower expectations (vs. Tuscon) and some due dilligence in finding your rental will help you to find a suitable place close to his work. Regardless, you'll love the area - beach, mountains, amazing downtown, very, very nice city. Good luck!
posted by masymas at 12:13 AM on October 27, 2005

I lived pretty much my whole life in SB up until last February, my best friend lives in Tucson so I'm familiar with the differences.

If you're an outdoorsy, active person you will probably love it. It really is beautiful, you have both the mountains and the ocean within 10 minutes drive and the weather is about 75 degrees nine months of the year. However, it's increasingly yuppified and privileged as the housing prices have soared. It's getting a little Orange County-ish, all the funky bits are disappearing and everyone's highlighted and waxed.

If you live downtown you can really walk everywhere, and crime isn't a problem. I always felt safe, even walking home alone from the bars at 2 in the morning. It feels like a smaller town than it is, probably because a large chunk of the population is transient (either students at one of the four colleges, tourists, or people with second homes there). You will end up running into people you know all over the place. It also shuts down pretty early in the evening, apart from the bars on lower State St. The wealthy and middle class are overwhelmingly white, the poor and working class overwhelmingly Latino, the black population almost nonexistent. You don't say if you'll be looking for work yourself but be warned that salaries tend to be low compared to other cities, some industries more so than others. Expect to get to know people a little before they really open up, people are nice enough but not especially friendly with strangers.

If that still sounds good to you, go. But don't buy a house, the mortgage payments will reduce your quality of life considerably and renting is a better deal these days. And don't live too far outside of town (Lompoc, Oxnard, etc.) unless you really are just coming for the weather. You may as well stay in Tucson and buy yourself a better air conditioner, your experience will be about the same.
posted by cali at 2:22 AM on October 27, 2005

Santa Barbara is an incredibly beautiful place, both the town itself (all construction has to be cleared with the Landmarks Commission, which bothers my inner anarchist but does result in a pretty city) and the surroundings (mountains! ocean! miles of nice beach!). And the food is great. Drawbacks: incredibly expensive, not much to do. If you can, I'd suggest spending a week or so there (there are cheap motels you could stay in) and deciding whether it's right for you.
posted by languagehat at 6:49 AM on October 27, 2005

I lived in Santa Barbara from 1997-2001, and have very fond memories of that time. However, I never considered it a permanent stopping place for a number of reasons.

First, the housing costs are insane. When I moved there in 1997 the median home price was about $350K. I couldn't believe how high it was. Now I hear it's pushing $1Million. For *the median* home.

Also, consider the quality of the public school system in California if you have/are going to have kids.

Last, have you spent enough time in Southern California to know what the local community is like? I moved there from the midwest, and was really surprised at the difference in general attitude of the population there. Don't get me wrong, I met a lot of local people there that I am still very close to, but I found the general attitude of Southern Californians to be vain and self-serving.

When my wife and I decided to move to Minneapolis, everyone (and I mean everyone) that we knew in Santa Barbara could not comprehend how anyone could do that. The people that live there permanently are fiercely loyal to it as the Best Place to Live on Earth. Climate-wise, it's hard to argue with that sentiment. However, I am happier with the city and community of Minneapolis than I ever was in Santa Barbara. We've just got to deal with Winter now (which does suck).
posted by mcstayinskool at 10:22 AM on October 27, 2005

Just moved away from the area myself. For the salary you quote, you will not be able to afford housing in SB proper. You'll need to look in the nearby cities. That means you're going to have a commute, and you'll need to count on it being anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour drive one way. Be aware of that going in.
If that is still OK, then look at the following cities:
To the south:
Carpinteria: This is the original beach town. Very small town feel, wonderful place to live. It's the part of California I miss when I miss California. The prices have been going up here, but it'll still by 30% cheaper than SB. This is also your shortest commute option.
Ventura: Kind of a funky, poorer version of SB. The downtown is undergoing a revival but still has some rough edges. I'd put this as my second choice.
Oxnard: This town is really growing fast. As you drive up the 101 from LA, you'll see huge housing tracks going up. Avoid them and look into the area near the ocean called Channel Islands Harbor. A little more pricey than the rest of Oxnard, but what's the point of living in California if you can't see the ocean?
to the north:
Goleta: This is basically a suburb of SB. Cheaper than SB, but you're still going to have sticker-shock. I wouldn't bother.
Lompoc: Your longest drive, but the cheapest prices, and the least travel. You're still going to drive an hour into the city, but you'll be going 65+ mph the whole way. I'd put this behind Oxnard personally.
to the east:
Ojai: Fun, artsy town. Kind of like Aspen in a lot of ways. Prices are fairly high--comparable to Goleta, and the drive is just as long as Ventura. As an added bonus, the road *will* be washed out at least once a year, leaving you stranded for a couple of days. Fun place though. Hot as the dickens in late summer too, but probably not for someone from AZ.

That's my two bits. I'd say go for it myself. I've become a firm believer that everyone should live in Cali for a few years. Then when you're sick of it, leave. Beware of the housing bubble. It's probably going to pop in the next year or two. Just wait for the pop before you buy. --The bubble bought me a very nice house just outside Philly. Cali was very good to me--
posted by Eddie Mars at 10:52 AM on October 27, 2005

Agree with everyone who cites lots of good restaurants and nothing to do except go shopping and celebrity-watch. Go to Barnes and Noble on State Street and you might see John Cleese, Michael Douglas, Anne Heche, etc., etc., in there too. Speaking of shopping - there is a SuperKMart, Linens 'n' Things, Home Depot in Goleta, a flagship Trader Joe's on State Street and another one or two scattered around, Anthropologie, Nordstroms, Express, Gap, etc but the nearest Target is in Ventura. (Be warned, the 101 between Ventura and SB is subject to serious, protracted traffic delays, especially during commute times.)
posted by Lynsey at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2005

Nothing to do? Depends on what you like I suppose. Great access to trails and rockclimbing. Good surfing and beaches. In general, if you like nature and walking around its a great town. The Arlington and SB Bowl are great venues to see bands. UCSB has some great cultural events and the SB nightlife is pretty fun if you don't mind the college crowd. Perfect year-round weather. Only an about 2 hours from LA if you really want a big city. All in all, one of the best places to live I've ever seen.

I suspect one could find a bargain rental in La Conchita these days after the mudslides of last year. Just have a contingency plan to stay elsewhere in any big rainstorms.
posted by Manjusri at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2005

This salary calculator suggests that $100,000 in Tuscon goes about as far as $226,000 in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara's not cheap.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:15 PM on October 27, 2005

Oh, wait, the $100,000 is contingent on moving to SB. In that case, imagine that you were in your current situation, but making only $44,000.

If he's currently actually bringing home more than $44,000, you'll be taking a hit to your standard of living. If he's not, you stand to gain.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:21 PM on October 27, 2005