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Old 04-28-2010, 02:46 PM
 
5 posts, read 26,452 times
Reputation: 10

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Okay so, I'll be graduating nursing school shortly and plan to relocate to the US from Canada.
My wife and I fell in love with the Santa Barbara area and would love to live there. We love the climate and ocean.
Avg. RN salary in SB is $84,000.
Due to immigration junk my wife cannot work so my salary would be all our income. We have no interest to own property but would want a house to rent as we have 3 children.

Can you live somewhat comfortable (meaning just not pay-cheque to pay-cheque) in Santa Barbara on this salary, or should I give up the dream and move to Texas like everyone suggests?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 04-28-2010, 02:53 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,329 posts, read 93,900,343 times
Reputation: 17840
Quote:
Originally Posted by hemsky83 View Post
Okay so, I'll be graduating nursing school shortly and plan to relocate to the US from Canada.
My wife and I fell in love with the Santa Barbara area and would love to live there. We love the climate and ocean.
Avg. RN salary in SB is $84,000.
Due to immigration junk my wife cannot work so my salary would be all our income. We have no interest to own property but would want a house to rent as we have 3 children.

Can you live somewhat comfortable (meaning just not pay-cheque to pay-cheque) in Santa Barbara on this salary, or should I give up the dream and move to Texas like everyone suggests?

Thanks in advance!
If it was just you two, you could probably swing it. With three kids (and knowing nothing else other than what was in the post above), it may be pretty tough.

Think about two Roth IRAs (2X $5000), maxing out your 401(k) (say $10K), three college savings accounts (3X $2000), disability insurance, and two life insurance policies.

Student loans?
Car payments?

Now, there are other places with Santa Barbara like weather that aren't as expensive. Have you considered those places?
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:01 PM
 
5 posts, read 26,452 times
Reputation: 10
We would probably have 0 debt after we sell our home in Winnipeg (car is paid for).
We live quite frugal out of necessity right now, so we would not need much in the way of luxury's.
I have not considered anywhere else, but if it is near ocean, has an SB like climate, with good schools, I would LOVE some suggestions!
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:05 PM
 
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
2,901 posts, read 12,742,929 times
Reputation: 1843
Take a look at Craigslist to get a sense of rental costs.

santa barbara apts/housing for rent classifieds "santa barbara" - craigslist

I'm assuming you will be renting?

If not ...

santa barbara real estate - all classifieds "santa barbara" - craigslist
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:15 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,329 posts, read 93,900,343 times
Reputation: 17840
Quote:
Originally Posted by hemsky83 View Post
if it is near ocean, has an SB like climate, with good schools, I would LOVE some suggestions!
All of these places below have weather that is close to or the same as Santa Barbara with half the cost. Oxnard has several hospitals within easy driving distance. SB is only 40 minutes way from Oxnard too.

Oxnard
San Pedro
San Juan Capistrano
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:17 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,329 posts, read 93,900,343 times
Reputation: 17840
Quote:
Originally Posted by coyoteskye View Post
Take a look at Craigslist to get a sense of rental costs.

santa barbara apts/housing for rent classifieds "santa barbara" - craigslist

I'm assuming you will be renting?

If not ...

santa barbara real estate - all classifieds "santa barbara" - craigslist
Here are those listings on a nice Google Maps interface:

MapsKrieg - Santa Barbara, CA - Apartments, Rooms, Sublets, and Real Estate for Sale
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:22 PM
 
5 posts, read 26,452 times
Reputation: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles View Post
All of these places below have weather that is close to or the same as Santa Barbara with half the cost. Oxnard has several hospitals within easy driving distance. SB is only 40 minutes way from Oxnard too.

Oxnard
San Pedro
San Juan Capistrano

Thanks! I think we stopped in Oxnard once on the way to SB. Ate at the In' n Out. Tasty burgers.

Is Oxnard as picturesque as SB? Is safety a concern in Oxnard?
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:32 PM
 
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
2,901 posts, read 12,742,929 times
Reputation: 1843
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles View Post
Here are those listings on a nice Google Maps interface:

MapsKrieg - Santa Barbara, CA - Apartments, Rooms, Sublets, and Real Estate for Sale
Are those the actual listings from Craigslist?
If so ... very cool.
How did you do that?
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:38 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,329 posts, read 93,900,343 times
Reputation: 17840
Quote:
Originally Posted by coyoteskye View Post
How did you do that?
craigslist "google map" - Google Search
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Old 04-28-2010, 03:40 PM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,329 posts, read 93,900,343 times
Reputation: 17840
Quote:
Originally Posted by hemsky83 View Post
Thanks! I think we stopped in Oxnard once on the way to SB. Ate at the In' n Out. Tasty burgers.

Is Oxnard as picturesque as SB? Is safety a concern in Oxnard?
Probably not as picturesque.

Some neighborhoods in Oxnard have higher crime rates than others.
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