Relocating? This isThe Thread for YOU!

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Sugar08

I know that the South and the Midwest are getting most of the love here, but let me put in a plug for the Bay Area of CA... I grew up in California and went to school in D.C. (LOVED it there), and now I live in Central NJ.

But California has a sizable population of upwardly mobile black professionals in both L.A. and the Bay. I do prefer the Bay slightly.

As for Atlanta, I went there once in high school and hated it, went back in college and liked it... but I don't think I "get it," either.

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

[Sugar08]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.

Ok, you definitely have me there. I was in Northern California over Mother's Day Weekend, and I was complaining to my sister about that very issue.

Nonetheless, CA is home to me, so I'll always recommend it. And as far as the housing market, prices are being forced down, so if there were a time to buy, it's going to be now or in the near future.

I've lived in both North and South, and I've found that the cultures are vastly different. (Although, Soror, I did notice that you live in San Diego... and I'm pretty sure it's heaven, so if you don't love that city, I can't see you liking any other part of the state. )

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Sugar08

Ok, you definitely have me there. I was in Northern California over Mother's Day Weekend, and I was complaining to my sister about that very issue.

Nonetheless, CA is home to me, so I'll always recommend it. And as far as the housing market, prices are being forced down, so if there were a time to buy, it's going to be now or in the near future.

I've lived in both North and South, and I've found that the cultures are vastly different. (Although, Soror, I did notice that you live in San Diego... and I'm pretty sure it's heaven, so if you don't love that city, I can't see you liking any other part of the state. )

Soror, I do have love for San Diego.
Great climate, good restaurants, decent shopping, not to mention a wonderful chapter. I'm a native San Diegan, and right now, I am technically a bi-city person because I work in OC.
I haven't spent significant time in Northern California since 1989, but I did like my summer at Berkeley.

[Obsession8]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.

That's the predominant situation where I'm from (and, something I'll have to "grapple" with when I go back). I agree with Soror icebrAKA about wanting to live where there's diversity, but that can be a personal drawback when you're not looking "elsewhere" to date. I guess it's a good thing I'm not the "marrying kind".

ETA: More about my take on Atlanta...

My fam (and I, back in the day) lives on the "outskirts" of ATL (Lithonia, Decatur, Riverdale, the Cascade area, etc.), not in the heart of the city where (most of) the problems that have been mentioned exist. So, that's why I wouldn't mind going back if need be. The whole dating scene issue *would* be a concern, but that seems to be the issue no matter *where* I am (just MHO; refer back to the "marrying kind" statement).

[ChanelLover]

Originally Posted by Obsession8

ETA: More about my take on Atlanta...

My fam (and I, back in the day) lives on the "outskirts" of ATL (Lithonia, Decatur, Riverdale, the Cascade area, etc.), not in the heart of the city where (most of) the problems that have been mentioned exist. So, that's why I wouldn't mind going back if need be. The whole dating scene issue *would* be a concern, but that seems to be the issue no matter *where* I am (just MHO; refer back to the "marrying kind" statement).

Really Soror, I live in Lithonia!! I don't usually meet many people from Lithonia.The area is pretty nice, sure there are some areas that aren't so nice but thats anywhere. The housing situation is pretty good. There are tons of jobs avaibable in the area. Dekalb County(which Lithonia and Decatur are in) is actually the second wealthiest county in the country for Blacks. Overall, I would give ATL a chance., and I'm not just saying that because I'm from ATL. We have some of the best law firms in the country, not to mention some really good universities.

[SummerChild]

Chanel Lover, having had my family in Atl since 1991 and having gone to college, etc. in Atlanta, I still wonder about Dekalb county. Can you break it down to me. It seems that whenever AA move to Atlanta, realtors direct them to Dekalb county like it is some kind of haven but when I'm in Atlanta (which is almost every other month), I turn on the news and inevitably, there is a murder in Dekalb county or basically something involving gun violence - and it's usually in Dekalb county. It seems like it's like the wild, wild west out there to me. Is it just Decatur? I dated a guy when I was in college who was from Lithonia and he also swore that it was the best place to live. What's going on? My parents lived in Clayton and now have lived in Fulton since about 93 but not even Fulton has the kind of crime that Dekalb appears to have. Did Dekalb county put Atlanta on the map when it was the murder capital a few years?

Just wondering b/c I just can't figure out why AAs are always directed to Dekalb like it's the mecca or something yet Dekalb is the main county on the nightly news. They are even directed away from the Cascade area as if Dekalb county is better than the Cascade area. What gives?

If I were to move back, I would definitely be in the midtown area just b/c my commute is h-ll now living in LA or I'd move to where my financially saavy soror-best friend just moved - to West Cobb where all the schools are good and the property values are apparently really appreciating.

Is Dekalb county just getting a bad rep on the news?

Also, re the legal market. I've been practicing for a few years - practiced in the Chicago market and now the LA and Atl seems to me to be an ok market...however, really I've found that some of the choicest positions for my kind of work are silicon valley and san diego b/c those are technology hotbeds. Atlanta's not really...so it's a little limiting. Also, in-house jobs, I have opps but they are not in Atlanta. They are moreso RTP and Dallas/Austin other technology hotbeds. I just think it depends on the kind of law that you practice.

SC

Originally Posted by ChanelLover

Really Soror, I live in Lithonia!! I don't usually meet many people from Lithonia.The area is pretty nice, sure there are some areas that aren't so nice but thats anywhere. The housing situation is pretty good. There are tons of jobs avaibable in the area. Dekalb County(which Lithonia and Decatur are in) is actually the second wealthiest county in the country for Blacks. Overall, I would give ATL a chance., and I'm not just saying that because I'm from ATL. We have some of the best law firms in the country, not to mention some really good universities.

[ChanelLover]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Chanel Lover, having had my family in Atl since 1991 and having gone to college, etc. in Atlanta, I still wonder about Dekalb county. Can you break it down to me. It seems that whenever AA move to Atlanta, realtors direct them to Dekalb county like it is some kind of haven but when I'm in Atlanta (which is almost every other month), I turn on the news and inevitably, there is a murder in Dekalb county or basically something involving gun violence - and it's usually in Dekalb county. It seems like it's like the wild, wild west out there to me. Is it just Decatur? I dated a guy when I was in college who was from Lithonia and he also swore that it was the best place to live. What's going on? My parents lived in Clayton and now have lived in Fulton since about 93 but not even Fulton has the kind of crime that Dekalb appears to have. Did Dekalb county put Atlanta on the map when it was the murder capital a few years?

Just wondering b/c I just can't figure out why AAs are always directed to Dekalb like it's the mecca or something yet Dekalb is the main county on the nightly news. They are even directed away from the Cascade area as if Dekalb county is better than the Cascade area. What gives?

If I were to move back, I would definitely be in the midtown area just b/c my commute is h-ll now living in LA or I'd move to where my financially saavy soror-best friend just moved - to West Cobb where all the schools are good and the property values are apparently really appreciating.

Is Dekalb county just getting a bad rep on the news?

Also, re the legal market. I've been practicing for a few years - practiced in the Chicago market and now the LA and Atl seems to me to be an ok market...however, really I've found that some of the choicest positions for my kind of work are silicon valley and san diego b/c those are technology hotbeds. Atlanta's not really...so it's a little limiting. Also, in-house jobs, I have opps but they are not in Atlanta. They are moreso RTP and Dallas/Austin other technology hotbeds. I just think it depends on the kind of law that you practice.

SC

Soror, I hope I don't get in trouble for saying this.

When I was growing up, we did NOT have as many problems has we do today. I have noticed that there seems to be more crime in Dekalb Cty. After speaking with my mother about this on several occasions, we have some to this conclusion: as you may know, the City of Atlanta and Fulton County have gotten rid of the "projects", in turn they get these Section 8 vouchers, and I mean droves of them have moved to Dekalb.(Don't get me wrong I have nothing agaist lower income people). There has been a noticable change in the dynamics of Lithonia. I do think that we are getting a bad rap. It seems like the news in ATL will pick a county, for about 2 months and tell everything that is wrong with that area, like crime doesn't exist somewhere else.

As far as the housing the main reason people are directed to Dekalb is simple. Property taxes are fairly cheap, public works are pretty good, the schools aren't the best in Georgia, but Georgia schools aren't all that great to begin with; but there are options such as charter schools, optional transfer programs, and magnet programs. You can get a pretty nice house for around $250k with some yard.

As far as the job market, I was just going off of personal expierence. I had a cousin that graduated from Emory last year and had a very very good job offer before even graduating.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that Atlanta is the end all be all. After graduating in December, I'm moving to D.C. for grad school. I just think that things may be a little easier here for African Americans, than say Miami. From what I've heard, which I may be wrong, most Blacks in Miami are poor, and if you are not Cuban then its hard as he** to make it.

[SummerChild]

Hi Soror. Wow, that's interesting with the vouchers and all that. Do you think that Dekalb county has taxes, etc. that are much less than in other counties in the Atlanta area such as Fulton and Cobb? I was looking at the tax rates (by city) and some of the Dekalb county cities actually seemed to be a little higher than Fulton, Cobb (Marietta) and about on par with Fayette county. I don't know if I was looking at the wrong table. It was some kind of millage?? table as I was trying to figure out, if I moved to Atlanta, the best cities to move to in terms of taxes, services, prices, appreciation, etc.

Perhaps the media is targeting the area as you said. I have just always been surprised that I hear about Dekalb county alot when I would think that I would hear about Fulton county as much or more than Dekalb county as Fulton encompasses the actual Atlanta inner city, where I would think more crime would take place.

Atlanta isn't a bad place and I may have a few offers there now. However, as I mentioned in another post, another one of our sorors has been trying to get a job as a teacher or counselor in Atlanta for months now and can't obtain an interview - and she has two masters in education, etc. and works in higher education now in another state where she lives. I really feel like, when it comes to stuff like teaching, maybe the market is just saturated from all of these people that are flocking to Atlanta in droves like 40 going north (or south in this case - lol). It's just that I am always a little perplexed at why people think it's the promised land. It's cool and thanks for the insight.

SC

Originally Posted by ChanelLover

Soror, I hope I don't get in trouble for saying this.

When I was growing up, we did NOT have as many problems has we do today. I have noticed that there seems to be more crime in Dekalb Cty. After speaking with my mother about this on several occasions, we have some to this conclusion: as you may know, the City of Atlanta and Fulton County have gotten rid of the "projects", in turn they get these Section 8 vouchers, and I mean droves of them have moved to Dekalb.(Don't get me wrong I have nothing agaist lower income people). There has been a noticable change in the dynamics of Lithonia. I do think that we are getting a bad rap. It seems like the news in ATL will pick a county, for about 2 months and tell everything that is wrong with that area, like crime doesn't exist somewhere else.

As far as the housing the main reason people are directed to Dekalb is simple. Property taxes are fairly cheap, public works are pretty good, the schools aren't the best in Georgia, but Georgia schools aren't all that great to begin with; but there are options such as charter schools, optional transfer programs, and magnet programs. You can get a pretty nice house for around $250k with some yard.

As far as the job market, I was just going off of personal expierence. I had a cousin that graduated from Emory last year and had a very very good job offer before even graduating.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that Atlanta is the end all be all. After graduating in December, I'm moving to D.C. for grad school. I just think that things may be a little easier here for African Americans, than say Miami. From what I've heard, which I may be wrong, most Blacks in Miami are poor, and if you are not Cuban then its hard as he** to make it.

[Wonderful1908]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

I co-sign. I am from the Bay Area and I wouldn't recommend it either, I LOVE being from California but all the reasons you stated above are why I will never move back. It's funny my Dad's wife is from Thailand, and don't get me started there. I wouln't call it teh Oriental Syndrome its the anything not a sista syndrome.

[Sugar08]

Originally Posted by Wonderful1908

I wouln't call it teh Oriental Syndrome its the anything not a sista syndrome.

Ha! (and so sad.)

[SummerChild]

Hi Soror,
So the weather in Charlotte is really rainy? How did you find the social scene in Charlotte? Do they get a winter with snow up there?
SC

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Hi Soror,
So the weather in Charlotte is really rainy? How did you find the social scene in Charlotte? Do they get a winter with snow up there?
SC

Good morning, Soror.

I wouldn't say it was really rainy, but it got its share, including the summer. Being a native Californian, I was not used to the humidity and such because it played havoc with my hair. During my time in Charlotte, I returned to the "creamy crack."

As for the social scene, I wasn't a participant. I had some personal issues and didn't want to put them on a guy. Friends of mine found it OK. While I was at the paper, I had some buddies who were dating around.

I can only recall a few snow days in the winter.

[SummerChild]

Good morning Soror V,
Thanks. The "creamy crack." That is hilarious...but I know what you mean. The things that we do...
I was just sitting under a head full of seabreeze last week - wasn't fun as you know.

Charlotte sounds like a cool place.

SC

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Good morning, Soror.

I wouldn't say it was really rainy, but it got its share, including the summer. Being a native Californian, I was not used to the humidity and such because it played havoc with my hair. During my time in Charlotte, I returned to the "creamy crack."

As for the social scene, I wasn't a participant. I had some personal issues and didn't want to put them on a guy. Friends of mine found it OK. While I was at the paper, I had some buddies who were dating around.

I can only recall a few snow days in the winter.