Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
 ·Comcast
| i want to hear from you all.
A good friend of mine is moving to the Baltimore/DC area (living in MD i think) anyway he kept telling me and my wife to move up there with them, he said it's much much better up there than here. the weather is nice no 90 degree summers,no high electricity bills, beautiful countryi agree with him about the pretty country part as i have travelled there numerous times, but i dunno about the summer time cus i think their summers are probably just as bad. and i am not sure about Baltimore being much much better..
what do you guys think, i could have posted this in the Baltimore/DC forum but i know i'll get a biased answer:)
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Posts: 6023
MYIE2
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JeffB
Premium
join:2001-12-20
Somewhere
| Go to some on-line cost of living calculator, I think you'll find that DC is a MUCH more expensive overall. For example, if you make $100k here, you'd need to make $173k in DC to maintain the same style of living as you do here in Texas.
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX | reply to Fobulous
yes that's true that's definately one thing i'm looking into |
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aggiejy
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Wimberley, TX | And remember, God Blessed Texas a little more than the other ones.  |
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| reply to Fobulous
lol
actually i have been living in Texas since '84 and have never lived outside of the State..in my personal experience moving up here from Houston is quiet a change...and i dunno what kinda change would be if i really move up to the DC area..of course my wife is not really crazy about that area (we visited DC a few years back and we got lost in the White House area, out of the tourist circles..and we were shocked to see the neighborhoods there) but anyway..i heard Baltimore area is much nicer than DC..but then again some parts of Virginia has nice suburbs..but i haven't seen a neighboorhood like Plano/Frisco here yet..
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Posts: 6023
MYIE2
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warlock56
Premium
join:2002-07-31
Arlington, TX
| reply to Fobulous
said by Fobulous  :
A good friend of mine is moving to the Baltimore/DC area (living in MD i think) anyway he kept telling me and my wife to move up there with them, he said it's much much better up there than here. the weather is nice no 90 degree summers,no high electricity bills, beautiful countryi agree with him about the pretty country part as i have travelled there numerous times, but i dunno about the summer time cus i think their summers are probably just as bad. and i am not sure about Baltimore being much much better..
what do you guys think, i could have posted this in the Baltimore/DC forum but i know i'll get a biased answer:)
No 90 degree summers??!! LMAO!! Whatever he is smoking, pass me some please.
Living over there WILL (not IF) be more expensive than living here. And btw, examine the electricity rates for yourself from the state PUC. I'd be willing to bet you'll see no savings.
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX | reply to Fobulous
so i guess the DC/Baltimore area does have hot and humid summers? he's been bothering me again.. telling me to move move move..
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
| My dad lives about 30 miles outside DC, in VA. The summers do get hot and humid, but not like Texas, not 110. It will get in the 90's with no problem, maybe even break 100, every once and awhile, but it IS cooler then TX  |
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dropshadow
join:2000-12-17
Plano, TX
clubs: 
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Fobulous
i moved from the DC area back to dallas about 3 years ago. saying that temps there won't reach 90+ is just silly. temps regularly hit 95+ in the DC metro area in august. with much more humidity in the area, it feels even worse, trust me.
what i don't miss about the DC metro area:
1) taxes: you will find new subtractions from your paycheck living in VA, MD & DC. welcome to states where you get to pay state income taxes! welcome to states where you get to pay personal property taxes not only on your expensive real estate, but your car too! of course they say that since the effective sales tax is less (runs 4.25-6.25%), it offsets the income tax and personal property taxes, but it doesn't!
2) traffic: believe me, if you have ever tried to get 15 miles down the capital beltway during rush hour, you will be amazed at how efficient traffic is in dallas. the washington DC area is commonly cited as one of the worst traffic cities in the country. average commute time in the DC area is 40+ minutes. during rush hour, certain highways turn HOV only...meaning you CANNOT drive on the highway unless you have 2 or more people during rush hour.
3) transporation costs: if you don't drive, be ready to pay for metro passes. public transportation costs were something i was completely unaccustomed to growing up in dallas. a 1 week metro pass will run you around $25. then you have to figure parking. parking in DC is expensive. parking in the suburbs isn't bad, but if you plan on working in the city, parking will be expensive.
4) real estate prices: they are unbelievably high if you are used to dallas real estate. the DC metro area is in the top tier of most expensive cities to live in the US. it is easily comparable to los angeles, san diego, boston, & chicago. only cities like san francisco and NYC would edge it out. don't expect to get a ranch-styled house on a 1/4 acre with a 50k salary a year. most likely, you will be in a townhouse or high-rise apartment, depending on where you live. it is very public knowledge that most teachers, policemen, firemen, etc. CANNOT afford to live in the heart of the DC metro area on their salary due to the real estate prices.
5) winters are harsher. snow, ice, sleet and hail are expected every winter unlike dallas where it might be a day or 2 at most. in the 6 years i lived there, there were probably a total of 4-5 weeks where DC and surrounding areas were shut down. VA and MD usually take their cue from DC...so if the government shuts down, VA and MD will usually shut down government and schools as well. of course, summers in dallas aren't exactly a walk in the park
6) every time out of town friends come to visit you, you have to go see the white house, the monuments, and the memorials *yet* again i've done those walks so many times in my life, i have them memorized.
7) good luck finding homemade salsa. good luck finding something that even resembles tex-mex. if you like that type of food, you're gonna be out of luck for the most part in DC. |
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LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
| I was in DC one winter during a snow fall, and I thought it was funny how things shut down. Growing up in MI, snow, ice, and driving are no big thing. I understand people in Texas, because it doesn't happen that often, snow here is a rare thing. But in DC. you would think, people would learn.
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| reply to Fobulous
thanks for the info! especailly dropshadow!
while, i have no intention of moving (moving would be really really hard when you have a house and everything) but, after my classes (currently going to SMU for A+,N+,MCSA,MCSE), i'll definately go where the jobs are...
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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bbrkdub
join:2001-10-03
Houston, TX
·Comcast
| I'd say if you want a change of scenery, look into moving farther *south* in Texas (Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio). Nice areas, and the salsa is great
IMHO Texas is where it's at. Businesses can stay open all year round and cheaper cost of living.
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| reply to Fobulous
No thanks about South Texas:) been to the Austin area, not too impressed, never really liked San Antonio either.
my best hope is to stay put and thrive here. but of course i'll keep having to hear my freind bugging me about moving up there..
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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bbrkdub
join:2001-10-03
Houston, TX
·Comcast
| said by Fobulous :
No thanks about South Texas:) been to the Austin area...
Oh, c'mon now you've hurt my feelings (j/k)! I guess I can't please everyone
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Hope this helps... |
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| reply to Fobulous
no don't get upset. to each it's own and even with my wife she doesn't like san antonio nor Austin that much. She likes it up here much better..
well guess who was here in my house last night? yeah the guy who's moving up to baltimore..he again bugged me about it..and mentioned that Baltimore is the Silicon valley in the East Coast..is this true? i thought there are alot of hi-tech companies out in the Dc/Virginia area but not up in Maryland..
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI | NYC has a Silicon Alley, but I would have to say VA is a hot Tech area.
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warlock56
Premium
join:2002-07-31
Arlington, TX
| reply to Fobulous
said by Fobulous :
no don't get upset. to each it's own and even with my wife she doesn't like san antonio nor Austin that much. She likes it up here much better..
well guess who was here in my house last night? yeah the guy who's moving up to baltimore..he again bugged me about it..and mentioned that Baltimore is the Silicon valley in the East Coast..is this true? i thought there are alot of hi-tech companies out in the Dc/Virginia area but not up in Maryland..
Ask yourself: Is this guy wanting you to move for your benefit or his? We've all told you our thoughts, you make the decision.
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1. Peace through superior firepower 2. There is a huge 3-D world out there that doesn't give a crap about secret club houses and perverted picture posting. |
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| quote:
Ask yourself: Is this guy wanting you to move for your benefit or his? We've all told you our thoughts, you make the decision.
My wife's thinks that he's kinda annoying so that's about sums it up there.
also i guess the best thing is to work in that area for like 2-3 months (like i did in North MD, Aberdeen area) and just see if i like it or not. i have been to DC (right outside of the White House) not too impressed..
but yes most of your comments are right. Almost everywhere is more expensive up there and if they give me a $55k/year job..it will almost equals to about $33k/year down here...
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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dropshadow
join:2000-12-17
Plano, TX
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Fobulous
said by Fobulous :
well guess who was here in my house last night? yeah the guy who's moving up to baltimore..he again bugged me about it..and mentioned that Baltimore is the Silicon valley in the East Coast..is this true? i thought there are alot of hi-tech companies out in the Dc/Virginia area but not up in Maryland..
actually, most of the computer tech companies are located in northern virginia along the dulles corridor - aptly named after the dulles tollway which connects DC with dulles airport.
the stretch of highway I-95 between DC and baltimore which is where BWI airport is (think smaller local airport like love field), has a huge bio-technology sector, which has been steadily growing, and in my opinion, experience rapid growth in the next 5 years.
to be honest, baltimore itself is still a relatively blue-collar, industrial town, although it is changing. i was just in baltimore last year to visit friends. all of the growth has been in the DC area, which is 30-45 minutes south of the city of baltimore, so i think your friend might be misleading you a little bit, if he truly lives in baltimore, and not more in the DC metro area.
as far as major cities on the east coast with a BIG tech prescense, yes, you could definitely include the DC metro area (includes northern VA, and maryland), definitely boston, NYC to some degree, although most tech in NYC is finance-related obviously...beyond that though, it would just be technical campus dominated cities such as MIT, carnegie mellon, etc. |
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX
·Comcast
| reply to Fobulous
quote:
which is 30-45 minutes south of the city of baltimore, so i think your friend might be misleading you a little bit, if he truly lives in baltimore, and not more in the DC metro area.
i doubt that he's trying to mislead me..i think he doesn't really know the area that well and he heard thru friends of his friends and so on.
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Posts: 6354
MYIE2
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