Author Topic: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice  (Read 4544 times)

Carini

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Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« on: January 22, 2016, 05:05:41 PM »
I've been offered a job in Baltimore. It's a substantial raise in salary, but I currently live in a very inexpensive part of western Pennsylvania.  It would be a huge change for our family.  3 young kids and we currently live within 5 minutes of both our jobs, kids schools, doctors, everything.

We are also very close to both sets of family and live close to them. This would put us about 7 hours away.  It's the first job I've applied for in over 8 years,  so part of me is saying be patient and start applying to places a little closer. Baltimore is not a dream city for me.

Thoughts on Baltimore area and general advice when making this kind of decision?
« Last Edit: January 22, 2016, 06:19:01 PM by Carini »

mm1970

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Re: Job Offer- Need Advice
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2016, 05:28:02 PM »
I've been offered a job in Baltimore. It's a substantial raise in salary, but I currently live in a very inexpensive part of western Pennsylvania.  It would be a huge change for our family.  3 young kids and we currently live within 5 minutes of both our jobs, kids schools, doctors, everything.

We are also very close to both sets of family and live close to them. This would put us about 7 hours away.  It's the first job I've applied for in over 8 years,  so part of me is saying be patient and start applying to places a little closer. Baltimore is not a dream city for me.

Thoughts on Baltimore area and general advice when making this kind of decision?
I don't know much about Baltimore, to be honest, but my next door neighbor grew up there.

(I did grow up in Western PA though.  And left.  And wouldn't really want to go back.)

Good luck.

Rural

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Re: Job Offer- Need Advice
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2016, 05:30:02 PM »
You mentioned both of you have jobs where you are. Is this one substantially more than the two of you make together? Or is your SO very employable?


Even if it is, check out a cost of living calculator to see if it's really a raise.


I'm not saying don't do it, necessarily, but do all the math first and then start weighing the emotional stuff if the math justifies weighing it; if it doesn't, you've saved yourself a lot of hassle.

mozar

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2016, 08:43:02 PM »
When you say Baltimore, where exactly do you mean? Ellicott city, Columbia, East Baltimore, West Baltimore? There are parts of Baltimore that are very nice. Are there a lot of jobs in your spouses field in Baltimore? How old are your kids? Personally I don't think it's worth uprooting young kids and moving away from family for more money. Unless you think you are going to be unemployed soon.

Merrie

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2016, 09:15:13 PM »
Why do you want to move/change jobs? That's a big factor.

fallstoclimb

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2016, 09:38:02 AM »
I've lived most my life in the Baltimore suburbs -- I like it here, except for the weather (she says as she stares out the window at 20 inches of snow and growing).  Traffic can be a bear too, but it isn't for us as we both live within 7 miles of our jobs. 

Why do you say Baltimore isn't a dream city for you?  What IS a dream city for you?

PaulMaxime

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2016, 10:17:38 AM »
I lived in the baltimore area for 20 years and 8 of those in downtown Baltimore City near the Baseball and Football stadiums. I really like the area. I moved away (to California) for a job several years ago, but I'd go back.

What kind of location are you looking for? There are all types - great inner city neighborhoods, suburbs, more country, near the water, etc. It depends on what you like. Overall it's a good place.


BTH7117

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2016, 12:20:16 PM »
Hello.  I live in DC, but spend a lot of time in the Baltimore area for work and sometimes go into the city for fun. As others have said, it depends what you're looking for. The Inner Harbor/Downtown and Federal Hill are very nice with lots of things to do if you're into a city vibe. Camden Yards is one of my favorite ballparks.

If you're looking for suburbs, generally, south of the city is more expensive than the north due to DC commuters also living in the area. Columbia is nice, with restaurants and a mall.

Yankuba

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2016, 03:28:44 PM »
You should spend some time there before committing.

My brother moved from DC to Baltimore and he regretted it. He spent about four years in Baltimore - he was robbed twice, followed a bunch of times, had his car broken into twice, etc. Baltimore is a dying, violent city. Yeah there are some nice pockets for the high earners but those pockets are surrounded by poverty.

ETBen

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2016, 03:34:56 PM »
Depends on where the job is and where you would live. And why you are looking. And what your goals are.

Ive lived in the suburbs for 15yrs and love it. Great opportunities, kids stuff, easy travel, and so on.  I'm sure we can expand more if we know more of what you are looking for.

fallstoclimb

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2016, 09:19:47 AM »
My brother moved from DC to Baltimore and he regretted it. He spent about four years in Baltimore - he was robbed twice, followed a bunch of times, had his car broken into twice, etc. Baltimore is a dying, violent city.

Baltimore is not a dying city.  The population has recently started increasing (slightly) after years of decline.  It certainly has its problems and its poverty, but it also has lots of young people moving in, lots of people on all sides working to fix things, and lots of industries.  It's no Detroit.  It will never be Detroit, thanks to the proximity to the federal government and all the jobs that brings.

Heck, my favorite area of the city now sells $8 coffee and $10 ice cream.  (I exaggerate, but only barely).  Hampden is becoming downright bourgeois, Harbor East is blowing up, North Station is starting to happen, plus we've got tons of colleges and artists and museums and interesting people here.  It's a great city for landlording or flipping real estate, if that's your thing. 

(Also:  The Inner Harbor is basically the lamest area of the city.  It always blows me away when people talk about how nice it is.  I mean the ships are OK I guess but other than that it's all chains.  Explore some other areas!)

That said, yeah, safety is a concern.  I've actually never lived in the city, but many of my friends have lived there for years.  Some have been mugged.  None have ever been seriously hurt.  I do think you have to have the right constitution to not get worn down by the constant threat of crime -- but I also think in the suburbs you only have the illusion of safety, anyway, at least in terms of home invasions. Shit happens everywhere.  I've spent a lot of time walking around the city, including the desolate neighborhoods around Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Only rarely have I felt unsafe, and nothing bad has ever happened to me. 

Or you can just live in the suburbs and commute in.  I love the suburb where I live, thanks to its walkability and proximity to trails.  It's probably a lot pricier than western Pennsylvania, though.

Axecleaver

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2016, 09:37:49 AM »
You really have to do a full cost-benefit analysis that looks at the increase in earnings, vs. the increase in cost of living. You'll also be in a higher tax bracket, so less of what you earn goes to cover the higher expenses. Childcare, commuting cost (lots of toll roads in greater DC area), higher state taxes, housing. Break down every monthly expense and estimate it vs. your new potential earnings.

On the other side of that, this could be a path to even bigger earnings, or an area with more opportunity in general. So make sure to consider the big picture.

Yankuba

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2016, 10:01:06 AM »
My brother moved from DC to Baltimore and he regretted it. He spent about four years in Baltimore - he was robbed twice, followed a bunch of times, had his car broken into twice, etc. Baltimore is a dying, violent city.

Baltimore is not a dying city.  The population has recently started increasing (slightly) after years of decline.  It certainly has its problems and its poverty, but it also has lots of young people moving in, lots of people on all sides working to fix things, and lots of industries.  It's no Detroit.  It will never be Detroit, thanks to the proximity to the federal government and all the jobs that brings.

Heck, my favorite area of the city now sells $8 coffee and $10 ice cream.  (I exaggerate, but only barely).  Hampden is becoming downright bourgeois, Harbor East is blowing up, North Station is starting to happen, plus we've got tons of colleges and artists and museums and interesting people here.  It's a great city for landlording or flipping real estate, if that's your thing. 

(Also:  The Inner Harbor is basically the lamest area of the city.  It always blows me away when people talk about how nice it is.  I mean the ships are OK I guess but other than that it's all chains.  Explore some other areas!)

That said, yeah, safety is a concern.  I've actually never lived in the city, but many of my friends have lived there for years.  Some have been mugged.  None have ever been seriously hurt.  I do think you have to have the right constitution to not get worn down by the constant threat of crime -- but I also think in the suburbs you only have the illusion of safety, anyway, at least in terms of home invasions. Shit happens everywhere.  I've spent a lot of time walking around the city, including the desolate neighborhoods around Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Only rarely have I felt unsafe, and nothing bad has ever happened to me. 

Or you can just live in the suburbs and commute in.  I love the suburb where I live, thanks to its walkability and proximity to trails.  It's probably a lot pricier than western Pennsylvania, though.

The last time I visited my brother we went to a pizza place that sold an 18 inch pizza for $180. It had 50 toppings! I think it was in Fells Point. We didn't order it.

I never saw the suburbs - I'm sure they are nice - but Baltimore really needs a total crackdown on the lawlessness. My brother supposedly lived in a safe neighborhood but his neighbor would sometimes escort him to and from his car at night. The neighbor was the local vigilante - he was a big dude and carried a huge hunting knife. My brother loves walking but he learned the hard way that it wasn't a great idea at night. My brother's landlord was a homicide detective - so my brother got to hear all the terrible stories.

This is partisan but I thought it was worth a read:

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=1889

younggunner

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2016, 10:52:18 AM »
X2 on defiantly checking it out as best you can first.   I'm from central PA, not too far from Baltimore and I hate Baltimore.  I personally think it's filled with crime and violence.  A friend of mine, whose quite big, strong, intimidating athlete, got jumped and robbed a week or two ago.  In my eyes, there are more bad areas than good areas there, and although there are probably many good areas, as an outsider, I sure don't want to find out myself the hard way in that city.  Though I have heard they have some good nightlife if you are into that thing...

Bbqmustache

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Re: Job Offer in Baltimore - Need Advice
« Reply #14 on: January 24, 2016, 11:04:15 AM »
Any large American cities have their problems.  Live around Baltimore, not in (unless you can afford to send your three to private schools; there are some kick butt ones here, but you will pay).  I am a transplanted Ohioan and don't mind living here.  Would like to retire to a more country like place, but Baltimore is nice.  Look for the dark spots, you are guaranteed to find them.  Live and look for the bright spots, they are here aplenty too.