Hi all-
I'm currently living in a very inexpensive area of Central Florida (low housing cost, no state income tax) but am quite bored with my (relatively high paying) job and there aren't comparable alternatives in the area. My wife also has CA roots and would love to move closer to her family there. I have a serious opportunity to take an exciting new position (step up in title, responsibility, etc.) in the Redondo Beach, CA area and am completely unfamiliar with LA or the South Bay area.
This new job would come with a significant pay increase, however I've run the numbers and much of that would be consumed by higher federal and state taxes and, of course, housing. We currently save 50% of our after-tax income, and this rate would slip for a bit while my wife found a new job post relocation, but we could probably return to that rate within a year of moving. I'd love some advice from those who have "been there" in the past. We have no debt and are renters, so we can keep the immediate relocation costs to a decent minimum, especially with paid relocation assistance from the new job.
Have any Mustachians out there relocated to this area from a lower-cost area and managed to maintain their Mustachian ways? Anyone have recommendations about decent neighborhoods/areas to look for housing that don't involve complete car-clown commutes? I was looking at Torrance as it seems to have the optimal combination of decent housing without requiring an insane freeway commute to Redondo, but there may be other areas I don't know about. We would be looking at renting vs. buying at least for the immediate few years after moving. We have two elementary-aged children so schools are a consideration. I'd really appreciate any input from LA-savvy Mustachians as I evaluate this potential move.
