Best Place to relocate in USA after GC.

[kandy17]

I am currently residing in NJ and planning to relocate to either Atlanta or DC.

Can some of you please shed some light on this.

Reason of relocating is got fed up with three hours commute every day and VERY EXPENSIVE...

Thanks
Kandy

[alren]

And you think Atlanta commute is fun?
(It also depends on where U stay)

[taklu_2004]

HI

Once you are 485 has been filed, now you can start planning to change the company as well as the location. Before making a decision on to a separate place you have consider lot of points not only the cost and commute.

- Children schooling
- Desi area (for indians)
- Cost of Living
- Entertainment - Cultural activities
- In case parents comes, how can they pass time

So please plan according.

Just my two paisa.

~Taklu

[North_Star]

Along the same lines, what is a good school district in Austin, TX? I am inclined towards north Austin, but will consider other parts if school is good.
Any suggestions? Any area to avoid?
-NS

[AmericanWannabe]

DC, NYC are not good place to stay as permanent home
nowadays after 9-11

[kandy17]

Originally Posted by alren

And you think Atlanta commute is fun?
(It also depends on where U stay)

So, is it really bad in Atlanta

I heard that schooling is also good.

Thanks

[kandy17]

Originally Posted by taklu_2004

HI

Once you are 485 has been filed, now you can start planning to change the company as well as the location. Before making a decision on to a separate place you have consider lot of points not only the cost and commute.

- Children schooling
- Desi area (for indians)
- Cost of Living
- Entertainment - Cultural activities
- In case parents comes, how can they pass time

So please plan according.

Just my two paisa.

~Taklu

I am considering those things but lately NJ become so costly.
Any other suggestions, please share!

[notxer]

Have you considered, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Colorado?

[jat]

After the GC, I am thinking of moving to coastal areas after living in Wisconsin. I considered CA (San Fran or San Jose), Seattle, Washington DC, and MA (Boston or nearby RI or NH). I am in the software profession with C# / SQL skills

CA was completely ruled out because of high cost of living and stagnant economy. Seattle looked good because of lower cost of living and reasonably OK job market. I found Washington DC to be extremely expensive. Although there are lots of jobs but these are very much concentrated near the DC.

I am now leaning towards MA because I heard that a) the job market is very hot and b) the cost of living is high but less than DC and CA.

Could someone suggest if what I heard is right and if yes what would be the city you would suggest? I have a 10th grader son attending the high school. I have heard that Burlington is good. Is there any other city near metro Boston with good schools, reasonable commute (probably public transport) and reasonable home prices?

Thanks.

[xyz2375]

I absolutely love atlanta, georgia. I have lived in georgia for 11years. I don't think there is any other place in US that I would rather live.

[taklu_2004]

HI Guys

Believe it or not, CA Bay Area is the best place to live in US for a fellow desi because of the following reasons.

~You can get a decent town home for < 500 grand
~Schools are rated at the top level across the country
~House rent may be more, however if you look at the other things like day to day groceries etc pretty damn cheap compare to other places
~lastly Weather is unbeatable no tornodes, hurricanes only earthquakes (not major though)

~lastly but not the least I am here to help you out .....

~Taklu

[confused007]

I agree with u on all points. But not sure about town home < 500K.
Real estate is EXPENSIVE here!

Originally Posted by taklu_2004

HI Guys

Believe it or not, CA Bay Area is the best place to live in US for a fellow desi because of the following reasons.

~You can get a decent town home for < 500 grand
~Schools are rated at the top level across the country
~House rent may be more, however if you look at the other things like day to day groceries etc pretty damn cheap compare to other places
~lastly Weather is unbeatable no tornodes, hurricanes only earthquakes (not major though)

~lastly but not the least I am here to help you out .....

~Taklu

[alren]

Originally Posted by confused007

I agree with u on all points. But not sure about town home < 500K.
Real estate is EXPENSIVE here!

I would be skeptical about the place where a house < 500k is a steal ...

[Telangana]

When considering a move, we should also consider where the jobs are, if you are in IT. In that sense how's Atlanta or Ohio. Any inputs?

[alren]

Originally Posted by Telangana

When considering a move, we should also consider where the jobs are, if you are in IT. In that sense how's Atlanta or Ohio. Any inputs?

From what I hear, Atlanta is pretty hot for IT.

[brb2]

Some things which make Minnesota at the top of the choice of places to live:

If you do end up sponsoring your parents later on, MN is one of only a few where you can get insurance coverage for your parents (if they are over 65 or if they are denied) on arrival. Most insurance companies deny health insurance for "at risk" clients, and new immigrants can't get federal benefits until 5 year after GC. Here the state insurance plan kicks in and is not income tested - only criterion is that you are denied insurance cover or are over 65. Not having insurance cover for your dependents can bankrupt you.

The cost of University education here is very affordable. This is the only state in the US where even foreign students pay in-state tuition - the way it was all over the US 50 years ago No tax on clothes and food (like most states). MN has always had an unemployment rate lower than the US average. Lots of opportunity to do X-Skiing, lots of lake to fish and boat (over 10,000) and one could go on and on. No shortage of Electricity and cheap gas (low taxes on it), a hopping distance from Pharmacies in Canada when you are old


Good luck with your move.

[confused007]

I would prefer a place which is more open, diverse, and cosmopolitan such as Bay Area or else NY or Chicago.

[confused007]

Originally Posted by confused007

I would prefer a place which is more open, diverse, and cosmopolitan such as San Diego, Bay Area or else NY or Chicago.

[kandy17]

Originally Posted by alren

From what I hear, Atlanta is pretty hot for IT.

Not too many companies are there out in Atlanta.
Indian weather...
Thx
kandy

[confused007]

San Diego gets my vote. But mostly telecom & bio-tech sector.
Great weather!

[FunnyWait]

Originally Posted by brb2

Some things which make Minnesota at the top of the choice of places to live:

If you do end up sponsoring your parents later on, MN is one of only a few where you can get insurance coverage for your parents (if they are over 65 or if they are denied) on arrival. Most insurance companies deny health insurance for "at risk" clients, and new immigrants can't get federal benefits until 5 year after GC. Here the state insurance plan kicks in and is not income tested - only criterion is that you are denied insurance cover or are over 65. Not having insurance cover for your dependents can bankrupt you.

The cost of University education here is very affordable. This is the only state in the US where even foreign students pay in-state tuition - the way it was all over the US 50 years ago No tax on clothes and food (like most states). MN has always had an unemployment rate lower than the US average. Lots of opportunity to do X-Skiing, lots of lake to fish and boat (over 10,000) and one could go on and on. No shortage of Electricity and cheap gas (low taxes on it), a hopping distance from Pharmacies in Canada when you are old


Good luck with your move.

What I heard is MN is too conservative. It's not as cosmopolitan as CA is and so may not be good for immigrants to live permanently (especially because of its conservative society). This is what I have heard. Please shed some light.

[plastic_card]

Hi
If you are bored with Commuting, COme to Des moines IOWA. Nice ecity and all the office are with in 15 miles range. Indian Community is thier. Two bed apts range from 550-700. This is the second city in thw world which has got more Insurance company Head offices. Winter its like NJ

[pralay]

Originally Posted by FunnyWait

What I heard is MN is too conservative. It's not as cosmopolitan as CA is and so may not be good for immigrants to live permanently (especially because of its conservative society). This is what I have heard. Please shed some light.

As far I know MN is a big state and Minneapolis-St Pauls area is as cosmopolitan is San Jose, CA or Atlanta, GA.
Conservative/liberal I feel that's stereotype (very same way India has a stereotype that it's full of snakes and miracle babas). Now, if you go little bit away from Minneapolis area, probably you will find things are different. But that's true for most of the states. Even in California or New York state things are different once you go out from San Francisco/Los Angeles area or NY City area.

I have seen people who came from India and moved to so-called "conservative" area and but still they are happy with their place. On other hand, some people are not happy at place like San Francisco bay area where you bump into another Indian in every 5 minutes.
So, I believe it's not eaxctly an one-way thing.

[hadron]

Atlanta hot for IT ? Maybe 10 years ago, recently I have heard from a couple of IT guys that it is overflowing with qualified people these days.

I have to second the comments on MN. If you can deal with the winters, and Lake Superior is enough of a body of water for you, then MN is indeed a good place to be. The only downside is its nickname, 'the land of 10.000 taxes'. All the services you described have to be paid for. And more conservative than Georgia ? Yes, folks are somewhat conservative up there, but they are conservative and friendly. (as opposed to cosmopolitan and grouchy in NYC).

[TheEnquirer]

no pun intended. how about vermont !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[hadron]

VT is definitely not worse than lets say upstate NY. As long as you either stay in the Burlington area or in Rutland. The rest of the state is more of a resort area or cow pasture. (and then there is St Albans....:-))

[pralay]

Originally Posted by hadron

Yes, folks are somewhat conservative up there, but they are conservative and friendly. (as opposed to cosmopolitan and grouchy in NYC).

Agreed completely.

[eltoro]

Originally Posted by hadron

Atlanta hot for IT ? Maybe 10 years ago, recently I have heard from a couple of IT guys that it is overflowing with qualified people these days.

It was slow here in ATL about a year ago. Now the heat is back, salaries have risen and the benefits are coming back - a sure thing job market is heating up.

[brb2]

I think it would be sterio typing to consider MN "conservative". It is no different from Michigan or any other mid-western state. No doubt it is not as racially diverse as California but that does not change anything. People are very nice and welcoming of immigrants. You have to visit this place to see how nice the people are. Incidentally in the last 7 elections MN has voted for Democratic Presidential nominees and this is likely to be repeated this time around too.

[hadron]

I don't think that conservative was meant in a political way as in democratic/GOP. MN politically is similar to CA in the sense that the Twin Cities region leans democratic, the rural areas more republican. (btw. the democratic party in the south for the longest time was the party of secessionists and slavedrivers)