Moving to silicon valley, California in June with a nearly 3yo...

[FSB]

Grateful for any advice/tips/dos and donts!!

We'll be based in San Carlos, 40 mons south of San Francisco

Thanks :)

I would say that "nice area" San Diego prices are like most of London, but Bay area is like "nice areas" of London, iyswim. The money will go out differently: petrol cheap, preschool atrocious. Housing kind of comparable, but buying a house is much dearer than renting (over less than 5 yrs or so). Dental & medical care whilst eating out reasonable. Swimming lessons .

We're moving for DHs work, but fully intend to settle there long term. So will probly be looking to buy a house after the first year... Why is it so expensive under 5 yrs? Are there lots of one-off costs associated with buying?

The electrical thing is a pain in the bum! Can't believe I've got to get all new appliances! I assumed we'd just be able to get the plugs changed..

I think HOP nailed it!
It is very frustrating at first (and occasionally still for me)
I remember asking for water, how hard is that? The waitress looked puzzled, I asked again, I was puzzled, in the end I asked in Spanish, she understood that apparently it's wadder, not water you will eventually make yourself understood.
I was lucky (maybe) my MIL helped me with a lot of things, like I needed Corn flour, she picked our Corn starch. She was an American who had lived in UK her most of life so that was handy.

Don't buy a house until you get Green cards (or unless one of you is a US citizen already) there have been quite a few on Visas who have been made redundant and you aren't given long to pack up and leave the country, some visas don't transfer you are stuck with one employer only. Property is had to sell now and also expensive (the realtor get about 6% of the full sale price) some have had to leave before selling up and then sell at a loss to get out from under it.

That's an interesting point Paula... It takes years and years to get a green card though, doesn't it? I'll have to get DH to check the conditions of his visa...

Hi All, I have just moved to San Carlos (3 months ago) and am in need of help finding good places to eat, meet new people etc- help me settle in more, I am having a hard time x

Have a look on www.britishexpats.com there are lots of people in Silicon valley, they will tell you everything you need to know, and where to buy Bisto too.

It didn't take long at all for DS and DH to get green cards. 4 and 6 weeks respectively, but I think that is some sort of record.