New city. Who this?

The cost of living in California has many people on the move to new cities and new adventures. What are some of the resources you can use to get familiar with your future home?

CHIC (Pearl)

The first thing you can do before you pack a single box is check an online travel guide like Tripadvisor, lonely planet, or TimeOut. These sites are full of tips and insights for travelers, and that’s exactly what you are! You’re just staying a little longer. Speaking of which, you can check local government websites in your new city to learn about population demographics and public services like schools, transportation, and safety. It’s also a good idea to understand the city’s governance.

GEEK (Kevin)

If you’re moving to save money, you’d be wise to crunch the numbers and make sure your new city fits your current budget! You can use websites like Numbeo or Expatistan to get an estimate of the cost of living in cities you’re considering, including the current price of goods and services. Another great resource is local news. Reading the city newspaper or browsing local news websites can help you get a sense of the big issues and challenges you might face after your move.

Back to school?

Thanks to a modified calendar with more days and weeks off during the traditional school year, many local districts are already back from summer break. Here’s to a new year of learning for our youngsters!

Blame Canada!

According to the numbers, foreign nationals account for more than 2% of home purchases in America each year. But did you know more than 50% of these “foreign” buyers are recent immigrants or non-immigrant visa holders who live right here in the U.S.? And did you know 10% of them are Canadians (third-highest of any nation)? Check the stats to learn more!

Back to the office?

With many employers incentivizing their teams to return to in-person work, more and more workers are opting to stay home — even quitting their jobs in some cases. So what would get you back to the office?

CHIC (Pearl)

After three years of working from home, I’ve been feeling a little Zoomed out and detached from the real world. I thrive on the energy of other people, and pandemic life has been a struggle. Don’t get me wrong! It’s been super fun spending more time with Kevin and Bora. But occasionally, it helps to get out of the house and into a space with like-minded teammates working toward the same goal.

GEEK (Kevin)

The past few years have been rough, but like any tragedy, a lot of good has come out of the bad. When COVID first hit, I had a feeling we were in for the long haul, so I invested in all the bells and whistles for our home office: high-powered WiFi, a top-notch coffee maker, and one of those ring lights for slick Zoom visuals. If you want me back at the office, you better offer great snacks!

Have a (chocolate chip) cookie today!

It’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, and cookie purveyors across the country are offering specials, freebies, and even giant chocolate chip cookie statues. No, seriously, here’s a sweet list of baked deals from Food & Wine.