Follow your heart or the $$

[Brittany D.]

My bf and I are looking for a change- always had a craving to move to another state. Our ultimate goal is to be financially free, accumulating multi family properties that generate income for us to live off of eventually. We are 27, live together with his parents, no debt, we have 60k in savings, and our older cars are paid off too.

I’ve been at my corporate job for four years, moving up every year and currently manage my department. My bf and I are conflicted as we were juggling moving to the Bay Area for my job’s headquarters- but they actually might not be able to help with relocating... While the Bay Area is obviously super expensive, we have also always dreamed to live in California we have gone several times for my job and fell in love. We have previously contemplated Austin (polar opposites with housing prices).

Do we follow my job or do we quit everything and move to Austin? Currently living in NJ - 15 mins from NYC but are over this state. 

We are extremely frugal, so the thought of paying $2,000 rent for SF makes me sick but I will still have my job and it’s definitely somewhere we would love to live. Our opportunity to buy is very thin which definitely sucks. 

On the other hand, we also liked Austin a lot and we would be able to rent for a fraction of San Fran AND have great opportunity to buy. We don’t make crazy salaries by any means- around $130,000 combined income so we would be able to find jobs similar or a bit less which is fine.

What do you suggest to young wanna-be investors although I feel like I know the answer..... 

[Arlen Chou]

@Brittany D. your conflict is basically immediate gratification vs your long term goal.  You have clearly stated that your "ultimate goal is to be financially free".  You also said you fell in love with the Bay Area.  You already know that by moving to CA now, it will make reaching your "ultimate goal" more difficult.  

There is nothing that says you cannot live in California after you reach your ultimate goal.  The only reason to delay your ultimate goal would be for the immediate gratification of living in a city you fell in love with... So what you have to ask yourself is this:  Is the now more important to me then the later?

By asking your question in an open forum, you are subconsciously or perhaps consciously looking for validation from a bunch of strangers to tell you to toss caution to the wind and follow you heart... But this is site about real estate investing.  From a business perspective you already know the answer.  So if your true "ultimate goal" is financial freedom, follow the money.

In terms of a place to live, both cities have great things to offer a young couple!