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I used to really be attracted to SV. The companies, weather, opportunities; all of it seemed great. Then I realized the living expenses, the government regulati

I used to really be attracted to SV. The companies, weather, opportunities; all of it seemed great. Then I realized the living expenses, the government regulations set forth by the state, and the overall smugness of some people and it really turned me off. Case in point. This websites says "work with the smartest people in the world" as if SV has the highest concentration of intelligent people in the world and as if that's even a measurable statistic.

justinwi 13y ago
Good call Ryan, on both accounts. On the wording, I've tweaked it to include "some of" the smartest people in the world. But doesn't address the bigger issue of smugness, which I've noticed too. Certainly something in the SV attitude that includes a holy-than-thou vibe, but now that I think about it, I get that vibe whenever I'm around successful entrepreneurs - no matter what city I'm in. Re the living expenses - it's definitely a deterrent if you're starting your own company. If you're working for someone else though, from what I've seen, the increased pay more than offsets the increased cost of living.
- alxp 13y ago
  > from what I've seen, the increased pay more than offsets the increased cost of living Only if you're willing to downsize. Some people are, but it's a tough sell to lots of people.
  - justinwi 13y ago
    Absolutely right. But who needs all that space anyway? Apartments are for sleeping...you'll spend all your waking hours at work ;)
binarycrusader 13y ago
The living expenses are a real burden, and the average rental rates in the core of the San Francisco Bay Area have increased ~20-30% over the last three years. They're building new apartments all around the bay now and the greedy realty vultures somehow think it's reasonable to charge as much as $3500-4000USD per month for them (one and two bedrooms). That's easily a mortgage payment on a brand new home out here. The older apartment complexes have seen this and have been raising their rates as well (the monthly market rate on my apartment went from $2150 USD to $2750 USD in the last six months I've lived there even though it's in the south bay area). The worst part of all of this is the realization that I'll likely never be able to afford a home out here (median house price is currently ~$500K USD): http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23249121/bay-area-median-home-price-soars-april http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23249121/bay-area-med...
- lquist 13y ago
  Yeah, shame on the greedy realty vultures for charging what the market will bear. </sarcasm>
  - jerrya 13y ago
    Funny, you should read Adam Smith's opinion of landlords: http://geolib.com/smith.adam/won1-11.html http://geolib.com/smith.adam/won1-11.html or quoting from mises.org(!) Smith was even less kindly to the role of landlords, where he recognized no economic function whatever that they might perform. In pungent passages, he writes that 'As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords like to reap where they never sowed and demand a rent even for its natural produce'. And again: 'as soon as the land becomes private property, the landlord demands a share of almost all the produce which the labourer can either raise or collect from it'.
  - binarycrusader 13y ago
    But the housing market in California is arguably distorted; it doesn't actually reflect "free market" economics. So I think you're being a bit petulant trying to claim it's just about what the market will bear. The market only bears it because the government (federal, state, and/or local) in some cases has arguably helped place realty companies and others in a position where they essentially hold a monopoly over vast areas of land and housing. California also has a unique problem in the form of proposition 13: http://www.nber.org/digest/apr05/w11108.html http://www.nber.org/digest/apr05/w11108.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-19/jerry-brown-s-last-chance-to-save-california.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-19/jerry-brown-s-last-...
- justinwi 13y ago
  Rent is crazy here, no doubt about it, and from the submissions we've gotten so far, it's the #2 concern after visas. I predict, extravagant housing prices lead to the competitiveness of other technology markets. But for the next 5 years at least, feels like there will be more investors, buzz and energy in SV than anywhere else. Higher perceived chance of success worth increased rent?
- 13y ago
hkmurakami 13y ago
>Case in point. This websites says "work with the smartest people in the world" as if SV has the highest concentration of intelligent people in the world and as if that's even a measurable statistic. I'm born here, grew up here, and the recent explosion of the smugness really does bother me. Besides, I'm willing to bet that the "Smartest People in the World"(tm) are probably in Cambridge, USA and Cambridge, UK. :P

justinwi 13y ago

Good call Ryan, on both accounts. On the wording, I've tweaked it to include "some of" the smartest people in the world. But doesn't address the bigger issue of smugness, which I've noticed too. Certainly something in the SV attitude that includes a holy-than-thou vibe, but now that I think about it, I get that vibe whenever I'm around successful entrepreneurs - no matter what city I'm in. Re the living expenses - it's definitely a deterrent if you're starting your own company. If you're working for someone else though, from what I've seen, the increased pay more than offsets the increased cost of living.

alxp 13y ago
> from what I've seen, the increased pay more than offsets the increased cost of living Only if you're willing to downsize. Some people are, but it's a tough sell to lots of people.
- justinwi 13y ago
  Absolutely right. But who needs all that space anyway? Apartments are for sleeping...you'll spend all your waking hours at work ;)

binarycrusader 13y ago

The living expenses are a real burden, and the average rental rates in the core of the San Francisco Bay Area have increased ~20-30% over the last three years. They're building new apartments all around the bay now and the greedy realty vultures somehow think it's reasonable to charge as much as $3500-4000USD per month for them (one and two bedrooms). That's easily a mortgage payment on a brand new home out here. The older apartment complexes have seen this and have been raising their rates as well (the monthly market rate on my apartment went from $2150 USD to $2750 USD in the last six months I've lived there even though it's in the south bay area). The worst part of all of this is the realization that I'll likely never be able to afford a home out here (median house price is currently ~$500K USD): http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23249121/bay-area-median-home-price-soars-april http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23249121/bay-area-med...

lquist 13y ago
Yeah, shame on the greedy realty vultures for charging what the market will bear. </sarcasm>
- jerrya 13y ago
  Funny, you should read Adam Smith's opinion of landlords: http://geolib.com/smith.adam/won1-11.html http://geolib.com/smith.adam/won1-11.html or quoting from mises.org(!) Smith was even less kindly to the role of landlords, where he recognized no economic function whatever that they might perform. In pungent passages, he writes that 'As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords like to reap where they never sowed and demand a rent even for its natural produce'. And again: 'as soon as the land becomes private property, the landlord demands a share of almost all the produce which the labourer can either raise or collect from it'.
- binarycrusader 13y ago
  But the housing market in California is arguably distorted; it doesn't actually reflect "free market" economics. So I think you're being a bit petulant trying to claim it's just about what the market will bear. The market only bears it because the government (federal, state, and/or local) in some cases has arguably helped place realty companies and others in a position where they essentially hold a monopoly over vast areas of land and housing. California also has a unique problem in the form of proposition 13: http://www.nber.org/digest/apr05/w11108.html http://www.nber.org/digest/apr05/w11108.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-19/jerry-brown-s-last-chance-to-save-california.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-19/jerry-brown-s-last-...
justinwi 13y ago
Rent is crazy here, no doubt about it, and from the submissions we've gotten so far, it's the #2 concern after visas. I predict, extravagant housing prices lead to the competitiveness of other technology markets. But for the next 5 years at least, feels like there will be more investors, buzz and energy in SV than anywhere else. Higher perceived chance of success worth increased rent?
13y ago

hkmurakami 13y ago

>Case in point. This websites says "work with the smartest people in the world" as if SV has the highest concentration of intelligent people in the world and as if that's even a measurable statistic. I'm born here, grew up here, and the recent explosion of the smugness really does bother me. Besides, I'm willing to bet that the "Smartest People in the World"(tm) are probably in Cambridge, USA and Cambridge, UK. :P