Reality Check
CNNMoney.com recently developed a “cost of living calculator” that can act as a reality check for either yourself or a client moving across the country.
Let’s say your home seller is moving to another coast and needs to know what salary bump to ask for, this is a great tool. If your investment client is simply throwing darts at a map, this is a good way to help them narrow down their needs before they spend all your time verbally dreaming about a condo development.
Example: Austin to San Fran
Take for example if we moved from Austin to San Francisco- we would have to make considerably more to sustain ourselves and just housing alone is 244% more expensive than where we are now and groceries alone are 37% more. But if we moved to Wisconsin, our housing would cost less. It seems common sense to you, but sometimes people need a reality check, especially if they’re still in the dart throwing phase of relocation or investment.
Plus, the calculator is fun to play with and made us realize how lucky we are to live in such a techcentric, gorgeous place so inexpensively!
Chuck G
July 9, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Lani,
For those of us who sell in the San Francisco Bay Area, NAR should create a special “RSS” designation –> Realtor of Sticker Shock. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t hear about it, even with prices dropping the way they have. This cost of living calculator just quantifies what everyone already feels. Thanks for passing it along…
CG
Ian Greenleigh
July 9, 2009 at 4:00 pm
This is really cool! Thank God for Austin’s cost of living, even if it’s inching up. Thanks Lani!
Joe Loomer
July 10, 2009 at 11:14 am
@Lani – you truly are the queen of connections!
Thanks for this great tool – perfect for my business as I have a robust military client base that move all over the place.
You Rock!
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Jason Sandquist
July 10, 2009 at 11:18 am
@laniAR to bad they don’t have an embeddable version you could use, but nonetheless very useful
Lani Rosales
July 10, 2009 at 2:09 pm
joe, thanks for such kind words!
jason, i was thinking the EXACT same thing! that would be a cool sidebar widget. lame.
Shane
July 12, 2009 at 4:21 pm
What a great tool, thanks for sharing. CNN always has some great relocation tools and info. I remember comparing our current residence in Buffalo NY to Raleigh NC. It was one of the main reasons we relocated.