Moving To Reno

Coming from California, the first question is almost always the same: is Reno actually cheaper?

The honest answer is "it depends on what you're comparing it to," but for most California transplants, yes.

• No state income tax. This is the single biggest lever. For a household earning $150K–$300K+, that's typically $9,000–$25,000+ back in your pocket every year compared to California's state income tax brackets.
• Housing is the trade-off. Reno's median home price sits in the $550K–$630K range, noticeably higher than the national average, but still a fraction of comparable Bay Area, LA, or even Sacramento-adjacent pricing.
• Day-to-day costs run close to average. Groceries, healthcare, and utilities are only modestly above the U.S. average. Gas tends to run a bit higher than the national number.
• The net effect: most households moving from coastal California come out ahead, especially higher earners and remote workers who keep a California-level income while paying Nevada housing and tax rates.

Most relocating families want two things fast: which district, and which schools.

• Washoe County School District is the primary district covering Reno, Sparks, and surrounding areas, the second-largest in Nevada. 🔍
• Top-performing public high schools families ask about most: Galena High School, Reno High School, Robert McQueen High School, and Damonte Ranch High School, along with magnet/charter options like the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology and Coral Academy of Science.
• Private options are concentrated Catholic, Waldorf, and independent schools, Sage Ridge School, Brookfield School, and Our Lady of the Snows among the most established.
• Neighborhood ties to schools matter a lot here, which is why we always recommend narrowing the neighborhood search around school zone before the home search. This is something Jodi walks every relocating family through directly, since boundary lines can shift and don't always match what's listed online.

This is the range most out-of-state luxury buyers land in, and it covers a wide spread of what's available:

• $500K–$650K Move-in ready single-family homes, typically 3–4 bed, in established neighborhoods like Sparks, parts of South Reno, and Damonte Ranch. This tier moves fast — homes here are going under contract in about a week.
• $650K–$850K More space, updated finishes, and access to sought-after school zones, Caughlin Ranch, Somersett, and parts of Galena Forest start to open up here. Slightly more breathing room to negotiate than the entry tier.
• $850K–$1M Larger lots, more custom finishes, and the entry point to true luxury inventory,  premium pockets of South Reno and Galena Forest. Buyers here often have more room to negotiate on price and terms.
• $1M+ True luxury territory, ArrowCreek and Montreux, where average pricing now runs closer to $2M for the neighborhood's custom estates.

For buyers moving from out of state, the process looks a little different than a local move. Here's how Jodi walks clients through it:

1. Discovery call. Understand timeline, must-haves, budget, and whether this is a scouting trip or a "ready to write an offer" trip.
2. Remote neighborhood orientation. Jodi walks clients through target neighborhoods and school zones over video before they ever set foot in Reno, so an in-person visit is spent narrowing, not starting from zero.
3. Custom home search. Tailored listings sent as they hit the market, with priority given to properties matching must-haves.
4. Virtual tours. For buyers who can't be here in person for every showing, especially useful for a first pass on a large home search.
5. In-person visit (if needed). Often one focused trip to walk finalists and make a decision.
6. Offer, escrow, and closing, coordinated remotely. Jodi and the team handle contract negotiation, inspections, and closing logistics even when the buyer is still packing up their California home.
7. Local handoff. Introductions to lenders, movers, and other trusted local vendors so the transition doesn't stop at closing.