Remote Worker? Keep Your Big-City Salary, Cut Your Costs by 40%
You're making $130K remote from a $2,800/month apartment in LA. Your company doesn't care where you sit — but California still takes 9.3% of your income. You're paying premium prices to live in a state you could leave tomorrow. So why haven't you?
Usually it's one of three things: you don't know the tax rules, you're worried about qualifying for a mortgage without a local employer, or you just don't know where to start. This guide solves all three.
🧮 The Remote Relocator's Math
| Category | CA/NY Remote | TX/FL Remote | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Income Tax ($130K) | $9,100/yr | $0 | +$9,100 |
| Housing (comparable quality) | $33,600/yr | $19,200/yr | +$14,400 |
| Cost of Living (food, gas, etc) | $24,000/yr | $16,800/yr | +$7,200 |
| TOTAL ANNUAL GAIN | +$30,700 |
Same salary. Same job. Same laptop. $30K+ more in your pocket.
📋 Remote Relocator Checklist
Check your employer's policy
Most companies allow it — many already have employees in TX/FL. Some adjust salary (Meta, Stripe). Most don't (Amazon, Apple remote roles, agencies). Ask HR in writing.
Get mortgage pre-approval with remote income
Lenders love W-2 remote workers. Your income is stable, your employer is verifiable, and you can buy in a cheaper market. The tricky part is finding a lender who understands multi-state tax situations.
Establish domicile immediately
Driver's license, voter registration, vehicle registration. The day you move is the day you stop owing your old state income tax. But ONLY if you document it properly.
Buy, don't rent (here's why)
With $0 state tax savings, you can afford a mortgage payment higher than you think. Plus FL Homestead exemption or TX's generous homestead protections lock in your tax assessment.
Stack your savings
Take your $30K annual savings and put $15K into the mortgage (extra payments = faster equity), $10K into investments, $5K into an emergency fund. In 5 years you're sitting on $150K+ in new wealth.
💡 The Remote Worker's Secret Weapon
Most mortgage brokers don't know how to handle remote workers buying out of state. They want local employment, local pay stubs, local everything. We specialize in exactly this. We've closed hundreds of remote worker relocations from CA, NY, IL, and WA into TX and FL. We know the underwriting guidelines cold, and we speak English y Español.