Global Mobility Solutions
Let’s Talk
Global Mobility Solutions
Global Mobility Solutions

Corporate Relocation Services in California

California Relocation Management for HR and Mobility Teams

California is one of the busiest corridors in domestic mobility. Technology, biotech, entertainment and aerospace employers hire and transfer people in and out of the state all year, and the housing market means that a California move rarely looks like a move anywhere else. Since 1987, Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) has managed relocations for companies across the U.S. and Canada, and this page explains how our U.S. and Canadian relocation services apply to California in particular.

Where California Relocations Happen

Most corporate activity clusters in a few metro areas: the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley for technology, San Diego and the Bay Area for biotech and life sciences, Los Angeles and Orange County for entertainment, aerospace and professional services, and Sacramento for state government and a growing tech presence. Each market has its own housing prices, commute patterns and school options, so a transferee heading to San Diego needs different guidance than one heading to San Jose.

Movement also runs the other way. Many employees leave California for lower-cost Western states, a pattern we covered in where California residents move. If your company transfers people both into and out of the state, the policy needs to work for both a buyer arriving at Bay Area prices and a homeowner leaving with significant equity.

Woman in glasses using her smartphone
Woman in glasses using her smartphone
Family with children sitting among moving boxes on their front steps

Housing Costs and Cost-of-Living Adjustments

California housing costs are among the highest in the country, and that shapes the whole package. Transferees coming from lower-cost markets often face sticker shock, which can turn a willing candidate into a declined offer. Companies handle this with cost-of-living adjustments, temporary housing allowances that account for local rents, and home-finding support that sets realistic expectations early. Our guide to setting cost-of-living adjustments fairly across markets explains how to avoid both overpaying and under-supporting.

Property taxes are another California-specific wrinkle. Because assessments are generally tied to purchase price, a new buyer’s tax bill can differ sharply from a long-time neighbor’s, and employees should factor that into what they can afford. Pre-decision consulting is the right time to put these numbers in front of a candidate, which is why we offer pre-decision counseling.

Family with children sitting among moving boxes on their front steps

State Tax and Compliance Considerations

California taxes income at progressive rates, so the cost of a taxable relocation benefit, and of any tax gross-up that offsets it, tends to run higher than in many other states. Employees who move into or out of California mid-year may also owe returns in two states, which we describe in filing taxes in multiple states after relocating. Our explainer on tax gross-up shows how the calculation works, and your tax advisors should confirm treatment for your population.

California employment law also touches mobility. AB 692 changes how employers can structure repayment agreements tied to relocation and similar benefits, and policies that include repayment clauses should be reviewed against it. Read our AB 692 compliance steps for employers and mobility teams, and confirm specifics with counsel.

Family with children sitting among moving boxes on their front steps
Family with children sitting among moving boxes on their front steps

Our cloud-based relocation technology is designed to help you streamline your company’s relocation management.

Explore MyRelocation®
Frankfurt skyline at sunset

Planning Around Wildfire Season and Disruptions

Wildfires and related emergencies can interrupt travel, delay household goods pickups and force temporary housing changes. Good planning builds in flexibility: alternate delivery windows, clear approval paths for extended temporary living, and a dedicated contact who can reroute services quickly. When wildfires hit California, GMS extended additional support to affected clients, as described in our support for clients affected by California fires.

Frankfurt skyline at sunset

How GMS Supports California Moves

Every California relocation is managed by a dedicated relocation coach who guides the employee from the first policy conversation through arrival. In pre-decision, the coach helps candidates understand the housing market and the real cost of the move. During departure, GMS coordinates household goods, home sale or lease-break support and travel. At destination, a relocation-certified local agent helps with home finding, and temporary living, lease and mortgage assistance are available. Tools such as the relocation tools and calculators and the destination spotlights give candidates a realistic picture of each market.

For technology employers building or revising a program, our technology sector case study shows how a program was designed and implemented, and mobility consulting can help you benchmark your California policy against the market.

Frankfurt skyline at sunset
Frankfurt skyline at sunset

Related Reading

Planning moves to or from California? Contact GMS to talk through your program.

Explore Other Regions

the Southeast (FL, GA, NC)  |  the Northeast (NY, NJ, MA)  |  the Midwest (IL, OH, MI)  |  the Pacific Northwest (WA, OR)

Back to U.S. & Canadian Relocation Services.

OTHER SERVICES

Destination Spotlight
Recruiter Services
Relocation Tools
Mobility Consulting
Moving Cost Estimator
International PEO
Accessibility by WAH

Looking for something?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER