The California Dream Is Gone (San Diego, Riverside: rent, house, tech jobs)

[james203]

this is so true !
http://www.tomvoli.com/the-california-dream-is-gone

[killer2021]

Originally Posted by james203

this is so true !
The California Dream is Gone

I agree for the most part that living here is really expensive and that it is not so great anymore. However, you need to realize that the main thing that makes OC expensive is the housing. Of course the OC markets have seen massive run ups in the RE prices to an unsustainable level. Now we are finally seeing a weakening market as a result. Most people are priced out, inventories are rising, lending standard have raised, interest rates are rising. If you still think that housing is going to appreciate then I don't know what statistics you are looking at. Prices will not stay this high forever.

[socketz]

Originally Posted by killer2021

I agree for the most part that living here is really expensive and that it is not so great anymore. However, you need to realize that the main thing that makes OC expensive is the housing. Of course the OC markets have seen massive run ups in the RE prices to an unsustainable level. Now we are finally seeing a weakening market as a result. Most people are priced out, inventories are rising, lending standard have raised, interest rates are rising. If you still think that housing is going to appreciate then I don't know what statistics you are looking at. Prices will not stay this high forever.

Agree. My advice would be to remain patient and maybe rent for a while. A market can not sustain itself without buyers because value is based on what people can and are willing to pay.

[djrun]

One major issue I have with life in Southern California is the massive development that has been going on. Fellow disgruntled Californians, I'd like to know if this too is a problem with you all? When I was growing up in the suburbs of Orange and Riverside county I had very fond memories. Over the past ten years the two cities I grew up in (Corona + Irvine) have seen massive residential + commercial development over former open spaces and agricultural land. In their place are cookie cutter tract homes with very cliche street names like Shady Canyon, Quail Hill, Stonegate, etc. Big box stores have replaced the local mom & pop retail around the town. Looking at the places that I was raised I would never decide to live there today in spite of the nostalgia and memories I have...

On the other hand I do understand with a large influx of migration there needs to be homes to sustain the population. However I am bothered by this trend, maybe its because its human nature to long for familarity. But I think it is more than that. Maybe its the bland image that these developments bring? Or a drastic increase in population (which leads to conjestion, increase in the cost of living) that one must adjust to.

Then again I think I'm just being an elitist because the homes I grew up in were also once on orange fields and there was someone out there who was probably pointing the finger to our family in disapproval of urban development. And that person also lived in a house that was once on open land, and so on, and so on . . .

[NYSD1995]

It's funny to me how everyone talks about the "California Dream" like it was just 1958 and we're all going to work at Rockwell or Boeing. That was fifty years ago!

That "California Dream" died in the 70's along with most of what people seem to consider "the good ol' days" all across the country. The new "California Dream" involves high paying tech jobs and immigrants from all over the world looking for a new life. California cities look pretty much like any growing, thriving city in the country or even the world. That has it's drawbacks, but the alternatives (rust belt decay for example) are much worse to me.

Maybe it's time to face reality that SoCal is never going back to the way it was, it's just going to get more dense, more people, more expensive, more traffic. Either you accept it and learn to make your own place within it, or you leave it all behind, but pining for the old days is a surefire way to end up bitter.

[shannon94]

Nice article. My sentiments exactly. It's funny when you say something like this though on this forum your immediatley a "hater". We make a little over 120K a year and realized we would be throwing so much a way if we stayed in San Diego. I really don't know how people who make LESS than that can justify paying 400k-600k for a starter home. It's a hard place to leave...but now that I've been gone for almost 8 years... and I visit often.....I don't feel like I'm missing out on much. Alot of my friends are leaving for other states now too. I miss the way California use to be ...........but I'm not "bitter".

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by shannon94

Nice article. My sentiments exactly. It's funny when you say something like this though on this forum your immediatley a "hater". We make a little over 120K a year and realized we would be throwing so much a way if we stayed in San Diego. I really don't know how people who make LESS than that can justify paying 400k-600k for a starter home. It's a hard place to leave...but now that I've been gone for almost 8 years... and I visit often.....I don't feel like I'm missing out on much. Alot of my friends are leaving for other states now too. I miss the way California use to be ...........but I'm not "bitter".

I see you moved from SD to DFW. What was the adjustment like as far as the weather goes? Particularly in the winter time? The reason I'm asking is I'm almost set on moving to the DFW area from the Louisville, KY area for various reasons including getting away from cold winter weather and I was just wondering what your opinion is on whether it gets too cold in the DFW area in the winter time.

I have considered California in my relocation options, but the cost of living is so insane that I'm not even going to attempt moving there. I think living in a place like Dallas would be better and the money you could save because of cheaper living could go towards fun trips to places like San Diego or other fun places. Plus, it's not like Dallas is a dump or anything. It may not have the beautiful coast, mountains, and near perfect climate, but it's still very nice.

[shannon94]

Originally Posted by BSL63087

I see you moved from SD to DFW. What was the adjustment like as far as the weather goes? Particularly in the winter time? The reason I'm asking is I'm almost set on moving to the DFW area from the Louisville, KY area for various reasons including getting away from cold winter weather and I was just wondering what your opinion is on whether it gets too cold in the DFW area in the winter time.

I have considered California in my relocation options, but the cost of living is so insane that I'm not even going to attempt moving there. I think living in a place like Dallas would be better and the money you could save because of cheaper living could go towards fun trips to places like San Diego or other fun places. Plus, it's not like Dallas is a dump or anything. It may not have the beautiful coast, mountains, and near perfect climate, but it's still very nice.

HI,
...I had a harder time adjusting to the SUMMER weather!! lol Winter is great out here actually. You get a few really cold days (30-40 degrees) a little ice on the roads for a few days here and there...that's about it. I've been here 8 years and have had to pull my heavy coat out very little.

[BSL63087]

Originally Posted by shannon94

HI,
...I had a harder time adjusting to the SUMMER weather!! lol Winter is great out here actually. You get a few really cold days (30-40 degrees) a little ice on the roads for a few days here and there...that's about it. I've been here 8 years and have had to pull my heavy coat out very little.

That's good to hear. It gets pretty hot here, especially in June, July and maybe early August but it's definitly hotter there. I don't think I'll have much of a problem adjusting to that. My biggest concern is it being too similar to here during the winter, and so far, everyone I've talked to seems to say the same thing you did. A few cold days, with mainly mid-upper 40s, 50s, and 60s days and sometimes getting into the 70s and 80s.

I just can't take too many more winters here. I'm hoping to move within a couple of years at the latest. There are definitly worse places to be in the winter time but it's not pleasant to me. It seems to always be cold from late October until late March with it rarely ever getting into the 60s or 70s and if it does it's usually for one day. I'll take heat over cold any day

Thanks.

[country pride]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

It's funny to me how everyone talks about the "California Dream" like it was just 1958 and we're all going to work at Rockwell or Boeing. That was fifty years ago!

That "California Dream" died in the 70's along with most of what people seem to consider "the good ol' days" all across the country. The new "California Dream" involves high paying tech jobs and immigrants from all over the world looking for a new life. California cities look pretty much like any growing, thriving city in the country or even the world. That has it's drawbacks, but the alternatives (rust belt decay for example) are much worse to me.

Maybe it's time to face reality that SoCal is never going back to the way it was, it's just going to get more dense, more people, more expensive, more traffic. Either you accept it and learn to make your own place within it, or you leave it all behind, but pining for the old days is a surefire way to end up bitter.

Well said. But sadly, this applies to many areas, not just to Calif.