How do you afford to live in California? (San Jose, Oakland: neighborhood, income)

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by k374

You forgot an important point...they bought their houses before the boom and hence are paying a pittance in housing costs. Like a friend of mine, bought his 1800 sqft townhome in Aliso Viejo for $219,000 in 2001. Current value is $400,000 or almost double and professional incomes have been declining since 2001 and the job market has become seriously volatile now.

No. I didn't forget any point at all. There are 35,000,000 people in California. Millions of them are families who didn't buy a home before the boom -- many of them still haven't bought: they rent ... miliions of them are quite happy with their lives in California. This forum is a place where certain types of people come to blow off steam and express anxieties.

Lots of people in the world are struggling and unhappy.
Lots of people in the world are not struggling and are happy.
Lots of both kinds live in California -- just like everywhere else.

Not everyone has expectations that can't be realized which leave them depressed and disappointed.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by GypsySunworshiper

Popcorn? Mr. Kurtz seem to have alot of stories to tell. One thing that concerns me about your post is that you seem to have alot of ties to scheming crooks. This is opposite of the many people whom own businesses who never have as much insight about other people businesses. I find it strange that you are so well connected to the dark side. Ethical business men and women usually wouldn't even give someone like that the time of day to share their stories. What is it you do mr kurtz?

P.S. Is this a racial component? .....fat black women , ugly, and, add until nauseum.

or

are you an equal opportunity grinch?

Mr. Kurtz is a figment of his own imagination. He lives in an asylum with pictures of yachts and beautiful women on the wall.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by k374

You forgot an important point...they bought their houses before the boom and hence are paying a pittance in housing costs. Like a friend of mine, bought his 1800 sqft townhome in Aliso Viejo for $219,000 in 2001. Current value is $400,000 or almost double and professional incomes have been declining since 2001 and the job market has become seriously volatile now.

Good point.

Although not relevant to the OP's initial question as it applies in today's world, here's another option: Purchasing a home where you want to stay is something many people do. My parents did that very thing. Bought their 4-bedroom home in 1962 for 18K. They lived in it until their death in 2008 and their property taxes never reached 500 dollars a year. Also, they paid the house off 13 years after buying it by putting extra money down on the principal of the loan. By the time my dad retired in 1975, their house was paid for and property taxes remained low, thanks to Prop 13.

I know a lot of people today don't do that sort of thing but it worked for them, quite nicely. In the end, it doesn't really matter how much a house is worth unless someone plans on selling it later and using the proceeds to make the monthly nursing home payments.

[Mr.Kurtz]

I love my life. Once I escaped modern day slavery, or the state of California ... life got better.

[JGC97]

Originally Posted by Mr.Kurtz

I love my life. Once I escaped modern day slavery, or the state of California ... life got better.

It's great that you love your life. Many people in California love their life, too. It doesn't mean they are a slave to it. That's just your viewpoint.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by k374

You forgot an important point...they bought their houses before the boom and hence are paying a pittance in housing costs. Like a friend of mine, bought his 1800 sqft townhome in Aliso Viejo for $219,000 in 2001. Current value is $400,000 or almost double and professional incomes have been declining since 2001 and the job market has become seriously volatile now.

Well, today's prices in many parts of California are a pittance compared to just a couple of years ago...

I posted before about a young couple, 23 and 24 that are the first in their families to have college degrees... they earn nearly $200k

Her family is from the Philippines and she is a Registered Nurse and his family is African American and he is a Police Officer...

Both of these professions have seen substantial wage gains in the last 10 years...

[duttygal86]

The obvious answer for the OP is to move to Florida. Better beaches, no state income tax, cheaper housing.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by duttygal86

The obvious answer for the OP is to move to Florida. Better beaches, no state income tax, cheaper housing.

On the other hand individuals and families do make a go of it in California...

If no one did... property here wouldn't be worth much.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

Good point.

Although not relevant to the OP's initial question as it applies in today's world, here's another option: Purchasing a home where you want to stay is something many people do. My parents did that very thing. Bought their 4-bedroom home in 1962 for 18K. They lived in it until their death in 2008 and their property taxes never reached 500 dollars a year. Also, they paid the house off 13 years after buying it by putting extra money down on the principal of the loan. By the time my dad retired in 1975, their house was paid for and property taxes remained low, thanks to Prop 13.

I know a lot of people today don't do that sort of thing but it worked for them, quite nicely. In the end, it doesn't really matter how much a house is worth unless someone plans on selling it later and using the proceeds to make the monthly nursing home payments.

I can say your parents didn't live in a city like Oakland CA...

The fixed and special charges independent of Prop 13 are $700 alone...

I bought the smallest and oldest home on my street and pay the most in taxes... it doesn't bother me that my neighbors pay less... most have lived here since the 50's and 60's and they make the area the desirable place it is...

And... I hope to be in a similar situation 40 or 50 years from now...

[Mr.Kurtz]

Originally Posted by duttygal86

The obvious answer for the OP is to move to Florida. Better beaches, no state income tax, cheaper housing.

My Grandpa used to say ' ... Some people get it ... most people don't. '

Florida, like California is not an easy place to live or work. Maybe the two best states in all Amerika. Money is the key. It's all about money, out west or down in Florida. If you don't have a solid plan. If you don’t have a back up plan b, and c. If you don't have family or some kind of life support system then you'll never make here or there. Most people don't realize the work and sacrifice one must have and do, in order to reach success over the long haul. And today's self obsessed generation is the worst bunch of hooligans I ever seen. A really sad deal we have in the good ol US of A. What we got now, is facebook, cell phone obsessed bunch of lazy fat slobs, we got now in Amerika. To any and all foreigners reading this, please pray for Amerika ... We need all the help we can get.