Affordable Places to Raise a Family in California. Any left? (San Diego: real estate, condos)

[etozion]

Are any AFFORDABLE places left in California to raise a family?
Please name me at list one.
By affordable I mean:
- one good income job would be sufficient and such jobs are available;
- you can afford to buy a house .

[Charles]

Originally Posted by etozion

Are any AFFORDABLE places left in California to raise a family?
Please name me at list one.
By affordable I mean:
- one good income job would be sufficient and such jobs are available;
- you can afford to buy a house .

What places you researched home prices?
What line of work are you in?
What is your income?

Why do you want to raise a family in California?

People buy homes all the time in California with one income. (I did it.)

What does "good income" mean?
What does the house cost?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by etozion

Are any AFFORDABLE places left in California to raise a family?
Please name me at list one.

Affordable is relative.

OK, Here are some places that are affordable:

Carmel
Watts
Malibu
Compton
Montecito
Reseda
Del Mar
Barstow
Bel-Air
Daggett

[IcantSELLmyHouse]

You forgot Ludlow

[etozion]

OK, let's say income of $60K to $80K.
Houses from $250K to $400K.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by etozion

OK, let's say income of $60K to $80K.
Houses from $250K to $400K.

Yes because not all homes in California are at LA, SF, SD, etc prices. However there might not be jobs in those areas (out in the desert, rural areas, etc.) You posted about possibly moving to Thousand Oaks or Ventura. There isn't much selection in those areas for houses (maybe condos) in the $250K to $400K price range. TO and Ventura are expensive because a) jobs, b) good communities, c) good weather, d) planned infrastructure, e).... lots of reasons.

Personally, I think a person making $60K to $80K would have a much better quality of life and standard of living in Phoenix. Yes it is hot but just about everything else would probably be better compared to where you would be living in SoCal on a $60K to $80K salary (in a $250K to $400K house).

[MtnSurfer]

Hey Charles!

We both moved to Colorado from California for similar reasons, one of them being more affordable housing and overall cost of living.

But in answer to your question as a California native I would say it is 'hard' but not 'impossible.' At close to 40 million people it is a matter of supply and demand. And many of those millions of people are asking the 'same question.'

So if you are sincerely looking for a nice place to live in Ca. and not just asking a rhetorical question here is what you need to do. You have to take the road less traveled. Remember California is a 'Huge' state. It is more about the places you shouldn't look like LA, San Diego, Santa Barbara or SF. If you are looking there then forget it! Or settle fot a nice little apt. in an overcrouded area with too many grumpy people trying to get out.

Here are a few really nice affordable places I have researched which are good to raise a family at in California:

Ben Lomond:
Ben Lomond, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Sonora:
Sonora, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Grass Valley:
Grass Valley, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

McKinleyville:
McKinleyville, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news

And there are other 'nice' places...

These are in Northern Cal. which I have considered moving back to some day along with Portland Oregon which I also highly recommend. Portland is much more affordable Pacific Coast living.

Are these places perfect? Of course not! No place is. But they offer some of the best affordable family living in California currently. And all of these areas are in much more beautiful settings than the overbloated areas where 'most' of Californians live or have lived like myself (LA County). You may have to look a little harder for the right job depending on your profession. But that is part of the trade off. If you find the right job these areas can be very nice for raising a family.

- Derek

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Here are a few really nice affordable places I have researched which are good to raise a family in California:

Ben Lomond:
Ben Lomond, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Sonora:
Sonora, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Grass Valley:
Grass Valley, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

McKinleyville:
McKinleyville, California (CA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news




If you find the right job these areas can be very nice for raising a family.

- Derek

This "If" needs to be in size 96 font.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Charles

This "If" needs to be in size 96 font.

Yes, I know what you mean. But some of these areas shouldn't be that difficult to find a job. Trust me I have thought about all these locations.

Ben Lomond for example is in commute distance to the Silicon Valley. So finding a job there shouldn't be a real problem.

Also Grass Valley is within commute distance to Sac. which has a lot of diverse job opportunities.

Now when I talk about reasonable commute distance I am talking about < 1 hour. Heck even out here in Colorado many people commute 1+ hours to work, especially going from CS to Denver.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

But some of these areas shouldn't be that difficult to find a job.

Ben Lomond for example is in commute distance to the Silicon Valley.

IF California AND jobs THEN expensive.

Ben Lomond:



$445,000
2 Bed, 1 Bath
1,004 Sq. Ft.
0.13 Acres

Why I like Colorado Springs. More good paying, high tech jobs per capita. This house is in zip code 80920, minutes from good jobs in the Springs and 50 minutes from good jobs in Denver. District 20 (Academy School District). If this house was in a nice part of Ventura County or Orange County it would be at least $1.4M.




$425,000
5 Bed, 4 Bath
3,878 Sq. Ft.
0.22 Acres