The Grass Isn't Greener..... (Los Angeles, San Diego: universities, gated community, income)

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Matadora

What Californians don't seem to understand is even though Texas has higher property taxes you still come out ahead.

What would a similar house like the the ones in the above post cost here in CA?


Then add on all the other Micky mouse taxes that CA enforces. It's a no-brainer.

Yes, but the real problem with living in Texas, is living in Texas. Lovely weather, I hear and gorgeous scenery! But if money is the most important thing, then Texas it is!

[LoriBee62]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Yes, but the real problem with living in Texas, is living in Texas

Bingo!! To some, there are things more important than money and "stuff". For the others, there is Texas, LOL

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Yes, but the real problem with living in Texas, is living in Texas. Lovely weather, I hear and gorgeous scenery! But if money is the most important thing, then Texas it is!

No the problem is people like you who make claims about a place you clearly don't know much about or have ever lived in. Stereotyping the entire State of Texas is just about as ignorant as stereotyping the entire State of CA. Texas is just as diverse as CA geographically, weather wise and people wise.

I find that most Californians are very ignorant of most other states.

[janellen]

Originally Posted by LoriBee62

You're referring to pensions. Most of us in the private sector have to save for our own retirement. Roth IRAs, municipal bond funds, health savings accounts are all sources of retirement income that are not taxed on withdrawl.

Oh that's right. I forgot about those, but aren't you forced to draw out a certain amount that will then be taxed when you turn 70? My husbands IRA was taxed when he turned 70 and 1/2. Our CPA would tell us how much he had to withdraw to satisfy IRS every year. That amount was then taxed......not as much as our pensions though.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by janellen

Oh that's right. I forgot about those, but aren't you forced to draw out a certain amount that will then be taxed when you turn 70? My husbands IRA was taxed when he turned 70 and 1/2. Our CPA would tell us how much he had to withdraw to satisfy IRS every year. That amount was then taxed......not as much as our pensions though.

If you ever get tired of paying your CPA to tell you, you can get an accurate figure here:
401(k) and IRA Required Minimum Distribution Calculator | Investor.gov

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by Matadora

No the problem is people like you who make claims about a place you clearly don't know much about or have ever lived in. Stereotyping the entire State of Texas is just about as ignorant as stereotyping the entire State of CA. Texas is just as diverse as CA geographically, weather wise and people wise. I find that most Californians are very ignorant of most other states.

I have been to every major city in Texas, some of them several times and I can see no reason to return. Austin is nice, but it's as expensive as many parts of California so why would I leave California go there? Millions of people love Texas and that's great because California would be in real trouble if they all hated it and tried to move here. So can't we just defend the places that we think are great without claiming that people who disagree with you are ignorant?

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by Matadora

Exactly and not everyone in Texas runs out and buys a big house like the posters here claim their CA friends unwisely did.

You can get a very modest house in Texas for a very good price.

It irks me when I hear people say, "Cost of living in other places are not that much lower than in CA because some people buy big houses when they move there, and end up paying a lot of money on property taxes." Statements like this are so illogical. So COL is high for the whole state because a few people choose to buy expensive houses? What about the people who choose to buy inexpensive houses?

I have a 1,700 sq/ft house in Houston that I bought in 2008 for $120K. The property is 25 minutes from downtown Houston where a lot of the good jobs are.

How much would a 1,700 sq/ft house that is 25 minutes from downtown LA, SF, or Silicon Valley cost? I am guessing around $500K. Clearly, CA lower property tax advantage is offset by much higher housing cost.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

I have been to every major city in Texas, some of them several times and I can see no reason to return. Austin is nice, but it's as expensive as many parts of California so why would I leave California go there? Millions of people love Texas and that's great because California would be in real trouble if they all hated it and tried to move here. So can't we just defend the places that we think are great without claiming that people who disagree with you are ignorant?

It's not all about you even though you always post as it is.

I can say though with the way you sport such a snarky attitude in many of your posts I would bet Texans thank you for leaving. We don't much care for that kind of attitude. That's why Texas is known for it's friendly helpful people. And CA is known for...well it's pretty obvious from many of the CA threads.

[Matadora]

Originally Posted by davidt1

It irks me when I hear people say, "Cost of living in other places are not that much lower than in CA because some people buy big houses when they move there, and end up paying a lot of money on property taxes." Statements like this are so illogical. So COL is high for the whole state because a few people choose to buy expensive houses? What about the people who choose to buy inexpensive houses?

I have a 1,700 sq/ft house in Houston that I bought in 2008 for $120K. The property is 25 minutes from downtown Houston where a lot of the good jobs are.

How much would a 1,700 sq/ft house that is 25 minutes from downtown LA, SF, or Silicon Valley cost? I am guessing around $500K. Clearly, CA lower property tax advantage is offset by much higher housing cost.

You said it just right!

Statements like this are so illogical.

[Marv101]

A house in Tyler, TX would at least QUADRUPLE in price if it were located in a city such as Tustin or Torrance thanks to decades of zoning restrictions and no-growth mandates from Sacramento's social engineering treehuggers who've essentially made TRULY affordable housing non-existent in large parts of the state, which certainly contributes to our worst in the country poverty rate, which should be impossible in a state with 5 of the top 25-30 universities in the nation within its borders.

Only the liberals could pull off that war on the middle class which is still in progress 30+ years and counting; they're just not middle-class friendly folks regardless of whatever comes out of their mouths.