The California Dream is Alive and Well ...

[Niners fan]

California is a beautiful state, no doubt. The OP said she didn't know why there are so many naysayers about California. I would say there are three main reasons:

1) Housing is so expensive.

2) Some of us don't like the socio-political climate.

3) Much of the state is very crowded.

Those who primarily fall into category 1 above are probably feeling like the dream might be becoming obtainable again.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by AuburnJack

Hmm... well, after checking some listings, I don't know about "average," but there does seem to be a lot more out there that has dropped. And I found 6 listings in Monterey under 500k, as opposed to 2 when I moved. So, yeah... still out of reach for a first-time homebuyer like me, but it looks like they're finally feeling it.

When you drive around and look at the bunch of properties, you quickly figure out that these listing prices are meaningless. For one thing, you see hand written notes on the flyers with price reductions daily. There's also so many foreclosures and short sales now ... all bets are off.

People have been saying for years that these prices had no relationship to reality. Now the reckoning has come. Monterey will probably always be expensive but, it will probably be a lot less expensive than it was before.

[Joe_Ryder]

Originally Posted by sheri257

I have the state of California to thank for that also ... because most of my education and new career was funded entirely by the California community college system ... it didn't cost me a dime.

You need to thank yourself, not the state. With your attitude, you'd have done just fine anywhere. Most of the folks who're hating life right now are in bad positions for the decisions they made.

If you browse through the forums you'll see that every state and every city has the same types of people who can't wait to get out of their "stupid state."

Everyone's complaining that the cost of living is too high where they are so they've decided that some state across the continent must be better because houses are cheaper. Let's not take into account that winters are brutal, there are no jobs, and any jobs there are pay less than California's minimum wage. People don't seem to get that prices are based on what the market will bear. Unless you are upgrading your profession, your standard of living will be the same anywhere. If you can't live within your means in CA, you probably can't do it anywhere else either.

Many folks have fallen into the trap of perceived entitlement. They kept borrowing more for bigger houses, bigger TV's all the coolest electronic gadgets, etc. Now the time to pay has come and people are deciding it's the fault of the state they live in and not their own fault.

I've lived in a lot of places and traveled much of the world. The biggest differences I see in the US between one state and another is climate and topography. "A fool and his money are soon parted" is true from sea to shining sea.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

You need to thank yourself, not the state. With your attitude, you'd have done just fine anywhere. Most of the folks who're hating life right now are in bad positions for the decisions they made.

If you browse through the forums you'll see that every state and every city has the same types of people who can't wait to get out of their "stupid state."

Everyone's complaining that the cost of living is too high where they are so they've decided that some state across the continent must be better because houses are cheaper. Let's not take into account that winters are brutal, there are no jobs, and any jobs there are pay less than California's minimum wage. People don't seem to get that prices are based on what the market will bear. Unless you are upgrading your profession, your standard of living will be the same anywhere. If you can't live within your means in CA, you probably can't do it anywhere else either.

Many folks have fallen into the trap of perceived entitlement. They kept borrowing more for bigger houses, bigger TV's all the coolest electronic gadgets, etc. Now the time to pay has come and people are deciding it's the fault of the state they live in and not their own fault.

I've lived in a lot of places and traveled much of the world. The biggest differences I see in the US between one state and another is climate and topography. "A fool and his money are soon parted" is true from sea to shining sea.

You are right on some of you points but dead wrong on others. The high cost of housing in CA makes it almost impossible for most people to comfortably afford a house especially with only one income.

You are right in that people need to live within their means, which state you live in makes no difference. There is however a big difference with hat you get in CA versus many other states when you live within those means. The average household income versus cost of housing is completely out of whack in CA compared to states such as Texas. You can live within your means and TX and have much more money for education, retirement, vacations, etc. and still live within your means because of the lower housing costs.

As far as jobs go there are many parts of the country where the economies are healthier than CA, especially now with the budget problems that CA is having. I have found in my line of work that the wages are only about 5%- 10% lower on average than CA.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

You need to thank yourself, not the state. With your attitude, you'd have done just fine anywhere. Most of the folks who're hating life right now are in bad positions for the decisions they made.

If you browse through the forums you'll see that every state and every city has the same types of people who can't wait to get out of their "stupid state."

Everyone's complaining that the cost of living is too high where they are so they've decided that some state across the continent must be better because houses are cheaper. Let's not take into account that winters are brutal, there are no jobs, and any jobs there are pay less than California's minimum wage. People don't seem to get that prices are based on what the market will bear. Unless you are upgrading your profession, your standard of living will be the same anywhere. If you can't live within your means in CA, you probably can't do it anywhere else either.

Many folks have fallen into the trap of perceived entitlement. They kept borrowing more for bigger houses, bigger TV's all the coolest electronic gadgets, etc. Now the time to pay has come and people are deciding it's the fault of the state they live in and not their own fault.

I've lived in a lot of places and traveled much of the world. The biggest differences I see in the US between one state and another is climate and topography. "A fool and his money are soon parted" is true from sea to shining sea.

Where are businesses going and taking their jobs? I know that these are just numbers but numbers do mean something when talking about economics/economies and how people are effected by them. I know this will be unpopular, but oh well.


Texas passes N.Y. on Fortune 500 list | TOP STORIES | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas

Texas passes N.Y. on Fortune 500 list


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[sheri257]

I have no doubt that corporations like Texas better. But there's a price that's paid there as well. Just as an example ...

I'm an RN and I'm sure that hospital corporations make a lot more money in Texas. Why? Because unlike California, Texas has no ratio law so they can overload their nurses with as many patients as they like. In California they can't give you more than five patients. In Texas, the patient loads are typically 8-12.

They don't want to pay for more staff so ... consequently, patient care is severely compromised. Yes, it's great for profits but it's also really bad for the patients.

If you don't believe me, you can read tons of horror stories about on nursing boards like allnurses.com. And, if you need more proof, check out insurance coverage for RN's ... they won't insure nurses in Texas like other states. If you can get a policy, the coverage is severely limited because nurses are sued more in Texas.

I just don't think that giving businesses everything they want is a good thing. Sure ... there's a lot of jobs. I could work in Texas in a heartbeat if I wanted to but would I want to? Hell no ... not with those horrendous working conditions.

Nurses travel from all over the country and, even the world to work in California because of our laws and regulations. Meanwhile, Texas is still begging for nurses because nobody wants to work there. Everybody in healthcare knows what a nightmare it is so ...

I'd rather have regulated industries than industries that treat their workers so terribly.

[Niners fan]

Originally Posted by sheri257

I have the state of California to thank for that also ... because most of my education and new career was funded entirely by the California community college system ... it didn't cost me a dime.

At least you're grateful...

That "free" education does have a price, however. California taxes are very high. What you saved in tuition and fees will more than be offset by the higher taxes you will pay over time.

[shannon94]

Well thank god there are more careers in Texas besides nursing!! You keep bringing that up anytime someone says anything positive about Texas...weird.
California is in SUCH great shape now isn't it?

And...I agree soccersupporter!!

[kturbe]

Love California, plenty of opportunity for those who want it!

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by shannon94

Well thank god there are more careers in Texas besides nursing!! You keep bringing that up anytime someone says anything positive about Texas...weird.
California is in SUCH great shape now isn't it?

And...I agree soccersupporter!!

Yeah CA is doing great.

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