Is California the most expensive state in which to live? (Seaside: home, to buy)

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

$350K will get you a house in the Ingleside or Excelsior districts of SF. Not a nice one, but you can always make it yours. Just sayin'..

Still too far away from the center and those areas are kind of...It's not a simple bus ride I guess is all I'm saying lol. If I were to buy a property in San Francisco and couldn't find one Richmond, Haight, Marina, Pac Heights, Nob Hill, North Beach, Van Ness etc that area or even Sunset. I'd probally go for the new condos by Monster Park.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

I lived in:

I don't think Southern California is worth it. The design of the cities are the same in many states (which isn't a bad thing), spread out, shopping malls, shopping centers, franchises, traffic etc. However, it's just a bit older and dated. I don't think it's worth the cost of living because you can move to Florida and get a much nicer house with an ocean that isn't freezing and an ocean that is blue.

That pretty much describes the Bay Area as well.

Also SoCal water temps reach up to the mid 70's in summer, hardly freezing and about 20 degrees warmer than anything you'd find in Northern CA. I guess the ocean is more of a turquoise blue though, but still beats the cold brown water of SF:

San Francisco on the other hand is not your typical city.

It's not your typical WEST COAST city but is more like a typical east coast city.

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by sav858

That pretty much describes the Bay Area as well.

Also SoCal water temps reach up to the mid 70's in summer, hardly freezing and about 20 degrees warmer than anything you'd find in Northern CA. I guess the ocean is more of a turquoise blue though, but still beats the cold brown water of SF:


It's not your typical WEST COAST city but is more like a typical east coast city.

70's is about the temp during winter in Florida. Most surfers where wet-suits in California. I'm just saying to people who think (I thought this awhile back) California is a mainland version of Hawaii is going to be disapointed. I've seen it with many of my friends, especially the ones from Australia and Asia. They see the OC and picture Southern California to be very similar. Then they find out most of the houses are old and small and expensive. I haven't met anyone who said Southern California exceeded their expectations. That doesn't mean they don't like it, I'm just saying is it worth paying 3x more for a house...probally not.

How many cities in the United States can you compare to San Francisco.

I can think of only...Chicago, New York City, Boston, maybeee Seattle. Even out of those, it still stands out. Seriously, the streets alone make it stand out. You can drive down Franklin Ave late at night and actually catch air going down that street lol. There's not many cities in the United States where you can live without a car and still have more options for dining and going out.

*Note*

It sounds like I think SoCal is a horrible place, it isn't. I still think it's above average when you look across the country and always have fun visiting, but living I don't think it's worth the high real estate is all I'm saying.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Still too far away from the center and those areas are kind of...It's not a simple bus ride I guess is all I'm saying lol. If I were to buy a property in San Francisco and couldn't find one Richmond, Haight, Marina, Pac Heights, Nob Hill, North Beach, Van Ness etc that area or even Sunset. I'd probally go for the new condos by Monster Park.

You say Ingleside is too far and then say you'd buy condos at Candlestick Point which is next to absolutely NOTHING, lol.. what about the three BART stations within easy walking distance?? You know you can ride on BART within San Francisco with a Muni pass.

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

You say Ingleside is too far and then say you'd buy condos at Candlestick Point which is next to absolutely NOTHING, lol.. what about the three BART stations within easy walking distance?? You know you can ride on BART within San Francisco with a Muni pass.

Meaning, if I'm going to have to drive, I'd rather live in a nicer and newer place, rather than an old wooden house in a not so desirable area. I'm not that familiar with the BART. I had a muni pass, but only used the buses, trolleys on Market and cable cars. I also had a car, so most of the time I'd just drive unless I went out with friends.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

I'm just saying to people who think (I thought this awhile back) California is a mainland version of Hawaii is going to be disapointed.

That is true, I feel bad for anyone that thinks CA is like Hawaii b/c it doesn't even come close to Hawaii with regards to its tropical scenery and weather but it does offer more variety overall at least.

I'm just saying is it worth paying 3x more for a house...probally not.

Home prices in SoCal and even NorCal are in the $350K range and probably will drop lower, not that bad of a deal overall. The last 6 or so years was a huge, unsustainable fluke when it came to home prices. It really screwed CA up and got it way off balance.

How many cities in the United States can you compare to San Francisco.

I can think of only...Chicago, New York City, Boston, maybeee Seattle. Even out of those, it still stands out.

I'd probably add Philly, DC, and New Orleans. But yes SF is one of America's great cities overall, I think its mainly the topography and scenery that sets it apart, everything else can be found in some other cites across the nation.

[Jaymum]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

I was going to say, that would be Hawaii. In terms of taxes, New Jersey takes the cake. They have not only some of the worst taxes on individuals, but also the worst tax environment for business, which has a heavy impact on wages.

Thank you! I suggested in a thread on the LA forum that NJ was worse than California for taxes, and was basically laughed at. It's nearly impossible to run a business here, which is why my hours at a family business went from 40-50 a week to 10-15 once the recession hit.

We also have the highest highway taxes and tolls (8 bucks to cross a damn bridge!?!? 15 to travel the length of the Parkway/Turnpike?!?), and yet the worst quality roads and bridges. Most roads are barely even paved, and bridges are literally crumbling into the bodies of water they span (see the Pulaski Skyway).

Jersey's just a hole. California may be expensive, bud dammit, you actually get something in return (weather, topography, oppurtunity, real highways, et. al.).

[ebuch]

Jersey's Public school system isn't bad though like a lot of CA. However, your right other than that I have no idea where your taxes go.

[115db]

Originally Posted by sav858

Totally depends on what part you live in, CA has huge disparities in housing prices from region to region.

Also there are states with higher taxes than CA and we are not the highest taxed state like some like to claim.

Most expensive state to live in would be Hawaii. I'm also thinking some Northeastern states might rival CA is the COL category.

Good point. I hear many parts of the east coast is pretty costly?

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Meaning, if I'm going to have to drive, I'd rather live in a nicer and newer place, rather than an old wooden house in a not so desirable area. I'm not that familiar with the BART. I had a muni pass, but only used the buses, trolleys on Market and cable cars. I also had a car, so most of the time I'd just drive unless I went out with friends.

Candlestick Point is in the Bayview. It will be nicer if they get that development done along Tunnel Road, but otherwise, it is definitely not a nicer and newer place unless you only drive between the condo and the freeway. And then there's Oceanview Terrace in Ingleside, a newer condo development which is in a very nice little neighborhood and is a five minute walk from Daly City BART.