How in the Heck does Anyone Afford to Live in California? (San Francisco: house, buy)

[jaynetarzana]

I knew I liked you Charles. : )

[ndfmnlf]

Originally Posted by Charles

It's sad to see delusional people send their brainwashed kids to church so they can have a relationship with an imaginary being.

I laugh at those people.

"History teaches us that no other cause has brought more death than the word of god." - Giulian Buzila

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Charles

It's sad to see delusional people send their brainwashed kids to church so they can have a relationship with an imaginary being.

I laugh at those people.

"History teaches us that no other cause has brought more death than the word of god." - Giulian Buzila

And this has what to do with affording the "California Dream?"

You'd better hope you're right because the alternative won't be pleasant.

Talk about "off topic!"

[leonard]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

Its getting to be the only people who can afford to live in CA are overpaid politicians, the Hollywood crowd, CEOs and corporate execs, doctors, and lawyers. CA is not feasible for 99% of the 'normal' population.

I am a native Californian and have been here a long time.A

The key is to start small and grow with the area. I bought my home 10 years ago and now that I am ready to retire I can still sell it for enough to buy a house elsewhere out of California, even at foreclosure prices. If you are young, CA offers so much to do no other State even comes close and have beautiful weather on top of it (in So Cal at least). If you look 30 years down the road and grow in experience and learn a trade or business, buy a small home when you can and slowly upgrade as your family expands, you will be in excellent shape by retirement time. The people who have problems, wanted it all right now instead of working for it. No other State really offers the opportunities that CA does, but you have to be smart and ...patient.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by leonard

The people who have problems, wanted it all right now instead of working for it. No other State really offers the opportunities that CA does,

That's one way of looking at it.

Another way of looking at it is,

"I am a native Californian and I lived in California a long time.

The people who have problems, they work forever in California to get nowhere (because they can't afford a home in a good school district within reasonable commuting distance to jobs) instead of moving out of state and having it all (good schools, jobs, low stress, no traffic) now. Many other states offer expanded opportunities, with better quality of life, for less."

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by Charles

Many other states offer expanded opportunities, with better quality of life, for less."

And if you go to those states' links here, you see the complaints for their states.

Right now some of the recent threads:

Arkansas: 10 Reasons I'm Tired of Living in Arkansas
Arizona: Shooting in Mesa
Colorado: How Can Anyone Afford Daycare in CO?
Hawaii: Are Hawaiins Racist?
Florida: Miami - 3rd Most Overpriced Housing Market
Georgia: Do NOT Move to Georgia Unless You are Rich! (where have we heard that one? )
Illinois: How Do You Save a Small Town?
Montana: Be Careful Before Moving to Montana
Nevada: Unemployment (apparently it's high)
Oklahoma: If You Don't Like Oklahoma, Then Leave!
Texas: Where in Texas Is It NOT Humid?
Washington: Bellingham, the Ugly Truth

So on and so forth. But I hope all you who are leaving will find the utopias that you are looking for . . . and supposedly California once was (John Steinbeck must never have received the memo that California used to be perfect! )

[suzie02]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

And if you go to those states' links here, you see the complaints for their states.

Right now some of the recent threads:

Arkansas: 10 Reasons I'm Tired of Living in Arkansas
Arizona: Shooting in Mesa
Colorado: How Can Anyone Afford Daycare in CO?
Hawaii: Are Hawaiins Racist?
Florida: Miami - 3rd Most Overpriced Housing Market
Georgia: Do NOT Move to Georgia Unless You are Rich! (where have we heard that one? )
Illinois: How Do You Save a Small Town?
Montana: Be Careful Before Moving to Montana
Nevada: Unemployment (apparently it's high)
Oklahoma: If You Don't Like Oklahoma, Then Leave!
Texas: Where in Texas Is It NOT Humid?
Washington: Bellingham, the Ugly Truth

So on and so forth. But I hope all you who are leaving will find the utopias that you are looking for . . . and supposedly California once was (John Steinbeck must never have received the memo that California used to be perfect! )

Since I lived in GA, I have to disagree with that one.
I had a bigger house that here for a lot less money, paid 1/3rd of the property taxes. You do not have to pay for school buses. There is free full time pre-k for all children. Water and sewer bill is so much lower. Gas is cheaper, etc..
The only thing I found cheaper here is housecleaning.

Yes we moved here for career opportunities but we do not plan to stay long.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

And if you go to those states' links here, you see the complaints for their states.

Right now some of the recent threads:

Arkansas: 10 Reasons I'm Tired of Living in Arkansas
Arizona: Shooting in Mesa
Colorado: How Can Anyone Afford Daycare in CO?
Hawaii: Are Hawaiins Racist?
Florida: Miami - 3rd Most Overpriced Housing Market
Georgia: Do NOT Move to Georgia Unless You are Rich! (where have we heard that one? )
Illinois: How Do You Save a Small Town?
Montana: Be Careful Before Moving to Montana
Nevada: Unemployment (apparently it's high)
Oklahoma: If You Don't Like Oklahoma, Then Leave!
Texas: Where in Texas Is It NOT Humid?
Washington: Bellingham, the Ugly Truth

So on and so forth. But I hope all you who are leaving will find the utopias that you are looking for . . . and supposedly California once was (John Steinbeck must never have received the memo that California used to be perfect! )

You beat me to the punch

I know quite a few that have pulled stakes and relocated...

For some it really was the best thing they ever did... maybe 50% would not move back.

The key is "For Some"

Others have regretted the decision and have fought to get back...

The problem is once you leave, coming back usually means starting over again... and yet I am friends with two couple in their 30's that have done just that... one moved to Las Vegas and the other to Portland...

I also worked with two retired couples... one moved to Idaho and she moved back after her husband passed away and the other retried to Fort Meyers Florida and left after dealing with the Hurricanes...

No place is perfect and many places certainly have less expensive housing.

I think what many forget is Home Prices are driven by demand... no matter real or perceived... Home Prices everywhere are a function of demand.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by leonard

I am a native Californian and have been here a long time.A

The key is to start small and grow with the area. I bought my home 10 years ago and now that I am ready to retire I can still sell it for enough to buy a house elsewhere out of California, even at foreclosure prices. If you are young, CA offers so much to do no other State even comes close and have beautiful weather on top of it (in So Cal at least). If you look 30 years down the road and grow in experience and learn a trade or business, buy a small home when you can and slowly upgrade as your family expands, you will be in excellent shape by retirement time. The people who have problems, wanted it all right now instead of working for it. No other State really offers the opportunities that CA does, but you have to be smart and ...patient.

the key is that you bought your home 10 years ago, well before the tsunami of bloated home prices that calif is experiencing now.

[Ultrarunner]

The last home I bought was in 2005 and I've made no headway appealing my Tax Assessment here in Alameda County

The Assessor opinion is my Oakland Home has appreciated 15% since 2005