Monteray / Watsonville (CA) (Salinas, Santa Cruz, Monterey: rent, loans, houses)

[Ron49er]

Hi,

I live and work in Charlotte NC, and we have a very good cost of living versus salary lifestyle. I'm in talks with a recruiter for a job (promotion) with a company located in the Watsonville/Monteray area.

So far... my research shows that the salary there should be 10% higher just to equal mine here. However, it shows that the homes there are 400% more on average. For example, a $40k salary here (NC) is the same as a $44k salary there (CA). For houses, a $100k house here (NC) would be $400k there (CA).

If there is not much difference in income, how do average salary people afford even average priced homes?

Also, any input/advice on the area would be great. For example, the crime, weather, demographics, cleanliness, schools, things to do... I'm 28 and single male. THANKS!!!

[Mvn2nc]

Well to answer your question most cant aford it!!!
I moved away from that exact area to Mooresville,NC to get away form the high cost of living.
Trust me, on that type of salary your making just $4,000 more per year is not worth it to move there.There are no homes in the $400k that you can possibly buy. Watsonville is no great place to live, Monterey even for a one bedroom apt. will cost you around $900 to $1,000 per month more or less depending exactly where you'd be.Its all about location there.
Stay where you are at unless you can make more$$$$$ to live in that area of Calif

[Merical]

Whatever you do, avoid Watsonville like the plague. I was born and raised there and moved further towards the Aptos area in my late teens. I moved back briefly in my thirties and am just now moving out again. Its terrible here. It is full of gangs, the school system is terrible, the reverse discrimination I have faced walking into stores, restaurants, movie theaters is awful. It costs a fortune to live here and the town is just plain unattractive. Even the Target is dirty and not well-stocked. Housing is ridiculously expensive. If you plan to buy, expect to spend at least $650K for something decent. The bad neighborhoods definitely outweigh the good ones. There are very few good restaurants (although Cilantros and Green Valley Grill and Imuras are pretty good). The traffic is bad, the nearest decent shopping mall is three towns away...don't waste your time, this place really is a pit. If you are looking for a good, family friendly, culturally diverse and extremely affordable area (for the coast) I would suggest South Salinas. I was surprised to move there and find out it is really a fantastic little area and close to Monterey/Santa Cruz. I really liked it there.

[greatbasinguide]

North Salinas, and Prunedale may be workable. Check the areas carefully.
If you can afford it, you will find the area wonderful to live in. Monterey is one of the worlds finest communities.

[graffixjones]

Monterey is a nice town, but during the summer it's cold and foggy most of the time (as it is with most north coast locations). Living on the coast isn't fun if you have to wear a jacket/sweatshirt in the summertime.

The cost of living is also through the roof.

Like Mvn2nc stated, unless your salary goes up by 400%, you're gonna be flat broke. $44K/yr doesn't go very far out here... that's about what my wife and I pull in together, and we live in a dump in the ghetto part of town... and we're not even close to the 'really desirable' California locations.

Oh, and Mvn2nc, we're coming out to NC to scout about as well... decided that Texas was gonna be way too hot and humid, plus gang activity is on an upswing in all the areas we were looking at.

[Mvn2nc]

Originally Posted by graffixjones

Monterey is a nice town, but during the summer it's cold and foggy most of the time (as it is with most north coast locations). Living on the coast isn't fun if you have to wear a jacket/sweatshirt in the summertime.

The cost of living is also through the roof.

Like Mvn2nc stated, unless your salary goes up by 400%, you're gonna be flat broke. $44K/yr doesn't go very far out here... that's about what my wife and I pull in together, and we live in a dump in the ghetto part of town... and we're not even close to the 'really desirable' California locations.

Oh, and Mvn2nc, we're coming out to NC to scout about as well... decided that Texas was gonna be way too hot and humid, plus gang activity is on an upswing in all the areas we were looking at.

Good for you to check it all out, it is the happenin place,hope you like it )

[greatbasinguide]

My mother grew up in North Carolina, lives on the foggy coast of CA, and won't go back to the south in the summer.

Her problem is with the heat and humidity. I tend to agree, 90 and 90 doesn't do it for me, that and there is little wild land, and no mountains, hills, but not mountains. My son and I hiked to the summit of Mt Mitchell, it was a tough hike, the smoke clouding the trail from the huge number of cigarette smokers walking along the paved trail nearly killed us. My son who was pretty young at the time got a kick out of the fact that our home in a valley was at the same elevation as the summit of Mt Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.

And another useless factoid. The lowest branch on the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia Park in California comes out from the trunk and turns upward. It alone is taller than any tree east of the Mississippi.

I will say that Ocracoke is worth flying clear across the country to visit.

[WATSONVILLEN]

Originally Posted by Ron49er

Hi,

I live and work in Charlotte NC, and we have a very good cost of living versus salary lifestyle. I'm in talks with a recruiter for a job (promotion) with a company located in the Watsonville/Monteray area.

So far... my research shows that the salary there should be 10% higher just to equal mine here. However, it shows that the homes there are 400% more on average. For example, a $40k salary here (NC) is the same as a $44k salary there (CA). For houses, a $100k house here (NC) would be $400k there (CA).

If there is not much difference in income, how do average salary people afford even average priced homes?

Also, any input/advice on the area would be great. For example, the crime, weather, demographics, cleanliness, schools, things to do... I'm 28 and single male. THANKS!!!

In Watsonville there is a bar called "Alcachofa" . Very nice bar if you want to find the women !

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Ron49er

If there is not much difference in income, how do average salary people afford even average priced homes?

No money down, interest-only or negative amortization loans, rent out to a family of illegals, convert the garage and rent it out to another...

[Mvn2nc]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

No money down, interest-only or negative amortization loans, rent out to a family of illegals, convert the garage and rent it out to another...

That was funny and probably true at times