Is California really worth the cost? (San Diego, Murrieta: buying, live, price)

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

The fastest growing tech sector in the country isn't in CA by the way... that would be the Triangle in NC.

Fastest-growing doesn't mean the largest or the best-paying. NC Research Triangle is absolutely a great tech hub, but if you are a software engineer - especially someone who focuses on product development - it's tough to beat CA, especially Silicon Valley. Only Boston comes close. VC-funded startups are a way of life here that really hasn't been replicated elsewhere yet.

[NewToCA]

Regarding the whole discussion about California and "worth", I would say that the prices are what they are due to a perception that the worth is there. When the worth is not perceived as adequate, the prices will go to their appropriate level. Since real estate is still moving, a value is still perceived, and the area is worth the price.

Sure, the real estate prices are twice to four times higher than many other places, because this is where folks want to live.

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by Roma

I just mentioned on another thread that I even miss a particular commercial "Crazy Gideon". LOL.
So it is everything big and small and everything in between that California has to offer to my husband and I. We were not born in Calif but we both feel it is our home and I miss home.

That is so funny. We are in North Georgia right now missing the ocean too and my husband misses a car commercial for a place down in Florida, it's this older man with REALLY white hair and and enough energy for about 5 people. He has his little 3 or 4 year old grandaughter on there with him being all cutie pie. Don't know if it sells more cars, but why not!

[midnightbirdgirl]

Originally Posted by fairweathergolfer

I do not know your situation or where you live, but I can tell you I had a friend who had an autistic son that was struggling here in California. He moved to Billings Montana and for a variety of reasons Billings had great resources for his son and also they were able to buy something so very precious and irreplacable--time, not in traffic, but with one another. Just thoughts, don't know how relevant.

Thank you FairWeather, it is very relevant. We finally got the transfer we have been praying for for so long(10 years). The biggest deal for us is the time that we will be able to actually be a family. WE are in about a month moving to Texas.

Take care, MBG

[wondrwmn]

To answer your question - no it is not worth it. I am a sixth generation Southern Californian - but I recently moved out of state so that my family and I could achieve our goals.

We wanted to live on one income. Nearly impossible to do in So Cal. It was hard leaving family and friends - but we know we will still see them. We wanted to breathe clean air. I wanted to be able to drink the tap water. Even my dog had to drink bottled water in Corona because the tap water gave her worms!

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by wondrwmn

To answer your question - no it is not worth it. I am a sixth generation Southern Californian - but I recently moved out of state so that my family and I could achieve our goals.

We wanted to live on one income. Nearly impossible to do in So Cal. It was hard leaving family and friends - but we know we will still see them. We wanted to breathe clean air. I wanted to be able to drink the tap water. Even my dog had to drink bottled water in Corona because the tap water gave her worms!

This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for, Thank you! We also want to live on one income, atleast for the first couple years of our sons life. And even in Miami area that proved very difficult for under 80,000/yr income. I wouldn't want to live up in the mountains or in the desert to be able to breath clean air and stay home to raise my child. There are tons of other places with diversity in population, restaurants, museums and entertainment and even the ocean that don't require 200,000+ income.

I think it would be worth a visit, but I don't think I'd want to do more.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by Roma

Oh dear, I'm so afraid, those darn Californians and BMW's . Well, move over Jonah K because we are coming if you like it or not and you can't scare us off . On your location it says that you live in Hawaii and California. Hmmmm....so you can live there but we can't? . I think not.
The more Californians living in Hawaii the better it will be for me. I love Californians, so I will feel right at home. The more Californians, the merrier.

You're more than welcome to move to Hawai'i; however, instead of spending time with Californians on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific, I'd rather spend my time with them in their native environment.

Considering that many folks who call themselves "Californians" were born somewhere else, I'm not going to say "the more Californians, the merrier", especially when I'm sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic in either California or Hawai'i.

Although my family is Native Hawaiian, we've had ties to California since the late 19th Century. If some of my ancestors hadn't invested in California real estate years ago, I'd probably be dividing my time between Hawai'i and Las Vegas.

[Roma]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

You're more than welcome to move to Hawai'i; however, instead of spending time with Californians on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific, I'd rather spend my time with them in their native environment.

Considering that many folks who call themselves "Californians" were born somewhere else, I'm not going to say "the more Californians, the merrier", especially when I'm sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic in either California or Hawai'i.

Although my family is Native Hawaiian, we've had ties to California since the late 19th Century. If some of my ancestors hadn't invested in California real estate years ago, I'd probably be dividing my time between Hawai'i and Las Vegas.

Jonah K,

I have family living in Maui since the mid 80's. I have 2 nephews who were BORN and raised in Maui. I am not living off any ancestors investments. My husband and I made our own money. When we do finally get to buy a condo in Hawaii, it will be with the money we earned.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by Roma

Jonah K,

I have family living in Maui since the mid 80's. I have 2 nephews who were BORN and raised in Maui. I am not living off any ancestors investments. My husband and I made our own money. When we do finally get to buy a condo in Hawaii, it will be with the money we earned.

That's good and all; however, being born and raised in a particular location is not the same as being indigenous to it. For Native Hawaiians, the land is an ancestor -- it's not something to be bought and sold as a commodity. Unfortunately, by the time Native Hawaiians understood the nature of capitalism, most were dispossessed of land that their families had lived on and cared for generations. Few folks that purchase real estate in Hawai'i understand or appreciate the genealogical ties that Hawaiians have to the land. Hopefully, the history of the land and the indigenous population of Hawai'i won't be forgotten like that of the Tongva that occupied the land that comprises Manhattan Beach, California.

[Roma]

Nobody is saying to forget about the history of Hawaii.

Being born and raised in Maui "is" the same as anyone else born and raised in Maui. Nobody is better then the other.

I hope you are saying that none of your "ancestors" sold any of their land for profit.