What is attracting California and west coast folks to DFW? (Dallas: good schools, closing)

[DWong]

Originally Posted by caligurltotx

Finally! Soccersupporter is saying what I have been trying to get across about Lake Elsinore. People move there out of need not a true want or desire of the area!!! GEEZ!

If Dwong is in San Diego why not make comparisons to housing in DFW using San Diego area??? I know why.

Never said I would - geez... how many times do I have to say I would be dumb to make such a comparison. If people can afford it they buy it (esp the nicer homes). Most foreclosed homes aren't the high end ones, they are the median to below median, those who can barely afford it or lost jobs or life happens. Miss Real estate you know places are still selling for over a million here everyday ... it isn't stopping everyone.

Here you want comparable in SD, here you go (only 3 beds, but 5 baths
:8542 El Paseo Grande, La Jolla, CA 92037

http://www.zillow.com/HomeDetails.htm?zprop=16839093

[_Charles_]

Safe - depends on where you are in Dallas. Oak Lawn is a good example. East of Cedar Springs RD the area is gentrifying fast and is relatively safe. West of Cedar Springs Rd heading toward Industrial Blvd - watch out esp at night.
And as any of you know, Oak Lawn is right next to University Park.
However I must add even the worst parts of Dallas on a Saturday night do not approach Compton and South Central LA during the day.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

Safe - depends on where you are in Dallas. Oak Lawn is a good example. East of Cedar Springs RD the area is gentrifying fast and is relatively safe. West of Cedar Springs Rd heading toward Industrial Blvd - watch out esp at night.
And as any of you know, Oak Lawn is right next to University Park.
However I must add even the worst parts of Dallas on a Saturday night do not approach Compton and South Central LA during the day.

I guess the thing about compton /South LA you feel a certain unsafety around you. The name brings in reputation and just driving through you feel like something can go down any second.
Not sure about those locations in Dallas, but can someone explain why such high crime?

[_Charles_]

I guess the thing about compton /South LA you feel a certain unsafety around you. The name brings in reputation and just driving through you feel like something can go down any second.

I used to ride the Blue Line from downtown Long Beach to downtown LA everday to get to work. The view from the train was so depressing, I would avoid looking out the window. At the last stop in Long Beach before heading into Compton several LA County Sheriffs deputies would board the train for the safety of the passengers and they would not disembark until we reached the station beyond Florence and Normandy in downtown LA.
Nothing in Dallas equivicates to this.

[WinnieC]

Originally Posted by DWong

That which CA so diverse and different than anywhere in the US... not much difference from Austin, DFW or South or EASt TX on any given summer day....

Dwong I have read several of your many threads and I don't understand why you keep posting. It's obvious that you love SOCAL and have no intention of moving ,but why are you on this forum.Why would you go the CA forum and start threads that say Tex is bashing CA ? Both of the threads that you are referring to are threads that you started.Do you really expect to go to a cities forum and not have people try and defend their city? BTW, CA is not the most diverse state nor is it the most unique. There are only a few cities that I consider truly unique and have their own sense of character and they are all located on the east coast with the exception of one in the midwest. SOCAL (where I live) is one big chain suburb compared to any of these cities.

[usc619]

After wasting about 2hours of my life reading this thread, I have a few things to add.

1. I'm born and raised in San Diego(went to school in LA) and My wife and I will never move back to CA.

2. We make very good money in TX. and made even more in CA but I just couldn't justify spending 500K (even though we can afford it)for a shack in San Diego or within 40 miles for that matter.

3. To you people who may not be familiar with So. CA.; Lake Elsinore, Hemet, and Menifee is a DUMP! (not sure what DWong was smoking) there's no Freaking way you can compare that with DFW or can you drive to Disneyland, San Diego, or LA in 45 min. for that matter LMAO 1.5 hour driving in no traffic maybe

4. San Diego metro is NO WHERE near as big as DFW (not even close)

5. The Major cities in Texas has more crime than the major cities in CA hands down.

6. DWong keeps saying Whites are the minority in CA, well I got news for you, It's the same in TX.

7. Scokett made a very good post but I have to disagree on one thing, I like the landscape in Texas better(a lot more GREENERY). Remember CA. is a big state and the coast (although it's beautiful) only represents 5 to 10% of the land, the rest is hit or miss.

8. I happen to love the people in CA., I don't see the problem there.

9. Most of my friends and family want out of CA ASAP! (many have obligations that prevent them from leaving) They will also admit that they're jealous of us for making the move (DWong?)

10. I don't like the Texas Property taxes system (it's A big Rip off) They need to overhaul that scam. They can pretty much say you house is worth $$ and in reality your home is not (Just a way to legally rob you).

BTW; I live in Katy, TX. 30mi west of Houston and I love it.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by usc619

After wasting about 2hours of my life reading this thread, I have a few things to add.

1. I'm born and raised in San Diego(went to school in LA) and My wife and I will never move back to CA.
Come on it wasn't a complete waste of time

2. We make very good money in TX. and made even more in CA but I just couldn't justify spending 500K (even though we can afford it)for a shack in San Diego or within 40 miles for that matter.
It's just preference - 500k in TX buys you plenty of house, people here in CA realize it, the same way people know in NY buys you a studio.

3. To you people who may not be familiar with So. CA.; Lake Elsinore, Hemet, and Menifee is a DUMP! (not sure what DWong was smoking) there's no Freaking way you can compare that with DFW or can you drive to Disneyland, San Diego, or LA in 45 min. for that matter LMAO 1.5 hour driving in no traffic maybe
I will agree it is a dump! People please read my post completely. Only thing was to find a home 45 miles to disneyland. That was it, I never argued anything besides that. If I did - I would be smoking something

4. San Diego metro is NO WHERE near as big as DFW (not even close)
And thank goodness. Size doesn't matter in everything. I like that SD has the shortest drive times than any other major Metro along with the lowest crime rates of any large city. And all be it DFW is larger, we here in CA are all interlinked anyways, The big 5 counties, people work and live in all 5 LA/SD/OC/Riv/SB accounting for 20 million. South Riverside is practically SD and don't forget we have TJ too (who else works all these low paying jobs here) - not that it is anything to brag about.

5. The Major cities in Texas has more crime than the major cities in CA hands down.
Ok finally a good honest posting there.

6. DWong keeps saying Whites are the minority in CA, well I got news for you, It's the same in TX.

It may feel that way, but statistically speaking, it's not there... yet - give it another 10 years. CA admitted almost 4x the number of foreigners to the state than TX did and growing, this accounts for the major difference in whites/minorities here. Not to mention they have many more children than whites.

7. Scokett made a very good post but I have to disagree on one thing, I like the landscape in Texas better(a lot more GREENERY). Remember CA. is a big state and the coast (although it's beautiful) only represents 5 to 10% of the land, the rest is hit or miss.
Southern CA is a desert w/ an ocean. We have 20 days of rain hre that lasts a short period of time - of course it's not going to be as green. But did you forget the central valley and mountains and the red wood forests all above SF? That's plenty green for you I hope. It's just not noticeable in southern CA, however we do have forests here too


8. I happen to love the people in CA., I don't see the problem there.
I don't see why there would be a problem w californians in TX either.

9. Most of my friends and family want out of CA ASAP! (many have obligations that prevent them from leaving) They will also admit that they're jealous of us for making the move (DWong?)
Well, if they feel that TX is going to give them a better shake like it does for most people and better options of course. Unless they are extremely well off in CA (which only 5% of the population is here) it's tough. By all means, people in CA if you are struggling or even doing well, but can't buy a home or afford a nice neighborhood, TX is the place of the new American dream and Americana at it's finest.
10. I don't like the Texas Property taxes system (it's A big Rip off) They need to overhaul that scam. They can pretty much say you house is worth $$ and in reality your home is not (Just a way to legally rob you).

BTW; I live in Katy, TX. 30mi west of Houston and I love it.

Don't know anthing about Katy, but good to see that you love it

[DWong]

Originally Posted by WinnieC

Dwong I have read several of your many threads and I don't understand why you keep posting. It's obvious that you love SOCAL and have no intention of moving ,but why are you on this forum.Why would you go the CA forum and start threads that say Tex is bashing CA ? Both of the threads that you are referring to are threads that you started.Do you really expect to go to a cities forum and not have people try and defend their city? BTW, CA is not the most diverse state nor is it the most unique. There are only a few cities that I consider truly unique and have their own sense of character and they are all located on the east coast with the exception of one in the midwest. SOCAL (where I live) is one big chain suburb compared to any of these cities.

Do I love it here, sure I do. Do I find TX has many things to offer yes. My pesonal situation, I am fortunate to be able to live in a nice area w/ good schools. Would it be easier in TX - sure, but my likings are more aligned w/ what I have here. People who I know moved from CA - all the same reason, they want a home in a good area that they can afford. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. I have the intention of moving when family calls, flying back and forth to tend to the elderly isn't an option.

I do love the "Don't mess w/ TX" attitude which I have always heard about, but never felt full force. I just think people need to be more honest and objective. For me to say CA is plane superior is just wrong, however hearing Texans say TX is superior is their opinion.
People can defend their cities to the end of time, but be honest. I can name 10 things I don't like about the SoCAl region and found it hard for many to say 3 negatives about theirs.

CA is not the most diverse or unique? Sure cities ALL over the US have more variety, but my statement clearly said in WHAT one state will you find more diverse people, culture and topography. Heck, just compare SoCal to NoCal, you sweared you're not in the same state. Any state that has coastline w/ desert, forests, mountains?
Well, east coast cities I have some knowledge of, however they are spread across several states (allthough very close). Who doesn't love NY, Boston, Chicago, Philly - then again, those cities have been around alot longer. LA was a little desert town until early 1900's and wasn't much until Hollywood exploded a few decades into the 20th century. Those I agree have more a sense of characther. LA especially is just adults from all parts of the country w/ no kids w/ a mix of poor immigrants w/ many kids moving in. Making for a weird mix that doesn't give the vibe that those east coast cities do or Chicago.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

Currently even with the market crash, 30 year old apartments converted to condos in marginal neighborhoods are selling for $350k in SoCal.
While $350k buys a nice home in a nice neighborhood in DFW. So that must be what it is - reasonable housing costs and in general affordable living.

Yes, for the millionth time reasonable housing is the reason. Can everyone else just finally agree.

[loves2read]

have never lived in CA but have vacationed there numerous times and traveled for business---I think it is about more than housing values--I have never bought a house there but the congested living situations, the traffic, the mass density, the smog, the poor education system based on a fractured system for funding and a legislature that vascilates and fails to appreciate the difficulties faced by most teachers and students in the system, the attitude that prevents drilling for oil offshore and yet decries the high energy costs to sustain its life style...

while there are certain areas that I love to visit--I really think most people living there are just serving time (unless they happen to be pretty wealthy)