What is attracting California and west coast folks to DFW? (Dallas: home owners insurance, landscaping)

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

CA has mountains, beaches, things to do and reliably nice weather.
CA does not have affordable housing - not anymore.

TX has affordable housing. Middle class families need affordable housing. And that's the attraction ~ got it.

People can debate all of the other stuff but, this is the bottom line. Let's face it ...

If California housing was affordable ... you probably wouldn't even be seeing these kinds of threads ... at all. The question would be a moot point because most people wouldn't be interested moving to Texas.

But, of course, California housing probably won't ever be affordable ... at least by Texas standards. For one thing ... on the Central Coast for example ...they won't let any developer throw up a housing development like they do in Texas.

They're very picky ... which is why the area continues to be the gorgeous and desirable place that it is. Of course, that drives up prices but, paradise doesn't come cheap ... nor should it.

[Canine*Castle]

California may not be feasible for one starting out unless he /she has lots of money to begin with, but millions of people have lived there all their lives and can still live there in spite of the super high housing prices. I bought a house there in the 1970s for $35,000 and only wish I still owned it now. Selling it was one of the biggest mistakes in my life. Since housing is so unaffordable in CA, maybe the population will decrease in time. That would be nice.

And as one poster put it, "California sucks." Have you ever lived there? If you have and you still think it "sucks" (whatever that means), then that's your opinion. If you haven't lived there, then you've not a clue.

I would agree that it's not as pleasant as it was many years ago due to the number of illegals, etc. but that seems to be the norm in all the states bordering Mexico and even beyond them. Texas is full of them too, and it isn't getting any better, and I doubt that it will.

[CalGal953]

For a lot of us Californians who moved here because of factors beyond our control and still miss our state a lot (I know I am far from the only one) are even worse off, especially since the good-paying jobs are dwindling. We're essentially being punished for something we did not do.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Dwong, you're showing your true lack of knowledge about the state, it's weather, it's cities & it's mountains.

BTW, cut out the bold letters man it's truly harder to read. KIND OF LIKE ALL CAPS

Sorry Rakin

lack of knowledge to what state in particular? Correct me when I am wrong, I'm only here to learn

[DWong]

Originally Posted by lh_newbie

California sucks.

Wow, guess that kinda cuts off your credibility. So much for objectivity. But sorry if that is your opinion, but hey I will agree, parts of CA that are affordable do suck

[DWong]

Originally Posted by partyof-five

That's right. The climate in Texas and the climate in California are very similar indeed. You got it! I'm pleased that you agree with me.

To a point... the geography of Socal is a desert. Just so happens, an ocean is right on it. Take out the ocean, it is 100+ degree if not hotter. Ever go to Riverside/San Bernard/Palm Springs/Imperial Valley - ain't much different than TX cities in terms of weather. LA is considered a desert believe it or not. If you're on the CA coast, you don't feel like it is a desert, but it is. I've done some research on this, but our topography is the most diverse in a small area. Start from the Coast on a beach to hills canyons, a national forest, snow capped mountains, then down below sand dunes in a desert that gets 4 inches of rain a year... all within an hour and a half area. If you check out weather, we have microclimates. It might be 75 at the beach, but 85 inland and 100 a little further out. So yes, our climates do mirror eachother, however I must the areas in which they do in CA, are less desirable. Why move to CA and live where it's like the rest of the country? Not the smartest thing to pay 4x as much for the same climate as TX... but that's their own business

[DWong]

Originally Posted by sheri257

People can debate all of the other stuff but, this is the bottom line. Let's face it ...

If California housing was affordable ... you probably wouldn't even be seeing these kinds of threads ... at all. The question would be a moot point because most people wouldn't be interested moving to Texas.

But, of course, California housing probably won't ever be affordable ... at least by Texas standards. For one thing ... on the Central Coast for example ...they won't let any developer throw up a housing development like they do in Texas.

They're very picky ... which is why the area continues to be the gorgeous and desirable place that it is. Of course, that drives up prices but, paradise doesn't come cheap ... nor should it.

Thank you! If pay was equal in CA and TX and the homes were too.... this threat would be non-existent. A better measure of this is where people vacation. Must I even touch on how many Texans are in CA now on vacation? I worked in hotels while in college, Texans vacationing here is pretty much the only driving force in our economy at this point. And not many Californians going the other way and for reasons I sure they have.
Again, true, in CA we have become very anti big home developments. That's another reason for the low supply. Go on line or drive through SoCAl - few and far between any large subdivisions. Who wants to see nice coastline and hills disturbed w/ homes and walmarts? Where are the new big homes in CA being built - far from anything desirable or attractive to say the least. Hey throw a home up anywhere in DFW, the land isn't much different and you're not blocking anyone's view.

[DWong]

Originally Posted by CalGal953

For a lot of us Californians who moved here because of factors beyond our control and still miss our state a lot (I know I am far from the only one) are even worse off, especially since the good-paying jobs are dwindling. We're essentially being punished for something we did not do.

CalGal answer me this if you could... if you could afford to buy the same home and have the same quality of living in TX and CA where would u choose?

Even in CA if you made 100k a year you're lucking to buy a condo... in DFW, you're living the good life

[CalGal953]

Originally Posted by DWong

CalGal answer me this if you could... if you could afford to buy the same home and have the same quality of living in TX and CA where would u choose?

Even in CA if you made 100k a year you're lucking to buy a condo... in DFW, you're living the good life

If I could buy the same home and have the same quality of living in TX and CA, I'd choose California in a heartbeat.

And right now I am willing to miss California for a little longer. I am planning on moving to Kansas City for now since my BF and I haven't had much luck in the job market here and after living here for 13 years, I am ready to try another place. And I don't mind a modest apartment as long as it's in a nice area, since it costs less and I don't have to spend as much time with cleaning and maintenance. We don't want kids because I don't want to pass on my asthma and he doesn't want to pass on his Ehlers-Danlos.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by DWong

CalGal answer me this if you could... if you could afford to buy the same home and have the same quality of living in TX and CA where would u choose?

Even in CA if you made 100k a year you're lucking to buy a condo... in DFW, you're living the good life

Equal footing for TX or CA? I'd choose TX hands down... even if it were twice as expensive. Granted my exposure to CA is the Bay Area... and my exposure to TX is the DFW area (having just moved here), but I honestly don't think you could pay me enough to move to the Bay Area.

I know I'll come off sounding like an ass, but I wish home values in CA were affordable. Too many people from CA are moving elsewhere bringing their politics and problems to other parts of the country. To me CA is like a different country... and most days I wish it was...