When People Leave Los Angeles, Where Do They Go? (Palm Desert: loans, transfer)

[Charles]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

You can get homes for about one-third the price of what many similar homes would cost in greater L.A.


the religious-conservative nature of some of the folks freak them out.

The home price thing is the biggest driver.

Maybe we need to freak out the religious conservatives. Where do I sign up?

[AliveandWell]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

What's funny is the increase we're seeing in people from the L.A. area moving into metro Atlanta. There's been a noticeable increase in the last year or so.

They say they want to escape the traffic and smog, but get here and realize that Atlanta is second to L.A. in traffic congestion, sprawl, and smog days. LOL. Can you say "whooooops!" with that decision?

Really it's "this for that" when you move here, aside from those above similarities though. You lose the earthquakes, but gain tornadoes. Gain "real" Winters (rare for snow), but get more humidity in the Summers. Fewer gangs here (so far). You can get homes for about one-third the price of what many similar homes would cost in greater L.A.

The job market isn't any better here than there, but it seems that some who are relocating are taking advantage of being able to transfer with existing jobs they have out West. The two biggest "culture shocks" I think folks from L.A. have when they come here is being separated from the Ocean, and if they move to certain burbs, the religious-conservative nature of some of the folks freak them out.

Hi AtlantaGreg30127,

That is very interesting. I guess one of the reasons might be that they come to Atlanta for the CNN center? Do you think this is a reason? Also I was just wondering, do they have any of those poisonous scorpions in the Atlanta metro area? I cannot stand dealing with poisonous creatures, yuck!!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

Hi AtlantaGreg30127,

That is very interesting. I guess one of the reasons might be that they come to Atlanta for the CNN center? Do you think this is a reason? Also I was just wondering, do they have any of those poisonous scorpions in the Atlanta metro area? I cannot stand dealing with poisonous creatures, yuck!!

I can't imagine why someone would move here due to CNN being located here, unless of course they landed a job with them. Heck, even the locals don't go on tours there - people here act like it doesn't exist (except the tourists). LOL

Georgia has what I believe they call "bark scorpions" (slang, as they're found in woods/bark/pine straw, etc). They're tiny and not poisonous unless you're allergic to the venom like a bee sting allergy or something. Honestly, I've only seen like maybe two of them in the 25 years I've been here. The Univ. of GA has an article about them - HERE. Remember, we're not semi-tropical in Atlanta - this isn't Florida where they have man eating lizards and 20ft swamp snakes and Gaters.

Other than that, we have Copperhead snakes which are the most common "poisonous" thing (not really deadly though) and Cotton Mouth snakes (more aggressive and more poisonous). Oh, yeah, there's Black Widow spiders and Brown Recluse spiders too (which can yield VERY nasty bites). Oops - guess we have lots of biting stuff here after all. LOL

Rest assured - you're more likely to have a group of religious people knock on your door on Saturday morning here trying to convert you than you are to be bit by one of these things, though. MUCH more likely.

But hey, in exchange for the spiders and Bible thumpers, you can get a 4BR 3BA house for under $250k in some of the suburbs.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Scott5280

I too vent on the California forums at times as to the things I strongly dislike about the state, but I have to say the place is like a vortex that keeps drawing you back ,so sure it's not all bad...There is much to love (even now) about the Golden State.I just hope it can remedy a few hic ups and return to a better quality of life..that's all..Just frustrating to see it get so abused by negative policy and messed up politics, and bad land use planning...It's a great place to live..love the scenery,beaches and sunshine...

maybe it draws some back, but I know a lot that don't even like to return for a vacation..

Nita

[ragnarkar]

SF Bay Area

That and LA are the only areas left in this country that I can personally tolerate. If I'm kicked out of California then I'm heading to Europe or China.. or if the US eventually collapses from the aftermath of this financial crisis.

There's no way I'm gonna end up leaving here for places like Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, etc.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by ragnarkar

SF Bay Area

That and LA are the only areas left in this country that I can personally tolerate..

Seattle and Portland have no appeal to you? Or, although it's not in the US, Vancouver?

[gypsy77]

Seems like every town in the whole US has some families who are originally from the LA area. Seriously. I'm from Northern CA, but every state I've lived in, even small towns in the Midwest, I've met neighbors who are from somewhere in Southern CA. So many. I think over the past decade, there have been a lot of transplants, everywhere, to towns big and small! I visited a town of about 2000 in Iowa a few years ago and talked to someone from Irvine, CA. She said several of her neighbors were from CA and moved there to raise their kids. I don't know how CA people are finding these tiny one horse towns! But I guess Californians have to go somewhere when other people invade our state too! I'm leaving CA this Spring myself!

[hummingbird3]

Originally Posted by shingo333

My wife and I are thinking about Dallas or Portland areas. We're doing this for our kids primarily. Cost of living, crime, and traffic is getting way out of control it's ridiculous. Areas with descent schools for our kids start around $500K minimum for cities within 20-30mile radius of our work.

Think twice about Portland. It's a cool city, and very beautiful, but Portland and Oregon in general have major problems. The schools in the Portland area leave a lot to be desired, and the weather is something you will have to get used to and it won't be easy. At all. Also, traffic is bad on the west side, and even the east side. If you choose to commute from Vancouver, that traffic is hideous. The commute from the west side into downtown Portland is usually not good, and in the winter months can be a major challenge.

I grew up in the SGV and I thought I would be deliriously happy here but the weather is a challenge. The warm months are glorious but there are too many cold wet dreary days. Still, Portland has many redeeming qualities so if you can get past all that, you'll be all right.

Also the cost of living in Portland has gone up in the 5 years I've been here. and the salaries are hideous compared to L.A. and S.F. If you move within this year, however, you'll be able to snag a good deal on a foreclosure in a decent neighborhood.

[shingo333]

Originally Posted by hummingbird3

Think twice about Portland. It's a cool city, and very beautiful, but Portland and Oregon in general have major problems. The schools in the Portland area leave a lot to be desired, and the weather is something you will have to get used to and it won't be easy. At all. Also, traffic is bad on the west side, and even the east side. If you choose to commute from Vancouver, that traffic is hideous. The commute from the west side into downtown Portland is usually not good, and in the winter months can be a major challenge.

I grew up in the SGV and I thought I would be deliriously happy here but the weather is a challenge. The warm months are glorious but there are too many cold wet dreary days. Still, Portland has many redeeming qualities so if you can get past all that, you'll be all right.

Also the cost of living in Portland has gone up in the 5 years I've been here. and the salaries are hideous compared to L.A. and S.F. If you move within this year, however, you'll be able to snag a good deal on a foreclosure in a decent neighborhood.

Much thanks! What a coincidence, I'm in the SGV now. I think we're gonna hold off for a few more months and see what happens in SoCal. If the situation moves in the direction I think it will, we might be able to find something here that won't warrant a move out of state. But another issue would be the state budget and any tax increases we'll be seeing as well.

Times are getting interesting.

[DC2Tampa]

I have a lot of friends and co-workers that have moved from L.A. and SoCal to the Tampa Bay area over the past couple of years and virtually all of them are extremely happy here. It's the "Westcoast of the Eastcoast". On another forum, I equated the Tampa Bay area to L.A. of the 1970's when I was living in Monterey Park as a kid during the summers, a lot of a the same characteristics only on a little bit smaller scaler.

In my travels, I've also come across a lot of ex-Angelenos in Phoenix, Denver, Portland, Seattle, Vegas, Boise(?) and Miami.