Moving to LA (Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo: rental, insurance, condo)

[Blondie77]

My husband has been offered a position with a company on the west side of LA making $80 a year. How can a person survive on the house prices I am seeing? Is there any houses to contract that people know about that can help me? I am used to $150K can put you in a 2000 SQ house in a good neighborhood? ANY SUGGESTIONS? I would really like to move there but, not to live in poverty.

[artichoke63]

Blondie,

You don't get much for your money in Los Angeles, I'm afraid. Living expenses are very high, which is why a lot of people are leaving.

Artie

[Holyghost182]

Try looking outside the city, the commute might be a pain, but its the onlyway you'll get something decent.

[tanster]

Originally Posted by artichoke63

Blondie,

You don't get much for your money in Los Angeles, I'm afraid. Living expenses are very high, which is why a lot of people are leaving.

Artie

your wrong alot of people are not leaving L.a populations is actually increasing. O and what city is not expensive it depends where you look.

[ferretkona]

Clothes and food and most other items are often lower than other places. What sucks here is utilities and property has risen. Gasoline is much higher here, insurance is not much less in other parts of the state.

I think the biggest reason so many of us are leaving is because we can. We seen a great increase in the value of our home and we are going to sell and move up north. My equity will buy us a nice little ranch up north. Early retirement woo hoo! I had been planning on a early retirement in 2 years, the equity is just frosting on the cake.

[artichoke63]

Originally Posted by tanster

your wrong alot of people are not leaving L.a populations is actually increasing. O and what city is not expensive it depends where you look.

Tanster,

Los Angeles ranks as one of the most expensive cities to live in the U.S. Rising cost of housing is forcing many people to look elsewhere, which is why so many Californians have moved to places like Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. I've lived here for a couple of decades. I remember when Los Angeles was very affordable. I've watched rents double in a span of six short years. This is what I've seen and read and witnessed with my own eyes, but you can go ahead and believe whatever you like.

Artie

[tanster]

Yes but this is also attracting wealthy people.

[pickleswanson]

Well I have no idea where you coming from but from the prices you discussed I would say you are coming from the east coast. I think you will really like it here although it takes about 3 months to adjust to the different lifestyle here. Financially you would be on the low end but you can still make it. I am making it easily on about 40K but am single with no kids living with me. Not sure exactly where you are looking to purchase but I would reccomend the Camarillo or Thousand Oaks area. Prices of homes there are some of the most reasonable but are quickly rising. A good thing for the consumer and those who already live here. I purchased my 3/2 condo right off the 101 for 380K 5 months ago. It is brand new and the development filled up extremely fast. They are currently building out the last phase of the subdivision and the prices have already jumped to 420K for the same condo layout I purchased and even though they aren't complete only 7 units are still avail. You can still get some SF homes on what is considered a large lot here starting at about 400K both inside and outside the city limits. These are also equine communities but unless you get outside the city limits you will not find to many horses around. Shopping is great and is growing quickly too. Not having kids in the school system here I can't say from personal experience but I have only heard good things; especially about elementary and Jr high. I don't think you would regret your move but I would move here with a lease or rental first to make sure you find the home really want. I started to build instead of buying a cookie cutter because if you research it properly this can be a good cheaper for you on your final cost even though it is more expensive while waiting on complettion having to make double payments. Lot of creative financing options are avail here that aren't avail back east too making it easier to get what you want but also makes it easier to by above your means so be careful. Good luck and hope you and husband make it out here soon. Oh yeah travel times for me to downtown and to LAX usually are about an hour unless traffic experiences one of its frequent accidents backing things up and doubling your travel time. It is generally easy to predict and work around though.