OC is the BEST place to live if you make 6 figures (Orange: condo, big home)

[Donna7]

Originally Posted by sirwinston73

That is a very small-minded way of looking at things, and from your perspective only.

For me the move to OC has been more than worth it for the people I've met. As an entrepreneur I've always felt alienated by people who simply cannot understand the concept that I don't have a job and who have disdain for me because of it. Since moving here, I'm surrounded by people like myself all the time. Not only do I feel a lot more at home here, but the incredible contacts I've made here have such a positive effect on my businesses.

One night we were at a get together at a neighbor's house (they happen every Sat/Sun night in our neighborhood - everyone is close-knit on our street) and after the fact we realized that there were 20 people in the house and not one had a job. All entrepreneurs like us.

So, for people like us, this is like a dream come true. Living here around such accomplished people has opened up my mind to greater possibilities and really kicked up my life and business several notches.

And about that weather, I'm typically in my office about 20 hours a week which is 5 minutes from home, so I enjoy my daily walks/runs on the beach very much, thank you.

Living here is approximately 3x as expensive as where I moved from but I get more than 10x as much from it. Your mileage may vary.

If I may ask, where did you move from? I ask because I feel the same way living where I live and being an entrepreneur. Please feel free to PM me if you wish. Other than that, I'm very happy for you. Take care.

[sirwinston73]

Originally Posted by Mach50Thunderdart

sirwinston73,

I believe you, I too have met some good contacts here in Orange County that would further my business and there definitely are some real successful people here in OC.

However, I have to also admit to meeting many fakes here, that present themselves as "high rollers" when they really work a regular 9-5 and have a BMW on lease, bought a Boss Leather Jacket from Nordstrom Rack and live in a 1 bedroom apartment overlooking the highway.

It seems there is a definite drive to appear wealthy (even talk like they are: vacations, cars, clothes, dining out), when they are not and should just be happy being themselves.

I agree there are people like this to be found in any upscale area, but believe me, Orange County isn't 1/10th as bad as Phoenix where I moved from. There, it's more like 8 out of 10 people fitting the description you just gave, instead of maybe 1 out of 10 here.

[sirwinston73]

Originally Posted by UB50

How many grow houses do you have in the neighborhood? Sounds like there might be at least one, if not more! Pretty cool! Everyone has a lot of money and no one has a job!!



You know they are putting those grow houses in high end neighborhoods, dontcha?

Hehe ... I know you're half joking but in all seriousness it's that kind of mindset that gets people saying the wealthy are "pretentious" and "plastic." Most of those same people believe anyone with money must be crooked, or corrupt, or breaking the law or whatever. When in reality it's not that hard to become wealthy and do it 100% honestly if you use your brain and work hard.

[goozer]

Originally Posted by Tom63376

You really need to make 100k minimum to live a happy life here. If you
can make this minimum salary then you will be in heaven. Otherwise you
will be miserable and you should just move out of state.

Realistically, I don't think even $100k is enough for most people to have what they would consider a "happy life" living in the OC. With prices for a modest three bedroom, two bath ranch house running upwards of $700k, $100k or even $150k a year in income would place many families firmly in "renter" status -- not an ingredient for a "happy life" for many people (though some may not mind it).

[Charles]

Originally Posted by sirwinston73

That is a very small-minded way of looking at things, and from your perspective only.

For me the move to OC has been more than worth it for the people I've met. As an entrepreneur I've always felt alienated by people who simply cannot understand the concept that I don't have a job and who have disdain for me because of it. Since moving here, I'm surrounded by people like myself all the time. Not only do I feel a lot more at home here, but the incredible contacts I've made here have such a positive effect on my businesses.

One night we were at a get together at a neighbor's house (they happen every Sat/Sun night in our neighborhood - everyone is close-knit on our street) and after the fact we realized that there were 20 people in the house and not one had a job. All entrepreneurs like us.

So, for people like us, this is like a dream come true. Living here around such accomplished people has opened up my mind to greater possibilities and really kicked up my life and business several notches.

And about that weather, I'm typically in my office about 20 hours a week which is 5 minutes from home, so I enjoy my daily walks/runs on the beach very much, thank you.

Living here is approximately 3x as expensive as where I moved from but I get more than 10x as much from it. Your mileage may vary.

Nothing I wrote was untrue or poorly speculative nor was it small minded. While it doesn't necessarily apply to you, it does apply to the vast majority. Your circumstances describe a very tiny minority compared to the population of Orange County - effectively a data outlier. The majority are working and paying big bucks to live in an area that they often don't take advantage of. How many people in Orange County/Southern California have been to the beach more than two times in the past year? What are they doing at lunch? Not walking outside. They're online or reading the paper. On the weekends they're watching sports, operating their computers, or watching movies.

[sirwinston73]

Originally Posted by goozer

Realistically, I don't think even $100k is enough for most people to have what they would consider a "happy life" living in the OC. With prices for a modest three bedroom, two bath ranch house running upwards of $700k, $100k or even $150k a year in income would place many families firmly in "renter" status -- not an ingredient for a "happy life" for many people (though some may not mind it).

$100k is pretty low compared to what many people in OC are making. But on the other hand, living here on $100k isn't completely impossible like it would be in NYC or comparably priced cities.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by sirwinston73

$100k is pretty low compared to what many people in OC are making. But on the other hand, living here on $100k isn't completely impossible like it would be in NYC or comparably priced cities.

Yes, "many" people make over $100k, but the median in most OC cities is much less than $100k.

[OutOfSoCal]

if you bought a house 10+ years ago 100K is decent living. If you're trying to buy now 100K will go far after you pay your taxes and mortgage

[Mrscaston]

I have had good and bad experiences in Orange County and I think Charles is right, for the most part there is a huge misconception out here and the failing housing market is just proof that most people live beyond their means. Once the market fell out, you saw signs everywhere of people who simply could not afford the lifestyle that they wanted people to believe they were living.

My husband and I make over 100k, closer to 200k but after you add up all the bills, then that money doesn't go very far but lucky for us we are investing part of that money into our businesses and we can afford to live a certain lifestyle. I think people see how california is on television and want to come out here and live that life instead of planning and seeing what it's like initially instead of jumping into an overwhelming mortgage and carnote.

Price out here is determined by area, if you want to live the high life then you go to the area that will cater to you, if you want to live more modestly then you move to those areas. It's that simple. It's good and bad people in every city you live in and the problem out here is that a lot of people are allowed to get away with treating others a certain way. If I go somewhere and I feel as though im treated a certain way because my outfit didn't cost a weeks salary then I'll make it known how I feel but I am not going to let someone else's simple mindedness dictate how I live my life. Either you will accept me for the person that I am or get the same treatment I'd give the next man who looks at me crazy. It's all a matter of perception and if you let someone else control your perception of a city that does not control people then who is wrong, the person who looks down on people or the people that take offense to ignorance?

[sirwinston73]

Originally Posted by Mrscaston

I have had good and bad experiences in Orange County and I think Charles is right, for the most part there is a huge misconception out here and the failing housing market is just proof that most people live beyond their means. Once the market fell out, you saw signs everywhere of people who simply could not afford the lifestyle that they wanted people to believe they were living.

There has certainly been a mortgage crash but saying this applies to "most" people is preposterous. California overall had a high percentage of funny-money loans like subprime, option-arm, etc., but in Orange County those loans account for less than 10%, and even then, fully 75% of those were in Santa Ana. So to say that "most" people in OC are fake is really inaccurate.

I think it's more line 1 in 20 or so but those people are such a spectacle that you notice them while the normal people go unnoticed. Living in Newport we notice maybe 1 or 2 people a day who fit the fake Paris Hilton type look, compared to literally dozens per hour where I used to live.

On being treated a certain way because of your clothes, I have not experienced that here at all. Right now I'm sitting in my office in a t-shirt, shorts, military-style buzzcut and earrings. I never get mistreated due to my appearance. This is a major contrast to my previous home in Scottsdale, Arizona, where I got dirty looks and nasty comments from people about 10-20 times a day.

In 9 months of living in OC that has not happened to me, not even once. And I'm in Newport Coast which everyone tries to paint as so snooty and pretentious. (In reality it's one of the friendliest places I've ever been.)