Six figure income in Southern Calif. (San Diego, Santa Ana: condos, mortgage, first time home buyer)

[JakeDog]

Originally Posted by mgs333

no one is saying there aren't a lot of rich people in OC, i just don't think 50% of all working adults are making 6 figures.

Absolutely agree. That is highly unlikely.

[Mach50]

Most people I know have the husband and wife both making over 100k a year here in OC.

Those friends are all 30-35 years old with kids and work as experienced Engineers, Software Developers, IT managers, Doctors, and Lawyers.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by JakeDog

Absolutely agree. That is highly unlikely.

Here are average household income statistics for Orange County. I know everyone would like to think everyone is rich but statistics don't lie.

• Anaheim Hills: $120,852
• Villa Park: $116,203
• Tustin Foothills: $96,230
• Irvine: $85,624
• Newport Beach: $83,455
• Yorba Linda: $79,593
• Rancho Santa Margarita: $78,475
• Mission Viejo: $78,248
• Aliso Viejo: $76,409
• Laguna Niguel: $76,408
• Laguna Beach: $75,808

• Laguna Hills: $70,234
• Fountain Valley: $69,734
• La Palma: $68,438
• Lake Forest: $67,967
• West Garden Grove: $66,830
• Huntington Beach: $64,824
• Brea: $64,820
• Cypress: $64,337

• San Clemente: $63,507
• Dana Point: $63,043
• Placentia: $62,803
• San Juan Capistrano: $62,392
• Orange: $58,994
• Tustin: $55,985
• Los Alamitos: $55,286
• Costa Mesa: $50,732
• Buena Park: $50,336
• Fullerton: $50,269
• Westminster: $49,450
• Garden Grove: $47,754
• La Habra: $47,652
• Anaheim: $47,122
• Santa Ana: $43,412
• Seal Beach: $42,049
• Stanton: $39,127
• Laguna Woods: $30,493

[goozer]

In Southern California, it is all so distorted because of the home price thing. Many people live in houses worth over a million dollars, yet they have never made more than $100k (total household income). Meanwhile, you might have a young couple each earning $100k who, with student loans and other debts, feel like they will NEVER be able to afford to buy a home.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by goozer

In Southern California, it is all so distorted because of the home price thing. Many people live in houses worth over a million dollars, yet they have never made more than $100k (total household income). Meanwhile, you might have a young couple each earning $100k who, with student loans and other debts, feel like they will NEVER be able to afford to buy a home.

I now live in Keller, Texas, lived in Irvine CA for 28 years.

The average household income in Keller is about 7-10k higher than in Irvine. The average housing is about 55% lower. What you get for the average price house in Keller is 3000+ sq. ft. on about three times the lot size. What people do with their money here is live and put it away for a rainy day.

People here think Californians are out of their minds for paying what we did for housing. Buying a house here is a normal part of life not a risk like in CA. On the downside you won't get rich on housing out here but you can make a decdent return if you live in it long enough. It is another world outside Ca that is for sure.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

I now live in Keller, Texas, lived in Irvine CA for 28 years.

The average household income in Keller is about 7-10k higher than in Irvine. The average housing is about 55% lower. What you get for the average price house in Keller is 3000+ sq. ft. on about three times the lot size. What people do with their money here is live and put it away for a rainy day.

People here think Californians are out of their minds for paying what we did for housing. Buying a house here is a normal part of life not a risk like in CA. On the downside you won't get rich on housing out here but you can make a decdent return if you live in it long enough. It is another world outside Ca that is for sure.

Well just so you know, my post was not what I think represents the entire county. The OP was asking for people in your surroundings and life, not just statistics that anyone can look up. The point was to find out on what your experience is with income in the area.

We did take that risk when we bought up in 1994 (during the big slump). We sold our house in Laguna Hills for 335k and bought in Mission Viejo for 450k. The house was custom and 4,000 square feet which was great, but I hated the tile, paint, backyard, roof, etc... We have put 300k into the house, and gutted the backyard and put a pool and spa in. Basically the house peaked at 2.2 million and we could have sold then, but this is our home for life. It now is worth about 1.8-1.9 million, but this still is a huge profit in the house. It would have to fall under a million for me to get nervous, but I don't see that happening. So yes there is risk in buying in California, but there can be big rewards also. You just have to know when to buy, and I think finding one house and making that your home for life is better than constantly moving around.

Also I'm curious soccer suppporter (I love your name by the way, my daughter is on the So Cal Blues Soccer Club, ODP Team, and Region IV team and we love soccer also), when you moved to Keller did you buy in the boundaries of Keller High School as the other two schools in the district are only a 7/10? How do you like the schools there?

[nebulous1]

I have a daughter who lives out there...in Orange county.
I live in the midwest.
Could I make it out there if I make about $30 an hour out there?
Maybe I can't afford a home, but could I realistically get by out there??

I wouldn't want to live in a hole, and I know I can't afford the really nice areas, but what areas would be affordable and safe?

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by missionhome

Well just so you know, my post was not what I think represents the entire county. The OP was asking for people in your surroundings and life, not just statistics that anyone can look up. The point was to find out on what your experience is with income in the area.

We did take that risk when we bought up in 1994 (during the big slump). We sold our house in Laguna Hills for 335k and bought in Mission Viejo for 450k. The house was custom and 4,000 square feet which was great, but I hated the tile, paint, backyard, roof, etc... We have put 300k into the house, and gutted the backyard and put a pool and spa in. Basically the house peaked at 2.2 million and we could have sold then, but this is our home for life. It now is worth about 1.8-1.9 million, but this still is a huge profit in the house. It would have to fall under a million for me to get nervous, but I don't see that happening. So yes there is risk in buying in California, but there can be big rewards also. You just have to know when to buy, and I think finding one house and making that your home for life is better than constantly moving around.

Also I'm curious soccer suppporter (I love your name by the way, my daughter is on the So Cal Blues Soccer Club, ODP Team, and Region IV team and we love soccer also), when you moved to Keller did you buy in the boundaries of Keller High School as the other two schools in the district are only a 7/10? How do you like the schools there?

That is wonderful she plays for the Blues, you can't beat the Blues program. I know them very well and knew Dave Mildrew. Is he President anymore? I know he has been in the past. The Blues are a great club. My older children played at ISC. My youngest son just played AYSO/all-stars and basketball in CA. My youngest daughter went to Orange County HS of the Arts. She loves all the athletes in her TX HS. As her dad I liked it better when she went to school where the boys were all dancers.

Sports out here are crazy. It is life or death for them. You don't have a clue how serious they are until you go to an 8th grade basketball game in a gym that would make most HS gyms look shoddy. They have the band there with cheerleaders and all. The Friday night HS football games are also incredible. If you like sports this is the place to be. My wife hates that part of Texas

We moved to Crawford Farms a newer part of Keller. My youngest daughter goes to Fossil Ridge HS. There are 3 HS in Keller. Keller, Fossil Ridge, and Central. They are building another that will open in 2009. The schools are incredible from a facility standpoint, they look more like colleges. Low teacher to student ratio, great labs, gyms, soccer fields, football stadiums. They are not quite as advanced as CA and my kids are a little bored but doing well.

The best part is I will be able to attend the Dallas Cup every year now. I love soccer and knew so many people in SoCal through soccer. That is one thing I do miss, to be able to go to the polo fields and watch a whole day of quality soccer. Girls soccer is big out here and I have met a few people who have daughters in the Sting Soccer club program. They are kind of like the Blues in their devotion to the girls program. It is a great place to live and having a 3250 sq. ft. house on a huge lot mortgage free is really cool. The weather will take some getting use to but that is why we have a media room with a 92" screen. EPL matches look great in my media room.

[goozer]

Originally Posted by nebulous1

I have a daughter who lives out there...in Orange county.
I live in the midwest.
Could I make it out there if I make about $30 an hour out there?
Maybe I can't afford a home, but could I realistically get by out there??

I wouldn't want to live in a hole, and I know I can't afford the really nice areas, but what areas would be affordable and safe?

You could get by. Sadly, you would never be able to buy a decent home unless you have SERIOUS home equity that you could cash in from another home. But you could rent a decent apartment. You would also have to be prepared for the fact that, even renting, everything would be more expensive and your lifestyle might take a hit. Many people weigh these factors and still decide to go forward with a move to CA. As time goes by, some people stay and some people leave. It often depends on what is paramount in your life: living in California, or having a higher quality lifestyle somewhere outside of California.

[missionhome]

Soccersupporter,
Its funny to think you were involved in the same sort of stuff when you lived here. Yep, the Polo fields are great fields, but Texas isn't bad at soccer either. Dallas Sting is a very good club and there are a few Texas girls on the Region team. Currently Tad Boback is the club head.
Love hearing about Texas sports! I know what you mean, when we lived in Beeville Texas, I think we were the only people in the whole city not at the high school football games. The whole place became a ghost town. This was small town Texas though, not a suburb/ outskirt of Fort Worth. Very wierd town in our opinion.
Glad to here your enjoy Teas and have a great home. It sounds beautiful and I the media room sounds nice. I know the struggle to get a nice gome is the hardest part of living in California.
Take care
Missionhome