Hesperia, Adelanto and Victorville, YOUR THOUGHTS? (San Diego, San Bernardino: homes, buyers, living)

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

Hmm...looks like Texas' income is growing faster than California's.

Well .... I'm not sure why Texas A&M would lie about the income stats since, if anything ... one would think they'd want to show their state in a more favorable light.

What's Happening With Home Appreciation? - Tierra Grande (April 2006) (broken link)

Personal income levels in Texas have not changed dramatically over the past several years. While home sales and home prices have increased, a good part of the relatively slow rate of increase can be attributed to this lack of personal income growth.

Since 2001, per capita personal income in Texas has increased only 4.1 percent. Median family income increased by only 5.4 percent.

I assumed that since these figures were coming out of Texas, this would be reliable source of information but who knows? Maybe different economists are counting the data in different ways.

[sheri257]

To muddy the waters even further ... in 2006 the Dallas Fed said Texas incomes were actually down ...

Spotlight: North Texas Income - Southwest Economy, Sept/Oct 2006 - FRB Dallas

Although North Texas’ economy has been growing much faster than the nation’s for more than two years, the region’s median household income fell in 2005, while the U.S. as a whole held steady.

Falling income during an expansion is unusual, but the decline probably reflects fewer years of schooling among new residents, rather than lower earnings for existing workers.

Adjusted for inflation, North Texas’ median household income dropped $1,084, or 2.1 percent, from $51,419 in 2004 to $50,335 in 2005 (Table 1).

The state’s household income fell at a similar rate, slipping $1,033, or 2.4 percent. Meanwhile, the nation didn’t see much change—with income increasing $46, or 0.1 percent.

But then they put out a more optimistic report about Houston so ...

Income Growth Shows Houston’s Economic Strength and Maturity - Houston Business, Dec.2006 - FRB Dallas

Who knows?

[Guerilla]

The stuff I got was done by the U.S. Census, not Texas A&M. Also, Houston is the strongest market in Texas right now.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

The stuff I got was done by the U.S. Census, not Texas A&M. Also, Houston is the strongest market in Texas right now.

I agree that Houston is probably better off ...

But when you look at that Dallas Fed report ... Houston still has some catching up to do ...

Income Growth Shows Houston’s Economic Strength and Maturity - Houston Business, Dec.2006 - FRB Dallas

Wages were actually down in 2002-2003. And even the 2004-2005 wage increases aren't anywhere near 1998 levels so ...

To be fair ... stagnant wages are a problem nationwide and I don't think Texas is immune from that.

P.S. I think your stats came from the Commerce Dept, not the Census Bureau ... just FYI.

[stokes]

how much do these properties cost and can u rent. My husband and myself are moving to fort irwin he is stationed there and I do not want to move to barstow bc it sounds like oz. What are the good areas near fort irwin in barstow and around other nearby towns.

[jzntx]

I lived in South adelanto, right at the corner of bellflower and villa. Bought that house as a new construction for 185k sold 2 years later for 345k and ran with our money.

I just checked the victor vallley mls yesterday, and similar houses are now selling for 265k, I'm so glad we got out of there in time. I felt unsafe living there, in the year we lived there 2 people got killed, one kid got shot in the head and another guy got ran over or something.

We were first time home owners just like many others going to the desert to be able to afford a home. I feel bad for the people that purchased our home, it has devaluated so much.

Now I live in Houston, I wish the desert would have stayed the way it was. I loved sitting in my backyard looking at the stars at night. Sadly growth also brings problems.

[booz30]

Originally Posted by jzntx

I lived in South adelanto, right at the corner of bellflower and villa. Bought that house as a new construction for 185k sold 2 years later for 345k and ran with our money.

I just checked the victor vallley mls yesterday, and similar houses are now selling for 265k, I'm so glad we got out of there in time. I felt unsafe living there, in the year we lived there 2 people got killed, one kid got shot in the head and another guy got ran over or something.

We were first time home owners just like many others going to the desert to be able to afford a home. I feel bad for the people that purchased our home, it has devaluated so much.

Now I live in Houston, I wish the desert would have stayed the way it was. I loved sitting in my backyard looking at the stars at night. Sadly growth also brings problems.

do you have any regrets on moving to texas I live on bellflower/mojave in Adelanto but we want 2 move to Fort Worth

[rotorholic]

Originally Posted by jzntx

I lived in South adelanto, right at the corner of bellflower and villa. Bought that house as a new construction for 185k sold 2 years later for 345k and ran with our money.

I just checked the victor vallley mls yesterday, and similar houses are now selling for 265k, I'm so glad we got out of there in time. I felt unsafe living there, in the year we lived there 2 people got killed, one kid got shot in the head and another guy got ran over or something.

We were first time home owners just like many others going to the desert to be able to afford a home. I feel bad for the people that purchased our home, it has devaluated so much.

Now I live in Houston, I wish the desert would have stayed the way it was. I loved sitting in my backyard looking at the stars at night. Sadly growth also brings problems.

I also did the same move out to dallas TX, Bought my home in montclair CA for $158K back in 10/00 and sold it for $445K 2/07 also feel a little bad for the three families that had combine there income to afford the high CA home prices, Homes in the area are selling now for 350-390K in just 6 months they have lost value and expect to lose more thru 09, I was looking in victoreville and apple valley for about 3 months and seen lots of speed freaks everywhere I went, Now I live in a great neighborhood in a house just under 3,000sf built in 2001 and was able to pay it cash with equaty from my 1,200sf built in 1955 home, here is a link to my neighborhood now :: Waterview :: (broken link)

[jzntx]

Originally Posted by booz30

do you have any regrets on moving to texas I live on bellflower/mojave in Adelanto but we want 2 move to Fort Worth

I lived in that house right in the corner of villa and bellflower.

I won't say it's all been peaches and cream, I have been out here for 18 months. I'm still getting used to my surroundings. I still miss the desert.

Overall our quality of life has improved, financially we are doing much better. My husband and I have been blessed with good jobs, it took a while but now we are making as much as we did in california with half the living expenses

I was very nervous about moving, and there was days when I used to think..maybe we should just go back. I guess I was just scared of the unknown. Out here is just My husband and I, no family or friends. In the end it has been worth taking the chance.

I hope it all works out for you and your family.
Good luck!!

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by rotorholic

Homes in the area are selling now for 350-390K in just 6 months they have lost value and expect to lose more thru 09

For every downside, there's an upside and vice versa.

Yes ... California housing prices have fallen and will probably continue to fall for the next couple of years. Not surprizing at all with 20 percent plus annual home appreciation in California.

But, when all is said and done ... California house appreciation will still far exceed Texas house appreciation even with this market correction ... especially over the long term.

The problem with Texas is that home values don't even keep up with nationwide appreciation rates ... mostly because of Texas' high property taxes and stagnant incomes. Cheap also has its price and, in Texas, that price is minimal home appreciation.

Let's face it: you were better off because you lived in California to begin with. You would not have been in the situation if you had lived in Texas because your house wouldn't have apppreciated nearly as much.