Move From Texas To Temecula (San Diego: for sale, foreclosure, rent)

[mattraider]

I have outside sales position and office from home. We have looked al around San Diego County, but have really liked what we have seen and read about Temecula.

We have evaluated cost of living increases and only one that seems to hold substantial difference is of course housing. We have not decided upon buying or renting yet and want to know if anyone could throw out some pros and cons.

Also, what are average prices for utilities per month? Cable/Internet/Phone?

TX has no state income tax, what % of your income to California tax?

Hmmm.......Anything else?

Yes! My wife is school counselor of 5 years and also has 9 years experience as Special Education teacher. Any idea on teaching prospects or counseling positions?

[bhcompy]

The highest income tax bracket is now 9.55% I believe, and that starts somewhere around 40k. It works like the federal income tax IIRC with the lower brackets and how taxes are applied.

Temecula may see a little more dropoff in housing prices compared to more established areas in SD, LA, and OC, but you'll be better off than renting in my experience. You can get a nice house in a nice neighborhood for about 100$/sqft. You'll probably pay more in rent than if you purchase, even with an FHA loan. Only thing you'll want to be careful of is HOA and property tax, as they vary widely from development to development(generally the newer the homes are, the more expensive it is).

[nmnita]

Temecula is becoming very popular and the home prices are not as crazy as many parts of the state. As for your wife getting a position teaching or couseling the good thing: she is a special Ed teacher. They are more in demand than any other type of teachers or as much in demand.

Nita

[dweej]

Originally Posted by mattraider

I have outside sales position and office from home. We have looked al around San Diego County, but have really liked what we have seen and read about Temecula.

We have evaluated cost of living increases and only one that seems to hold substantial difference is of course housing. We have not decided upon buying or renting yet and want to know if anyone could throw out some pros and cons.

Also, what are average prices for utilities per month? Cable/Internet/Phone?

TX has no state income tax, what % of your income to California tax?

Hmmm.......Anything else?

Yes! My wife is school counselor of 5 years and also has 9 years experience as Special Education teacher. Any idea on teaching prospects or counseling positions?

The only pro of renting right now is that the market may still continue to drop and you don't want to own a depreciating investment. In addition, most of what is for sale is a foreclosure or short sale, which means it's going to be a much bigger headache for the buyer than a traditional sale, and you might end up with no appliances and a dead landscape. If you are able to afford to buy and the market begins to rise, then you'll have all the traditional benefits of purchasing a home- eventually you might sell and realize some financial gain, you can claim your interest/taxes on your income tax, etc.

Utilities are going to depend so much on your home size and your usage habits. Since you'll be home using the office all day, yours will be higher than those that commute, but winter is the cheapest time of year for electric (and highest time for gas!). Cable will vary based on your company. We have FIOS and it's a little over $100 for high speed internet, full cable package, and telephone.

State income tax from about $42K thru about $100K per year is 9.55%. It is slightly higher for taxable income above that. I cannot recall the exact figure.

Teaching is rough out here. People getting pink-slipped right and left, elementary schools closing, class sizes increasing so they can save money. As a previous poster mentioned, it is helpful that she is a special ed teacher, but it still might be quite a challenge for her to get hired.

good luck!