Does anyone want to move out of the Bay Area (San Francisco: fit in, real estate)

[Pucca]

due to its rising cost in housing? I find it ridiculously expensive to buy a house for over half a million. We are thinking of moving because we simply can't afford buying a home. And rent is also far from being affordable. Does anyone want to move out as well or is it just me?

[BearBranch]

Already did. Moved from Berkeley to Oakland in 1999. Purchased in Sac in 2004. Sold in 2005. Moved to Kingwood, Tx (www.kingwoodonline.com)

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by Pucca

due to its rising cost in housing? I find it ridiculously expensive to buy a house for over half a million. We are thinking of moving because we simply can't afford buying a home. And rent is also far from being affordable. Does anyone want to move out as well or is it just me?

I currently live in a small town in the SF East Bay where I own a house. However, I am thinking about relocating to Houston where I will have enough money to purchase a bigger house and a small place on the beach. Although California has great weather, I agree that the cost of living--houses, gasoline, state income taxes-- is too high.

[sliverbox]

There is data out there showing a sort of "reverse dustbowl" migration away from places like SF, LA, NYC, Boston, and so on and into places like TX, NC, GA, TN, and even Idaho.
Prices on the coasts are now so insanely high in comparison to the equivalent home in any of those places mentioned above that a recent census report showed that without in-migration from Mexico, SF would have lost almost 200,000 people since 2000. NYC lost almost a million. LA- 600,000.

So basically the middle class, young families, retirees, and even some upper middle class citizens are leaving en mass. Atlanta gained almost a million people in 7 years. NC's population went up over 10% in 10 years.

[gizmo980]

I have no plans to leave anytime soon, especially since I just came back (4 years ago) after being gone for 9 years... but who knows what'll happen in the future?? For now I'm loving San Francisco, and since I haven't considered purchasing real estate yet, that's not really an issue for me. Sure, the rent is high, but I actually have a decent deal on a shared house (just 2 of us in a 3-bedroom) - and the salary I'm making is about 40% higher, compared to the same position in other areas.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

There is data out there showing a sort of "reverse dustbowl" migration away from places like SF, LA, NYC, Boston, and so on and into places like TX, NC, GA, TN, and even Idaho.
Prices on the coasts are now so insanely high in comparison to the equivalent home in any of those places mentioned above that a recent census report showed that without in-migration from Mexico, SF would have lost almost 200,000 people since 2000. NYC lost almost a million. LA- 600,000.

So basically the middle class, young families, retirees, and even some upper middle class citizens are leaving en mass. Atlanta gained almost a million people in 7 years. NC's population went up over 10% in 10 years.

Similarly, the greater Dallas area is now about 6 million, growing by a couple of million in the last 15 years or so.

[Tallysmom]

We're considering moving from here, but it's less about prices than it is about moving back home near family. I really miss my family.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

We're considering moving from here, but it's less about prices than it is about moving back home near family. I really miss my family.

And that's exactly why I came BACK to the Bay Area... I discovered that "quality of life" has less to do with money, and more to do with where you feel happy & comfortable - and where you're surrounded by loved ones. San Francisco is a terrific place on it's own, but having my family/friends nearby only makes it better. So if you really miss your family, I say go to them... we only have one life with them, after all.

[City Boy]

I moved to Atlanta several years ago and am Back here. Atlanta is boring as with most places in the south and Midwest IMO. Unless you want to go to night clubs every single night. What is there to do? Nothing. I'm sure most of these people fleeing these area's will end up back in them after realizing the places they think are cheaper are cheap for a reason. Not to mention you're salary will go down dramatically in another area because the cost of living is lower. I'd rather pay more and enjoy what california has to offer than be able to buy a huge house and be bored to death.

[nooneknowsmyname]

I don't think a blanket statement applies to all seeking to move away from the SF Bay Area. As for me, I am not originally from the SF Bay Area, but from the East Coast. My spouse and I moved here 15 years ago for our careers. Coming from the East Coast and being comfortable with East Coast ways, we have struggled to fit in here. Also, during that time, we have been away from family--parents and child-who simply aren't interested in visiting California and so haven't visited. That means that my spouse and I have had to carry on fairly demanding professions and still travel to the East Coast to visit and maintain family relationships. Although we technically aren't old enough to retire, we are financially well off enough to do so if we move to a less expensive city where can easily live off the interest from the money we've accumulated. An added benefit is that we will be closer to family, something most who have posted to this thread agree is of critical importance. So our decision to move away primarily has to do with family and secondarily with the financial considerations.
As far as finding things to do in other parts of the country, I've lived in the Northeast, in the South (Chapel Hill, NC) and here in the East Bay and in all of those places, I've found interesting things to see and do. It's simply a matter of figuring out what they are.