Texas is alot like California in many ways (The Hills, Burke: houses, buy)

[traveler guy]

Originally Posted by Rose Red

California is baffling in the sense of for such a "fast growing economy" it operates on a budget deficit. It doesn't seem to be getting better the state is broke.

Texas operates on a budget surplus last I read it was 12 billion.

The funny thing is Texas is still a much poorer state. I mean take a drive thorough Cali from the cities/small towns, then drive thorough Texas Cities/small towns.

I love Texas but every time I visit Cali an come back I Truly get depressed when I see how badly in shape the states compare. This is being said even when I go visit I stay in Pico Rivera which what I heard of a bad place in the LA area but I can honestly compare it with some nice areas in the northside of SA.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Rose Red

California is baffling in the sense of for such a "fast growing economy" it operates on a budget deficit. It doesn't seem to be getting better the state is broke.

Texas operates on a budget surplus last I read it was 12 billion.

Here is a definite difference between CA and TX and it is sad for people that purchased homes in the last 2 years.

Calif. home prices down 27.3%, nation’s worst - Lansner on Real Estate - OCRegister.com

[texdav]

Then there is the state budget. I have relatives in california but it has changed so much over the years. They had to move into a gated communtiy to have a stable neighborhood. The last they built in about ten years ago went from nice to really crazy;so many people mvoing all teh time. Now she told me many of the homes are in foreclosure. Is just crazy out there and the life style is hectic and too fast for me in the costal areas.

[Chickrae]

California is beautiful and has great weather, but you give up a lot to have that. It's not worth it, and that is my personal opinion of course. Thats why we moved out of the bay area 28 years ago. I can't even imagine what a rat race it is now days.

[worldlyman]

I moved back to Houston from San Diego...I'm definitely not depressed. Houston is a much more substantial city than SD on a number of levels. "Beauty" and "scenery" don't mean much when San Diego has such quasi-fascist police forces that constantly do unnecessary checkpoints, for example.

Even troubled areas of Houston like Alief and Sharpstown look like nicely landscaped centers of modern paradise compared to the socio-demographically similar National City, Euclid, Chula Vista, etc.

[Chickrae]

Originally Posted by worldlyman

I moved back to Houston from San Diego...I'm definitely not depressed. Houston is a much more substantial city than SD on a number of levels. "Beauty" and "scenery" don't mean much when San Diego has such quasi-fascist police forces that constantly do unnecessary checkpoints, for example.

Even troubled areas of Houston like Alief and Sharpstown look like nicely landscaped centers of modern paradise compared to the socio-demographically similar National City, Euclid, Chula Vista, etc.

My sister lives in Chula Vista and I don't know how she has stayed there that long. San Diego is a beautiful place to visit.....but just to visit.

[austinnetx]

Its colder in San Fran in summer than it is in Dallas in winter!!

Texas has a huge budget surplus, Cali is going to go bankrupt.

Texas legislature meets for a few weeks every two years and gets it done. Cali's meets all week long all year long and does nothing.

[GoingHome2TX]

Originally Posted by traveler guy

The funny thing is Texas is still a much poorer state. I mean take a drive thorough Cali from the cities/small towns, then drive thorough Texas Cities/small towns.

I think by outward appearances you are right, but a closer examination would show the underlying difference between the two.

Texans typically tend to be more conservative in their finances and save more of their money, where Californians seem to be hellbent on the deficit spending mentality. The state governments definately prove this by a quick glance at their budgets. I think these practices are either a trickle down effect on the population, or a repesentation of the population's spending habits.

In effect, that smaller town in California that looks like it has more wealth than the Texas town could be entirely owned by the bank, where as that Texas town has already been paid off. Which one is in the better fiancial situation at this point?

Do you want to own it outright, or do you want to rent it for life by paying the interest rate? I'll take "poor" Texas any day of the week on this one.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by worldlyman

"Beauty" and "scenery" don't mean much when San Diego has such quasi-fascist police forces that constantly do unnecessary checkpoints, for example.

Like what? DUI checkpoints? Did you get one and that is why you left?

[austinnetx]

Most of the land in Texas is privately owned.

In Cali, < 50 % is privately owned.