Is it still 'hella' expensive to live in California? (San Jose: rentals, home)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

Mmkay so I gotta say, I love DC but the weather here blows. California's weather (really the whole west coast, but Cali in particular) is awesome and it's such a gorgeous state, which makes me kinda wanna move there once I graduate college. And yes I've been to CA before (mainly San Francisco).

But, I want to know, is it still very expensive to live here? I realize it's a huge state, but I'm mainly talking about the Bay Area (SF and San Jose in particular), LA and Orange County. DC's real estate prices are nothing to brag about (that is to say it's incredibly expensive), but we at least have a very stable economy and job market compared to the rest of the US.

So enlighten me, kind Californians: is it still very expensive to live in areas like San Jose or LA? Or have housing and rental prices settled into something more reasonable? I'm not expecting to pay $1,300/mo to live in the ritziest parts of town, but at least somewhere that's safe and not too far removed from everything.

The weather in the DC area's not that bad. In fact it's been an absolutely gorgeous September. I actually prefer it to the Bay Area. Having four seasons makes for a nice change throughout the year. Unlike with Southern California, weather's not the best of reasons to move there.

Oh and drop the "Cali" if you do move there, unless you like being instantly identified as an out-of-stater.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I live in San Jose and yes it is still hella expensive here. I pay $850 for a studio apartment and that is cheap for this area. You can easily pay $1000 per month for an ordinary nice studio here, let alone.

Prices must have came down in Norcal? I looked at apartments 11 years ago in Petaluma and they were over $1200/month.

Rental rates here in South Florida are about the same for a 1 bedroom as San Jose if not more on Miami Beach.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

once I graduate college.
is it still very expensive to live here?
once I graduate college.
is it still very expensive to live in areas like San Jose or LA?
once I graduate college.
have housing and rental prices settled into something more reasonable?
once I graduate college.

I'm not expecting to pay $1,300/mo to live in the ritziest parts of town, but at least somewhere that's safe and not too far removed from everything.

What does "expensive" mean?

What does "reasonable" mean?

If they mean being able to live in any of those cities mentioned above, then it is not expensive and it is reasonable.

[HurricaneDC]

Honestly, $850 for a studio (assuming it's not the size of a closet, not in the hood and not in the sticks of San Jose) sounds pretty good to me. You'd be hard-pressed to find a price like that anywhere in DC.

@CAVA I love fall and spring in DC. But I can definitely do without the summers.

@Curmudgeon lower population density I'd assume. The stats page didn't have the actual rates, just the raw numbers.

[esmith143]

The expensiveness of California is mostly a myth. It is remarkably expensive to live in a few select enclaves such as 5 miles around Palo Alto, Irvine, Beverly Hills, etc. Most of the state is quite affordable by East Coast standards.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

Honestly, $850 for a studio (assuming it's not the size of a closet, not in the hood and not in the sticks of San Jose) sounds pretty good to me. You'd be hard-pressed to find a price like that anywhere in DC.

No, my place is not the size of a closet, in the hood, or in the sticks. It's right in downtown SJ. But it's an old (but well maintained) building with no AC (SJ is not as hot as DC, but we do get some hot weather) or other amenities (other than nice architecture). There is a major shortage of electrical outlets as well.

I've lived here 2 years and pay the cheapest rent compared with the 7 other studios in the building.

So, while it might be possible to get rent this cheap for something decent, it's the exception, not the rule. Newcomers tend to have a harder time getting the best deals because they're new to the area and are often pressed for time in terms of looking for a place.

I'd say $1000 for a studio is more the norm, and it can easily be more than that.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by esmith143

The expensiveness of California is mostly a myth. It is remarkably expensive to live in a few select enclaves such as 5 miles around Palo Alto, Irvine, Beverly Hills, etc. Most of the state is quite affordable by East Coast standards.

A myth? I don't think so.

Not all of the East Coast is super expensive, either. I grew up in Philadelphia. And while that area has typical rip off property taxes found in other East Coast metro areas, it's COL is on par with somewhere like Sacramento--above average but not outrageous. Baltimore is like that, too, I think.

DC, Boston, & New York are expensive. Property taxes tend to be higher than coastal CA metro areas, but home prices tend to be lower. Incomes on the East Coast (even Philly) tend to be higher than CA, maybe not higher than the Bay Area, but significantly higher than in SoCal.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Incomes on the East Coast (even Philly) tend to be higher than CA, maybe not higher than the Bay Area, but significantly higher than in SoCal.

The County I live in in Virginia, Fairfax, has a median household income of $107,000 versus about $75,000 in Orange County and yet home prices in Fairfax County are lower than in Orange County. However, our homeownership rate is higher. A place like Orange County has more income disparity than we've got here in Northern Virginia. You've got a lot more proles than we do.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

The County I live in in Virginia, Fairfax, has a median household income of $107,000 versus about $75,000 in Orange County

is probably due to

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

You've got a lot more proles than we do.

otherwise, the same job probably pays about the same in both places.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Charles

the same job probably pays about the same in both places.

I would agree. As in most things, it's just a difference in mix. Good explanation though for why your home prices seem out of wack in comparison to incomes. Homeowners are a smaller segment of your population.