Just for fun...when CA. finally taxes you out, where will you go? Why? (Sacramento: condo, how much)

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

I lived in Truckee for 40 years, where abouts are you? Roughly, you don't need to give particulars.

Kinda partway between South Lake and Yosemite at 4000' elevation.

Why did you leave Truckee?

[.highnlite]

Somewheres along 49 I should imagine..

Good country, though a bit warm in the Summer.

We left for a congregation of reasons. I could take early retirement, as did my wife. My aged mother back on the home farm needed us, and, I got tired, finally of plowing snow. Kid were growing up, only one left at home.

So we are on the coast, in the land of never hot never cold on the farm I swore I would never return to.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I love how people say this as if these are trivial expenses. Housing is one's biggest expense by far.
...The inland areas have cheaper real estate than the coast, but it's typically still more expensive than the U.S. average.

mysticaltyger, agreed. I often wonder where the people who say CA isn't more expensive than another state actually live. Aside from a few states, that simply isn't a true statement.

Numbers don't lie. Either sales tax is higher or it's not. Either home cost for an equal home is higher or it's not. Either income tax is higher or it's not. Either gas is higher or it's not. Either electricity (and therefore, nearly everything you buy at a local store) is higher or it's not.

I think we should hang up our hats, and let them learn on their own. They'll learn when they look at their mortgage bill, electric bill, gas receipt, income statement, etc. Or maybe they won't. Depends on whether they actually read those little pesky pieces of paper or not.

I'm not CA bashing, by any means. CA is the love of my life, second only to my pups. However, I have a deep-rooted obsession with numbers (don't ask). Some say I abuse spreadsheets to the point that I should be paying my Excel docs at least minimum wage because I put them to work so much. Numbers (not statistics - that's an entire other beast) simply do not lie. Period. People who refuse to acknowledge the numbers, well, that's an entire other thing and a huge reason I'm happy to not be an auditor.

As to the OP, great question! I've often asked myself where my Plan B would be, should I not be able to feed myself in CA. I'm still deciding, but I love the responses on here.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

Somewheres along 49 I should imagine..

Good country, though a bit warm in the Summer.

We left for a congregation of reasons. I could take early retirement, as did my wife. My aged mother back on the home farm needed us, and, I got tired, finally of plowing snow. Kid were growing up, only one left at home.

So we are on the coast, in the land of never hot never cold on the farm I swore I would never return to.

We're actually 10 miles east of 49. Summers are mild-use the AC maybe 10 days a year. I can understand the snow thing. We had 14 feet of it last season (usually get four or five). Good thing we like the snow.

The central coast is nice.

[.highnlite]

14 feet was pretty normal for us, I had 3/4 mile to plow to get to the county road. Then commute 50 miles to Reno.

the Central Coast is actually my second choice, we are here primarily to care for my mother. We have land in several places in Nevada, My first choice is near Austin Nevada, lots of empty land to wander around in.

We are happy here though. Those who complain about California seem to be urban dwellers on the lower end of the economic scale.

The landscape of CA cannot be beat, we can be in the Sierra High Country in 4 or 5 hours, and in our local wilderness lands within the hour. Deserts to high mountains, this state has it all.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

... I often wonder where the people who say CA isn't more expensive than another state actually live. ...

A shot from my [entirely affordable] open doorway:

Moderator cut: copyright violation

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

We are happy here though. Those who complain about California seem to be urban dwellers on the lower end of the economic scale.

I am tempted to start a thread...give me an hour.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

A shot from my [entirely affordable] open doorway:

Gorgeous! And agreed. It is entirely affordable, but that doesn't change the fact that it costs more than living many other places (which was the point I believe mysticaltyger was trying to make). I'd pay the current CA cost of living and then some, just to be on the CA coast. But that doesn't mean it's less expensive than many other places I choose to pass up. It just is what it is.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

14 feet was pretty normal for us, I had 3/4 mile to plow to get to the county road. Then commute 50 miles to Reno.

That sounds like my idea of torture. Sn*w is a 4-letter word in my house.

I have friends that love it. We think the other is equally nuts, so I suppose it goes both ways.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by nmnita

The overall taxes is as well as insurence rates are what too few consider. Most everyone just looks at income taxes, not thinking of property taxes, cost of property, sales tax, car registration, etc. You understand this, I do, but many do not.

Most definitely. Yes overall cost of housing and property taxes take a huge bite out of one's budget. As in Calif. However there are other taxes to consider. A high sales tax also takes a huge bite out of people's budgets, and it seems many don't realize that. Consider a state that also has state income tax. High vehicle auto registration and vehicle property taxes. High car insurance rates. People need to look at the overall burden and some low tax states really are not all that cheap.

I think many of the southern states have a very high and broad tax base/burden. The sales taxes consist of state, city and county in many of those states. Even groceries are taxed in many areas. That really adds up yet many think living in the south is cheap. The housing might be abit cheaper, but sales taxes could overwhelm a lower income person.

California is a very high COL state, but I'm not always sure its total tax burden is worse than many others. At least outside the big Metro's