How in the world do people afford to live in California? (San Diego: lawyers, house)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

A lot of people are working their butts off just to keep the roof over their heads. They don't have the time or energy or money to go to the beach or the mountains.



I get tired of these snooty, arrogant "We're superior. Take it or leave it for flyover territory" type posts. There are ways that CA could be better....but of course, it won't be with that prevailing arrogant attitude. I especially don't get why you have this attitude since you were effectively forced out of the Bay Area because of the high costs.

I'm the perfect example of someone who was forced out of the Bay Area, because of the cost, and accepts it as reasonable. The Bay Area does not owe anyone a cheap housing opportunity just because they want one.

I grew up in the East Bay. Moved away for many years. Moved back to the South Bay, and can't afford to live there in retirement.

Does the Bay Area owe me an affordable apartment? No.

I have absolutely no animosity in this fact. I also can't afford Paris or London, and they don't owe me the right to live there affordably either.

Get over yourselves people. Figure out how to afford to live in the area of CA you want to live in or move somewhere else. It's called growing up. Wah wah, I'm not rich. Get over it or get rich.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I'm the perfect example of someone who was forced out of the Bay Area, because of the cost, and accepts it as reasonable. The Bay Area does not owe anyone a cheap housing opportunity just because they want one.

But there's a big difference between offering a "cheap housing opportunity" and not making a reasonable effort to build new housing. The Bay Area & most of Coastal CA south of Santa Rosa fall into the latter category. The Bay Area is so far from "cheap housing" it's laughable to even think we're in danger of it ever happening.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

But there's a big difference between offering a "cheap housing opportunity" and not making a reasonable effort to build new housing. The Bay Area & most of Coastal CA south of Santa Rosa fall into the latter category. The Bay Area is so far from "cheap housing" it's laughable to even think we're in danger of it ever happening.

Why do you feel anyone is owed cheap housing (or affordable on any particular salary) in the Bay Area? Nobody is. Get over it.

[blueskywalker]

yeah, we're in a food chain dang it!
_____ 'em.
go 1% ... have it all.
who gives a _____ ?!

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

You never know what you're getting into when you buy a condo or townhouse.

Um, inspection report? Decent realtor? Reading the HOA's Rules and Regulations and monthly meeting minutes before even thinking of purchasing? Sounds like your friend did none of that. She shouldn't be blaming her problems on the property she bought.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

A lot of people are working their butts off just to keep the roof over their heads. They don't have the time or energy or money to go to the beach or the mountains.

Most in the valley, Nerds at least, do not venture over the Santa Cruz Mountains that often, way too busy writing code or working 12 hour days.

I saw the same thing in Miami and the beaches were way more accessible, warmer and full of hot woman in skimpy bikinis, tons of eye candy, yet a lot of people in the office were as White as the driven snow and said they have not been to the beach in years.

You'd be amazed the amount of people that live near desirable coastal areas and do not even care if they see it.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Why do you feel anyone is owed cheap housing (or affordable on any particular salary) in the Bay Area? Nobody is. Get over it.

Eventually it will pop, tech bubble is coming 3rd quarter 2016.

[Vacanegro]

Originally Posted by redguard57

What I want to know... How do people afford to live in California?

I recently just had another CA job opportunity- Long Beach, CA, starting salary $75-85K. From what I can see on Zillow - a decent house in the area STARTS at $500K, and it would be better to pay $600K+ WTF!?!?

I just..... don't get it. There's no way I can make that move, even though it would be a "step up" in my career. I currently make $51K and my mortgage costs me $900 right now - 36% of my net income. If I blanked out my savings and begged for help from my and my wife's family, we could come up with the $130K for 20% down on a $600K house... but our mortgage would still be 2400 - about 52% of net take home off of an 80K salary. I would have to pray that my wife got a great job just to get back to the place we are right now.

The way I calculate it, even if they offered me the high side of their starting salary range, I would be taking at least a 12% pay CUT, possibly 15-18% depending on their offer, AND I would have to blank out my savings.

I previously had a similar opportunity in Fremont, CA, where the housing cost:wage ratio seemed even more out of whack. They were going to pay about $90K but decent houses were in the $750K+ range.

I've been to SF Bay area, LA/OC area and San Diego area a handful of times and liked it... but it didn't seem like the streets were paved with gold. I feel quite privileged with even being able to have these kinds of opportunities... makes me wonder how it is for people who make much less money. It must be terrible.

Jobs are not always about numbers. You need to be analyzing your career path and what the job (Title and work) can do for you in the future (i.e 10 years down the road). Once you are inside a company and prospering you will have many more options about where to live. Besides everyone should move around early in their career to gain experience.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

This is what we should do, but refuse to do. Everyone agrees we need more housing, but there's always a "but":

"But not in my neighborhood".
"But not that many units in my neigbhorhood"

"but, but, but".

All of the "buts" severely limit the number of new housing units that come online and then everyone acts so shocked at how high home prices and rents are...or alternatively they get egotistical about it and say "Oh, well it's just such a wonderful, high demand area, how could you not expect to pay through the nose???"

A lot of projects... expansion and infill never make it...

There is a running discussion on home being built in Dublin California and how ugly they are and a blight on the hills...

It took almost 5 years from the time my friend submitted plans to build on his city lot in Oakland to the time he moved in... Design review controls just about everything... type of rain gutters, roof, how long an individual wall can be...

There are areas in CA with rent control if unlimited increase is a concern.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by blauskies

Most in the valley, Nerds at least, do not venture over the Santa Cruz Mountains that often, way too busy writing code or working 12 hour days.

I saw the same thing in Miami and the beaches were way more accessible, warmer and full of hot woman in skimpy bikinis, tons of eye candy, yet a lot of people in the office were as White as the driven snow and said they have not been to the beach in years.

You'd be amazed the amount of people that live near desirable coastal areas and do not even care if they see it.

Stop and consider the obvious.........if they don't work 12 hours they are going back to India so that is higher priority than the boardwalk.