Any Ex-South Florida People On Here That Moved to SoCal? (Irvine: 2015, to rent)

[high_plains_drifter]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

I believe I listed them. BTW I found groceries to be more expensive in FL, the utilities were more as you had to run the A/C all the time. And my car insurance was higher in FL by several hundred dollars.

I remember asking in Publix if they had a discount card like Ralphs and Vons, no they don't. I asked about "double coupons", the cashier asked "what's a double coupon"(isn't that self explanatory)....LOL. I got sticker shock in Publix.


Not having to walk outside and wanting to turn back around and go back inside due to the oppressive humidity(8am and it's already brutal) is worth it.

I never really totally appreciated the Southern CA weather until I no longer had it. FL is disgusting about 9 months out of the year. I never spent so much time indoors trying to avoid the horrific heat and humidity, never let up even at night.

FL is by no means cheap. Parts of CA(LA, SF, and SD) have such ridiculous housing costs. Other than that things tend to even out.

Hi,

Publix use to have a discount card years ago but they did away with them.

I agree with your post on costs, my A/C in the summer $150 or more a month.

Car insurance is over $3,000.00 a year for two adult drivers with perfect history and cars are newer common toyota and honda, nothing luxury. It just went up too.

Rents and housing here at least are getting expensive, rentals are nicer in North County so far to buy still more than here but we don't plan to ever buy there if we do it might be a condo.

[Astral_Weeks]

Originally Posted by high_plains_drifter

Hi,

Publix use to have a discount card years ago but they did away with them.

I agree with your post on costs, my A/C in the summer $150 or more a month.

Car insurance is over $3,000.00 a year for two adult drivers with perfect history and cars are newer common toyota and honda, nothing luxury. It just went up too.

Rents and housing here at least are getting expensive, rentals are nicer in North County so far to buy still more than here but we don't plan to ever buy there if we do it might be a condo.

How big is your place in So. Fla.? Are you running the A/C all day and night?

[high_plains_drifter]

Originally Posted by Astral_Weeks

How big is your place in So. Fla.? Are you running the A/C all day and night?

Hi,

1,500 square feet, single story, CBS construction with a barrel tile roof, built in the past 15 years, high efficiency AC unit but the place has western exposure so that does not help.

We have the thermostat set at 75F typically. My bill for last month was $67, when the heat came on a few times when it got down in the 40's.

Depending the temperature and humidity, the A/C will run at different times of the day, the afternoon Sun exposure does not help. If you don't run it, mold forms fast with the moisture levels. I have seen houses here with mold behind the drywall from water leaks or from a poor performing A/C unit, Air Handler covered with it.

[someguy10]

You mentioned in another thread you're fine to perma-rent in SD. What monthly rental range are you thinking of? Depending on what your wife makes, there are going to be higher to much higher state income tax rates. I think housing and taxes are the two really big items to factor in with the $110K offer (congrats on that, BTW).

[high_plains_drifter]

Originally Posted by someguy10

You mentioned in another thread you're fine to perma-rent in SD. What monthly rental range are you thinking of? Depending on what your wife makes, there are going to be higher to much higher state income tax rates. I think housing and taxes are the two really big items to factor in with the $110K offer (congrats on that, BTW).

Hi,

Yes, for now renting is all I want to do, my wife dreams of buying a home or a condo, but personally I think it's overrated and until I know the area and if it's going to be a long term opportunity, renting is it.

Rentals we are looking at are in the $1900 to $2100 range, we actually saw some nice houses in Temecula for that but we do not need a big place so smaller places are fine and I am still on the fence doing the drive and what gas cost there. I did a cost of living analysis for my salary alone and taxes are not that bad and there is some offset coming from savings in Car Insurance which cost me over $3,000/year here for 2 average cars, when I called Geico for a quote for some addresses I provided for rentals in Carlsbad, Temecula and adjacent area the savings was $2,000.00 year. I talked to several people at the companies I interviewed with and others who backed up the car insurance cost as being low compared to here. That's a big savings right there.

Also I cover my wife on health insurance since her work from home position doesn't offer it, and that is costing me plenty. Out there it's more than half the cost of here, so more savings.

Food costs are much lower, from my research of going into stores there and looking at prices. All that adds up to savings over here.

I also plan to invest heavily in the 401K since the company has really good matching, which will lower my taxable income.

Yes I have considered what filing jointly will do to the tax bracket, something to consider.

Fort Lauderdale and South Florida overall is becoming very expensive and I only make $75,000 a year here currently gross, we have friends who make less and are in debt or perpetual renters. I made more 8 years ago but the company restructured and went out of business, almost left a few times after I lost my job in 2012, but my Wife and I agreed to stay. There is not much work here for me or opportunity and it is very depressing so it is time to go.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by high_plains_drifter

some offset coming from savings in Car Insurance which cost me over $3,000/year here for 2 average cars, when I called Geico for a quote for some addresses I provided for rentals in Carlsbad, Temecula and adjacent area the savings was $2,000.00 year. I talked to several people at the companies I interviewed with and others who backed up the car insurance cost as being low compared to here. That's a big savings right there.

One factor in this difference is that Florida is a 'no fault state' when it comes to the 'structure' of car insurance, whereas California is NOT a 'no fault state'. Another factor might be a difference in the crime rate between the quoted zip code in California and your current zip code in Florida.

Also I cover my wife on health insurance since her work from home position doesn't offer it, and that is costing me plenty. Out there it's more than half the cost of here, so more savings.

Very interesting. Any idea (from the information you've gathered) why?

[someguy10]

Originally Posted by high_plains_drifter

Hi,

Yes, for now renting is all I want to do, my wife dreams of buying a home or a condo, but personally I think it's overrated and until I know the area and if it's going to be a long term opportunity, renting is it.

I'm curious, too, about the huge difference in medical insurance rates. I'm assuming the coverage and out of pocket offered is comparable?

I think mobility is an important tool in the new economy that is emerging, so renting isn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you keep housing costs to a relatively small percentage of your total income like you are proposing to do. When housing to income ratio starts approaching 30,40 even 50+ % I worry that housing becomes something folks depend on not just for the utility of shelter but as an investment/retirement vehicle. If you're at 45% and own, there's a chance you could build significant net worth through your residence. If you're renting, there's obviously zero chance of that.

I would not set myself up for a long commute out of the gate. IMO it would suck to spend 2+ hours per weekday in a car commuting instead of out enjoying the amazing SD weather. So I wouldn't move to Temecula to work in Carlsbad. Obviously living in Carlsbad would be ideal although at ~$2K/mo your options will probably be limited to apartments and condos. Vista and San Marcos would give you more options and mostly keep you within a reasonable commute range. I know you didn't explicitly ask about this but I think it should factor into your overall decision process.

[high_plains_drifter]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

One factor in this difference is that Florida is a 'no fault state' when it comes to the 'structure' of car insurance, whereas California is NOT a 'no fault state'. Another factor might be a difference in the crime rate between the quoted zip code in California and your current zip code in Florida.




Very interesting. Any idea (from the information you've gathered) why?

Hi,

Yes, but here it's due to fraud and a high % of people on the roads with no insurance, I also read a report that reflects the high rates being due to lack of people using their turn signals, which is very common here, older drivers and so on.

Health Insurance rates are higher here because of the local population group, this came right from an HR manager with a big company I worked for here prior. The local population here is older and this makes it more expensive.

[high_plains_drifter]

Originally Posted by someguy10

I'm curious, too, about the huge difference in medical insurance rates. I'm assuming the coverage and out of pocket offered is comparable?

I think mobility is an important tool in the new economy that is emerging, so renting isn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you keep housing costs to a relatively small percentage of your total income like you are proposing to do. When housing to income ratio starts approaching 30,40 even 50+ % I worry that housing becomes something folks depend on not just for the utility of shelter but as an investment/retirement vehicle. If you're at 45% and own, there's a chance you could build significant net worth through your residence. If you're renting, there's obviously zero chance of that.

I would not set myself up for a long commute out of the gate. IMO it would suck to spend 2+ hours per weekday in a car commuting instead of out enjoying the amazing SD weather. So I wouldn't move to Temecula to work in Carlsbad. Obviously living in Carlsbad would be ideal although at ~$2K/mo your options will probably be limited to apartments and condos. Vista and San Marcos would give you more options and mostly keep you within a reasonable commute range. I know you didn't explicitly ask about this but I think it should factor into your overall decision process.

Hi,

Both companies in the area out there provided insurance benefit plan info, cost and deductibles. All were lower and better plans, PCP and Specialists co-pay visits, less, monthly cost would be 50% of what I'm paying now.

I also interviewed and received an offer in San Jose back in 2012, the rates were also a lot less than here.

I don't want to rent forever, but for right now it's all I'm thinking. If prices drop and my job is steady, we may buy something.

Also do not want to drive far, it sucks driving here and while it doesn't seem that bad here as Miami, where I drive to daily, I like to change that daily grind.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by high_plains_drifter

Hi,

Both companies in the area out there provided insurance benefit plan info, cost and deductibles. All were lower and better plans, PCP and Specialists co-pay visits, less, monthly cost would be 50% of what I'm paying now.
.

This is strange as I have 3 companies in several States and there is no difference in costs as the Obama Plan impact has been to make them essentially the same. If these were extremely good plans, well above the norm, then they are outside the plan scope and can vary according to the Insurers desires. Of course if so there will be "penalties" attached as time goes by, just as there is now if you buy outside the State "Shops".