Did anyone move out of Cali for a lower cost of living state and then moved back to Cali? (Fresno: apartment, renter)

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by saibot

You've mentioned this before and several people pointed out that most California houses are heated with gas and it doesn't get that cold here in any of the places where people generally live.

Any California residents here pay $2000 a month for electricity?

I didn't think so.

Our average electric bill is SoCal Edison is $70. The all-time highest was $93. Tack on the $16 or $18 for the gas company, and we're still not anywhere near $2k.

Yes. And further, even IF electricity would run $2,000 a month for summer cooling or winter heating, it wouldn't for 12 months a year. Extreme HVAC might be 3 months a year? Then there is the option in most of California to run solar. Given those hypothetical numbers, major solar installations would pay well. There are also other ways to compensate by using propane / natural gas, as mentioned.

But bottom line is: if that electricity cost was accurate, no one would be running electric anything much from the grid. 509 has something mixed up in this case.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by saibot

You've mentioned this before and several people pointed out that most California houses are heated with gas and it doesn't get that cold here in any of the places where people generally live.

Any California residents here pay $2000 a month for electricity?

No, but we pay about $500/month to PG&E. Which is double what we pay to APS for service at our Arizona house, which is twice the square footage of the CA house and has four more A/C units.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

You’re going to pay taxes in both states?

Sure. Why wouldn’t I pay taxes? It’s pointless to sell when the revenue from the rentals would more than pay my house in another state and have money left over to invest. I could just leverage the f out of everything, buy in another state set up shop and then squeeze every penny out of the equity. When it crashes I’ll buy again at 1/2 price. But I’m not that aggressive a investor anymore. It’s far easier to sit back and have relatively safe investments.

Originally Posted by 11thHour

I've never understood wtf electricity is so expensive in Cali, at least down here with Edison. For what we pay that electricity must be gold-leafed.

It isn’t that expensive. I’m paying a average of $100 a month and I have a 2500 sq ft home. Now if you have a big home lots of kids then solar may be the way to go. Right now California has a surplus of electricity due to the amount of solar generated electricity. In the summer my bill goes up to $250/300 because I run my AC. It’s finally getting warm enough where I will start running it till about September. But in the winter time we had 35/40* weather and rain.

Originally Posted by saibot

You've mentioned this before and several people pointed out that most California houses are heated with gas and it doesn't get that cold here in any of the places where people generally live.

Any California residents here pay $2000 a month for electricity?

I didn't think so.

Our average electric bill is SoCal Edison is $70. The all-time highest was $93. Tack on the $16 or $18 for the gas company, and we're still not anywhere near $2k.

People like to exaggerate numbers. Yes some thing are expensive. People are whining about gas prices are the ones who drive gas sucking dinosaurs on four wheels with 60 mile commutes. I guess you gotta look cool on your way to work. I have a little car for a daily driver. 29 mpg all day long with AC on. I fill up once a month. If I add in my vanpool costs my yearly transportation bill is 3,000 bucks.


I know a lot of people who sold moved and cannot buy back in. Prices have gone up so high so fast that their home in pick your state simply cannot be sold for enough money to buy back in.

Lots of people who got “screwed” in the last downturn usually did it to themselves by overextending and going into too much debt. I know plenty who bought and then jumped on that refi train and bought all the cool toys they couldn’t really afford. Everyone was to blame. The homeowners, buyers, realtors banks government. Everyone has their hand out making promises. I remember tentatively talking to a realtor and they nonchalantly said yeah on a new house you’re looking at about 4K a month. My payment at the time was $1400. I said I’ll think about it. We simply waited. Kept saving and bought after the crash.

[JJonesIII]

Originally Posted by saibot

You've mentioned this before and several people pointed out that most California houses are heated with gas and it doesn't get that cold here in any of the places where people generally live.

Any California residents here pay $2000 a month for electricity?

I didn't think so.

Our average electric bill with SoCal Edison is $70. The all-time highest was $93. Tack on the $16 or $18 for the gas company, and we're still not anywhere near $2k.

https://www.sfgate.com/business/arti...16-6728373.php

This article is from 2106 and states...

PG&E’s average monthly bill for residential customers in 2016 will jump 7 percent to $147.21


That's just the average. I suspect it would be at least $160 now. Certainly not $2000, but also not nearly as cheap as what you're paying with Edison. We are roughly at $160 (no A/C) in a relatively cool area. I guess people in the Bay Area are getting gouged if you're telling me in a much warmer climate (since Edison is Southern California) that you're paying that little.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by Surfertx

I moved out of OC about 4 years ago to Houston, TX for financial reasons (open a business and buy a house) and now that the business is sold we're looking into moving back. I admit it is scary being out of Cali and looking at the high cost of living from Texas. But then again our lifestyle and I even would say happiness has not been the same since we moved.

Just wondering if anyone had similar experiences.

Which part of Houston did you move to? Maybe that has something to do with it? I am 55 years old and lived in SoCal from 1991-2005 and do miss a lot of SoCal, but not the increasing crowds, costs and traffic and politics. Since I am a native Texan, the move back was easier. In the first few years back in Texas, I still stubbornly held on to the belief that I would return to Calif some day, but it’s becoming more of a memory. Palm Springs retirement is in the back of my mind.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Sure. Why wouldn’t I pay taxes? It’s pointless to sell when the revenue from the rentals would more than pay my house in another state and have money left over to invest. I could just leverage the f out of everything, buy in another state set up shop and then squeeze every penny out of the equity. When it crashes I’ll buy again at 1/2 price. But I’m not that aggressive a investor anymore. It’s far easier to sit back and have relatively safe investments.

OK, just checking. I wasn't suggesting you sell your rentals. You shouldn't have to pay CA tax once you're a resident elsewhere if you take some precautions.

California doesn't just let go of the tax revenue once you establish residency in another state, if you still have property inside California. A long-term lease on the CA property will be accepted as one proof that you are domiciled elsewhere. The important point is to not return to California, even to visit, and stay in one of your vacant rentals.

Here's a good list of actions to take that prove you are domiciled outside California:

https://www.halversontax.com/residency-domicile-issues/

As always, check with your tax attorney.

[JJonesIII]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

OK, just checking. I wasn't suggesting you sell your rentals. You shouldn't have to pay CA tax once you're a resident elsewhere if you take some precautions.

I must not be understanding you. Are you claiming that rental income earned in California won't incur taxes in the state if you reside in another state?

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by JJonesIII

I must not be understanding you. Are you claiming that rental income earned in California won't incur taxes in the state if you reside in another state?

As I said, check with a tax attorney.

[Slytrix]

We bought a 2nd home in Northwest Arkansas with a plan of moving there permanently in a few years.

Let's just say, "bad idea", we sold it in April and moved everything back to San Diego (we kept our house here).

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

As I said, check with a tax attorney.

income earned in CA is taxable by the Franchise Tax Board. ask those professional athletes to believe

only pensions earned in CA but paid to retirees living in other states is exempted