where in california you can still live cheaply (Fresno, Modesto: section 8, apartment)

[AnthonyJ34]

Originally Posted by TacoSoup

The mountain communities of the San Bernardino Mountains still has some nice homes to be had for under $200K. You’ll have to deal with some snow (it varies year to year), you’ll most likely will have to commute off the hill to Riverside or San Bernardino for work (most do), but in 1.5-2.5 hours (non rush hour) you can be to most places in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

We have a place up there (we’re actually heading up there now, once my wife finishes getting ready, lol) and I could easily live there full time because you’re still so close to everything Southern California has to offer. Not only that, you’re just a short 20-30 minute drive off the hill during winter if you want some warmth. I see my neighbor up there every weekend during the winter throw his golf clubs in his trunk while wearing shorts, often when it’s freezing and/or snowing out, to go play golf off the hill where it’ll be in the 60-70’s+.

Good luck with your search. If you’re willing to make some concessions you can do it with a housing budget of $200K. Oh yeah, I have no idea what a previous poster was talking about in regards to paying more here in property tax than he would for something similar in another state, nothing could be further from the truth. Like a different poster mentioned it’s 1% of your purchase price, plus any bonds, and it can only go up a max of 2% a year. A good rule of thumb, and we have places in two different counties to back this up, is that your property tax will be +/- 1.25%. This can change greatly in newly built neighborhoods with mella roos, but that won’t be applying to you. If it seems high now, it certainly won’t in 5-10-20+ years. Once again, good luck.

It must be nice to have a place up in the mountains for a getaway. Our local So. Cal mountains have many great areas. Idyllwild has always been my personal favorite, since it's so secluded and quaint, without all the hustle and bustle (and ski/resort traffic) that chokes many of the other more popular mountain areas (at least in winter). I also have an aunt and uncle who have lived in Wrightwood for the past 35 years; we used to visit there often, so I'm well acquainted with the Wrightwood area as well -- and it's a very nice town. Wrightwood gets swamped though with traffic during snow season.

I was born and raised down here in Cerritos (and still live here) but have always wanted to relocate to either the mountains or to a more rural area. And as you mentioned, living in our local mountains affords one easy access to the more populated lowland areas, so living in Wrightwood or Big Bear or Idyllwild really isn't that far off the beaten path to make commuting a huge deal (at least not in good weather). Big Bear would actually be the longest commute down the hill.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Alberto33

yes we certainly don't want to live in a desert that I see a lot. especially where there is a lot of work and nice and quiet living. But a street where the houses are opposite you just a street where it lives and children are outside and where there are shops in the area .... mr5150. may I ask which area you live in California. How high is the property there . what is the minimum wage in California . And there is plenty for boys to do there

I will send you a message.

[Alberto33]

Yes thanks I read it go find it out

[happygrrrl]

92311.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Property taxes depend so much on Prop 13 so they could vary considerably. I will also add, you talk about homes in the San Bernardino mountains, are we talking about family type homes in populated family resident neighborhoods with lots of kids etc or are we talking mainly summer or winter vacation homes? There is a huge difference.

Yes taxes can vary widely with prop 13, but it’s pretty standard when you buy. Someone buying a $200K house today in California will be paying less than most would be paying for a $200K house bought today in another state.

As for the mountains, I’m not sure how familiar you are with them, or when you were last up here, but a lot of things are changing with regards to full time residents moving up here for a lower cost of living and higher (no pun intended) quality of life.

In just the last three years since we’ve had our place so much has changed. Two houses down is now a family with two kids who are now school aged. According to my neighbor it used to be owners that were weekend partiers and also a vacation rental. The house across the street from them now has two grade school aged kids as well. I’m not sure who was there before as it was on the market when we bought? I had only seen people maybe 5 times right next door the since we’ve bought, but now a couple with a baby bought it. The house across from them that was also vacant the same has just sold as well. I haven't met the new owners, but over the last month I did see the same couple, often with their young kids in tow, meet up with contractors, inspectors, etc. The house kitty corner behind us went from one single man in a 2500sqft house to a large family with what seems to be 3-4 kids?

I could go on for hours with other examples of what I see in my neighborhood, at the park and library down the street, and what longtime local I’ve gotten to know tell me. It’s not the suburban oasis that you’d find in a place like Agrestic, but it’s certainly not void of families up here.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by AnthonyJ34

It must be nice to have a place up in the mountains for a getaway. Our local So. Cal mountains have many great areas. Idyllwild has always been my personal favorite, since it's so secluded and quaint, without all the hustle and bustle (and ski/resort traffic) that chokes many of the other more popular mountain areas (at least in winter). I also have an aunt and uncle who have lived in Wrightwood for the past 35 years; we used to visit there often, so I'm well acquainted with the Wrightwood area as well -- and it's a very nice town. Wrightwood gets swamped though with traffic during snow season.

I was born and raised down here in Cerritos (and still live here) but have always wanted to relocate to either the mountains or to a more rural area. And as you mentioned, living in our local mountains affords one easy access to the more populated lowland areas, so living in Wrightwood or Big Bear or Idyllwild really isn't that far off the beaten path to make commuting a huge deal (at least not in good weather). Big Bear would actually be the longest commute down the hill.

I do not let a day goes by when we’re up here that I don’t appreciate what we have. We lucked out with the market not recovering up here as quickly when we bought in 2016. While we would’ve be able to afford a second home today like we have now, there’s still places cheap to be had if you’re willing to put in the work like we did, and have cash as the cheap places probably can’t get financed.

I love Idyllwild (my wife even more so than me) but skiing is very important to us. If it wasn’t I’d be there, or in our local mountains in San Diego County.

I would never want to commute from Big Bear. Just the extra distance to there once on the hill made it a no go when we were looking for a place. Most that commute live between Crestline and Arrowbear for this reason. We chose Running Springs for its location right at the top of the hill, and it’s equal (almost) distance between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. If I did commute off the hill I’d want to be here as well.

Since you love the mountains so my advice to you is to follow the market and see if any of your friends/family might want to invest in a vacation home and potential vacation rental. There’s actually a beater on the market now for $59K in Arrowbear that I’m gonna go look at later today.

[waltchan]

For Los Angeles metropolitan area, Moreno Valley, CA seems to be the best value in everything.

[Jerry..]

I looked there but you don't buy anything up to $ 250,000 I think we are more lucky in Las Vegas or Tucson but the water bill is high there or I don't know? You also pay Personal property in California. or Arizona? what makes California so expensive?


For Los Angeles metropolitan area, Moreno Valley, CA seems to be the best value in everything

[msgsing]

For average working people who need to be within reasonable commuting distance to jobs and are coming to this state from somewhere else there basically are no affordable places to live where most jobs are located. Look somewhere else.

[Jerry..]

if you are about 60 miles from los angeles it is also affordable to live there and you also have a house. up to 225,000 which places should we think of