Why do people still want to live in California? (Los Angeles: earthquakes, cost of)

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by CHRockwell

Hate to break it to you but many can do the following with the money they save.

Take a wine trip to Tuscany or the Bordeaux region
Ski and stay in a Chalet in the Swiss alps or in Park City, Aspen, etc
Actually go to the Mediterranean
Gamble in Monte Carlo

I love Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Snowmass, and Jackson Hole.......but......they don’t have a particular lake. There is something to be said for looking out at Lake Tahoe before starting a run from the top of Squaw, or the top of Heavenly, or even Diamond Peak.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by emotiioo

There emerges a really interesting undercurrent 8n this thread. California has a high cost
Of living, true. So it seems like some responders ate trying the old "if you have to ask you can't afford it" to subtly shame those who look askance at the value of living in this state. That somehow if you at living there, you must have lots of resources and the only reason people would complain about California is that they don't have enough resources.

Really interesting from a social perspective. Anyone questions your decision and you poor shame them. Or say they are jealous, obvs.

Not an an uncommon occurrence .

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

Not an an uncommon occurrence .

One that should be put in context in regard to the OP.

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

At this point (actually, long past ...) it’s patently clear you have an agenda beyond simple curious discussion. Just another niggling thread to deprecate California. Ho-hum.

Obviously, if it were a simple, curious discussion, the OP wouldn't have received the answers that h/she did.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

How would previous appraisals help a new owner, that just got re-appraised, yet again?

I never said it would help them but it wouldn't change the fact that the new owner is paying a crapload more in property tax than the seller. I'm trying to illustrate that what new owners pay is influenced by inflated home values, it's not because of Prop 13

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

That's a HUGE difference. A difference of over a half million dollars, over time for me. (Well, that's a fair amount of money to me. Maybe not to you, I guess.) Actually, per prop. 13, it can only rise 2% per year. (Fees, NOT included.)

You are right about the 2% not sure what I was thinking about. But I never said that it's a good thing to reappraise houses every few years for some reason you seem to think that I am criticizing prop 13 and I'm not.

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

It's hard to compare different locations, because of demand. Also, using "percentages" can mislead. Using your examples above, the Nevada house could have appreciated $250K. While the Sacto house could have appreciated $700+K. So, you see how "percentages" can mislead, IF used solely for comparison purposes.

Percentages are the only rational way to compare increases in this case. If you have a different way to evaluate the increase in the price of homes in both areas over 5 years then go for it, I would like to see your analysis.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

I never said it would help them but it wouldn't change the fact that the new owner is paying a crapload more in property tax than the seller. I'm trying to illustrate that what new owners pay is influenced by inflated home values, it's not because of Prop 13

OK, we agree. Crazy high prices are going to contribute to crazy high taxes.

You are right about the 2% not sure what I was thinking about. But I never said that it's a good thing to reappraise houses every few years for some reason you seem to think that I am criticizing prop 13 and I'm not.

Understand you now.

Percentages are the only rational way to compare increases in this case. If you have a different way to evaluate the increase in the price of homes in both areas over 5 years then go for it, I would like to see your analysis.

I'm just saying that there are more factors to consider, but you're right. Percentage of sales price is the elephant in the room.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

I love Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Snowmass, and Jackson Hole.......but......they don’t have a particular lake. There is something to be said for looking out at Lake Tahoe before starting a run from the top of Squaw, or the top of Heavenly, or even Diamond Peak.

One thing I forgot to include in the above ^^^^^.....you don’t have to be in California to take in that view. Diamond Peak is in Nevada. Re Heavenly, I’ve never paid attention to exactly where the state line goes re the runs. So I don’t know if any of the points where you see the lake at the top of runs are in Nevada or not. If I had to guess, I’d probably say no (i’d bet most or all of the backside is in Nevada and that the top is probably all in California).

[Vic Romano]

Originally Posted by Finper

You just described Florida and Georgia

Sure. With 90 degree temps and humidity.

[mysticaltyger]

The short answer to the original post:

--Moving is a pain.
--People like sticking to the familiar, until things get really, reallly bad for them on a personal level.
--People like being around family, friends, & other support systems.
--Some people still have jobs that can't easily be replaced in other locales. That may sometimes just be perception, but that perception forms their reality.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by Vic Romano

Sure. With 90 degree temps and humidity.

You mean like the inland areas of CA and especially the Inland Valley?


True no humidity, though it is increasing, but also no beaches in a 1 hour or less drive, like FL. GA can be several hours for sure.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

The short answer to the original post:

--People like being around family, friends, & other support systems.
--Some people still have jobs that can't easily be replaced in other locales. That may sometimes just be perception, but that perception forms their reality.

Or jobs they happen to like, so why would the leave them? Or they actually like California. Imagine!