""thought I'd brave Montana, but can you believe their rents?! (Los Angeles: rental, motels)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

The California real estate bubble was interesting,because the magnitude of the real estate rises were directly proportional to how "cool" a town was perceived to be by coastal Californians. For instance, Ashland,Reno, Bozeman, Kalispell, Durango, Bellingham, Arcata, Bend, Chapel Hill, NC, Santa Fe, Flagstaff,Asheville, etc.,etc. were blown through the roof. While Salem, Helena, Moscow, LaGrande, Colville, Baker City, Pittsburgh, Cheyenne, and Cincinnati were not.

Quite a responsibility being an arbiter of cool. Was such a crushing burden on my psyche I had to get out.

[Fontucky]

In English subtitles...

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

I loved the add for the 2,400 square foot home renting for $1,250 I think and the place is new. You might be able to get a 2 bedroom apartment in Oxnard for around that price. It will be something built in the late 1950's to the mid 1970's. I don't know of any homes renting for less than $2,200. Most of the homes I know of start at the $2,200 range and that would be for somehting closer to 1,300 Square feet and at least 30 years old.

There are property owners in Santa Cruz county that will have what they call a "cabin" or "cottage" on their land .... where they live ... you know, in the big house.
These structures are often more like glorified shacks and i've seen them rent for as high as $1300.
And they don't want you around basically ... they just want a cash cow.
Not all of those set-ups are like that but many.

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Quite a responsibility being an arbiter of cool. Was such a crushing burden on my psyche I had to get out.

Not sure what you meant here. I am no arbiter, but an observer, and decidedly uncool. It is just a bit confusing because any of the towns that were amenity rich and trending liberal were blasted into the stratosphere by wealthy incomers with specific tastes (or biases, preconceptions, if you will). I sensed the OP was saying that she wants a liberal mecca town at a bargain. Some of these existed in 2000, but no more. Which is a shame. In Ashland, where I live, it has been nearly a decade since anyone local has been able to move into town and start a life. EVERYONE is from the bay area, and funniest of all, when the schools have been closing for lack of kids, the newcomers put their kids in private school....sigh.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Last I read Fresno county was the number one agricultural county in the a nation. Things may have changed, but the central valley does score major points for breadbasketness.......whatever that is.

Not sure if it embodies good old American values. But then I am not really sure what those are. Even farmers, stolid and hardworking as they are, do not hesitate to support political hacks and like their subsidies as much as the most hardened illegal immigrant welfare Mom. The pursuit of liberty, quick money, and hypocrisy go all the way back.

Well it may be .... Fresno > #1 agricultural county in the nation.
But the the term "breadbasket" refers (has always referred) to the midwest and i just had to give the goober a hard time.

"American values"? ugggggghhhhhhhhhh. sigh. whatever.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Not sure what you meant here. I am no arbiter, but an observer, and decidedly uncool.

Comment wasn't directed at you. I was amused thinking that as a former South Coaster I was defining the tastes and preferences of my fellow man.

[Clarks]

Fresno is more the raisin box, than the bread basket.

I have always enjoyed hearing the western rancher complain about welfare and socialism while running their cattle on Public land (our land) at costs 1/4 of what they would pay to lease private land.

And the west side Central Valley farmers are all up in arms because their socialist welfare water was cut off.

[CAVA1990]

Ag and defense are the two biggest welfare programs going.

[JetMech72]

Originally Posted by natalie456

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Well, it started as an attempt to share with others my fascination at finding Missoula, Mt. to be almost as expensive as CA, then my frustrations after 2 yrs of researching places kicked in, and so then to the landlord rant. Feel free to comment on any.
natalie456

I have a nice apartment in downtown Missoula and pay $555/mo. including utilities. Also having been stationed in San Diego and Lemoore California, I dare you to find anything as cheap in California.

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Ag and defense are the two biggest welfare programs going.

Amen to this and the welfare ranching post above. "I am the rural westerner, hear me roar! I am tall, strong, independent, have a large truck and belt buckle, and I can keep supporting my brave American lifestyle if you keep providing below cost farming, ranching, logging, and mining on federal lands." The galling thing is these parasites are usually the most strident anti-tax,anti-entitlement Republicans going. The Klamath Basin Project up here in Oregon is pretty much the same. The hypocrisy is pretty revolting. They go one better than that. The right wingers up here claim everything would be fine if we just gave them all the public lands outright (remember the "Sagebrush Rebellion?"). So, they manage to feel aggrieved and thwarted even as they are getting their yearly welfare deal. Sound like entitlement to you?

I am not capping on conservatives as a whole here, just pointing out that with respect to "entitlements," people tend to have selective indignation...