salary of 175000, is that enough to ask for in LA?

[welder]

I wouldn't even bother getting out of bed for a lousy 200k in LA!

[mellabella]

Originally Posted by welder

I wouldn't even bother getting out of bed for a lousy 200k in LA!

Maybe my husband is in the wrong business, welding is where it's at I guess

[Tasksgirl]

Originally Posted by Undulator

$175K may sound like a lot of money to people from other states, and when they're offered a salary like this they immediately start thinking of luxury living among the stars in Beverly Hills. Truth is $175K won't get you anywhere close to that. In reality you're probably looking at a townhouse or small SFH in the outskirts/valley, or a tiny west side condo.

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LOL what?? I know people literally working at McDonalds and own their home. Los Angeles is weird. You have to change your priorities. 175,000 a year is a HUGE amount of money and to say otherwise is simply ridiculous. I make only $42,000 and I live very comfortably. My car is paid off and I rent a nice apartment. I have nice things like computers, cell phones, etc. I don't live with a roomate I live with my husband who couldn't work for several years while he was in the immigration process. I got by on alot less than that. If you are going to rent a house you might as well just buy one. Hardly anyone out here makes that much but look there are houses everywhere! What ridiculous advice to rent or that you can only afford a cheap condo. If you are extremely picky with neighborhoods (only Beverly Hills) or insist on owning 3 or 4 $100,000 cars then of course you can not afford to buy a home but if you are ready to live a very comfortable lower-upper class existence - get a nice BMW or something on Craigslist - buy a nice size home in one of the middle/upper class areas and enjoy your life! No need to throw away money on rent.

This really amazes me. I have noticed something since I've lived here - Most of the houses in the Los Angeles area are owned by minorities like my husband's friends and family who make significantly less - while caucasians tend to stay in condos or very fancy $2,000+ apartments. My theory is that minorities make their housing a priority and don't shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods or go to Starbucks 3 times a day. They have different priorities and thus can afford a home while the business executive THINKS he can only afford a tiny condo because he can't let go of his $100,000 car and fancy dinners out. Priorities people !! The other reason for this is that people like this only want to live in certain neighborhoods like all my co-workers who think I live "far" because I live in Glendale! (hello - 5 miles from downtown!)

[bettyklang]

Originally Posted by Tasksgirl

This really amazes me. I have noticed something since I've lived here - Most of the houses in the Los Angeles area are owned by minorities like my husband's friends and family who make significantly less - while caucasians tend to stay in condos or very fancy $2,000+ apartments. My theory is that minorities make their housing a priority and don't shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods or go to Starbucks 3 times a day. They have different priorities and thus can afford a home while the business executive THINKS he can only afford a tiny condo because he can't let go of his $100,000 car and fancy dinners out. Priorities people !! The other reason for this is that people like this only want to live in certain neighborhoods like all my co-workers who think I live "far" because I live in Glendale! (hello - 5 miles from downtown!)

I agree with you, my parents were well educated immigrants who didn't have well paying jobs and bought a house 4 years after getting here...and they had the 2 of us to worry about.

Of course they didn't take vacations, or go to the movies...or eat out. Every time I think of the sacrifices they made it makes me feel silly that I'm nervous to do the same on a better salary... with 175K salary you can buy a house with a pool... not just rent

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Tasksgirl

This really amazes me. I have noticed something since I've lived here - Most of the houses in the Los Angeles area are owned by minorities like my husband's friends and family who make significantly less - while caucasians tend to stay in condos or very fancy $2,000+ apartments. My theory is that minorities make their housing a priority and don't shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods or go to Starbucks 3 times a day. They have different priorities and thus can afford a home while the business executive THINKS he can only afford a tiny condo because he can't let go of his $100,000 car and fancy dinners out. Priorities people !! The other reason for this is that people like this only want to live in certain neighborhoods like all my co-workers who think I live "far" because I live in Glendale! (hello - 5 miles from downtown!)

I think a lot of immigrants are also more willing to live 4 generations to a house and rent out the dining room and garage to strangers. I want a place my wife and I can afford on our own, without renting parts of it out, and without living with family until we're 60.

[mellabella]

I don't want to buy because I don't plan on staying for more than 3 yrs....we have moved every 2 or 3 yrs for my husbands work....now that the housing market tanked i wouldn't want to be tied down to a house that won't sell when we want to move back or somewhere else. We have bought and sold 4 houses in 7 yrs, but this time I am not going to bother buying right away.

I see in some other threads that they only get 20% income tax deductions......with 3 kids.....if my husband is the only one working and we have 2 kids is 40% more like it for deductions?
i checked on paycheckcity.com and that is what they came up with.

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

I think a lot of immigrants are also more willing to live 4 generations to a house and rent out the dining room and garage to strangers. I want a place my wife and I can afford on our own, without renting parts of it out, and without living with family until we're 60.

Yeah, well, if you made $175k you could do that all pretty easily, eh?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

Yeah, well, if you made $175k you could do that all pretty easily, eh?

Well, yeah, I think I could do pretty well on $175k. Its those of us that make much closer to average or even 1.5-2x average that are in a tough spot when it comes to affording housing in a safe area.

[mellabella]

I was looking on LAlife.com and Manhattan beach seems safe and has good school ratings.....does anyone know from personal experience anything about the elementary schools? I have a child in first grade and one that is in junior kindergarten...i don't think there are public schools with JK in California are there?
Does anyone know of any Catholic schools for them in MB? I think we may be paying for private school, since they are used to Catholic already. (it's free in Ontario Canada, I will miss that for sure!)

[mellabella]

how much do utilities average in agoura hills? there will be 2 adults and 2 kiddos.
cable, internet, gas, electricity, water ? TIA!