California Home Prices Drop ...

RN34TX · Nov 5, 2006

If this California bashing keeps up ... I'm going to start some "Why Your State Sucks" threads. There's many states on my list, actually.

LOL!

You can start with Texas......that ought to keep you plenty busy for a long time before moving on to another state.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 5, 2006

Hey guys - lets lighten up. Believe me, I've lived in plenty of states (and overseas too in several different countries). Every place has good and bad. Fact is California is known as an expensive place to live while generally Mississippi is cheaper. That's just a fact, although a generatlized fact.

I live in IL - we are much more than just Chicago! However, folks wonder if I live in the cornfields (which I do) and am I married to my cousin (I'm not).

There is no reason to take this so seriously.

RNLifesaver · Nov 5, 2006

Jealousy- they must be jealous of Californians!!

Yes, the weather is awesome there. And the housing prices are outrageous!!

The pay (from what I have been told) is fairly equivalent to where I am (Connecticut). And I can assure you- our housing prices are up there and we don't even get the GORGEOUS weather!!

Enjoy California if you live there! I would!!!! It beats trekking to work in a blizzard any day!!

LydiaNN · Nov 5, 2006

Hey guys - lets lighten up. Believe me, I've lived in plenty of states (and overseas too in several different countries). Every place has good and bad. Fact is California is known as an expensive place to live while generally Mississippi is cheaper. That's just a fact, although a generatlized fact.
I live in IL - we are much more than just Chicago! However, folks wonder if I live in the cornfields (which I do) and am I married to my cousin (I'm not).
There is no reason to take this so seriously.

It isn't that people claim California is expensive that bothers me. Facts are facts, and housing costs are ridiculous out here. What bothers me is the other jabs, especially the claim that our quality of life is substandard. Um, no, it's not and that's a FACT!

Sheri257 · Nov 5, 2006

There is no reason to take this so seriously.

Normally I would agree with you. But when you read the same thing, day after day, month after month ...

You wonder if those same people would like it if we went into their forums and trashed their home state over and over.

They'd be the first the say it would be extremely rude to do so. And it is.

A lot of us are sick of it, and for good reason.

:typing

Trauma Columnist · Nov 5, 2006

Again - I do respectfully disagree with the opinion that California, New Mexico, Nevada, etc (insert your state here) is better or worse than the next state. That's the cool thing about the US - we have a huge variety of climates, topography, people, cultures and we are all truly a melting pot.

We are so lucky that we do live in the US and that we can voice our opinions.

BeccaznRN, RN · Nov 5, 2006

OK, I'm going to take a shot at this and hope to not appear as if I'm bashing California.....

Just the expense alone can contribute to a poor quality of life. It has nothing to do with the area, the people, the weather, the beach, whatever. I have posted on here before that I'm moving back to California right after graduation, and I have no problem with it. I have lived there before and I loved it! However, I'm pretty lucky that my significant other serves in the military and gets a decent allowance for housing, I'm not sure if I would be able to have the same quality of life (again, thinking expenses only) if I had to do it on my own. The housing alone would kill me, assuming I would live alone and not with a roommate.

My SO and I have had many conversations on purchasing a home in California, and there's just no way we can afford it. The mortgage would be sky-high, taxes would be sky-high, and we do not have the option of going back in time and buying a reasonable home before the area boomed or moving to the outlying areas where homes are less expensive. Frankly, it sucks. I would love to purchase a home because we will be there for at least the next six years, but I think everyone can understand how hard it is for people who are brand new to California living to start out when houses cost so much.

So who knows.....maybe the home prices will drop further and we could become happy California homeowners after all! :yeah:

kirsnikity · Nov 5, 2006

To get back to the thread's topic--

I am thrilled that housing prices are coming down. I live in the High Desert (which historically is cheaper than other parts of California but not "cheap" at the moment) and if housing prices continue to drop I *might* be able to buy a house here in a few years.

Lizz--are we classmates?

Nikki

shodobe · Nov 6, 2006

Housing prices are dropping but only at a minuscule rate. I guess the difference between $500,000 and $490,000 is really nothing. Prices are only coming down a little at a time. Waiting a few years might be well worth the wait. Still California leads in areas that only other states can dream of. Even crime is down a fraction of a percent so that should be enough for anyone to move here!LOL

BSNtobe2009 · Nov 6, 2006

OK, I'm going to take a shot at this and hope to not appear as if I'm bashing California.....
Just the expense alone can contribute to a poor quality of life. It has nothing to do with the area, the people, the weather, the beach, whatever. I have posted on here before that I'm moving back to California right after graduation, and I have no problem with it. I have lived there before and I loved it! However, I'm pretty lucky that my significant other serves in the military and gets a decent allowance for housing, I'm not sure if I would be able to have the same quality of life (again, thinking expenses only) if I had to do it on my own. The housing alone would kill me, assuming I would live alone and not with a roommate.
My SO and I have had many conversations on purchasing a home in California, and there's just no way we can afford it. The mortgage would be sky-high, taxes would be sky-high, and we do not have the option of going back in time and buying a reasonable home before the area boomed or moving to the outlying areas where homes are less expensive. Frankly, it sucks. I would love to purchase a home because we will be there for at least the next six years, but I think everyone can understand how hard it is for people who are brand new to California living to start out when houses cost so much.
So who knows.....maybe the home prices will drop further and we could become happy California homeowners after all!

Exactly! That is what I meant...if all of your money is going for a house and taxes, how much can possibly be left over to do other things?

It's not just California, many states in New England are experiencing the same thing, and I'm a colder weather person, and I would give anything to live in New England or the Northern Part of California, and yes, you can get creative financing to make payments on a house, but my goal is to have one paid off by the time I retire so I can avoid that expense altogether.

It's not a right or wrong thing, it's just about what is important to you.

mommy2boys · Nov 6, 2006

I guess things are different in northern CA. Six months ago the house down the street from me sold for 315,000 (in less than a week). There is now a different house for sale (exact same floor plan) selling for 275,000 (its been on the market for about a month). So according to my math, that is a $40,000 difference.

The cost of living is different for all parts of the state. I'm a SAHM and my DH makes about 45k a year. We live fine and we own our own home. If you want to live in CA, you have to look at the entire state. Yes, southern CA does cost more to live, but you tend to make more money.

There are things I hate about CA (born and raised), but there are SO many more things that I love.

ERIN

YoungWiseWoman · Nov 7, 2006

you know ... there seems to be a recurring pattern here. and i'm not just talking about this thread.
there's a lot of places that i'd rather die than live in. and i'm sure many californians feel the same way.
but i don't see people routinely making a point of going to the forums in other states and telling people how bad it is and that they shouldn't live there.
what's up with all of these california haters? seems like california bashing has become a favorite past time.
maybe we should go to the other forums and start complaining about everything that's wrong with their state.
this is getting to be ridiculous.

just to add me 2cents, i would love to live in ca, that's why i'm moving there after i graduate. everytime i tell someone my plans they say "it's so expensive to live there and i would never want to do that." it makes me mad too because they act like once i leave tx i can never come back! i keep reminding them, this is something i want to do. if they are going to help pay some rent, then i they can have something to say. other than that they can "shut it!"

that's all