Is Everybody Moving to California?

U.S.A. California

Published

Just an observation but, it seems like there's a flood of posts lately from people inquiring about moving here.

Not too long ago the local news seemed to be filled with stories about people supposedly moving away because of the high cost of living, traffic etc. I guess that in reality, it doesn't always seem to be the case ... at least with RN's.

So what's up posters? What made you decide to check out and/or move to Cali?

:typing

If all you hear is how expensive and crowded the popular areas of California are, and you visit and most of what you see with your own eyes or read in real estate magazines are >500,000 dollar homes....well it easy to get the impression that most people in California don't have a 1200 dollar/month mortgage. Doesn't sound like the norm...

Well, that's just it ... the popular areas. The way to make real money in California, IMHO, is to go with the "unpopular" areas that have a lot of potential.

Basically, what we did was take weekend trips to different areas for two years looking for the next California boom town that would suit our needs. We didn't want to pay a fortune for a house. Like most people we wanted to buy cheap but, we also hoped to invest in an area with lots of appreciation potential.

So we moved to what many would consider a hick town. However, shortly thereafter KB Homes came in with a ton of development ... and the place took off. Now the area is growing so fast it's unbelieveable.

If your heart is set on high priced areas then, yeah ... it's going to cost. But, the real opportunities are in the undiscovered areas because, in California ... today's undesirable hick town can become tomorrow's yuppyville pretty quick.

The key is to not follow the crowd .... and to find those towns beforehand when they're still cheap ... not after everybody discovers it and drives up prices.

:typing

Well, that's just it ... the popular areas. The way to make real money in California, IMHO, is to go with the "unpopular" areas that have a lot of potential.

Basically, what we did was take weekend trips to different areas for two years looking for the next California boom town that would suit our needs. We didn't want to pay a fortune for a house. Like most people we wanted to buy cheap but, we also hoped to invest in an area with lots of appreciation potential.

So we moved to what many would consider a hick town. However, shortly thereafter KB Homes came in with a ton of development ... and the place took off. Now the area is growing so fast it's unbelieveable.

If your heart is set on high priced areas then, yeah ... it's going to cost. But, the real opportunities are in the undiscovered areas because, in California ... today's undesirable hick town can become tomorrow's yuppyville pretty quick.

The key is to not follow the crowd .... and to find those towns beforehand when they're still cheap ... not after everybody discovers it and drives up prices.

:typing

This is true, sounds like you guys did it the smart way. For me, the only real interest I would have in living in California is if I could live at the beach or very close. (which are the popular areas) That costs way too much so the thought of moving to Cali doesn't hold a lot of appeal for us. Same with Florida ( with the added gator and hurricane worries). If I were to move to California and couldn't be on the beach, I would want to be by Lake Shasta because we houseboat every year there anyway and love that area. Again though, Redding is getting pretty spendy too and I would be worried about a lack of work for my husband if we went too far into the forest or into a really small town.

Again though, Redding is getting pretty spendy too and I would be worried about a lack of work for my husband if we went too far into the forest or into a really small town.

Yeah ... not all towns are going to boom. It pretty much comes down to transportation access and whether the town is in the path where development is pushing out. But if the town has lousy transportation access and is too isolated then, it's not a good bet.

:typing

hey Lizz- where do you live? We plan to move to a small town in the sierra foothills in the next few years. Although home prices are up- our home here in LA county has appreciated an amazing amount since 99 and we plan to cash out and buy a home free and clear. I really am a small town girl at heart and never planned to live in LA this long.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Home Health, LTC.

California native.....I want to move but don't know where and above things true. rent expensive esp in cities. smog is some areas is nauseating. people in cities are stressed then rude everyone is thinking about making money...forget about human kind. to much stress. Pollution along with plenty of fast food eaters will keep hospitals busy and full so there is plenty of work.

But I have lived north and south..my assessment:

Southern california's people are basically superficial. nice weather and air guality along coast ok becasue the ocean winds blow most of the smog into inland areas and even the Grand Canyon making those a grey hell, eyes burn, throat and headache. water is polluted, only drink processed filtered water. Pay is better than most states but rent or mortgage will take most of it. Northern california an improvement..san francisco wonderful city but very expensive. some nurses actually air commute from other areas to work few shifts than return home each week. farther north along coast very beautiful but no sunshine.

It is a military complex in many areas and the police are corrupt in many areas. along california mexico border there is a war raging about immigration

there are secret prisons being built for who knows who?

I know california may seem, and may be , better than other states but my question is..what is happening to north americas quality of life overall? rich are richer poor are poorer and the middle class is disappearing.

I am not entirely sure the united states is such a good place right now.

nor any of the countries affected by policies of the united states.

Which brings to mind Oct 5. day of mass resisitance, see http://worldcantwait.org and lets all pray.

PS/ smaller towns rural areas in california offer better quality of life and still good wages

How is Anaheim, newport beach, laguna hills... areas around there. Are they booming or what? ANy inside scoop would be greatly appreciated!

orange county has already boomed. it is waaaay expensive there. that is not to say real estate will suffer too much there- it is a very desirable area with a strong economy.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
California native.....I want to move but don't know where and above things true. rent expensive esp in cities. smog is some areas is nauseating. people in cities are stressed then rude everyone is thinking about making money...forget about human kind. to much stress. Pollution along with plenty of fast food eaters will keep hospitals busy and full so there is plenty of work.

But I have lived north and south..my assessment:

Southern california's people are basically superficial. nice weather and air guality along coast ok becasue the ocean winds blow most of the smog into inland areas and even the Grand Canyon making those a grey hell, eyes burn, throat and headache. water is polluted, only drink processed filtered water. Pay is better than most states but rent or mortgage will take most of it. Northern california an improvement..san francisco wonderful city but very expensive. some nurses actually air commute from other areas to work few shifts than return home each week. farther north along coast very beautiful but no sunshine.

It is a military complex in many areas and the police are corrupt in many areas. along california mexico border there is a war raging about immigration

there are secret prisons being built for who knows who?

I know california may seem, and may be , better than other states but my question is..what is happening to north americas quality of life overall? rich are richer poor are poorer and the middle class is disappearing.

I am not entirely sure the united states is such a good place right now.

nor any of the countries affected by policies of the united states.

Which brings to mind Oct 5. day of mass resisitance, see http://worldcantwait.org and lets all pray.

PS/ smaller towns rural areas in california offer better quality of life and still good wages

Secret prisons are being built here, you say? Why not ask the person who told you about them who they are intended to house?

Secret prisons are being built here, you say? Why not ask the person who told you about them who they are intended to house?

:lol2:

California native.....I want to move but don't know where...

PS/ smaller towns rural areas in california offer better quality of life and still good wages

Kashia, seems you answered your own question about where to move to. When most non-Californians hear the word 'California' they immediately think about huge cities like LA and San Francisco with crowds, traffic, smog, and fog. As you know, California is a HUGE state and if you don't like living in the cities there are countless smaller, less populated towns all up and down the state that you can move to.

Not everyone who's moving to California is moving to the big cities either. I was offered several rural positions there, and you are right that some of them do pay quite well.

Specializes in Hemodialysis/Oncology/Cardiac Tele/DOU.

I'm also a CA Native also - 47 years. I agree with you. The State has and seems to be continuing to deteriorate at a rather rapid pace. The allure that it continues to have on those that decide to move here will eventually at some point turn into a culture shock. The California that you see on TV and the vacations to Disneyland that you may have taken, are not by any means indicative of what it's like to live here. It may be good to take a good long look before you leap..and I wish nothing but luck to those who do come. I'm not trying to be negative-just a realist. Lizz your reply is off topic. RN to pt ratios have nothing to do with what I was talking about:monkeydance:

The State has and seems to be continuing to deteriorate at a rather rapid pace. The allure that it continues to have on those that decide to move here will eventually at some point turn into a culture shock.

Yeah ... what a shock California can be. Those ratios are a real shocker. Getting 8-10 patients in other states is much better than California's ratio law ...

Afterall ... who wants only five patients (soon to be four in 2008) in California?

8-10 patients is much better. Afterall, I'm sure RN's can enjoy a better quality of life elsewhere if they're totally overworked and underpaid.

Yep ... the quality of life really sucks here in California.

:rolleyes:

+ Add a Comment