How in the world do you make it in CA?

hipab4hands · Jul 25, 2005

You can't buy a house for $450,000 where I live. Possibly, you could find a beat up condo in that price range, so it becomes a real dilemma for new grads. They've probably never imagined themselves living in those conditions, after having worked so hard to become a nurse. I had one of the residents tell me last year that she and her fiance are leaving after she finishes the program because they can't afford anything they'd want to live in. She's a doctor and he's a lawyer, and they can't afford a house. I have no idea how young people do it. We bought our first house for $129,000, and put all our profit down on this house, so it isn't that difficult. I can't imagine how we'd be able to pay $700,000 for the simple little ranch houses in my neighborhood, but that's what they're going for.

One on my neighbors put his home up for sale. It was built in the 1950's and is approximately 1400 sq ft. The asking price is $400,000.

Geeg · Jul 26, 2005

I moved from OH to CA years ago, you are correct the pay is laughable. However, if good weather is a priority, then CA has it.

USFguy · Aug 3, 2005

I moved from OH to CA years ago, you are correct the pay is laughable. However, if good weather is a priority, then CA has it.

I was born and raised in california and lived on both ends of the state (SF bay area and LA metro area). The pay out here is high and you can make it if renting is fine with you. I remember some statistic by the California Realty Association that said only 16% of californians could afford a home and only 8% in the SF bay area. Buying a home in this state is hard. Even homes out in "once thought to be" remote areas like Stockton in the northern half and Palmdale in the southern half, cost $300,000 and upwards. You have to add long commutes onto that, high taxes (property taxes sometimes can cost the amount of rent for a small studio--seriously), transportation costs (car registration is expensive, so is the cost to ride BART in SF or MetroLink in LA).

Having lived here my whole life, I'm ready to give up the diversity, weather, liberal people for somewhere I can live a bit more comfortably. I mean, in Houston, I could pay $260,000 for a 5 bedroom house in a master-planned community that would cost 3 times that much in CA. That is just too huge of a difference for me. CA's just not worth $500,000 more. That's really what it comes down to. Why would I pay $300,000 to live in Palmdale, with at least a 1 hour commute, with many uneducated people when I could pay less and live in Houston, with a 20 min. commute with many educated people.

I always wonder why people struggle so much to live in CA. Maybe it's the image and luster. I don't know but I am getting a reality check and moving to a place in the country that I can really afford.

LydiaNN · Aug 3, 2005

I always wonder why people struggle so much to live in CA. Maybe it's the image and luster. I don't know but I am getting a reality check and moving to a place in the country that I can really afford.

I wouldn't live anywhere but CA. It has nothing to do with the image and luster, and everything to do with the weather, the fact that we have the desert, the mountains, and the sea all within a day's drive, the "blueness" of the state in most of the things that matter to me, the fact that all my friends are here and all my son's friends are here, my job is here....

ellescorpio · Aug 3, 2005

I live in TX. I am moving to CA. I am sorry to say but I have a feeling USFguy has not spent enough time in TX. The weather especially in Houston is hot and humid. They have awful pollution. When I visit my family there my eyes hurt so bad from the pollution, I can't even put in my contacts. People are more to the left in Houston than in most places in TX, but that isn't saying much. I would take an "uneducated" liberal over a conservative "educated" person any day. I just hope USFguy really takes some time to visit TX. I think there is more to give up in CA than just "image and luster". If living comfortably means having a five bedroom house, I am willing to be uncomfortable. I just can't justify having excess stuff like houses, cars, and other material items as being worth giving up great weather and open-minded people. Oh well, to each his own.

USFguy · Aug 4, 2005

I live in TX. I am moving to CA. I am sorry to say but I have a feeling USFguy has not spent enough time in TX. The weather especially in Houston is hot and humid. They have awful pollution. When I visit my family there my eyes hurt so bad from the pollution, I can't even put in my contacts. People are more to the left in Houston than in most places in TX, but that isn't saying much. I would take an "uneducated" liberal over a conservative "educated" person any day. I just hope USFguy really takes some time to visit TX. I think there is more to give up in CA than just "image and luster". If living comfortably means having a five bedroom house, I am willing to be uncomfortable. I just can't justify having excess stuff like houses, cars, and other material items as being worth giving up great weather and open-minded people. Oh well, to each his own.

Talk about pollution--have you ever visited L.A.! The smog is horrible. The roads are cracked and filled with potholes in both SF and LA because no state money goes in to infrastructure. The public schools here are the worst in the nation!! Yes, living comfortably isn't just about material items, but I need to support a family and plan for retirement. Weather and open-minded people are all fine, but who cares about that when you can't afford to send your children to college, save for retirement, take vacations, etc. I was just making the point that for $260,000, you get a hell of a lot more in houston then SF or LA. You can go ahead and think that all the nice things about california will satisfy you, but in the end it comes down to being able to buy descent home for your family to live in and sending your kids to descent public schools. That's where my priorities lie.

I'd like to welcome you to California. Hope your coming with some money to put down on your $600,000 2 bedroom cottage in Van Nuys or Oakland. I'm sure you'll have fun in the slopes up in Big Bear when your off (oh no, you have to do OT to pay mortgage this month or rent--if you didn't come with your down payment). Maybe you could go to the beach instead and enjoy the 40 degree polluted water. Or you can go hiking in Yosemite and pay $20 bucks to get in--there goes lunch!

It is too freakin expensive here!! It's not worth it!!

fergus51 · Aug 4, 2005

I live very comfortably here. Don't have to do any OT to pay my rent.

USFguy · Aug 4, 2005

I live very comfortably here. Don't have to do any OT to pay my rent.

You may not have to do OT to pay your RENT(notice you say rent and not mortgage) but I wonder how much you actually have left over every month to put away for retirement and a home. Unless you are single, with no children and don't mind being a lifetime renter, then california isn't for you. I'm telling you, it is a hard state to live in for families.

ellescorpio · Aug 4, 2005

USFguy, I wish you the best . I really do. It sounds like you have had enough of CA, and I understand that. I feel the same way about TX. I am not going to get into a word fight with you. It just seems recently everyone thinks TX is so great, and I do not agree. By the way my parents live in TX and didn't send me to college, I sent myself. The roads are great here in TX, because all of the state's money goes into roads and football. I don't know if you have researched TX schools but they are not great either. I hope your kids don't want to participate in any academic after school activities, because there is no money for that here in TX. The football team needs new uniforms every year, that's more important than new textbooks or computers. My parents have to pay for my brother and sister to go to a private school just so they can get a decent education, which they have to work OT to pay for. I hope you love it here in TX, I have lived here all my life and I've had enough. When I choose to buy a house I might move to another state if the bubble market in CA hasn't busted yet, but it won't be TX. Nowhere is perfect.

Talk about pollution--have you ever visited L.A.! The smog is horrible. The roads are cracked and filled with potholes in both SF and LA because no state money goes in to infrastructure. The public schools here are the worst in the nation!! Yes, living comfortably isn't just about material items, but I need to support a family and plan for retirement. Weather and open-minded people are all fine, but who cares about that when you can't afford to send your children to college, save for retirement, take vacations, etc. I was just making the point that for $260,000, you get a hell of a lot more in houston then SF or LA. You can go ahead and think that all the nice things about california will satisfy you, but in the end it comes down to being able to buy descent home for your family to live in and sending your kids to descent public schools. That's where my priorities lie.
I'd like to welcome you to California. Hope your coming with some money to put down on your $600,000 2 bedroom cottage in Van Nuys or Oakland. I'm sure you'll have fun in the slopes up in Big Bear when your off (oh no, you have to do OT to pay mortgage this month or rent--if you didn't come with your down payment). Maybe you could go to the beach instead and enjoy the 40 degree polluted water. Or you can go hiking in Yosemite and pay $20 bucks to get in--there goes lunch!
It is too freakin expensive here!! It's not worth it!!

USFguy · Aug 4, 2005

USFguy, I wish you the best . I really do. It sounds like you have had enough of CA, and I understand that. I feel the same way about TX. I am not going to get into a word fight with you. It just seems recently everyone thinks TX is so great, and I do not agree. By the way my parents live in TX and didn't send me to college, I sent myself. The roads are great here in TX, because all of the state's money goes into roads and football. I don't know if you have researched TX schools but they are not great either. I hope your kids don't want to participate in any academic after school activities, because there is no money for that here in TX. The football team needs new uniforms every year, that's more important than new textbooks or computers. My parents have to pay for my brother and sister to go to a private school just so they can get a decent education, which they have to work OT to pay for. I hope you love it here in TX, I have lived here all my life and I've had enough. When I choose to buy a house I might move to another state if the bubble market in CA hasn't busted yet, but it won't be TX. Nowhere is perfect.

I here ya. I really am fed up with CA. It's the fakeness and sugar-coating (no one is for real--more so in LA), the constant rat-race, the traffic, and most, the enormous cost of living. I guess I might stay if I was a doctor or someone who made alot more money, but I just can't cut it here as a nurse. Many people are leaving the state, but it seems (you as an example) are coming in to fill the empty spots. Many of my family have moved out of the state to places like New Mexico, Arizona, and Florida. They got tired of the never ending struggle to save and live comfortably at the same time. You will have fun here as you are young right now and probably detached. But as you get older, your priorities will shift and you will see how important it is to be able to save for retirement, buy a home, and send your kids to college and private schools (without doing OT--that also counts toward quality of life). Maybe I think a little to highly of houston, but believe me, CA is no better. Like you said, nowhere is perfect. I guess you just choose your battles.

You can have my 2 bedroom 2nd floor Edwardian flat in the nice Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland, which is 12 miles from San Francisco, but takes an hour to get to every morning because of traffic. Oh, by the way, the rent is $1275 a month with street parking that you must fight for daily. I'm taking my $1275 and I'm going to put it towards a house.

fergus51 · Aug 4, 2005

You may not have to do OT to pay your RENT(notice you say rent and not mortgage) but I wonder how much you actually have left over every month to put away for retirement and a home. Unless you are single, with no children and don't mind being a lifetime renter, then california isn't for you. I'm telling you, it is a hard state to live in for families.

I can easily bank 1500 a month. I don't have kids, and I don't mind renting. If I was married to someone making a comparable wage, I could easily afford a mortgage.

ellescorpio · Aug 4, 2005

I know how much the rent is, I am a research coordinator. I research everything. I am married. We have enough money saved right now, we COULD buy a house if we wanted to. My husband is going to be a doctor, so I guess we will be just fine. People are fake here in TX too. They will smile to your face and then stab you in the back. Most Texans are conservatives, and dare anyone have any opinions that don't coincide with their beliefs. There is a reason why you can buy a hamburger at Mc Donald's for .99¢, quality. There is always a reason behind prices, supply and demand. It wouldn't be so expensive to live in CA if it was as awful as you make it sound. There is a reason why TX is cheap, and soon enough you will see it first hand. We have considered moving to Austin, TX and buying a house and living the "comfortable" life. It is our opinion that it would be better for our children to grow and flourish mentally elsewhere. We want them to have their own opinions and we don't want them to HAVE to play football or be a cheerleader to benefit from the school's budget. We want a lot for our children, a lot of things we can't give them if they are surrounded by close minded people with egocentric belief systems. We don't party, we save our money, our priorities are just fine.

Since it is so cheap here in TX why didn't you move before you were in nursing school? We have nursing schools here too. We are all entitled to our opinions, and they are just that opinions. Nothing more, nothing less. Best of luck to you.

I here ya. I really am fed up with CA. It's the fakeness and sugar-coating (no one is for real--more so in LA), the constant rat-race, the traffic, and most, the enormous cost of living. I guess I might stay if I was a doctor or someone who made alot more money, but I just can't cut it here as a nurse. Many people are leaving the state, but it seems (you as an example) are coming in to fill the empty spots. Many of my family have moved out of the state to places like New Mexico, Arizona, and Florida. They got tired of the never ending struggle to save and live comfortably at the same time. You will have fun here as you are young right now and probably detached. But as you get older, your priorities will shift and you will see how important it is to be able to save for retirement, buy a home, and send your kids to college and private schools (without doing OT--that also counts toward quality of life). Maybe I think a little to highly of houston, but believe me, CA is no better. Like you said, nowhere is perfect. I guess you just choose your battles.
You can have my 2 bedroom 2nd floor Edwardian flat in the nice Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland, which is 12 miles from San Francisco, but takes an hour to get to every morning because of traffic. Oh, by the way, the rent is $1275 a month with street parking that you must fight for daily. I'm taking my $1275 and I'm going to put it towards a house.