Owning a home in California

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Hi guys,

So we all know that the cost of living in California is high. I have been looking at the real estate market and can't seem to understand how I would ever be able to afford a home without working two jobs or having a roomate. For those of you who own homes/condos/lofts how do you deal?

If you feel this is too personal of a question PM, just curios to know if I will ever be able to afford my dream...

Thanks

Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

They can be cheaper depending where you look though. You could use 350,000 to fetch your self a 3bd family home in Compton( bad area) or a one bedroom condo in West Hollywood (nice area). You could also use 600,000 to get a family home in Encino (nice area) or get a 2 bedroom condo in Brentwood (nice too)! Its all relative, but in general its hard (nearly impossible) to find a family home for cheap in a good neighborhood.

If you were looking for something in the city (like West Hollywood), you would need about 300-400k for a condo! Thats not affordable on an average registered nurse salary (with only one job n no overtime).

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

We have town houses here but not really anything that resembles a brownstone in NYC or the triple deckers in say Ma atleast in the Los Angeles area. There are condos also but most are apartment style. The bay area may be different though. LA is still pretty expensive as far as 3brm/2bath.

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Yikes! Growing up in NYC I always wanted to get a taste of California life.

Why is the Joaquin Valley so much different in price? Just because it is inland?

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Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

A median house there is still $275,000, not sure if its a good area or not, I googled it and thats the figured I got.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Why is the Joaquin Valley so much different in price? Just because it is inland?

1. If you live in the Central Valley, you must drive 100+ miles to get to the beach

2. People who live in the south Central Valley must drive 100+ miles to get to Los Angeles

3. People who live in the north Central Valley must drive 90+ miles to get to San Francisco

4. Las Vegas is about 250 to 300 miles away, depending on where you are

5. The weather reaches 90 to 100 degrees in the summer, sometimes hotter

6. The temperatures can dip to 20 degrees in some parts of the Valley during winter

7. The air quality is among the worst in the nation

8. The job market is bad for non-nurses, but decent if you are a nurse

9. The area is more politically conservative than the rest of the state

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Specializes in correctional, psych, ICU, CCU, ER.

Buy it!!

It's not going to get cheaper.

You will have tax writeoffs.

You will own it.

You will not waste money on rent.

You will be settled.

We bought our home in 1976 for $90,000. 4 bedrooms, pool, on a postage stamp piece of real estate.

At the beach.

I sweated those $600 payments.

I think everybody does for the first few years.

Property will go up.

Rapidly, in southern california.

Get the cheapest home you can find, in an area that has the best schools.

National Blue Ribbon schools.

The beach cities are about 20 degrees cooler than the valley.

Yeah, traffic is a bear, but, you don't have to rent a house at the 'shore' for a week when you take vacation.

Look around, don't rush, take your time....it will be worth it.

BTW--The house is now worth $2 million.:yeah:

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