is it possible 2 afford a 3br/2ba house in cal?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2007

I live in a beautiful neighborhood, with emerald green lawns, where the kids run up and down the street to play without any trouble or fear.

I agree that Bakersfield is a beautiful city, especially west of highway 99. The upper Eastside has beautiful neighborhoods along Panorama Drive, too.

I don't regret moving to Bakersfield in 2003, even though my coworkers laughed at me. My house doubled in value while some of my coworkers struggle to pay the rent. The population here has exploded to over 400,000 as people from all over the state discover the lifestyle they can have here. Even though I sold my house and moved out of state, I will firmly state that not all desert towns are dumps.

Sisukas · Mar 16, 2007

I'm not sure what you are wanting to spend for a home.... but try checking the Fresno / Clovis, CA area. The median price for a home as you describe is in the 270's. Best areas to live is in Clovis.
For jobs, google fresno, clovis and madera hospitals. The childrens hospital is awesome in madera. The best Hospitals (in terms of area) are Saint agnes, Kaiser, Clovis Community and Childrens.
Since I'm still a student, grad in Dec, I can't tell you a lot about the pay... just that it's decent. I believe starting wages in and 55K area... check out payscales via websearch.
The area is nice to live in , hot in the summer (relatively no humidity), but mostly nice year round. Also should say that you are about an hour away from Yosemite National Park, ca coast is 3 hrs away, SF is about 3 hours away too.... nice central location.
Best wishes in your search!

I recommend this area also. I live in Oakhurst, about 45 minutes from Fresno, and can afford my house on my salary alone. I've been an RN for 6 years...don't want to discuss my wages here but you can PM me if you want to for wages with the hospital I work at (it's associated with one of the ones listed above.)

ben123 · Mar 16, 2007

Every desert town in California is like Compton or Watts? :chuckle
Every town does have their bad areas but, I can assure you that not all of the neighborhoods are like Compton or Watts. There are, actually, some very nice luxury developments in many of those desert towns. But, of course, they do cost more.
Crystal meth is a problem in the desert but, it's also a problem in big cities like San Diego which, if I recall correctly, was once named the crystal meth capital of the world ... probably because it's so close to the Mexican border.
I don't know why some people seem to think that California's crime problems are limited to the desert. Has LA, San Diego etc. suddenly become gang free? No.
It is true that the drug dealers do set up meth labs out in the desert but, they typically don't do it in the middle of town. Afterall ... the point of going out to the desert is to avoid police. And, usually, the best way to avoid police is to set up a meth lab out in the isolated, unpopulated areas ... not in the middle of town.
:typing

Oh no, sorry? Not every desert town is a dump. I have been to most of the ones that were mentioned and yes they are pretty bad. The thing is: I can live in LA and have the same crime problem. It is also much higher in those areas because of the affordable housing. I do agree that the houses are beautiful, but if you are traveling to LA to work i don't think it would be worth it. My 2 cents. You can get the same house in las vegas and be in a safe neighborhood making almost the same amount of money. Just beware that that their is a reason these houses are so cheap (by cali standards). Isolated, hot weather, crime, etc..... but you will be in a beautiful house. :lol2:

Ben

LydiaNN · Mar 16, 2007

:confused::confused:I'm so confused..........

Sheri257 · Mar 17, 2007

You can get the same house in las vegas and be in a safe neighborhood making almost the same amount of money.

Safe in Vegas? Think again.

The crime rate in Vegas is actually way up, according to FBI stats for Violent Crimes from 2005-2006:

Henderson: +35 percent

Metro Las Vegas: +41 percent

North Las Vegas: +25 percent

Overall Vegas violent crime rate increase: +39 percent

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/prelim06/t4ne_oh.htm

Let's compare that increase in violent crimes with some California inland towns:

Bakersfield: -11 percent

Fresno: -3 percent

Lancaster: +21 percent

Modesto: +5 percent

Palmdale: -14 percent

Stockton: +22 percent

While some towns are up, others are down. The overall crime rate increase for all six towns combined? A negligible +2 percent, which isn't bad considering the population growth in those areas.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/prelim06/t4al_ca.htm

Even when you compare Vegas to major southern California cities, the crime rate is still way up in Vegas.

Vegas: +39 percent

Los Angeles: -3 percent

San Diego: -2 percent

This is why it's really a myth that California has a massive crime problem compared with other states. People think the crime rate is up because that's all they see on the news but, the actual data shows otherwise.

Even though California's population has increased by 6 million people, there are 150,000 less violent crimes than in 1992 ... when the three strikes law was enacted. It just goes to show that the three strikes law has worked very well in California.

:typing

Bonny619 · Mar 17, 2007

Prices aren't dropping here in San Diego. I think the market will slow, but it won't go backwards.

You can find a nice, older home here for 450-500, in a decent area. We bought almost 2 years ago.

Sheri257 · Mar 17, 2007

Prices aren't dropping here in San Diego. I think the market will slow, but it won't go backwards.

According to DataQuick, prices are dropping in San Diego:

http://www.dqnews.com/RRSCA0307.shtm

Prices are down 6 percent from last year. The average selling price of a San Diego home has dropped $30,000 from $510,000 to $480,000.

A friend of mine is trying to sell one of his properties in San Diego which, unfortunately, he bought at the peak of the market. Now, he can't sell it and, even if he does, he's going to lose money because he can't get as much as he paid for it.

:typing

randybayrn · Mar 17, 2007

I have also been looking at house prices on realtor.com. I am an RN and live in Orange County, CA. My conclusion........NO as an RN you can't afford to buy a house in So. Cal. Sad, but true!!

ben123 · Mar 17, 2007

Safe in Vegas? Think again.
The crime rate in Vegas is actually way up, according to FBI stats for Violent Crimes from 2005-2006:
Henderson: +35 percent
Metro Las Vegas: +41 percent
North Las Vegas: +25 percent
Overall Vegas violent crime rate increase: +39 percent
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/prelim06/t4ne_oh.htm
Let's compare that increase in violent crimes with some California inland towns:
Bakersfield: -11 percent
Fresno: -3 percent
Lancaster: +21 percent
Modesto: +5 percent
Palmdale: -14 percent
Stockton: +22 percent
While some towns are up, others are down. The overall crime rate increase for all six towns combined? A negligible +2 percent, which isn't bad considering the population growth in those areas.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/prelim06/t4al_ca.htm
Even when you compare Vegas to major southern California cities, the crime rate is still way up in Vegas.
Vegas: +39 percent
Los Angeles: -3 percent
San Diego: -2 percent
This is why it's really a myth that California has a massive crime problem compared with other states. People think the crime rate is up because that's all they see on the news but, the actual data shows otherwise.
Even though California's population has increased by 6 million people, there are 150,000 less violent crimes than in 1992 ... when the three strikes law was enacted. It just goes to show that the three strikes law has worked very well in California.
:typing

Good research. I like henderson its a beautiful town. I would not live in palmdale or lancaster if you gave me a house and paid all my bills, seriously. No offense, but have you been to either one of those towns recently?

Bonny619 · Mar 17, 2007

You're right, although it really depends. Houses in my neighborhood are still going up.

According to DataQuick, prices are dropping in San Diego:
http://www.dqnews.com/RRSCA0307.shtm
Prices are down 6 percent from last year. The average selling price of a San Diego home has dropped $30,000 from $510,000 to $480,000.
A friend of mine is trying to sell one of his properties in San Diego which, unfortunately, he bought at the peak of the market. Now, he can't sell it and, even if he does, he's going to lose money because he can't get as much as he paid for it.
:typing

Sheri257 · Mar 17, 2007

Good research. I like henderson its a beautiful town. I would not live in palmdale or lancaster if you gave me a house and paid all my bills, seriously. No offense, but have you been to either one of those towns recently?

Yeah ... I actually live in a dumpy desert town, but I have no complaints. I was in Palmdale recently and it looked pretty nice to me. Lancaster, of course, is a different story but, I actually saw some nice neighborhoods there also. We thought about moving there but the commute looked difficult because while they do have a state highway into LA, etc. they don't have major interstate access like other desert towns.

The thing is ... you usually don't get good deals on houses once the area becomes really nice. By the time that happens it's also very expensive. The best financial deals are when you invest in a somewhat dumpy area that's on the upswing.

I only paid $150K for my house and I really like my cheap mortgage. And, since I already went through the real estate crash of '92, I really didn't want to get into a negative equity situation again ... which is why I wanted a cheap house. I knew from previous experience that the crazy market would inevitably crash. So, even though my house is now worth over $300K it's no big deal if the value falls to $250K or whatever because I still have a lot of equity.

:typing

ben123 · Mar 18, 2007

Yeah ... I actually live in a dumpy desert town, but I have no complaints. I was in Palmdale recently and it looked pretty nice to me. Lancaster, of course, is a different story but, I actually saw some nice neighborhoods there also. We thought about moving there but the commute looked difficult because while they do have a state highway into LA, etc. they don't have major interstate access like other desert towns.
The thing is ... you usually don't get good deals on houses once the area becomes really nice. By the time that happens it's also very expensive. The best financial deals are when you invest in a somewhat dumpy area that's on the upswing.
I only paid $150K for my house and I really like my cheap mortgage. And, since I already went through the real estate crash of '92, I really didn't want to get into a negative equity situation again ... which is why I wanted a cheap house. I knew from previous experience that the crazy market would inevitably crash. So, even though my house is now worth over $300K it's no big deal if the value falls to $250K or whatever because I still have a lot of equity.
:typing

Good deal. Where I live the average house (and that is 3 bed 2 bath) is 700k. I have a lot of saving to do.