how do ppl afford to live in cali?

fergus51 · Jan 14, 2006

I don't own a home so living is actually pretty cheap for me. I am way better off financially than I have ever been. I could afford a condo or a townhouse on my own, but I couldn't afford a house unless I was married. There are parts of California that are cheaper than others and several nurses I know worked as travellers for a while to save for a house.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jan 14, 2006

We don't.

Look at it this way. When my parents bought their first home in Sacramento, CA they paid $30,000 for a three bedroom house in a culde-sac. My father made $15,000 a year (half what they paid for the house) , this was back in the late seventies. I do not live in Sacramento anymore, I now live on the north coast where our county is the second poorest out of the whole state, yet you can not buy a moderate home for under $300,000-350,000....fixer uppers go for over $200,000 and in some towns and neighborhoods a dirt lot with nothing on it will go for $100,000. So, the average home is about $300,000...but no one's average income is $150,000 a year...The per capita income for the county is $17,203. 19.50% of the population and 12.90% of families are below the poverty line. My sister in laws father is a real estate agent, he said that only %5 of people can afford to buy a home in our county.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2006

My brother lives in Ventura. He works two full time jobs. His ex wife worked 2 as well.

That is what I am trying to figure out as well. Can I afford to move and live there?

renerian

SFCardiacRN · Jan 14, 2006

My first couple of years in CA were a little rough. Now I've been here 20 years and would not want to leave. Give CA a shot. You just might like it!

Sheri257 · Jan 14, 2006

Hi,
I was stationed in Port Hueneme, Ca (by ventura) for a couple of years w/ the navy. I know you all get paid more money out there but nonetheless the prices for living in cali are outrageous. How do ppl even afford to buy a decent home in a decent area in socal?

We moved further inland to the cheaper areas. A lot of people wouldn't like it because they would consider it hicksville, but it suits us just fine. The area has grown a lot in the two years since we've been here, so it's not so much hicksville anymore, and our house is worth a lot more than what we paid for it. There's plenty of nursing jobs and, even more jobs if I'm willing to commute a half hour to 45 minutes.

We looked for two years before deciding where to live. If you take your time and do your homework, there are affordable places to live with good job opportunities. But if your heart is set on the coastal areas then, the cost of living is going to be crazy.

:typing

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2006

Hi,
I was stationed in Port Hueneme, Ca (by ventura) for a couple of years w/ the navy. I know you all get paid more money out there but nonetheless the prices for living in cali are outrageous. How do ppl even afford to buy a decent home in a decent area in socal?

I was born and raised in Oxnard (right next to Port Hueneme).

Anyway, I lived in Oxnard from birth until age 22. I had been earning $40,000 yearly at a factory job, but it was not enough to qualify for a house in Southern California. In 2003 I bought a 2-story house in Bakersfield (Central Valley) for $146,000 and my monthly mortgage payments were $867 monthly.

My co-workers were laughing at me, saying they would never move to Bakersfield. Well I'm the one who had the last laugh, since the house more than doubled in value. I recently sold the house and bought a brand new one for cash in Texas. Now I never have to worry about a house payment again.

Sheri257 · Jan 15, 2006

My co-workers were laughing at me, saying they would never move to Bakersfield. Well I'm the one who had the last laugh, since the house more than doubled in value. I recently sold the house and bought a brand new one for cash in Texas. Now I never have to worry about a house payment again.

Yeah ... that's the funny thing. Bakersfield was considered hicksville but, all of these people from LA who wouldn't dare live there suddenly changed their minds when LA houses got expensive. People forget that places like Orange County were once considered hicksville before they became the "hip" places to live. In California, today's hicksville can quickly change to tomorrow's yuppyville in a few short years. I live in the desert ... and my house has doubled in value also.

:typing

crazylilkelly · Jan 16, 2006

thanks everyone! I still have a while til I graduate & would LOVE LOVE LOVE to move back to cali. that would be great if it did happen. the only things that leave me a bit apprehensive are the prices of living & the school systems. I heard they're quite bad. anyhow, only time will tell!

fawnfalls · Feb 20, 2006

I live in Hollywood where rent is very expensive. I have worked as a waitress for most of my college education. I don't have credit cards so my bills are low. I am starting an ADN program this spring and my boyfriend is moving in with me to help pay the rent, which is $900 a month for a studio.

It's not easy to live here but it can be done.

CaGuy · Mar 2, 2006

don't let these posts scare you. people view ca real estate as a big monster. so did i until i bought my first property. i'm 26 and own a condo in oc. i make about 50 and my wife makes about 30 as a private school teacher. we don't bring home the "big bucks" by any means. yet we live in relative comfort: plasma tv, wife just bought a new car, 10 min from the beach. there are so many programs and offers to get people into homes in ca. my experience with people who are pessimistic about ca real estate is that they tend to be people who've never attempted ca real estate. we didn't think we'd ever be able to buy. however, we got hooked up with a great agent who was determined to get us into a home. she helped us find the right loan with the right financing options. we bought our condo with nothing down, and made $5000 on the deal with a sellers rebate. our closing costs were about $4500 which included the first month and a halves mortgage. it can be done. you just can't let the high numbers overwhelm you.

SFCardiacRN · Mar 2, 2006

Don't let these posts scare you.

Too true! Two LVN's in my unit just bought a $1million property. The husband does work 2 full time jobs but if you want it bad enough, home ownership is possible.