Californians fed up with housing costs and taxes are fleeing state in big numbers

[Humble me Lord]

Yes, if I ever get to vacation there.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Yes, if I ever get to vacation there.

It's definitely on my bucket list.

 

[essentialsaltes]

At the state level, they have a fantastic education system, including one of the best public systems in the world.

The university system is still top-notch, but the K-12 schools have been slipping into the bottom half in a lot of measures.

 

[Humble me Lord]

I guess it comes down to priorities.
I have driven on the I-5, and flown into Ontario airport twice. For us, we would never trade the rural area we live in, no matter how nice the smog, I mean weather is.
I drive 45 minutes to work and go through 3 stop signs, not a single traffic light. I usually see more deer than I do vehicles early in the morning.
Another perk that keeps a lot of the riff-raff from living here is the 40 below temps in the winter.

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

I lived in CA for over 30 years and left it for WA about a decade ago. If my husband and I become wealthy, maybe we would consider moving there. I love CA; however, real estate is dangerously overvalued and it is way too expensive to have a family there and live how I want to live. Eh, it is probably better as a vacation spot.

 

[Belk]

I lived in CA for over 30 years and left it for WA about a decade ago. If my husband and I become wealthy, maybe we would consider moving there. I love CA; however, real estate is dangerously overvalued and it is way too expensive to have a family there and live how I want to live. Eh, it is probably better as a vacation spot.

What part of WA? Seattle is starting to rival SF and LA for being to expensive to live.

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

What part of WA? Seattle is starting to rival SF and LA for being to expensive to live.

Lol, I'm in the Seattle area and I don't think it is that bad. The rental rates/ home prices are rising quickly now, but they haven't reached the heights of ridiculousness that I've seen in the Bay Area, LA or Orange county.

I couldn't buy a detached house, with remotely comparable square footage, for what our home is worth, in the parts of Cali I am familiar with.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Small very old houses in the San Diego getto starting at around 300 thousand.
I wouldn’t want to live there.

Although we did live there when I was a little boy. Most of those houses cost around 10 grand back then.

I got mine 30 years ago.
Prices were still fair.
If both worked.

M-Bob

 

[Belk]

Lol, I'm in the Seattle area and I don't think it is that bad. The rental rates/ home prices are rising quickly now, but they haven't reached the heights of ridiculousness that I've seen in the Bay Area, LA or Orange county.

I couldn't buy a detached house, with remotely comparable square footage, for what our home is worth, in the parts of Cali I am familiar with.

No, it is not as bad as Cali but it is certainly not somewhere you can live on a meager salary. I know some young people looking to buy who can't afford it even though they are both professionals with decent incomes.

 

[mark kennedy]

That's kind of been going on for a while, they have been migrating to the south and southwest for years, decades even. It caused some problems in Colorado when I was there, one representative was actually recalled because of gun control laws.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I know some young people looking to buy who can't afford it even though they are both professionals with decent incomes.

To buy a decent house in Southern California a couple probably needs a combined income a little over $100,000 a year and what kills a lot of young couples wanting to buy homes is that they already have two big car payments.

When I was young I did not drive the best cars but, I bought my first house when I was 25.

M-Bob

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

No, it is not as bad as Cali but it is certainly not somewhere you can live on a meager salary. I know some young people looking to buy who can't afford it even though they are both professionals with decent incomes.

Honestly, whenever people say that it usually means they can't afford what they want, where they want it. Less desirable parts of the city are slowly gentrifying & that is where a young couple should buy. Not really sure what "decent" income means. Young couples tend to be very cash poor, between school debt & car debt.

There are plenty of places to buy, but the areas where the young professionals congregate are extremely competitive due to low volume. My BIL & SIL just overpaid for a small bungalow because they had to have a certain neighborhood.

 

[Belk]

To buy a decent house in Southern California a couple probably needs a combined income a little over $100,000 a year and what kills a lot of young couples wanting to buy homes is that they already have two big car payments.

When I was young I did not drive the best cars but, I bought my first house when I was 25.

M-Bob

My wife and I were lucky in buying our house. We bought at the bottom of the bubble bursting so our middle class income got us into a decent place. The problem here in Seattle is that prices are rising so fast younger people can't save enough to get ahead of it. It's great for those of us who own but it is driving people out of Seattle into less expensive areas. This increases commute traffic and other issues.

 

[Belk]

Honestly, whenever people say that it usually means they can't afford what they want, where they want it. Less desirable parts of the city are slowly gentrifying & that is where a young couple should buy. Not really sure what "decent" income means. Young couples tend to be very cash poor, between school debt & car debt.

The median home price in Seattle is $722K. That means to put 20% down you need $144K. Very few people have that kind of ready cash available. Doing a search in MLS on homes in Seattle under $425K (the amount most banks will loan someone making $100K a year) I find 18 homes. That is a very small supply and homes are going for more then they are listed.

There are plenty of places to buy, but the areas where the young professionals congregate are extremely competitive due to low volume. My BIL & SIL just overpaid for a small bungalow because they had to have a certain neighborhood.

According to everything I have read the inventory of available houses in the Seattle area is low and the demand is high. Do you have a source for you claim of plenty of places to buy?

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

The median home price in Seattle is $722K. That means to put 20% down you need $144K. Very few people have that kind of ready cash available. Doing a search in MLS on homes in Seattle under $425K (the amount most banks will loan someone making $100K a year) I find 18 homes. That is a very small supply and homes are going for more then they are listed.



According to everything I have read the inventory of available houses in the Seattle area is low and the demand is high. Do you have a source for you claim of plenty of places to buy?

I would say inventory within Seattle is low and very expensive. The areas in commute range to Seattle? Significantly more inventory and less expensive. You can find smaller homes - bungalows or cottages, 2-3 bedrooms and 1 bath, for less than 425k. Like I said, look for a gentrifying area & a good lot size that will hold value. They are good starter homes. There are some in the Burien area that borders Seattle.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I would say inventory within Seattle is low and very expensive. The areas in commute range to Seattle? Significantly more inventory and less expensive. You can find smaller homes - bungalows or cottages, 2-3 bedrooms and 1 bath, for less than 425k. Like I said, look for a gentrifying area & a good lot size that will hold value. They are good starter homes. There are some in the Burien area that borders Seattle.

I'm guessing that Point Roberts, Washington - up by Boundary Bay near Vancouver - would likely be a less expensive area to live!

 

[PreviouslySeeking...]

I'm guessing that Point Roberts, Washington - up by Boundary Bay near Vancouver - would likely be a less expensive area to live!

Hmmm, probably not great for commuting to Seattle.

 

[Belk]

I would say inventory within Seattle is low and very expensive. The areas in commute range to Seattle? Significantly more inventory and less expensive. You can find smaller homes - bungalows or cottages, 2-3 bedrooms and 1 bath, for less than 425k. Like I said, look for a gentrifying area & a good lot size that will hold value. They are good starter homes. There are some in the Burien area that borders Seattle.

That I would agree with to a certain extent. I understand that Lynwood and Puyallup are starting to edge up in price as well. If you are willing to take the ferry you can certainly find some good deals on the other side of the water. Downside of course being the long commute. I had a friend who had a two hour commute because she lived in a unfortunate location. It all comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice.

 

[Belk]

I'm guessing that Point Roberts, Washington - up by Boundary Bay near Vancouver - would likely be a less expensive area to live!

I would assume so. It would be a nice place to retire.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I would assume so. It would be a nice place to retire.

Yes, I think it's a good retirement community. In an interesting situation also, a bit like Angle Inlet, Minnesota, joined by land only to Canada.