How do you afford to live in So. Cal?

[chirojeremy]

I grew up in Santa Rosa, CA during my teen years until I joined the military. Now here I am 10 years later and I have not set foot in CA. I am in school to be a chiropractor and I am trying to figure out where to finally settle down to live and practice. My wife and I are probably going to divorce and she is from OK. I was stationed in CO and I loved it there. But there is something about CA (weather, ocean, mountains etc) that makes me want to go back there. Unfortunately the only thing keeping me from going back is the cost of living, primarily housing. With prices going way down over the last few years, I am wondering if it may be a good idea to go back to CA, enjoy the weather, scenery etc and take advantage of the lower priced real estate by either just purchasing for myself if the prices return to a normal national average or investing. I will be a doctor when I move out there and will make decent money. My question is this: How do normal people with normal jobs afford to live in CA? Do you own real estate? Do you not live in a decent part of town?

[1955]

I have a rich aunt.:eek:

[Psydotek]

I live with my parents... :o

[chirojeremy]

For instance, I just looked at San Diego real estate. There was a ton for sale so I went to page 100 because after about 40 pages into it I still was not out of the $1m price range. At the top of page 100 was a $789k house. It was nice, 3/2/2 1800 sq ft...1800 sq ft?! So I looked in OK for a house between 700-800k. The first thing I saw was a 6500 sq ft 6/8/? house. So as much as I love the weather in CA, I think if I could afford a sub $1m house, I would rather have the mansion in OK than the decent below average home in sunny San Diego for the same price. After all, I could vacation I guess...

[1955]

For instance, I just looked at San Diego real estate. There was a ton for sale so I went to page 100 because after about 40 pages into it I still was not out of the $1m price range. At the top of page 100 was a $789k house. It was nice, 3/2/2 1800 sq ft...1800 sq ft?! So I looked in OK for a house between 700-800k. The first thing I saw was a 6500 sq ft 6/8/? house. So as much as I love the weather in CA, I think if I could afford a sub $1m house, I would rather have the mansion in OK than the decent below average home in sunny San Diego for the same price. After all, I could vacation I guess...

You really can't put a price on living in Sandy Eggo for all the reasons you mentioned. That's why people go there.

[ChromeSE5]

My cousin bought a house form an auction in the newer development area of Chula Vista. Decent size backyard, 4 bedrooms, 2 year old house for $350k.

[Go_Fast]

i have a sugar momma or 3.

[ronjon10]

For instance, I just looked at San Diego real estate. There was a ton for sale so I went to page 100 because after about 40 pages into it I still was not out of the $1m price range. At the top of page 100 was a $789k house. It was nice, 3/2/2 1800 sq ft...1800 sq ft?! So I looked in OK for a house between 700-800k. The first thing I saw was a 6500 sq ft 6/8/? house. So as much as I love the weather in CA, I think if I could afford a sub $1m house, I would rather have the mansion in OK than the decent below average home in sunny San Diego for the same price. After all, I could vacation I guess...

I got a small 1br/1ba house for the same price I could buy a 4/3 McMansion back in North Carolina where I came from. Right now, I live in the "Mountains" about 3 miles from the ocean. Every day life (outside of work) is a vacation.

[chimivee]

So as much as I love the weather in CA, I think if I could afford a sub $1m house, I would rather have the mansion in OK than the decent below average home in sunny San Diego for the same price. After all, I could vacation I guess...
For me, it's the opposite. That, and I bought in early '02, suckas. :D

[chirojeremy]

I got a small 1br/1ba house for the same price I could buy a 4/3 McMansion back in North Carolina where I came from. Right now, I live in the "Mountains" about 3 miles from the ocean. Every day life (outside of work) is a vacation.

Thats what my wife and I used to always argue about. I wanted to live in CO because every day felt like a vacation when I could look at the mountains. I sound a lot like her right now with my reasoning. My problem is I dont know where I would want to live in CA. I grew up in No Cal, but So Cal sounds pretty nice too...

[TrevorInSoCal]

I'm fortunate enough to have a fairly decent paying "normal" job (Web developer. Not doctor/lawyer money, but I'm comfortable enough.), and live in a less expensive area. People talk a lot of sh*t about the inland empire, but how many single guys making less than 6-figures in LA or OC own homes, in a walkable/bikeable community, within a mile of grocery stores/restaurants/bars/downtown. Contrary to popular belief there *are* places out here that aren't wall-to-wall stucco housing developments.

I'm also, apart from bleeding money on bike racing and related expenses, relatively frugal. While you may find a new(ish) Madone in my garage, you won't find a home theater system in my living-room (At least not until numerous other savings goals are accomplished.), nor will you find a < 5 year-old car in the driveway, or many of the other typical middle class accoutrements.

I dunno how others do it. I'd guess a lot people who appear to have a lot more have dual incomes, or make much more money. Others, I'm certain, as I know some of them, are barely scraping by. I also get the impression that a *lot* of people in SoCal live way beyond their means, racking up credit debt attempting to appear wealthier than they really are. (Witness the recent real-estate market implosion for evidence of that.).

[cjbruin]

For me, it's the opposite. That, and I bought in early '02, suckas. :D

Hah! Rose & I bought in 1998.

I suspect that many of us could sell our homes and get much bigger ones...with more land...in other parts of the U.S. For me, the California lifestyle keeps me here. Every day we live our lives in a place where some people dream of taking a one-week vacation.

When I was training for Ironman Arizona, I was able to train outdoors throughout the winter while people from other states where in their basements on trainers and treadmills. When summer comes along, I'll still be outdoors while the folks in Oklahoma will be inside in air-conditioning trying to avoid the heat and humidity.

I value the things I have here and don't really care about the things that I don't. Everyone is different.

[rooftest]

I don't know any poor Chiropractors (insurance fraud pays really well.)

Just move out here and rent - you'll be able to afford a house in a few years.

[cjbruin]

I'm fortunate enough to have a fairly decent paying "normal" job (Web developer. Not doctor/lawyer money, but I'm comfortable enough.), and live in a less expensive area. People talk a lot of sh*t about the inland empire, but how many single guys making less than 6-figures in LA or OC own homes, in a walkable/bikeable community, within a mile of grocery stores/restaurants/bars/downtown. Contrary to popular belief there *are* places out here that aren't wall-to-wall stucco housing developments.

I'm also, apart from bleeding money on bike racing and related expenses, relatively frugal. While you may find a new(ish) Madone in my garage, you won't find a home theater system in my living-room (At least not until numerous other savings goals are accomplished.), nor will you find a < 5 year-old car in the driveway, or many of the other typical middle class accoutrements.

I dunno how others do it. I'd guess a lot people who appear to have a lot more have dual incomes, or make much more money. Others, I'm certain, as I know some of them, are barely scraping by. I also get the impression that a *lot* of people in SoCal live way beyond their means, racking up credit debt attempting to appear wealthier than they really are. (Witness the recent real-estate market implosion for evidence of that.).

You make some very good points...but the 909 still sucks :)

[chirojeremy]

Hah! Rose & I bought in 1998.

I suspect that many of us could sell our homes and get much bigger ones...with more land...in other parts of the U.S. For me, the California lifestyle keeps me here. Every day we live our lives in a place where some people dream of taking a one-week vacation.

When I was training for Ironman Arizona, I was able to train outdoors throughout the winter while people from other states where in their basements on trainers and treadmills. When summer comes along, I'll still be outdoors while the folks in Oklahoma will be inside in air-conditioning trying to avoid the heat and humidity.

I value the things I have here and don't really care about the things that I don't. Everyone is different.

Thats what I am talking about! Thats EXACTLY what I have been saying for the last 5 years until today for some reason! I may have to return to my roots. Now, where do I want to live in CA????

[chimivee]

Hah! Rose & I bought in 1998.
I was five in 1998.

[chirojeremy]

I don't know any poor Chiropractors (insurance fraud pays really well.)

Just move out here and rent - you'll be able to afford a house in a few years.

Sounds good to me. You know, growing up in Northern California in the 90s I grew up afraid of gangs, crime and the big cities. Now I have lived in a few fairly big cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City and Colorado Springs. They really are not that big of a deal. I am sure I would never venture to South Central LA or Oak Cliff outside Dallas. I could rent for a while until I got my practice established...

[tinrobot]

For me, it's the opposite. That, and I bought in early '02, suckas. :D

Bought in '97

So there.

[Jaguar27]

This is a good question, one of my Hobbies is following the Housing market, jobs and general economy in OC...especially here in Irvine and surrounding areas...

The RE market here is much worse than people realize, we are already seeing a rollback to 2003 values on Houses, we haven't seen the worst yet, the majority of sub-prime mortgages were written on 07, give them 3 years to re-set, that takes us into 2010 before we see the real carnage.
Not only are property values falling (there were more foreclosures since Christmas than sales) rental prices are falling to, there are a slew on one bedrooms vacant here in Irvine simply because people can't afford the rent and with a one bed can't get a Roomie.
There are hundreds of properties for rent on craigslist.org, most at very reasonable prices which is good untill the Bailiff comes knocking on the Door and turfs your Butt onto the street, this is the first time in history that it's neccessary to do a background check on the Renter before handing over a deposit and moving in...

How can people afford to live in SoCal? most can't, and taking the median income per family in Irvine which is $85K per year it takes almost twice that to qualify for a mortgage here, plus you need to come up with 20% down, excellent credit and most mortgage companies are expecting a savings account to enable one to pay the mortgage for 6 months if they lose their job...

The inland empire has been badly hit, those that did have some equity in their homes used their House as an ATM machine and bought Hummers, new Mercedes and other Toys, they also used HELOCs' (Home equity line of credit) for Home improvements making their House very nice for the Bank when they snatch it back...

The service industry, of which you will be a part of as a Chiropractor is also suffering, more and more people are losing their jobs and Health benefits so we're seeing a lot of Doctors, Dentists, LASIK providers really strugling because people are only now visiting helathcare providers when they have no choice.
One of my best Friends is a Chiropractor and he's seen a huge drop in Patients over the last few months...

I'm sorry to be so negative but I'm sure you'd rather hear the way it really is...

Go to google maps, search "find business" enter "chiropractor" and the zip "92614" to find out how much competition you'll have.

Having said all that, if you're a Cyclist, SoCal has a fantastic climate as you already know, look at it this way, we pay for the climate, everything else is free ;-)

[roadfix]

I bought in 1990 (should have offered much less), rode the roller coaster, hung in, and made my final mortgage payment in 2006.

[cjbruin]

I was five in 1998.

:roflmao:

shut up

[tbrown524]

I strip part time. PM me for the address.

[chirojeremy]

Competition in CA for Chiropractic is pretty brutal. I think the Dr/Patient ratio is less than 1/2500. The place where they say you want to be is about 1/5000. There is a difference though. Most chiropractors are satisfied with having a small practice and working 40 hours per week. The real successful docs work 20 hours per week and seeing well over 100 pts per day. I met a doc yesterday who saw 300 pts on a day that was 6 hours long and wrought with torrential downpours and even a tornado touching down within miles of the practice. Its the old econ 80/20 or 90/10 rule 80 percent of the money in the industry is made my only 20 percent of the people. In chiropractic, that means there are a ton of docs out there making jack squat. It is the elite company that make the real money. That is where I want to see myself. The good news for me is I dont graduate for another 2 years, so I that will give the market out there even more of a chance of breaking down to a reasonable level...

[sestivers]

My question is this: How do normal people with normal jobs afford to live in CA? Do you own real estate? Do you not live in a decent part of town?

My cousin bought a house form an auction in the newer development area of Chula Vista.

Answer = Yes

[urbanknight]

My wife and I both have professional, higher education careers and RENT a small house.

[1955]

Hah! Rose & I bought in 1998.

I suspect that many of us could sell our homes and get much bigger ones...with more land...in other parts of the U.S. For me, the California lifestyle keeps me here. Every day we live our lives in a place where some people dream of taking a one-week vacation.

When I was training for Ironman Arizona, I was able to train outdoors throughout the winter while people from other states where in their basements on trainers and treadmills. When summer comes along, I'll still be outdoors while the folks in Oklahoma will be inside in air-conditioning trying to avoid the heat and humidity.

I value the things I have here and don't really care about the things that I don't. Everyone is different.

Exactly

[BCIpam]

Seriously it is a struggle to live here. The sacrifice I guess for year round riding. There are parts less expensive than others ( San Bernardino or Riverside Counties) but those areas are not desirable to me. Frankly alot of my friends rent. Just seems more economical and I can live in an area that is fairly nice, close to the ocean and I feel safe. Just know and plan that at least half your monthly income will go to housing. That said I just had a friend relocate here from New Jersey. She made a nice profit on her condo there and was able to place quite a bit down on a nice condo here, keeping her monthly payment very reasonable (about $1200). If you are coming here with something it will be easier. If nothing, you will struggle. Just be frugal. Good luck.

[mateo44]

Hah! Rose & I bought in 1998.

I suspect that many of us could sell our homes and get much bigger ones...with more land...in other parts of the U.S. For me, the California lifestyle keeps me here. Every day we live our lives in a place where some people dream of taking a one-week vacation.

When I was training for Ironman Arizona, I was able to train outdoors throughout the winter while people from other states where in their basements on trainers and treadmills. When summer comes along, I'll still be outdoors while the folks in Oklahoma will be inside in air-conditioning trying to avoid the heat and humidity.

I value the things I have here and don't really care about the things that I don't. Everyone is different.


+1. And at the risk of stating the obvious, the weather isn't the only difference between CA and OK.

[1955]

+1. And at the risk of stating the obvious, the weather isn't the only difference between CA and OK.

Better hunting and fishing in OK?

[chirojeremy]

I am not into hunting and fishing. Although, if I fish, I like trout/steelhead and salmon. They dont have that in OK. There you have catfish and bass, bleh!

[tinrobot]

Better hunting and fishing in OK?

Maybe. Unless you like fishing in the ocean.

[CMY]

My family has lived in the area for well over 50 years now (meaning most homes were paid off long ago) and my girlfriend and I rent her father's condo here since he primarily spends his time in Mammoth.

I realize I'm lucky and I honestly have no idea how most people around here do it (aside from being stretched way too thin or simply over-extended). I'm just trying to make sure we're in the right place when the time comes to pull the trigger on our own home in a few years.

[DScott]

Please don't move here. It's horrible!

There are earthquakes, fires, gangs, floods, and smog. The economy is in the toilet, yet housing prices are still outrageously high. Well-paying jobs are getting harder to find, it's almost impossible to work near where you live, and there's a surplus of traffic. Way too much traffic. It's like rush hour almost all day long.

Public schools suck and train your kids just to take tests. Kids really learn nothing except the latest fashions, fads, and get exposure to way too many things to waste their minds on. Private school tuition costs as much as college, and equals about half a normal salary per kid. The incessant exposure to Hollywood has destroyed family values, and warps the minds of the young and the impressionable. The boys all want to be either professional athletes or rap stars, the girls all want to be actresses.

Please don't move here. Save yourself now, before it's too late.

[mateo44]

Please don't move here. It's horrible!

There are earthquakes, fires, gangs, floods, and smog. The economy is in the toilet, yet housing prices are still outrageously high. Well-paying jobs are getting harder to find, it's almost impossible to work near where you live, and there's a surplus of traffic. Way too much traffic. It's like rush hour almost all day long.

Public schools suck and train your kids just to take tests. Kids really learn nothing except the latest fashions, fads, and get exposure to way too many things to waste their minds on. Private school tuition costs as much as college, and equals about half a normal salary per kid. The incessant exposure to Hollywood has destroyed family values, and warps the minds of the young and the impressionable. The boys all want to be either professional athletes or rap stars, the girls all want to be actresses.

Please don't move here. Save yourself now, before it's too late.

And you shouldn't forget to mention that the people here are prone to overgeneralization as well. Another big negative.

[Raiderdave]

Bought a house in Chino Hills in 1995..........been living off it ever since:D

[mateo44]

Maybe. Unless you like fishing in the ocean.

Or hunting for the best carnitas burrito you've ever had.

[umd]

Just barely.... I got into a condo a while ago (I want to say early 2001), sold it after a few years and used the gains for the down payment (20%) on a house with my then-soon-to-be wife. A lot of hard work since high school, some money put away by parents, and two professional incomes doesn't hurt. And then still... just barely.

Oh yeah, Santa Barbara FTW

[chirojeremy]

Oh yeah, Santa Barbara FTW

I had a girlfriend who went to UCSB. I lost touch with her. I wish I could get back in touch with her...

[DScott]

And you shouldn't forget to mention that the people here are prone to overgeneralization as well. Another big negative.

Glad you brought that up! That's a constant problem as well.

Speaking of people, there's just too many of them. They're everywhere. It's starting to look alot like Blade Runner (The Director's Cut), but not as romantic.

I think the OP would be doing himself (and some of those people already suffering here) a HUGE favor if he were to take a few of them with him.

I hear Montana is very nice! Plus, there's lots of people desparately in need of those one-minute adjustments. It's a gold mine, I tell ya, a gold mine!

[BCIpam]

Please don't move here. It's horrible!

There are earthquakes, fires, gangs, floods, and smog. The economy is in the toilet, yet housing prices are still outrageously high. Well-paying jobs are getting harder to find, it's almost impossible to work near where you live, and there's a surplus of traffic. Way too much traffic. It's like rush hour almost all day long.

Public schools suck and train your kids just to take tests. Kids really learn nothing except the latest fashions, fads, and get exposure to way too many things to waste their minds on. Private school tuition costs as much as college, and equals about half a normal salary per kid. The incessant exposure to Hollywood has destroyed family values, and warps the minds of the young and the impressionable. The boys all want to be either professional athletes or rap stars, the girls all want to be actresses.

Please don't move here. Save yourself now, before it's too late.


HA! I used to post this jokenly to try and keep people out... unfortunately - it's becoming more truth than not. I'm actually looking to get out, as soon as posssible, as soon as I figure out where else to go.

Caifornia used to be a great place to live. So Cal used to be wonderful. It's not the same, not even close (traffic gets worse every day, housing costs are out of control, and taxes and other prices are high, there is a gluck of immigrants, making english a second language, the state is practically bankrupt and schools, at least public schools, are some of the worse in the nation). Give it 10 more years and it might even be unbearable. Hoping in 9 years to be out!

Sure you want to come here? :(

[1955]

Or hunting for the best carnitas burrito you've ever had.

That would be in El Centro.

[squeegy200]

I'm fortunate enough to have a fairly decent paying "normal" job (Web developer. Not doctor/lawyer money, but I'm comfortable enough.), and live in a less expensive area. People talk a lot of sh*t about the inland empire, but how many single guys making less than 6-figures in LA or OC own homes, in a walkable/bikeable community, within a mile of grocery stores/restaurants/bars/downtown. Contrary to popular belief there *are* places out here that aren't wall-to-wall stucco housing developments.

I'm also, apart from bleeding money on bike racing and related expenses, relatively frugal. While you may find a new(ish) Madone in my garage, you won't find a home theater system in my living-room (At least not until numerous other savings goals are accomplished.), nor will you find a < 5 year-old car in the driveway, or many of the other typical middle class accoutrements.

I dunno how others do it. I'd guess a lot people who appear to have a lot more have dual incomes, or make much more money. Others, I'm certain, as I know some of them, are barely scraping by. I also get the impression that a *lot* of people in SoCal live way beyond their means, racking up credit debt attempting to appear wealthier than they really are. (Witness the recent real-estate market implosion for evidence of that.).

Good observation. I too thought I would never get into the housing market in California. However, 15 years ago, I started researching options for first time home buyers and discovered quite a few resources. of course the family helped along with some savings to apply the down payment. But many CA cities offer first time home buyers assistance.

What I got was some guarantee of qualification based on my down payment. Also got tax CREDITS which was formulated each year. The city's assistance allowed me to qualify for a 30y fixed mortgage which at the time, i would not have qualified otherwise.

There are other similar programs but I had to oftentimes educate everyone in the process because my real estate agent, escrow agent, loan agent, and real estate broker were unaware of the programs.

[chimivee]

I just realized I can't afford to live in So. Cal... Crap.

[cjbruin]

I just realized I can't afford to live in So. Cal... Crap.

http://www.islandersarmy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/57367-simpsons_nelson_haha2.jpg

[efficiency]

You can live in the Westfalia, like a friend of mine does.

[efficiency]

For instance, I just looked at San Diego real estate. There was a ton for sale so I went to page 100 because after about 40 pages into it I still was not out of the $1m price range. At the top of page 100 was a $789k house. It was nice, 3/2/2 1800 sq ft...1800 sq ft?! So I looked in OK for a house between 700-800k. The first thing I saw was a 6500 sq ft 6/8/? house. So as much as I love the weather in CA, I think if I could afford a sub $1m house, I would rather have the mansion in OK than the decent below average home in sunny San Diego for the same price. After all, I could vacation I guess...

If this is your thinking, I wouldn't move to CA.

[Grumpy Pig]

So I looked in OK for a house between 700-800k. The first thing I saw was a 6500 sq ft 6/8/? house. That's ridiculous. For 800k you should be able to buy the whole trailer park.

[Indolent58]

We bought in '97 at the end of a real estate slump, and were only able to do it then because we had built up equity over time in another expensive region (D.C.). We could never afford our house now. I assume that everyone who buys into our neighborhood now is either a drug dealer, a trust fund baby, or an embezzler. All of whom make nice neighbors.

[felt1]

Sub Urban living. I don't live in any great place like Malibu, New Port Beach, Big Bear Mtn. Hollywood, Palm Springs but I can be in any of those places in an hour or less.When I was a kid growing up in Chino Hills I used too think it was the perfect place to live. 45mins to the beach in the summer, 45min to the ski lifts in the winter, 60 min to Palm springs for spring break, 35 min to LA, 2 hours to Mexico. So even though I am fortunate enough that I can probably live any where I want, I choose to stay.

[chimivee]

You can live in the Westfalia, like a friend of mine does.
And I'm gonna park it on CJBruin's doorstep. And pee out the window.