Is California Worth The Hype?

[schmuckley]

Earthquakes,crime,fruitcakes,cold,cold water at terribly rocky beaches.
I for one do not see the allure.I'd rather go to Sarasota.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You already answered your own question as you are enjoying your time in SF -

Don't be surprised if you get burnt out on California life in 3-5yrs and desire to go back to the Midwest to settle down and buy a cheap home.

People come and people go - its quite the change to live in one of California's big cities.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah but that's waaaay out in the suburbs. You're 15 miles from the Loop.

That's still better than neighorhoods filled with hundreds of these:

http://www.socaprobate.com/images/CA_house_Small.jpg

LOL! Well that's waaaaay out in the suburbs too where people live out of necessity, not choice. That house is what, 10 years old max. So basically it's the same thing separated by what, 80 years? And my definition of waaaaaay out is 30-50 miles from downtown.

Show me a "unique" Chicago neighborhood that average people can afford.

 

[Carson Dyle]

There are many other towns/cities without the weather of Chicago that aren't in California. A great compromise might be Denver (if you still want to be in a city). It has winter, but not the death-grip black-ice winters of the upper midwest. Sunny 300 days a year, but you still have four seasons, laid back, reasonably priced. Then there's the south or not-quite-so south, like Nashville. Many, many other cool cities in this country - Seattle, New Orleans, Charlotte, and a thousand smaller towns within an easy drive of those cities if you want to catch a ball game or a symphony orchestra.

You're young, you have little tying you down. Get out and explore.

 

[JMapleton]

LOL! Well that's waaaaay out in the suburbs too where people live out of necessity, not choice. That house is what, 10 years old max. So basically it's the same thing separated by what, 80 years? And my definition of waaaaaay out is 30-50 miles from downtown.

Show me a "unique" Chicago neighborhood that average people can afford.

Define "average" people first and then I will show you one.

Note: Don't say "people who make $30k a year," that's not average, especially in a big city.

 

[rockyct]

Plus all the Mexican gangbangers out there. Not that Arizona is much better, Phoenix is also a dump. Scottsdale is much nicer than most California cities and so is our weather 9 out of 12 months.

Uhh...Scottsdale does not have nicer weather than SoCal, maybe better than the central valley but that's it. I have relatives in Scottsdale and it is a nice part of Maricopa county, it's still basically Phoenix. They vacation quite often to San Diego because it's sooo fucking hot there between April and October.

 

[SSSnail]

ITT: people from shit states justify why their states are better than CA.

If it's so good, then you wouldn't need to advertise it.

 

[rockyct]

ITT: people from shit states justify why their states are better than CA.

If it's so good, then you wouldn't need to advertise it.

California really isn't for everyone. There are a lot of reason why areas outside of CA are better for someone. It all depends on what you're willing to put up with (people vs. weather) and what you can afford.

 

[zerocool84]

It doesn't get any more simple than this, cost of living is higher because PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE.

 

[Attic]

As long as you can tolerate the massive collective and individual egos of a giant mesh of douche-bag extraordinaires in their own mind, by tolerate I mean ignore, you'll be hard pressed not to find satisfaction with the environment and weather.

It's not that you're an asshole if you live in California, it's just that a ton of fucking assholes are here. Mostly on the motorways, but they are busy yupping it up everywhere. The kind of folks, and i've heard it more the once from some real uppities, think their shit (literally) is better than others.

 

[NutBucket]

Define "average" people first and then I will show you one.

Note: Don't say "people who make $30k a year," that's not average, especially in a big city.

Ok. Let's say I make $150k a year. What neighborhood would I be living in?

 

[JManInPhoenix]

Uhh...Scottsdale does not have nicer weather than SoCal, maybe better than the central valley but that's it. I have relatives in Scottsdale and it is a nice part of Maricopa county, it's still basically Phoenix. They vacation quite often to San Diego because it's sooo fucking hot there between April and October.

True that. Phx is miserable from late May to late September. The rest of the year it isn't too bad. I like San Diego and the bay area but the cost of living is too high for me. Would not live in LA/Orange County/Inland Empire ever.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Money might be less of an issue because I would be living with my Dad and paying ~800/month in rent. I would sublease out my furnished apartment in Chicago for the other 6 months and might have to pay at most 50-100/month for it. However, that still doesn't account for the fact that I would be earning a Midwest salary and paying California prices for everything.

If you can live in SF for $800/month and don't mind the living situation, that is an incredible deal. Take it and enjoy an awesome city for a few years.

What part of SF is your dad's place?

 

[JMapleton]

Ok. Let's say I make $150k a year. What neighborhood would I be living in?

If you're single with that income you can literally live in any neighborhood in Chicago. You should be able to buy a $500k condo easily, which is anywhere you want.

You could even live in this building, probably the most expensive new condo in Chicago:
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...e--A3-4_Chicago_IL_60614_M82052-38945?row=213

Too expensive? You can still live well for less:
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...Apt-407_Chicago_IL_60614_M83473-49881?row=315

Save even more money by moving south of downtown, in the South Loop. You can live probably 30 floors up in a two bedroom for that price.

Have a family?
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...enaw-Ave_Chicago_IL_60647_M85886-16746?row=44

Want a yard? Move to the burbs. There are still great burbs in Chicago.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/375-Adams-Ave_Glencoe_IL_60022_M80996-91648?row=59

All these places I posted are "high end" areas. 60614 (one of the richest zips in Chicago, Lincoln Park, and Glencoe).

Try living in any "high end" place for $150k a year in CA. $150k in LA gets you waaaaaaaaaay out in the burbs (Riverside) or in some 3 story apartment with an alleyway view next to a strip mall.

 

[senseamp]

San Diego is not even that expensive. Bay Area on the other hand... if you aren't in tech and taking advantage of the location and opportunities, it may not be worth it. For $800/month in SF, worth it though.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Yeah but that's waaaay out in the suburbs. You're 15 miles from the Loop.

That's still better than neighorhoods filled with hundreds of these:

http://www.socaprobate.com/images/CA_house_Small.jpg

Man oh man - you are clueless.

Every state has these developments where the master planned communities took over and it all happened within the past 15 years.

Most of our homes are 1950's ranches but as you get on the outer edges you see small pockets of these. Not one of these exist within SF or Oakland. Newer communities where the farm land was rezoned to residential has these wall to wall as does every city in every other state.

 

[JMapleton]

San Diego is not even that expensive. Bay Area on the other hand... if you aren't in tech and taking advantage of the location and opportunities, it may not be worth it. For $800/month in SF, worth it though.

You cannot get a studio in the ghetto for $800 a month in SF.

 

[JMapleton]

Man oh man - you are clueless.

Every state has these developments where the master planned communities took over and it all happened within the past 15 years.

Most of our homes are 1950's ranches but as you get on the outer edges you see small pockets of these. Not one of these exist within SF or Oakland. Newer communities where the farm land was rezoned to residential has these wall to wall as does every city in every other state.

But most cities are 50 percent old 50 percent new. Most CA cities are 10 old, 90 new. That 90 percent looks like the photo I posted. SF has some character, I will admit. But is mostly filled with hippies, crime, socialists, and is INSANE, I mean INSANELY expensive because it's flooded with tech workers cashing in their stock options.

Ironic huh? The most socialist city in the US is also filled with the most people made rich by capitalism.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You cannot get a studio in the ghetto for $800 a month in SF.

Here is a 1-bedroom in a not so great area - but remember our hood is not nearly as bad as Chicago's hood.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/4325197093.html

 

[TXHokie]

Young, single, have the means? I'd definitely go for it. Moved across the country in my twenties to CA to experience for myself vs hearing people tell me about it. Was apprehensive about it at first leaving friends and family but you know what, when I return to visit a year later, friends/family back at home were still doing the same thing and complaining about the same stuffs while I got to experience all the new things. Downside (or not) is that I don't like to stay at one place for good after that. Always look to new places to put down roots since.

 

[NutBucket]

Try living in any "high end" place for $150k a year in CA. $150k in LA gets you waaaaaaaaaay out in the burbs (Riverside) or in some 3 story apartment with an alleyway view next to a strip mall.

You didn't prove that the homes in the neighborhood aren't similar in style. $150k is plenty to live in a suburb in LA that isn't anywhere near Riverside or even downtown in a trendy loft or a condo relatively close to the beach. All you've proven is real estate is cheaper (shocking).

 

[JMapleton]

Here is a 1-bedroom in a not so great area - but remember our hood is not nearly as bad as Chicago's hood.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/4325197093.html

Ha. Show me an apt with a picture to see what it really looks like. Probably a former janitor's closet with no parking, 1970s kitchen, and drug dealers living next door.

 

[JMapleton]

You didn't prove that the homes in the neighborhood aren't similar in style. $150k is plenty to live in a suburb in LA that isn't anywhere near Riverside or even downtown in a trendy loft or a condo relatively close to the beach. All you've proven is real estate is cheaper (shocking).

Yes they are. The neighborhoods I posted are more conveniently located, are more luxurious, have more architectural character, and cost less.

 

[Ns1]

Theres a reason its expensive. Because its awesome.

This

 

[GTaudiophile]

The coastal stretch between Santa Barbara and Lake Tahoe is pretty nice...with the Bay Area/Berkeley in the middle of it all. Yes, it is very nice. If you can afford it.