No kidding. It used to be wonderful to live here - and there are still good aspects. The LW totalitarian politics, however, has turned it into a third world country. The middle class cannot afford homes. Homeless tent encampments cluster under freeway overpasses. And the minority of us who have been fortunate to work in high tech land bought our houses at the right time live very well. I want out before the entire thing collapses, but I'm not leaving Mom.
My BIL and his wife moved to the Los Angeles area somewhere, and proudly told us about buying their "dream house" for $300,000 there. When we looked at the pics, it was very obvious that their house was smaller and older than our house in Tucson, which would have sold at the time for around $175,000. You would weep to find out what $300,000 would buy here.
Oh, I know. I frequently peruse Zillow while researching possible areas for my eventual relocation. Housing prices here are insane. I'm just glad I bought in the dip between bubbles.
You should give some thought to Arizona. I rarely say that, especially to people from California, because I frankly would rather a lot fewer people (especially those with California-style ideas) flooded in here, but you're pretty cool, and I think you would enjoy the Grand Canyon State. Plus, it's close enough to visit those parts of California that are still fun.
Thanks! AZ is on our list!
Convince your family to come, and the odds are very good you'll be able to find really nice homes that are all in the same area. Lord knows, that's largely what MY family has done.
I moved from San Jose to Georgia. I had a duplex in San Jose. I bought a huge five bedroom house on a big lot in Marietta (outside Atlanta) for less than I sold my two bedroom duplex for and got a nice raise to boot