The cost of living isn't any different than anywhere else. I just went through 15 States and from what I saw.....it's not an issue. Drop by.....I always have cold beer on hand
Lived in Burbank when I was a kid. We moved back to ATL in 1980 and I've been trying to get back to CA ever since. Lotta people act like the cost of living is out of hand in CA, but I don't see how it could possibly be any worse than metro ATL, and when you factor in that jobs in ATL don't pay hardly shit, it's CA for the win.
Yeah, but aren't houses priced extremely high? Can you get a decent house for 150K-200K like you can elsewhere in this country? Or do you have to live in gang-land slum areas for houses like that? I would love to live there....
Sure you can get houses here from 100k on up to 30 million, and everything in between. It's all about location. The further out from the urban areas, the less expensive it is. Don't know about the ghettos or slums, as I wouldn't live there anyway. But you aren't gonna live in Beverly Hills for 150k...
Obviously you aren't going to live in Beverly Hills for 150K but I would also not want to live where I would be scared to set foot outside my front door. What would be a good area ? Pomona ? Ontario??
Hey man! I just moved here a couple years ago and I LOVE IT!! Maybe it's not for everyone, but it's deffinitely for me. Great weather, TONS of cool hot rods and events, beaches, culture, close to about anything you would ever want to do, and I have met some really cool people here! Of course, like anywhere, there's down-falls (traffic, congestion, and high living expenses), but it's all what you make of it. Welcome and I wish you the best of luck! Come to the Anti-donut breakfest one Saturday for some grub. Huntington/Fountain Valley is sorta' far from the valley, but if you're in the area, drop in!
No, you cant get a house for 150-200K, you can get cheap stuff (300k) outside of Los Angeles. The cost of living, besides housing, isnt really any different/higher than anywhere else, the higher housing costs are offset by higher income, so it all works out. It never gets real hot, or cold, the ocean is right there, there are palm trees, hot rods, interesting people, good food, if you know where to look, very multi cultural, lots of fun stuff to do, etc. To me L.A. doesnt even feel like a real city, like New York or Chicago, it's more like a large village. Lots of cool neighborhoods, some bad ones too of course, you just have to know where "not" to go. I've lived here for 16 years, and I am still discovering new stuff every day. It doesnt get boring around here, and thats the way I like it. Come on down.
You don't have to sell me on it. I would love to live there. My wife hates it though. I think she just hates it because I want to live there so bad. Her big excuse is the whole traffic thing. Ridiculous I know, but that is how it is.
Yeah, I've got to say that Chris Casney hit the nail on the head. I've been in the Pasadena area all of my 58 years. The weather today will be in the mid 80's, no humidity, no bugs, blue skies. As far as the car scene goes, well, its 365 days a year around here. The last jacket I bought was in 1980. Its in a closet somewhere here. Being retired, I don't have to hassle the traffic, but from what I understand, traffic isn't just an El Lay problem. I live 20 minutes from the L.A. Roadster Show, the Grand National Roadster Show, the NHRA Museum and the Pomona drag strip. I'm 15 minutes from Irwindale Speedway. I can get to El Mirage dry lakes in 75 minutes and Bakersfield-Famoso Drag Strip for the California Hot Rod Reunion and the March Meet in 2 hours. I can be at the beach in 1 hour and in the mountains in 30 minutes. There are so many car events each weekend, you sometimes have to miss out on many, cause you can't go to them all. Your home is where you're happy and where your family and friends are. Doesn't matter where that place is, I guess. If you're happy where you are, then you "win". I guess I "win", too. House paid for in a nice quiet sleepy city next to Pasadena at the foot of Mt. Wilson, '34 in the garage all gassed up and ready to go, good health, good friends......all's well.
Your into cars and the beach then Georgia to California is a no-brainer. Sure houses are more $$$ but theres a whole lot more money to be made here. BBQ? Yah we got it, but more importantly weve got great cheap Mexican food all day long!! Youll dig it here and if you see my wagon at the Primer Nats come on by and I,ll hook you up with a carne asada taco and a cold one.
Houses are much more expensive than in GA, higher the closer you get to the beach, and gas is the highest in the country. But you can drive your car about 350 of the 365 days of the year, there are car shows every weekend, in the summer 3 or 4, and some on weeknights in the summer. And lot's of other stuff to do. I came from St. Louis and wouldn't consider going back to the humidity and snow even for less expensive gas and housing. You'll love it here, wlcome.
and i hate to say it, but the median house prices have dropped a lot more in CA than GA, percentage-wise, and there are a lot more foreclosures, so although the houses are smaller it isnt going to get much better than this. Can't wait to put my top down and leave it down
Hey welcome. I'd take Simi Val. over Chatsworh. Though you have the 33 fwy to deal with, always congested. Ventura is very laid back, not like the OC/LA beach cities. Plus you have Santa Barbara, always a nice drive and hang out. Good Luck! Ken
This is totally true! I lived in the valley while I attended college... At the time I owned a very loud, very low, very long; 61 Cadillac... My neighbors filed 3 noise complaints against me! I ended up getting multiple noise violation tickets and was forced to move from the neighborhood. This was in the VALLEY, right next to Cal State Northridge Some people suck...
Housing costs seem to be much higher in California than most (not all) places in the country. Go on www.zillow.com and check out comparable houses around the country. Everything else, groceries, etc probably are close to the same all over, might vary some. Hey, I'll take a beer!
You left out doubled taxes, 350,000 gang members, traffic, smog, gun control and the lamest politicians anywhere.
Your doing what I dream about doing almost EVERYDAY of my life!!!!! Good luck to you, I'll get there some day... Having 2 houses up here in Spokane, Wa. with the shitty economy and terrible realestate market sucks!!! I'd gladly trade my decent 4 bedroom 2 car garage and 30X36 shop for an O.K. 3 bedroom and 2 car garage house in an O.K. So.Cal. neighborhood ANYTIME!!!
They had a big outbreak of sprained elbows in Santa Barbara -- turned out to be from constantly patting themselves on the back.
gun control?..oh, please do give us details oh, and don't tell me about smog...you should have been here in the 50's...now that was bad look, this thread was started by a guy who is excited about moving to the Los Angeles area. If you have nothing positive to offer, then just find something else to do. If you live in Southern California and you hate it so much, then you know what you ought to do. There's people like me who love it here and maybe this other fellow will love it too.
Oh, and Santa Barbara and Ventura are absolutely beautiful and anyone who lives there knows it, as they should....so whats wrong with that?
I don't live there and I feel the SAME WAY!!! I wasn't joking when I said I would trade my house!!! Spokane is a nice place--- IF ---you like four seasons and don't mind the snow. Two things I completely HATE!!!!
I grew up in San Diego and now live in Corona and I wear shorts all year round. Sometimes I have to put on a sweatshirt in the winter, but I still rock shorts about 360 days a year. You're gunna love it here...
I grew up in both the OC and San Diego and now live in Simi Valley. Simi is great, very relaxed and quiet. Good place to live and then if you need a little action its real quick trip to the Valley or Ventura, or even Santa Barbara. The traffic can a bit of a burden, but you can usually find alternate ways to get around. Also, we have the beach, desert and mountains. The car scene is great too, Bob's Big Boy is usually happening all year round too. Welcome to So Cal.
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