California's skyrocketing housing costs, taxes prompt exodus of residents

Post by gautamnarula » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 6:58 PM UTC

hanklazard wrote: post #101

shawndumas wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having lived in Long Island, NY and Boca Raton, FL I gotta say... I don't think I could leave the Bay Area. The weather, the geological features, the schools, the meetups, the job opportunities... all factors. But the biggest is that the people are truly interested in intellectual matters in a way that was not extant in the other places I've lived. My son is a programmer and nobody had a clue what he was talking abou…

>But the biggest is that the people are truly interested in intellectual matters in a way that was not extant in the other places I've lived. This is the way I feel in Boston. The cost of living (mainly housing prices) gets more ridiculous every year, but the intellectual and cultural environment make me want to stay. Most of my friends back home (deep South) are easily able to afford to buy decent homes, while I'm s…

Post by kamaal » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 7:02 PM UTC

toephu2 wrote: post #223

rm_-rf_slash wrote: post #167

Anyone else alarmed that a doctor was leaving because the rent was too high? A doctor is one of the jobs that is expected to pay top dollar in American society. If a doctor can't make it in the Bay Area, who's going to cut your hair, serve your beer, or mow your lawn? If wages don't rise in line with skyrocketing living costs, then the only alternative is a permenantly impoverished underclass. People of the Bay Area:…

btw, how much do doctors (specifically primary care physicians) make in the Bay Area? They don't get bonuses nor stock, just base salary right?

Post by yardie » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 7:18 PM UTC

efnx wrote: post #120

edc117 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking to get out as well, Broward/Miami area is overcrowded and pricey, not to mention poorly educated. Lucky enough to work for a company that will allow me to go remote - can anyone recommend a place on the east coast? (preferably warm climate)

Blacksburg Virginia?

Post by nfriedly » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 7:22 PM UTC

rconti wrote: post #200

nfriedly wrote: post #47

My wife and I spent a year in the Bay Area (San Mateo), and there was a lot to love. Great weather, awesome farmers markets, plenty of work, etc. But holly cow was it expensive! My rent was around $2000/month. I had a co-worker living in SF proper who's apartment was $4500/month. And that was 4-5 years ago, it's probably gone up by now. After a year, we moved back to Ohio - I now have a good-sized house on nearly an…

I would expect if you had chosen to grind it out in the Bay Area, you could have retired in Ohio even sooner. But if you wanted to retire where you're working, yeah, it ain't gonna happen at 45 in the Bay Area. Did you do the comparison at the time? Just curious. Part of what makes it work out here for me is that the cost of living means savings scale that much faster. But I have no idea where I'm going to retire.

Post by HillaryBriss » Thu, Jun 23, 2016, 7:31 PM UTC

antimatter wrote: post #170

overcast wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one is denying the beauty, and adventures that await in California, that's why people live there. The issue here is what the original article is all about. When it becomes a grind just to live there, you can't even enjoy what makes it so awesome to be there.

This. I've lived in Los Angeles almost my whole life. I visited the beach maybe once in the last 5 years. Why? Because to do so, you have to be willing to sit in at least 1-1.5 hours of traffic. When you get there, at least 30 min to find parking. There are simply too many people in CA at this point to enjoy anything it offers. Leaving the house for me means waiting (in traffic, lines, for parking, etc).