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Post by Nora on May 28, 2020 19:27:03 GMT
Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City - all seem incredibly expensive. I did a comparison with Redwood City and NYC and it shows Redwood City as 53% MORE expensive than New York City. That seems outrageous/crazy. If I wanted to move there, I would have to make shit ton it seems.
Anybody here has any experience or knowledge of cost of living in places like Redwood City and the surroundings??
Is it really that bad? If so, how can regular people for example those who work in the hospitality or service industry even survive there??
Thank you.
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loofapotato
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Post by loofapotato on May 29, 2020 4:54:10 GMT
It's only expensive if you're looking to buy a home. The reason has to be with low inventory. One reason as I understand it is that most CA home owners are much older and holding onto their homes. They do not want to move out, buy another home, or to down size because state property taxes are to their advantage. How CA state property taxes work is that the taxpayer pays from when he/she purchased their home. So if you bought and live in the same house since 1985, then that is the taxable amount from that year that will always pay. $500 back in 1985 is the same amount in 2020. However new homeowners pay the current state property tax which of course is much higher because home evaluations have been through the roof for the last 25 years. This also does not take into account with the added local property taxes and fees that are tacked on. Those that have owned a home for 30 years or more are golden because their property taxes are significantly lower.
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 8:09:04 GMT
The cost of living is high but wages tend to be higher. I live in the South Bay suburbs of LA close to the beaches. Property values are high here. Many younger people who want to buy homes are forced to live further inland and in the desert areas. Yes, you can't live in Palo Alto or Redwood City unless you make good money. and whats considered good money? If the cost of living is 53% more than NYC then one needs to make what, close to 200 to live there comfortably?? |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 15:09:44 GMT
and whats considered good money? If the cost of living is 53% more than NYC then one needs to make what, close to 200 to live there comfortably?? You chose some of the wealthiest cities in America. You could have added Beverly Hills and Malibu Beach. They're all upper class enclaves. Come down to earth and buy a home in Pasadena or Sacramento and you won't have to earn as much to live there. I am looking into going there potentially for work, not my choice just to move there for nothing. If I had my choice just to move somewhere I would go to Montana and buy a nice house for 200k and lived there happily ever after in the middle of nowhere  But I guess I could live in a place like Oakland - which should be cheaper - and commute if it came down to it... |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 16:37:14 GMT
I am looking into going there potentially for work, not my choice just to move there for nothing. If I had my choice just to move somewhere I would go to Montana and buy a nice house for 200k and lived there happily ever after in the middle of nowhere But I guess I could live in a place like Oakland - which should be cheaper - and commute if it came down to it... Yeah, Montana is nice. I lived there for a short while as a kid. Oakland is ghetto.  oh well. seems that if i got the offer i would have to do proper research  ) ... |
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Post by enigma72 on May 29, 2020 17:50:13 GMT
Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City - all seem incredibly expensive. I did a comparison with Redwood City and NYC and it shows Redwood City as 53% MORE expensive than New York City. That seems outrageous/crazy. If I wanted to move there, I would have to make shit ton it seems. Anybody here has any experience or knowledge of cost of living in places like Redwood City and the surroundings?? Is it really that bad? If so, how can regular people for example those who work in the hospitality or service industry even survive there?? Thank you. Silicon valley employees are paid incredibly high salaries. This is reflected in housing costs. My sister in law rented there and it was twice the price of any other places |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 17:54:08 GMT
Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City - all seem incredibly expensive. I did a comparison with Redwood City and NYC and it shows Redwood City as 53% MORE expensive than New York City. That seems outrageous/crazy. If I wanted to move there, I would have to make shit ton it seems. Anybody here has any experience or knowledge of cost of living in places like Redwood City and the surroundings?? Is it really that bad? If so, how can regular people for example those who work in the hospitality or service industry even survive there?? Thank you. Silicon valley employees are paid incredibly high salaries. This is reflected in housing costs. My sister in law rented there and it was twice the price of any other places whats “incredibly high salary” ? |
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Post by enigma72 on May 29, 2020 18:47:53 GMT
Silicon valley employees are paid incredibly high salaries. This is reflected in housing costs. My sister in law rented there and it was twice the price of any other places whats “incredibly high salary” ? I looked so it wasnt just a guess. A beginning software engineer starts at $112,000. Starting pay. Plus there are stock options which can add up to millions. |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 19:04:15 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible.
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loofapotato
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Post by loofapotato on May 29, 2020 19:19:19 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible. Even the garbage hell of Salinas is expensive. I don't know why with high crime, surrounded by farms, and not much to do. Thank god I lived next to Monterey. That was as small as a municipal area I have ever lived in. |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 19:46:21 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible. Even the garbage hell of Salinas is expensive. I don't know why with high crime, surrounded by farms, and not much to do. Thank god I lived next to Monterey. That was as small as a municipal area I have ever lived in. Monterey looks lovely, but also pretty expensive no? |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 19:47:03 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible. whats a “bedroom community”? something to do with sex? |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 19:49:43 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible. whats a “bedroom community”? something to do with sex? bed·room com·mu·ni·ty noun NORTH AMERICAN noun: bedroom community; plural noun: bedroom communities a residential suburb inhabited largely by people who commute to a nearby city for work. "a bedroom community outside of Los Angeles" |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 19:51:27 GMT
whats a “bedroom community”? something to do with sex? bed·room com·mu·ni·ty noun NORTH AMERICAN noun: bedroom community; plural noun: bedroom communities a residential suburb inhabited largely by people who commute to a nearby city for work. "a bedroom community outside of Los Angeles" oh i see. makes sense. thanks. yes that would probably be me. |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2020 20:02:48 GMT
bed·room com·mu·ni·ty noun NORTH AMERICAN noun: bedroom community; plural noun: bedroom communities a residential suburb inhabited largely by people who commute to a nearby city for work. "a bedroom community outside of Los Angeles" oh i see. makes sense. thanks. yes that would probably be me. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with people who do this. I begrudge no one their wealth or success (and I consider myself the latter if not the former), but it is sad that California barely has a middle class now. |
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Post by Nora on May 29, 2020 20:54:38 GMT
oh i see. makes sense. thanks. yes that would probably be me. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with people who do this. I begrudge no one their wealth or success (and I consider myself the latter if not the former), but it is sad that California barely has a middle class now. yes I can understand that completely. I mean to me its also outraging, that middle class people couldnt really afford to live in those cities and forget lower class income. I mean its kinda sickening to think one must make 150 or more to live there comfortably (not rely on roommates, be able to lead a good life etc). Because some very honorable professions like teachers nurses or cops or garbage men or store clerks will not pay enough ever so... the people that service those citied are outcasts there or have to commute from very far away, while having respectable jobs and working just as hard (or harder) as lawyers or tech people do?  |
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Post by enigma72 on May 29, 2020 23:40:41 GMT
I was born in Santa Cruz county. When I was a kid my small mountain community was mostly ex-hippies who settled there after the culture counter movement died down. Now it's a bedroom community for wealthy San Franciscans. It's a damn shame really. I'd love to move back to Cali but it would be financially irresponsible. Even the garbage hell of Salinas is expensive. I don't know why with high crime, surrounded by farms, and not much to do. Thank god I lived next to Monterey. That was as small as a municipal area I have ever lived in. Monterey is super expensive. Do you like artichokes? |
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Post by Nora on May 30, 2020 1:02:28 GMT
Even the garbage hell of Salinas is expensive. I don't know why with high crime, surrounded by farms, and not much to do. Thank god I lived next to Monterey. That was as small as a municipal area I have ever lived in. Monterey is super expensive. Do you like artichokes? no. is that needed to live in Cali? |
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2020 1:15:35 GMT
Monterey is super expensive. Do you like artichokes? no. is that needed to live in Cali? Avocado. Avocado is on everything out there. I eat them almost everyday even though I don't live there anymore 🙂 |
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Post by enigma72 on May 30, 2020 1:21:07 GMT
Monterey is super expensive. Do you like artichokes? no. is that needed to live in Cali? Well yeah. They ask you at entry stations if you like artichokes. Well that is NorCal. Nora. I think you have to like sushi to live in SoCal. They are trendy. That poster who lived in Monterey would know why I asked about artichokes. |
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