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California
vs. Texas
Many Californians
are "cashing
out" and moving their familes (and U.S. dollars) to the southwest
in search of an easier lifestyle. Here's the reason why:
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OVER / UNDER |
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Of the top 10 most overvalued cities:
Percentage overvalued
1. Salinas, CA, 97%
2. Santa Barbara, CA, 82%
3. Merced, CA, 74%
4. Stockton, CA, 71%
5. Modesto, CA, 66%
6. Los Angeles, CA, 61%
6. San Diego, CA, 61%
9. Ventura, CA, 57%
10. Vallejo, CA, 56%
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Of the most undervalued cities:
Percentage undervalued
1. El Paso, TX, -26%
2. McAllen-Edinburg, TX, -25%
17. Lubbock, TX, -17%
19. San Antonio, TX, -16%
19. Brownsville, TX, -16%
27. Houston, TX, -15%
27. Austin, TX, -15%
33. Dallas, TX, -14%
38. Corpus Christi, TX, -13%
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| source: Smart Money magazine, December, 2005 |
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EXPENSIVE
vs. AFFORDABLE
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Top
10 CA. most expensive homes:
2005 highest median home price
1.
Manhattan Beach, $1,570,000
2. Malibu, $1,550,000
3. Laguna Beach, $1,537,500
4. Los Altos, $1,424,000
5. La Canada-Flintridge, $1,395,000
6. Palos Verdes Estates, $1,360,000
7. Saratoga, $1,350,000
8. Newport Beach, $1,300,000
9. Coronado, $1,275,000
10. Hermosa Beach, $1,249,500 |
Top
10 U.S. most affordable homes:
2004 average sales price
3.
Arlington, Texas $134,550
5. Killeen, Texas $136,750 |
| source:
California Association
of Realtors, July, 2005 |
source:
San
Francisco Chronicle, October 5, 2004 |
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OVER
/ UNDER
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Of
the top 10 most overvalued cities:
Percentage overvalued
1.
Orange County, CA, 59%
2. Ventura, CA, 58%
3. San Diego, CA, 57%
5. Modesto, CA, 54%
5. Salinas, CA, 54%
7. Santa Rosa, CA, 53%
7. Santa Barbara, CA, 53%
9. Vallejo, CA, 51%
9. Stockton, CA, 51% |
Of
the most undervalued cities:
Percentage undervalued
3.
Arlington, TX, -15%
9. El Paso, TX, -12%
13. Houston, TX, -11%
17. Dallas, TX, -9%
25. San Antonio, TX, -7%
39. Brownsville, TX, -4% |
| source:
Smart Money magazine, December, 2004 |
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COST
OF LIVING COMPARISONS
|
| On
average, compared to California, Arlington's cost of living is: |
| Grocery
items are |
16.4
to 28.0% lower |
| Housing
is |
2.4%
higher to 69.0% lower |
| Utilities
are |
0.7%
higher to 33.2% lower |
| Transportation
is |
11.9
to 26.0% lower |
| Health
care is |
4.1
to 38.7% lower |
| Misc
goods/services are |
1.8
to 14.0% lower |
| Compare
Arlington's cost of living to these major California cities: |
| Bakersfield |
Fresno |
Hemet |
Los
Angeles |
| Oakland |
Palm
Springs |
San
Diego |
San
Francisco |
| source:
CNNMoney.com, January, 2005 |
|
The
median price of an existing, single-family home in San Diego County
was $608,300 in May, up from $593,600 the previous month and $565,030
a year ago.
|
| source:
Voice
of San Diego, June, 2005 |
|
The
Imperial Valley -- a California desert region of 160,000 people
and a notoriously high unemployment rate -- is witnessing a surge
in new homes and stores for middle-income families. Homebuilders
are betting that the Imperial Valley will become San Diego's next
bedroom community, another example of how California's climbing
home prices are forcing people to live farther from work.
The
230-mile round trip to San Diego and back takes about four
hours, but here it's easy to find a new home for less than
$300,000. In San Diego, the median price of a resale home
hit $580,000 in January.
|
| source:
L A Times, March, 2005 |
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People
leaving county in droves
The
exodus of Los Angeles County residents to surrounding counties
and nearby states accelerated significantly during the past year,
driving the largest population shift in the nation, according
to new U.S. Census Bureau figures.
Fueled
by soaring housing prices, traffic congestion, and new jobs in
outlying areas, residents left L.A. at an average net rate of
9,621 per month between July 1, 2003, and last July 1, compared
with an average net of 7,373 per month over the three previous
years -- a 30 percent increase on average.
The
figures show 115,434 more residents left the county last year
than newcomers arrived.
|
| source:
L
A Daily News, April, 2005 |
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Mobile
home madness: Prices top $1 million
A
two-bedroom, two-bathroom mobile home perched on a lot in Malibu,
California is selling for $1.4 million. This isn't a greedy seller
asking a ridiculous amount no one will pay. Two others sold in
the area recently for...
|
| source:
USA
Today, July, 2005 |
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San Diego sees record number of foreclosures in March ('07)
A record 433 owners lost their homes in San Diego County to foreclosure last month, more than six times the March 2006 figure, DataQuick Information Systems reported... |
| source: Sna Diego Union Tribune, April, 2007 |
I
invite y'all to come out and experience some real Texas hospitality
and see why many Californians are calling Arlington, Texas their new
home!
Arlington/Fort Worth Profile
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