East Coast Guy Curious About CA (Long Beach, Glendale: for sale, rentals, HOA)

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

A pedestrian salary??? What does that mean? Ew!!! LOL.

But yes, I understand what you mean. The only thing I have going for me is that I don't have a family, so I could probably afford it without living paycheck to paycheck if I am smart about it and staying a little frugal. I don't have any debt besides my current mortgage. I work in the mechanical industry (think engineering, industrial design, piping design, oil/gas/chemical/HVAC).

Didn't mean this as an insult, but it's the reality of California right now. There are some oil and gas jobs here that would pay pretty well in comparison. If you're able to land one of them, you could be making ~$200k or more in terms of total compensation. There are refineries in both SoCal and the Bay Area and Chevron does still have a HQ in the Bay Area, although most corporate jobs have been moved to Houston.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

Ooof, Long Beach sounds expensive

Realistic anticipated budget:
$2000-$3000/month in rent
$250k - $325k for purchase (this could probably go up, but to be safe)

I should add, I am good with smaller living spaces like 750-1200 sqft. I don't own much stuff.

Also, I can't do the roommate thing LOL. I haven't done it in a while, and if I can help it, won't go back to it.

You might check out the Riverside-San Bernadino area which is east of LA/Anaheim.

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...To_t%40%7Cq%40

[Thekdog]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

A pedestrian salary??? What does that mean? Ew!!! LOL.

But yes, I understand what you mean. The only thing I have going for me is that I don't have a family, so I could probably afford it without living paycheck to paycheck if I am smart about it and staying a little frugal. I don't have any debt besides my current mortgage. I work in the mechanical industry (think engineering, industrial design, piping design, oil/gas/chemical/HVAC).



Sounds like LB may be worth me visiting for sure. I think I will plan a trip soon. I would hope to buy something within a year or two of living there if I actually made the move. I am not looking to live in the super wealthy areas, just not super crime infested. And it can be on the outskirts of the area too.

To buy anything you'll likely need to budget at least $600k plus an expensive HOA. The exurbs will only be slightly cheaper.

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You might check out the Riverside-San Bernadino area which is east of LA/Anaheim.


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...To_t%40%7Cq%40

Thanks for this. That is in my budget for sure. The question of high crime comes up though LOL. From the reading I've done about CA, if you are shy of the $500k mark, there will be very high crime. It's almost like in CA people are really rich or really poor. No in-between. What is up with that?

Originally Posted by Thekdog

To buy anything you'll likely need to budget at least $600k plus an expensive HOA. The exurbs will only be slightly cheaper.

I am starting to see why people apparently have been leaving. There seems to be no middle class.

[njbiodude]

Originally Posted by M3Guy

Thanks for this. That is in my budget for sure. The question of high crime comes up though LOL. From the reading I've done about CA, if you are shy of the $500k mark, there will be very high crime. It's almost like in CA people are really rich or really poor. No in-between. What is up with that?




I am starting to see why people apparently have been leaving. There seems to be no middle class.

First of all if you’re moving from Atlanta it’s fair to ask for a significant raise as the COL is much higher. Are you an engineer with a degree? It’s not uncommon for an experienced engineer to make 150k+. Then you can buy a 600k condo. If you can’t get at least 120k to start I wouldn’t recommend moving here as you’re going to be constantly struggling.

There’s a middle class here it’s just that it’s mainly for households with incomes between maybe 120-300k/yr. Salaries are higher too, particularly in skilled professional fields.

Personally I think Long Beach is pretty industrial and gross and fairly high crime. Maybe consider living in nearby cities if you want to work there. Torrance is a nice option.

[Danica32]

Originally Posted by njbiodude

First of all if you’re moving from Atlanta it’s fair to ask for a significant raise as the COL is much higher. Are you an engineer with a degree? It’s not uncommon for an experienced engineer to make 150k+. Then you can buy a 600k condo. If you can’t get at least 120k to start I wouldn’t recommend moving here as you’re going to be constantly struggling.

There’s a middle class here it’s just that it’s mainly for households with incomes between maybe 120-300k/yr. Salaries are higher too, particularly in skilled professional fields.

Personally I think Long Beach is pretty industrial and gross and fairly high crime. Maybe consider living in nearby cities if you want to work there. Torrance is a nice option.

When I mentioned Long Beach I was thinking of Belmont Shore, Bluff Park (where I lived) Carroll Park also. Anything more than probably 6 blocks inland from there is indeed nasty.

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by njbiodude

First of all if you’re moving from Atlanta it’s fair to ask for a significant raise as the COL is much higher. Are you an engineer with a degree? It’s not uncommon for an experienced engineer to make 150k+. Then you can buy a 600k condo. If you can’t get at least 120k to start I wouldn’t recommend moving here as you’re going to be constantly struggling.

There’s a middle class here it’s just that it’s mainly for households with incomes between maybe 120-300k/yr. Salaries are higher too, particularly in skilled professional fields.

Personally I think Long Beach is pretty industrial and gross and fairly high crime. Maybe consider living in nearby cities if you want to work there. Torrance is a nice option.

I have an Associates in engineering, mainly specializing in mechanical design. From the looks of it, a position similar to mine pays a range of $90k-$154k in souther California. So I may be ok there. Yes, you are correct. Atlanta pay scale is kind of sad. Especially since the COL has gone up drastically over the past few years. Yet another reason why I see myself renting out my property and moving. IMO Atlanta does not have a good bang-per-buck.

Originally Posted by Danica32

When I mentioned Long Beach I was thinking of Belmont Shore, Bluff Park (where I lived) Carroll Park also. Anything more than probably 6 blocks inland from there is indeed nasty.

Oh ok. I thought LB was all nice. It's on my list of places to spend a week in.

[MechAndy]

Maybe I missed it but what do you do for money?
If you have no degree but have a good skill set in valued field you should about double your current wage.
If you are in retail maybe not though.

[MechAndy]

Oh I did miss it or we posted at the same time.
There are plenty of union jobs as a detailer/draftsman that at least double that Atlanta wage.
Good luck.

[M3Guy]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

Maybe I missed it but what do you do for money?
If you have no degree but have a good skill set in valued field you should about double your current wage.
If you are in retail maybe not though.

I am a mechanical/piping designer

Originally Posted by MechAndy

Oh I did miss it or we posted at the same time.
There are plenty of union jobs as a detailer/draftsman that at least double that Atlanta wage.
Good luck.

I work more in the design side. Not so much drafting. I would be considered a level 1 engineer.

Atlanta wages lag behind many other parts of the country IMO. I could be making more if I were still in my home state in the northeast LOL.

I think I could survive in CA. I don't think it would be a struggle necessarily. Now if I had a small family and I was the only earner, that would be a whole different ball game.