Affordable places in California?

Question

I know that CA is notorious for being overpriced. But, it's so beautiful so I'd consider moving there if there are nice places that are not as expensive there. Know of any?

Note: I am looking for NICE places that are affordable. Thanks! Like is Berkley more affordable than San Fran (no idea)?

Answer 1

I had been in California for 6 months this year. I stayed x 1month in San Francisco, 1month in Concord ( Contra Costa County, 45 minutes drive from San Francisco) x 1month, 2 months in San Diego, 3 weeks in Camarillo ( Ventura County) . I also stayed in El Centro, LA and Alisso Viejo.
Each community is different even though they all are in California. San Francisco is the most expensive community with a tax of 8.5%. A studio would cost around $1.000 higher. In Contra Costa County, tax is a little lower, I think it is 8.25% or probably lower. Studio type room would cost the same! However, transportation is more accessible in downtown San Francisco. You can ride the buses. I have a cousin who lived there x 30 years without driving. You can ride the BART connecting San Francisco to the Contra Costa County like Concord, Antioch, Pittsburgh, Danville, LaFayette etc. Most of the people from the Contra Costa County who works in San Francisco live their car in the BART stations and take the BART to work . BART stands fort he Bay Area Rapid Transport! Parking in downtown San Francisco is too expensive and sometimes it is so hard to park.
Concord is a friendly environment, however, I seldom see buses over there.
San Diego has a bit lower tax than San Francisco! La Jolla is an expensive area. It is where UCSD ( University of San Diego ) is ! National City is where the low cost housing is but you have to qualify ! I know somebody who had undergone kidney transplantation and has 3 children and whose husband works within the lowest salary range. They were qualified to live there. They pay only $400.00 a month ( 3 bedroom house with 2 comfort rooms). Her brother nearby pays $700.00 in a 2 bedroom apartment. Buses are accessible to their place. Though some areas are inaccessible. Chula Vista is a nice community which is a bit expensive.
Ventura County includes Simi Valley, Camarillo! I had seen the most beautiful houses in these areas. They are really worth millions. Nice community!There are gated communities here.
El Centro is an hour drive from San Diego. Cost of living is lower here. You can get a 3 bedroom house which you can rent at $900.00. However, it is the hottest place in California that I had been to. ( Their temperature now is 58-91 degrees fahrenheit vs San Diego's , 58-76). It is also near the Mexican border. One thing nice here in the Imperial Valley is the 24 hour Walmart not found in other areas in California I had been to. You can call a bus and pick you up and pay only $2.00. If you dont know how to drive, this area has less people, you will really learn to drive here!
It is in LA that I had seen the most traffic highways. Buses are accessible. In some areas it is 24 hours accessible. My cousin lived there x 5 years without a car & survived. This place is overcrowded.
Alisso Viejo is a new community in the orange counties but houses also cost millions! The community is also nice. Neighbors report people who are too noisy. Laguna Niguel is also nice.
Corona California is a place where most people from LA go to since it has lower cost of living! Meaning, the rental is quite lower.
Some places has its advantages and disadvantages. Northern California on the side of San Francisco is the most expensive community so people go to nearby suburban places of California. Southern Calilifornia includes LA & San Diego as an example! Lower cost of living compared to San Francisco! Look for other places in California, these areas might be cheaper like Corona.

Answer 2

Let's keep this short...shall we? Yes, there are affordable places in California, but they are less desirable because they are generally not in the "beautiful" parts of the State. What the majority of Californians do is buy or rent in the less beautiful parts of California and then drive to visit the beautiful parts like tourists.

There are a few affordable, but rather austere, places in Berkeley. But they are usually taken up by the U. of Cal students; so these places are hard to find. There are very few, if any, affordable apartments or houses in beautiful parts of Oakland (the Oakland hills are beautiful with great views of the Bay for example).

Bottom line, if you want view, ocean, mountains, lakes, parks, and the like, you will not find affordable housing. Otherwise, you can, but would you want to since you're looking for "beautiful" California? [See the source for California real estate prices, use ZIP = 94611 for the East Bay close to Berkeley.]

Answer 3

Unfortunately, California is very expensive state to live in.
What environment do you want to live in Cali? By the ocean, mountains, central valley, city, rural??
If you can dodge bullets and tolerate gang violence, then I am positive you will find some great real estate deals in South Central Los Angeles, Fresno, Salinas, Oakland, Richmond, Vallejo, oak park and north highlands in Sacramento and Hunters Point in San Francisco. hehe
Seriously, if you searched around enough I'm sure you could find an inexpensively priced housing situation in a nice area of Cali.

Answer 4

As already stated, the beach is pricey so you need to go inland. Northern California is absolutely beautiful and would be a great place to live.

Answer 5

the entire bay area (sfo and berkeley) is wayyy expensive, basically anywhere close to the coast is overpriced. it depends on why you want to move here and what type of job you are looking for. it is beautiful, i've lived here all my life. do a lot of research. save a lot of money before you move here. good luck!

Answer 6

Yeh, you can something cheap in Needles, CA. No one wants to live there. Totally desert! Too freakin' hot! But it's California, ya know.

Answer 7

Most affordable? Death Valley.

Answer 8

anything by the coast is expensive. it generally gets better as you go inland

Answer 9

riverside county in socal