A nice location in Arlington TX is much cheaper than a nice location in the DC burbs.

Similar goes for SC, ARK, and other states where the housing market didn't ridiculously inflate. Hell, I couldn't afford my house in the Baltimore 'burbs if I had to buy it at todays prices. I bought it in '00 right before the market took off. It's worth over twice what I paid.

Frank

the great equalizer is "where do you want to live" I guess. I personally have no desire to live in crack hoods or Texas. I like the bay area ($1,000,000 homes) so I guess I'm just plain fuct.

and I don't want to live in DC, with their rediculous populus and rediculous cost of living.

so I live north of Atlanta, where I have a 'DC area $1M home' on 1.5 acres that's worth $200-something in GA, and in a nice area, surrounded by country clubs. :)

I think working one year on the mall and playing football next to the monuments kind of burns out their appeal. When I first moved here I was like "Wow theres the washington monument!", nowadays I don't really see the appeal. Then again, I don't have a welder either. :sadwavey:

Hell, I'd like to live in Texas. Or Florida. Or anyplace else where the cost of living is reasonable. Problem is I can't find a job in those places...

there's the second chapter of the story.

salaries are inflated in silicon valley too :)

ben: who wants to live by country clubs? if I want racially insensitive rich guys, i can just go to congress.

This is silicone valley, my friend. World 'o difference.

The Dept. of Labor regional adjustment table that my company uses (we are after all a gov't contractor) says that I got a 10% salary adjustment when they transferred me from Cincinnati to San Diego. That wouldn't have been a problem if I were one of the many folks who moved out here during the 90's, instead of the one guy who got transferred in 2003 after the 400% inflation.

Upon leaving Maineville, OH (an upscale suburb outside the 275 loop on the N.E side of the Cincy area) I sold my 1500 sf home (with oversized 2 car garage and another 1500sf full basement on about 1/4 acre) for $160,000. Here in Carlsbad I pay $1,700 a month rent for a 700sf 1 bedroom apartment with 1 car garage. A house like the one I had in Ohio would cost me a minimum of $600,000 if I moved further inland, and over $800,000 where I am now.

Inflated salary my ass...

I took a significant pay cut moving out of the sf bay area. AND i pay more rent. now that's just f'd up.

You're retarded. :)

I just don't get the appeal of this area. The weather isn't good in the winter or the summer. If the cost of living is gonna be this high, we should at least have beautiful weather like Cali!

As a convertible owner, weather is important to me.

Frank

In NY a house like that would go for twice what it would go for where you live.

You guys notice he took pics of the whole house and not the most important part? The garage. :nono:

Congrats on the house.

haha, well I didn't move here for the weather.

I moved for the poon.

In NY the city never sleeps or shuts down,there is always something to do or somewhere to go if your bored,you get what you pay for.

In Vancouver everything shuts down at 2AM.It's a fucking ripoff to live here.

The only bad thing about Texas is that the property tax is fucking ridiculous. Also Texas does not have California's Prop 13 where Prop tax increases are capped every year.

As for FLorida, the real estate value sucks right now so it might be a great time to buy.

I think you cover your toys really well in the corner :)

I am putting up shelves this week.