patrick.net

joshuatrio says

I'm near bike trail

Metro Atlanta has bike trails???

zzyzzx says

Metro Atlanta has bike trails???

Shocking isn't it? I didn't think they had any bike infrastructure - but they actually have a pretty large multi-trail system that is only getting better (according to the bike shop). I can make a 12 mile bike commute with about 8 of it on dedicated trail, and the other 4 miles through residential.

I was also told that there is a trail that runs to Alabama (not sure where) that is 40-50 miles in length.

Ironman says

He moves to GA and pays $2K a month on a mortgage payment

That 2K/month number might be on the high side there.

joshuatrio says

Shocking isn't it? I didn't think they had any bike infrastructure - but they actually have a pretty large multi-trail system that is only getting better (according to the bike shop). I can make a 12 mile bike commute with about 8 of it on dedicated trail, and the other 4 miles through residential.

I was also told that there is a trail that runs to Alabama (not sure where) that is 40-50 miles in length.

I used to live in Atlanta (Chamblee - Dunwoody - Doraville area) and I rode my bicycle all over. Never saw a bicycle trail anywhere, but that was in the 80's.

zzyzzx says

That 2K/month number might be on the high side there.

Depending on the terms 15/30year, yeah that's high. Really high.

You can live in your 500k plus mcmansions if you want, but what's the point?

Hell, we could buy a big ass 4,000 sq ft monster, for $300k, but there is no need to have a house that big with a medium sized family.

I'm looking in the $200-250k range. Maybe less if I can find something nice.

Ironman says

Strategist says

---So the smartest people are the homeless then?---


...The DUMBEST people are homeless.....

and the ones paying rent in Boca Raton.

If you make $100K + and live in Florida, a state that could see higher home appreciation rates than California, have no hungry kids to feed, and drive an old car, then where do you spend your money? Buy a condo. What's wrong with you, Dan?

zzyzzx says

I used to live in Atlanta (Chamblee - Dunwoody - Doraville area)

No way! Me, too.

We were in Dunwoody (Redfield is a great neighborhood if you're taking suggestions on neighborhoods). I loved Atlanta. Lived there about five years. I didn't find the summers to be too ridiculous. And the rest of the year is pretty perfect. Typically, just a dusting or two of snow a year... Enough to feel winter... But not so much that you will ever have to wield a shovel. And Spring is gorgeous. The whole state blooms. Just make sure you have your allergy medicine handy if pollen is a problem for you.

joshuatrio says

I would say they are pretty damn smart. The "bush man" on the wharf in San Fransisco makes $70k a year, tax free, and just scares people for a living.

Because he has no real income, he gets free healthcare, section 8 housing voucher, wic, food stamps and all sorts of government aid.

This guy doesn't report to anyone, takes home 100% of his income and gets everything else for free -

They don't have these generous benefits in Georgia, that's why you don't see those sights. You get what you subsidize.

joshuatrio says

I've driven all over the Atlanta burbs and have yet to see piles of trash all over the sides of the roads or large hoards of homeless people which were common sights in CA.

turtledove says

No way! Me, too.

We were in Dunwoody

Actually when I moved to Atlanta in 1969, Dunwoody hadn't been invented yet. It was Chamblee before that (Peachtree Industrial Blvd @ Tilly Mill Rd area; I think there is a Home Depot there now).

I lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and IMO, it's a pretty fucking boring place to live. Having said that, since you are moving from CA, you might not notice the difference, and I'm sure it's better now than when I left in 1989. That and I was really sick of the place. At least you didn't move to Raleigh, that place is much worse and probably more expensive than Atlanta. I've lived there too.

zzyzzx says

I lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and IMO, it's a pretty fucking boring place to live.

I guess that just depends on where a person is in his life. I had just had two children... so for me, boring and family oriented was right up my alley. My 21-year-old stepson, on the other hand, would agree with you completely.

bob2356 says

Strategist says

Smart people pay no taxes.

I always suspected you were in prison.

That parking ticket I got 8 years ago finally caught up with me. :(

Strategist says

That parking ticket I got 8 years ago finally caught up with me. :(

In CA, the fines and interest must be worth 5k now!

maybe you can sneak on to Augusta National!

Dan8267 says

Strategist says

Smart people pay no taxes.

So the smartest people are the homeless then?

No, the smartest people are the ones that wake up with an alarm clock and drag their tired asses out of bed every morning so they can pay their mortgage and car payment.

Not sure if 9 people from the country of California, like that you left, or if 9 Americans are applauding your effort.

anonymous says

if you announced you were leaving Florida what the results would be for - your leaving

The per ca pita IQ of florida would rise and the per ca pita IQ of whatever state the captain moves to will drop.

Now....if only the 'Left' would leave Cali....we could make some progress....but not their kind

While I still applaud the move, my recent trip to LA gave me second thoughts about leaving. I'm from San Diego, and am used to high quality craft beer being sold even at my neighborhood gas station. We went to a Clipper game, and there was only one truly decent craft beer on tap(Lagunitas IPA). Even across the street at whatever that collection of restaurants is, nada. Now I can live without the beach and the surfing, but without good beer..? A man has his limits.

NuttBoxer says

Now I can live without the beach and the surfing, but without good beer..? A man has his limits.

California offers something for everyone. More people come in than leave, by a thousand bodies every single day.

Observer, I don't think the affluent immigrants from Asia use united van lines.

Yep.
Refugees from the tsunami of Asian Eiltes.

Asian elites coming here or sending their kids here, paying cash or huge downpayments.
Remember, compared to the Concrete Canyons of their crowded cities, the Bay Area is The Wide Open Spaces at Bargain Prices.
Pushing middle class types into blue collar housing/rentals, inflating those prices, and pushing those folks out of The Bay Area.
Also pushing out middle income folks like Joshua who may have the means but not willing to spend for it when they can choose from the whole USA for a better quality of life.

Remember to listen to Neal Boortz!

anonymous says

The California I first encountered is gone.

I moved to CA in 2006. Loved it for the first 5-6 years. The last 2-3 were miserable. With the consistent rent increases and costs of doing business, it became more trouble than it was worth. Granted, we could comfortably afford to live out there, I just hated the idea of taking out a massive mortgage for a terd house, in a drought stricken state with insane taxes, that spent more money supporting illegals than it's own citizens. Putting it all down on paper, it made no sense to stay there.

My wife and I also wanted more for our kids - and to be flexible to do more... Leaving CA is allowing us to do whatever the hell we want - and in a year or two, work for ourselves completely. No more job hopping, or living under the thumb of middle management.

Josh,

Why still the bitterness even after you have moved? Like everything in life, you take the good with the bad. It's great if you have more good than bad. Not everyone can just pick up their bag and move. We have families, friends and community. Not every community in CA is bad. Not everywhere in CA is as foggy as Monterey where you used to reside. This doesn't make them stupid for not wanting to move out of CA.

People live where they live for a reason. The fact that you could just pick up your bag and moved across the country shows you value something else more than families and friends. Everyone's priority is different. Get out there do so something positive for the country instead of being bitter about CA.

E-man says

The fact that you could just pick up your bag and moved across the country shows you value something else more than families and friends. Everyone's priority is different. Get out there do so something positive for the country instead of being bitter about CA.

Lol, I value my famliy - which is why I moved. Don't go all hippy dippy on me now :) We had no more family in CA... We did have friends though.

Sorry if I came across as bitter, its been a hectic month, with a lot of travel. It's also because my wife and I were given a lot of grief when we made this decision - despite it being a smart move, and one weve been really happy with.

But I disagree with you. People living check to check, to survive and maintain a lifestyle they can't afford is foolish - and very common. Granted the inherently wealthy are doing just fine, but anyhoo.

I did edit my last comment, sorry again if it was to angry for you :)

No sweat. There are definitely people who fit the paycheck to paycheck category to keep up with the Joneses. No clue why they're doing that to themselves.

We all have only one chance at this life. Make our stay as enjoyable as we can is the goal. When you could live your life in your own way, I'd call that a success.

Good luck and have fun in GA!

joshuatrio says

I did edit my last comment, sorry again if it was to angry for you :)

don't pay attention to input from a landlord who has a vested interest in population influx vs. outflow. you did the right thing for you because california is doing the wrong thing for so many of its residents. you're not alone, you weren't the first, and you won't be the last. the thought has crossed the minds of just about everyone in the middle class here over the last few years.

i'd say the major roadblock for most people is the "hotel california" effect due to employment terms and conditions. in other words, they don't really want to stay, they HAVE to stay. one such example is someone who may work for the UC system under a pension plan, who is more than halfway through complete vestment.

zzyzzx says

Metro Atlanta has bike trails???

The best one is the beltline...

joshuatrio says

Hell, we could buy a big ass 4,000 sq ft monster, for $300k

Where are they selling mcmansions in the Greater Atlanta Area for 75/sqft? Total BS

Atlanta avg is 178 and most of the houses that are 4000 sq ft are closer to a million (or greater) in Atlanta. Most of the new construction in Decatur downtown (30030) is around 300/sq ft....with prices like a bit higher, it will be right at orange county level, minus basic public services (DeKalb county is mediocre). Some parks in Decatur, but not on level of Orange County.

I bought in 30033 at 86/sq ft in 2013 and now it is up to 135 and the average for this zipcode is 158/sq ft.

Even if you live out in Alpharetta or Suwanee you would still be paying 120-140/sq ft.

Couple more boom and bust cycles and Atlanta will be in the same neighborhood pricewise as Washington DC or Boston. Give Atlanta another 10 years, it will surely happen.

Having said that, there is still good value to be had here in Atlanta, but you won't find any 4000 sq ft mcmansions for under 600K, unless you are going out over an hour from downtown Atlanta.

MMR says

I bought in 30033 at 86/sq ft in 2013 and now it is up to 135 and the average for this zipcode is 158/sq ft.

MMR says

Where are they selling mcmansions in the Greater Atlanta Area for 75/sqft? Total BS

In about 8 months, he can have your house for $75 sqft.

joshuatrio says

I moved to CA in 2006. Loved it for the first 5-6 years. The last 2-3 were miserable. With the consistent rent increases and costs of doing business, it became more trouble than it was worth. Granted, we could comfortably afford to live out there, I just hated the idea of taking out a massive mortgage for a terd house, in a drought stricken state with insane taxes, that spent more money supporting illegals than it's own citizens. Putting it all down on paper, it made no sense to stay there.

Would you have moved if you had purchased a home in 2012 or thereabouts? Because your numbers would have been different.

MMR says

Couple more boom and bust cycles and Atlanta will be in the same neighborhood pricewise as Washington DC or Boston. Give Atlanta another 10 years, it will surely happen.

Laughable!

joshuatrio says

Shocking isn't it?

Yeah, your just now beginning to get what the Baltimore - DC area has had for decades.

zzyzzx says

I lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and IMO, it's a pretty fucking boring place to live.

I'm not one to dislike comments, and I didn't dislike that comment, but having lived in Baltimore for 3 months in the past 2 years and Atlanta for over the past 2 years, I would rank Atlanta far higher in terms of Arts and dining and quality open space. Traffic is insufferable in both places, but slightly better in Baltimore since it is much smaller.

5.5 million on roads designed for 1.8 million people in Atlanta.

As I once mentioned, the authentic Napolitano style pizza in Atlanta (Varuni Napoli, Antico) puts the best in NYC (Artichoke) to shame. Best Pizza in NYC is Giove's in Staten Island, where the chef beat bobby flay twice on his show.

Far more James Beard Foundation regarded chefs in Atlanta than Baltimore. Not even close

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/breaking-atlantas-james-beard-award-nominees-2015/

I'm checking out Book of Mormon next month at the Legendary Fox theater

Atlanta is much more ethnically diverse than Baltimore also.

Strategist says

Would you have moved if you had purchased a home in 2012 or thereabouts? Because your numbers would have been different.

Good question. I was thinking about that today as I had to come out to LA for the week, and am in the state today.

Ultimately, I would still want to leave.

While I immediately missed the clear blue sky and the mountains, I didn't miss all the trash on the sides of the roads, the large homeless population walking around with nothing to do, the cost of living, the razor wire on road sign poles (to prevent graffiti), and the wealth disparity - as in a high dollar apartment complex next to the slums, and the wealthier ignoring the problems immediately surrounding them.

In a few years, California is going to resemble central america, with gated communities in the middle of slums.

MMR says

Where are they selling mcmansions in the Greater Atlanta Area for 75/sqft? Total BS

Look in Kennesaw and Marietta. 3700 sq ft for 280k. It's dirt cheap in the burbs. Not bs. Search mls yourself.

The Strategist sounds like he's coming from the perspective of The Asian Contagion in the Bay Area.
From where they come, the horribly overcrowded and overexpensive (and Cool And Hip) Bay Area is the Wide Open Prairie, at Bargain Prices.
They cannot fathom there's a higher quality of life in other parts of the US, and cannot fathom that there's other stuff of Value besides the Money, The Equity, the API, etc.

B.A.C.A.H. says

The Strategist sounds like he's coming from the perspective of The Asian Contagion in the Bay Area.

From where they come, the horribly overcrowded and overexpensive (and Cool And Hip) Bay Area is the Wide Open Prairie, at Bargain Prices.

They cannot fathom there's a higher quality of life in other parts of the US, and cannot fathom that there's other stuff of Value besides the Money, The Equity, the API, etc.

you know you're a californian when... this makes sense.

What did you accomplish here in California? What is your legacy?