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Sunnyvale is actually quite sunny.
Patrick saysSunnyvale is actually quite sunny.
Sunnivale was completely chocked with traffic before covid. If you don't need to be close to Apple and such, paying premium for that particular location doesn't make much sense, imo.
Chicago Guy is retired and won't be commuting so traffic is probably going to be a non issue.
Chicago Guy is retired and won't be commuting so traffic is probably going to be a non issue.
Booger saysChicago Guy is retired and won't be commuting so traffic is probably going to be a non issue.
Clearly you haven't lived here in recent years. Traffic is heavy and bad nearly all the time. Commute is even worse.
Booger saysChicago Guy is retired and won't be commuting so traffic is probably going to be a non issue.
It's annoying nevertheless. One of my coworkers who lives there said that simple things like driving kids to a soccer practice which used to take 10 minutes were taking 40 and more because of all that stupid traffic.
Sunnivale was completely chocked with traffic before covid. If you don't need to be close to Apple and such, paying premium for that particular location doesn't make much sense, imo.
I recently retired and, as I expected, not having to work or tote kids around at specific times makes the bay area much more pleasant because I can avoid the worst of the congestion and overcrowding. For example, most parks and hiking areas have no available parking at all during the weekends or in the evenings. I can now go in the morning during the week
In my area of Sunnyvale (94087), renting is vastly cheaper than buying. My $2+ MM shack would rent for less than $5k/month. If you bought my shack you'd be paying close to $2k/month just in property taxes!
Someone buying in the zip code you cite [94087 — best part of Sunnyvale] for a typical retirement of about 20 years would pay $24k x 20 years = $480 k in property taxes, a sunk cost. Even if they sold at a profit, can't recapture the sunk cost of the property tax. But not really $480k in property taxes, because, guaranteed to go up 2% per year (Prop-13) unless the prices collapse. More like $0.5 M in sunk cost.
you should assume $5k/year in maintenance and repairs
anyone have any tips on upgrading my wiring to add grounding?
Someone buying in the zip code you cite for a typical retirement of about 20 years would pay $24k x 20 years = $480 k in property taxes, a sunk cost. Even if they sold at a profit, can't recapture the sunk cost of the property tax. But not really $480k in property taxes, because, guaranteed to go up 2% per year (Prop-13) unless the prices collapse. More like $0.5 M in sunk cost.
Does your house have armored cable?Sadly, not armored, except that the 240 volt running to the dryer runs through cast iron pipe.
If so, the armor should already be grounded and you can use that to ground your outlets. Electric code allows this.
I don't view the maintenance and repair as sunk cost, because we get something in return, "habitability"
B.A.C.A.H. saysSomeone buying in the zip code you cite for a typical retirement of about 20 years would pay $24k x 20 years = $480 k in property taxes, a sunk cost. Even if they sold at a profit, can't recapture the sunk cost of the property tax. But not really $480k in property taxes, because, guaranteed to go up 2% per year (Prop-13) unless the prices collapse. More like $0.5 M in sunk cost.
For all we know Chicago Guy has enough money to retire in Caligulan splendor.
Nope, limited to a sh*tshack built about 40-70 years ago.
Just maintenance and repair. So it's been about $8k/year.
B.A.C.A.H. saysJust maintenance and repair. So it's been about $8k/year.
Was the place trashed when you got it? That's an insane amount annually. Most major appliances last 20 years no problem if maintained. Pool liner and A/C condenser are the two biggies coming up for me, but that's $6k tops here in IL over one year. Re-roofed for $6k about 4 years ago. I can do most of the work on the house. $8k/yr seems a bit high unless you have a 3k sq/ft house.
Was the place trashed when you got it? That's an insane amount annually.
Was the place trashed when you got it? That's an insane amount annually.SunnyvaleCA says
If you go the shack route you should assume $5k/year in maintenance and repairs if you do your own work and $15k/year if you pay for yard care, plumbing, roofing, hot water heater replacement, etcBooger says
California pricing.
That requires removing the old roof and lattice holding it in place and adding plywood, which has gotten extremely expensive. That was 2004
I would not choose the East Bay for several reasons.
clambo saysChoosing peninsula over east bay is mostly a price verses commuting choice. With cower-in-place , maybe only having to go to work 2x per week, and the private bus service run by large high-tech companies, perhaps the commuting problems of east bay are eased. That said, the east bay is getting built up a lot too. If you live in the east bay, your commute to Apple or Google could be at least 1 hour door-to-door (buy bus or but train + shuttle) each way each day. It would be more if you are attempting by car. If you live near the campus, you could walk or bicycle for 15 minutes each way or drive for 10 minutes. That's a huge difference, especially if you have an uneven schedule due to kids or other requirements.I would not choose the East Bay for several reasons.
Lots of folks who choose the East Bay can afford to do so, because so many others ruled it out, out of hand, without doing the research.
Choosing peninsula over east bay is mostly a price verses commuting choice
Buy a nice mobile home (aka HUD compliant manufactured house on wheels) and park it in you daughters backyard
In response, she has sent me a text informing me California has a Good Neighbor fence law that requires me to foot the cost 50/50.
A neighbor that I have not met dropped a hand written
note into my mail box informing me she has gotten quotes for the replace
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