patrick.net

I don’t know what the response rate is in Walnut Creek (id imagine decent) but the last time I called 911 was about 15yrs ago when I was in Richmond CA. The phone rang and rang and rang. Eventually dispatcher picked up to say that police were about 3-4hrs out due to other priorities that day.

This happened in the Bay Area.

BayArea says

Eventually dispatcher picked up to say that police were about 3-4hrs out due to other priorities that day.

I'm in the Bay Area too, and response time is better, but equally useless.

There may as well be no cops. We may as well just have detectives. Cops don't stop crimes.

Most people seem to believe that police come right away. Sometimes they do.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Red hot in Texas, white hot in the leafy tri-valley of the Bay Area where that hooliganism happened.

I don't get it who are these buyers over-bidding over-paying over-borrowing for the privilege of a property tax bill north of $15K per year, in a place where such stuff is becoming a regular occurrence.

Interesting. Most (many) of the buyers here in TX are from CA and IL - where are CA buyers coming from?

BayArea says

Most people seem to believe that police come right away. Sometimes they do.

My recent experience is from an inner suburb of LA that has a reputation for crime.

The cops were there in about 6 minutes in a non emergency situation(terrorist threats that I don’t believe the suspect was intending on carrying out).

Cops can get there damn quick if they are motivated.

NDrLoR says

I guess they gone upscale, Wal-Mart's not good enough anymore?

I guess neither is Lakeisha's WIGS AND WEAVES.

Apparently, there was a spree of robberies in San Francisco that night, not just Nordstrom:

The Chicago robbery came just before over 80 people robbed a Nordstrom in Walnut Creek, California on Saturday night. One employee was reportedly pepper-sprayed and two were punched and kicked. The same night, stores including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Bloomingdales, Hermes and Fendi in San Francisco were hit. Videos show the San Francisco Louis Vuitton stores with shattered glass and empty shelves while Walgreens and cannabis dispensaries were also looted.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/14-people-steal-about-120-000-worth-of-louis-vuitton-merchandise-from-chicago-store/ar-AAR0hQY?ocid=msedgntp

Bd6r says

Interesting. Most (many) of the buyers here in TX are from CA and IL - where are CA buyers coming from

I don't know. Maybe BayArea can provide some insight as he is one of those recent buyers.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Bd6r says

Interesting. Most (many) of the buyers here in TX are from CA and IL - where are CA buyers coming from

I don't know. Maybe BayArea can provide some insight as he is one of those recent buyers.

From what I can see most are coming from other parts of the Bay Area (upsizing). There’s also no shortage of buyers that have moved here in recent years from Asia (mostly China and India).

It’s crazy but I may have gained more equity in my fixer upper in the past year than I’d have made in a lifetime had I bought in Texas.

But believe me, if it weren’t for my family here, I’d be gone too!

And in San Jose... they stormed a mall.

Video at the link.

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/11/22/smash-grab-thieves-target-hayward-mall-lululemon-store-san-jose-robbed/

BayArea says

B.A.C.A.H. says

Bd6r says

Interesting. Most (many) of the buyers here in TX are from CA and IL - where are CA buyers coming from

I don't know. Maybe BayArea can provide some insight as he is one of those recent buyers.

From what I can see most are coming from other parts of the Bay Area (upsizing). There’s also no shortage of buyers that have moved here in recent years from Asia (mostly China and India).

It’s crazy but I may have gained more equity in my fixer upper in the past year than I’d have made in a lifetime had I bought in Texas.

But believe me, if it weren’t for my family here, I’d be gone too!

Statistically speaking, more lower income folks move to TX. The Bay Area is gradually being replaced by folks who make more money and can afford to pay more exorbitant prices.

I have a couple real estate flip partners. Each guy is making over $500k/yr flipping houses to these buyers. One guy is a HS drop-out who used to make $120k/yr working for an Acura dealership. The other one is an MD drop-out. He’s working his way to making $1M/yr.

This is the land of opportunity. We have no one to blame but ourselves for settling and making $150-$250k/yr.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XP19V

One of these guys is our investor. He used to work at GOOG with a salary package of $750k/yr. Decided to quit his W2 and started a start-up company with 2 former co-workers from AAPL. After a couple years of hard work, the company got bought out for $1.4B. He took his winnings and bought a $7.5M house in Saratoga. I don’t think he worries about his $75k/mo property tax bill.

BayArea says

I may have gained more equity in my fixer upper in the past year than I’d have made in a lifetime had I bought in Texas.

Good thing for Proposition 13!

Eman says

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1XP19V

One of these guys is our investor. He used to work at GOOG with a salary package of $750k/yr. Decided to quit his W2 and started a start-up company with 2 former co-workers from AAPL. After a couple years of hard work, the company got bought out for $1.4B. He took his winnings and bought a $7.5M house in Saratoga. I don’t think he worries about his $75k/mo property tax bill.

While I agree with you he has to worry about getting assaulted eventually though. Esp. If he's rich. Crime has been spiking and it will reach the burbs if you don't act. Just get a good private security or armed neighborhood watch. I think bay area prices have mostly topped (inflation may give them a small bump), but I'm sure you can always find good fixer uppers if you know what you're doing.

Why do Bay Area people pay massive property taxes and deal with the highest cost of living in the country ?

As covered above... it’s the land of opportunity, the land of equity, In general. people have the potential to make more money here than anywhere in the country.

If you aren’t taking (or aren’t able to take) advantage of those things, by all means, this may not be the place for you. Not everyone is able to make it here. Some also are motivated by family as that can have a significant impact on quality of life.

HunterTits says

Rates are actually low by most other states', thanks to Prop 13. Laffer Curve proven right again.

Thank goodness for Proposition 13 ! May it never be repealed!

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-buy-tumbles-joining-retailers-140752108.html

Best Buy Tumbles as Increased Theft Worsens Margin Squeeze

BayArea says

Why do Bay Area people pay massive property taxes and deal with the highest cost of living in the country ?

As covered above... it’s the land of opportunity, the land of equity, In general. people have the potential to make more money here than anywhere in the country.

If you aren’t taking (or aren’t able to take) advantage of those things, by all means, this may not be the place for you. Not everyone is able to make it here. Some also are motivated by family as that can have a significant impact on quality of life.

That’s why they move to TX and AZ. Can’t make it here.

BayArea says

As covered above... it’s the land of opportunity, the land of equity, In general. people have the potential to make more money here than anywhere in the country.

If you aren’t taking (or aren’t able to take) advantage of those things, by all means, this may not be the place for you. Not everyone is able to make it here. Some also are motivated by family as that can have a significant impact on quality of life.

That sounds correct. However, the result is that CA is paradise for the very rich and very poor, which is quite the opposite of what its socialist politicians declare. Backwards TX on other hand is good for middle class.

Bd6r says

BayArea says

As covered above... it’s the land of opportunity, the land of equity, In general. people have the potential to make more money here than anywhere in the country.

If you aren’t taking (or aren’t able to take) advantage of those things, by all means, this may not be the place for you. Not everyone is able to make it here. Some also are motivated by family as that can have a significant impact on quality of life.

That sounds correct. However, the result is that CA is paradise for the very rich and very poor, which is quite the opposite of what its socialist politicians declare. Backwards TX on other hand is good for middle class.

Good observation. The sad thing is that the Democrats use the working class to enrich themselves in the name of “serving and working for the people” while the Republicans don’t hide their intention. They are for profits and enrichment.