Living in Los Angeles

[WalterWhite]

My girlfriend will be going with me. She will be able to transfer there. I am going to retire in 5 years so I figured I could just live out life there. Spending my days on the beach. It is either Cali or Florida for retirement.

Sorry I put up married tax rates. I feel you on the back issues and the cold. NH has not been good to me in that area! I just became a grandfather and my daughter is in Texas. Humidity and heat like FL however tax burdens in both places are not bad. I am shocked at
 how cheap homes are in Texas. I am torn.

CA
Tax Bracket   Tax Rate
$0.00+   1%
$7,850.00+   2%
$18,610.00+   4%
$29,372.00+   6%
$40,773.00+   8%
$51,530.00+   9.3%
$263,222.00+   10.3%
$315,866.00+   11.3%
$526,443.00+   12.3%
$1,000,000.00+   13.3%

[Slik]

Sorry I put up married tax rates. I feel you on the back issues and the cold. NH has not been good to me in that area! I just became a grandfather and my daughter is in Texas. Humidity and heat like FL however tax burdens in both places are not bad. I am shocked at
 how cheap homes are in Texas. I am torn.

CA
Tax Bracket   Tax Rate
$0.00+   1%
$7,850.00+   2%
$18,610.00+   4%
$29,372.00+   6%
$40,773.00+   8%
$51,530.00+   9.3%
$263,222.00+   10.3%
$315,866.00+   11.3%
$526,443.00+   12.3%
$1,000,000.00+   13.3%

my bro in law lives in Plano in a near mansion and it cost half of what my home cost.

[Slik]

Thank you Slik, 2 very good replies. Florida is definitely my 2nd choice. I just want warmth and sand when I am done working.

well hell. You should have said that before. Stay in Indiana and after retirement take a part time job in a cement plant.

[Moontrane]

Last week was my 25th anniversary in SoCA.  I lived in Long Beach, Newport Beach, and now the Inland Empire.  Even 10 years ago I could drive to Hollywood from the IE in 90-120 minutes; now it’s 2.5 hours at least.   Driving back is 3-4 hours, and I’m driving 95 miles each way.  CalTrans adds lanes, but traffic only gets worse.

The state has so much natural beauty, but you pay a price in terms of commuting and taxes (including gas).  If politics matter, be aware the state and LA are as progressive as progressives get.

I'm in my Birkenstocks and shorts everyday thanks to this amazing weather.

There are bad drivers everywhere, but there are more drivers here than anywhere in the US, so there are more bad drivers, period.  Tailgating, lane changes with no signal, driving in the no.1 lane slower than traffic, etc.

If you have a minimal commute and decent digs, it could work for you.  There are 88 cities in all of LA County, so perhaps you could find a place that allows you to use the rail to commute.

[WalterWhite]

my bro in law lives in Plano in a near mansion and it cost half of what my home cost.

My son in law is a chem engineer so I don't see them moving with all the high paying jobs there. I looked extensively in Sugarland and was blown away. Excellent hospital system and lots of gyms too.

[gym**rat]

Thank you all for this feedback, keep it coming. All the different views are very helpful. Does anyone know a good realtor for that area. I am flying in next Wed through Friday to negotiate.

[Slik]

Thank you all for this feedback, keep it coming. All the different views are very helpful. Does anyone know a good realtor for that area. I am flying in next Wed through Friday to negotiate.

This guy is cool. Not pushy. Understands that not everyone is made of money. Good guy. And effective. He knows the whole area you are speaking of or could refer u to someone.

https://www.zillow.com/profile/Rick-Thomas-Sells/

[gym**rat]

I will call him on Wednesday, thank you Slik!

[SF1900]

If you move to Florida, you can hang out with Shizzo.

[Bevo]

My girlfriend will be going with me. She will be able to transfer there. I am going to retire in 5 years so I figured I could just live out life there. Spending my days on the beach. It is either Cali or Florida for retirement.

Move to Florida and be closer to bobert chicerillo

[Bevo]

my bro in law lives in Plano in a near mansion and it cost half of what my home cost.

I live in tha Plano/frisco area, very nice and developing quickly with Toyota moving here and the new Dallas Cowboys facility here, real estate is going up crazy, weather is hot as hell but other than that I don't miss California too much

Bbing scene is big in Texas and metroplex and destination are hardcore bbing gyms, or course home to Ronnie Coleman 

Raised my whole life in Southern California/Thousand Oaks and Orange County area, after my parents moved from Germany

[Bevo]

If you move to Florida, you can hang out with Shizzo.

Or bob chick or bostin Lloyd

[SF1900]

Or bob chick or bostin Lloyd

Or Jason Genova.

[Irongrip400]

You keep referring to Torrence, but isn't that for poor people? At least that what "Karate Kid" would have you believe.

[dj181]

...with my best old x-friend ray, a guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated

[Slik]

You keep referring to Torrence, but isn't that for poor people? At least that what "Karate Kid" would have you believe.

haha. I don't remember them referencing Torrance in KK. I remember Reseda. There is no cheap area in Cali anymore.  

[Slik]

I live in tha Plano/frisco area, very nice and developing quickly with Toyota moving here and the new Dallas Cowboys facility here, real estate is going up crazy, weather is hot as hell but other than that I don't miss California too much

Bbing scene is big in Texas and metroplex and destination are hardcore bbing gyms, or course home to Ronnie Coleman  

Raised my whole life in Southern California/Thousand Oaks and Orange County area, after my parents moved from Germany

so as u know we lost Toyota from a few miles away from here. Cali is super stupid when it comes to how they treat business.

[El Diablo Blanco]

If you decide to live in Carson in Torrance then you're not in LA and in reality will never barely head into LA.  You'll be stuck in the outer cities

[Kwon]

One Zany Mofo

[ratherbebig]

[bigkid]

I like visiting LA.  Not sure I could live there.

[stuntmovie]

Some damn good info above.

I have lived in LA on and off  for a few years and here are some of the things I hate and some of the things I love about it

HATES:

I hate the traffic unless I know the shortcuts. I suggest that you find a place to live in an area very close to your workplace with no need to get on any freeway.

I hate earthquakes. (Been in a few too many and THE BIG ONE is way behind schedule, but in its way!)

I hate paying $12 - $18 to watch a movie. Here in Vegas a first run movie in a high class theater is $4. (My family makes them so sometimes I attend premiers as an "invite" and also get a free small box of popcorn and a very small soda but I never get an invite to walk down the red carpet.

LOVES:

The weather.

The great dining pots. Especially  the authentic enchiladas and the strong Margaritas while dining with some of the A-list people who are never bothered by the other diners.

The proximity to the Pacific Ocean. I've been a beach freak all my life...  Fog, rain, or too much sun ...It makes no difference.

Entertainment .... If you don't mind the drive ... It's unlimited. Disney, Knotts, Universal, Mt Snow Skiing, yada, yada, yada.

And the biggest orange tree I've ever seen  in the family backyard that supplies  the neighborhood with the best orange juice ever squeezed.

If you enjoy the outdoors a lot and can put up with the traffic, you will be loving living there.

[El Diablo Blanco]

In the end, you just need to try it.  Like that Bahz Lurman song said.  Live in California but move before you become too soft.  I grew up on the east coast and have been here in SoCal for 20 years and I got soft.  Can be 60 degrees out and I'll shiver that it's cold but on the east coast it could be 60 and I'd be in shorts running outside like it's summer.

[Kwon]

In the end, you just need to try it.  Like that Bahz Lurman song said.  Live in California but move before you become too soft.  I grew up on the east coast and have been here in SoCal for 20 years and I got soft.  Can be 60 degrees out and I'll shiver that it's cold but on the east coast it could be 60 and I'd be in shorts running outside like it's summer.

So LA makes you soft?

[El Diablo Blanco]

So LA makes you soft?

Hell ya.  Life becomes different.  Everything you can ever want is within a 10 mile radius.  Authentic Chinese, Thai, Vietnames, middle easter, russian,greek, italian etc....   All of the shops you can need, all of the services you can afford, year round sunny weather.