Quote from the article link:

"The bank said the Cavillos only qualify for a $200,000 mortgage...Ricardo works a $38,000-a-year manufacturing job..."

The bank will lend a one income ($38k) family with three kids $200,000 for aq mortgage? Am I missing something here?

The link I provided earlier ranked it 34th out of 50 (States) in the tax burden area. That means there are only 16 states where the overall tax burden is less. However they don't have/can't afford much in the way of public services because of this.

I'm selling a 2700 SF home. It's on a wonderfully (really beautiful) landscaped half-acre. The air smells good here and you cannot hear traffic. I often leave my doors unlocked, no problem. It has some gorgeous pecan floors, new roof, new NVAC system, modern appliances, excellent neighborhood, thoroughly insulated, etc. I'm asking $175,000 and wondering what it might sell for in Malibu.

rent is going down in the bay area. my friend just rented out his 2 br home for 13hundred. i dont think you are interested in living with roomies. right? the trick, if i was to do it again, would be to live in an area that has easy access to BART. you will not believe the amount of condos going up in WEST oakland. this is an area typically full of people that refers to oakland as the "biggity biggity O" or "Otown" this is the HOOD. with safe underground parking and easy public trans to the city, i could live in the "O".

Paul from AZ and Paul from OR,
Reading about Paul AZ's expereince makes me think he's a candidate at Marathon Coach in Coburg, OR (541) 343-9991. Marathon manufactures very high-end motor coaches.

The economy in OR is flat. There are very few good paying jobs except in the medical and pharma. industries. Washington is stronger for sure. As far as Redding, if you are an outdoors enthusiast like me, its a great location. Trouble is, it suffers from the same economic doldrums that most of Oregon suffers from. The main industry in both areas was/is primary and secondary timber manufacturers which have largely been curtailed due to pressure from the greenies.

Troy

Just a Bump... I appreciate all your suggestions and comments but I'm really starting to get a little worried about the possibility of not being able to find suitable employment near the West Coast.

I hope my Porsche and I are not doomed to languish on the desert floor... It sure would be nice to have an opportunity to work for a company involved in aftermarket Porsche parts and performance mods. Any suggestions? But really, anything would be good at this point.