There are advantages and disadvantages to everywhere you live.

I’m a San Diego native. I moved out during the last big outpouring in 1990. So many Californians were moving to Washington state there was a big pushback. I then moved to the east coast, Philly area. I had a brief detour to Atlanta, hated it, and moved back to Philly. We moved back to San Diego in 2001.

Houses were cheaper in WA and Philly. Jobs were similar. Cultures were different…

I like cold – but hate the humid summers of the east coast and the south. Perhaps I’m in the minority about that. San Diego has great summer weather… practically year round. But it’s a lot more expensive. If we hadn’t had lots of equity from selling 2 homes back east, to put down a healthy down payment, I’d have moved back just to find affordable housing. It’s hard to get started in the housing market here if a 20% downpayment is over $100k.

If your criteria for where you live is based on affordability – SoCal is not your spot. Neither is the bay area, NYC, DC metro…