[quote=flu]
The bigger problem is that if you buy a home in CA, it will most likely put you into the “i need to pay AMT taxes” category because, under AMT calc rules, taxes paid which would have been itemized (state taxes, property taxes, etc), are not deductions under AMT.[/quote]

Exactly. Folks who get repeatedly hit with AMT realize that big fat mortgage is sweet. They practically do not allow any other deduction under AMT