[quote=Happs] . . . San Marcos for example is priced appropriately compared to more upscale areas of North County, but it’s not appropriately priced correlated to wages/salaries in the area. Why would an electrician move to San Marcos when he/she could move to the suburbs of Las Vegas and purchase an equal size house that’s roughly the same age for half price? Yes, I know it’s over 100 degrees in the summer in Las Vegas, but it does get in the mid to upper 80’s regularly in San Marcos in the summer with high humidity. Even in San Marcos, Santee, Lakeside, etc, high housing prices make it difficult for a veterinary assistant to afford housing, even an apartment. . . .[/quote]
Happs, I can think of dozens of reasons why one would rather live in SD than LV, none of which have to do with housing. And I don’t believe most (experienced) electricians are low or moderate-income individuals. If fact, their salaries are comparable to engineers or above. As you know, the difference (and quality of life) between SD and LV are night and day. The problem with LV is that “summer” is 6-7 months per year, minimum (Apr thru Oct). What do you consider “high housing prices” for a service worker? What about high rent? Electricians and veterinary assistants are professions, not min wage service jobs. There has ALWAYS been a disconnect between salaries and wages offered and available housing for rent or sale in the SD region vs other CA coastal regions. Nothing has changed in this regard except the current and upcoming captive audience for homebuying (Gen Y’s and newcomers’) “housing expectations.” They were “trained” to expect new housing to choose from by Big Development. Previous generations didn’t have an endless smorgasbord of *newer* housing to choose from when they were the age Gen Y is now and we’re all still around and doing okay.
Happs, would YOU move to Las Vegas? Just wondering ….
