Hey Muggle! You sound like me! We live here but looked around recently to leave. We took a trip to Seattle and think its great – but decided that missing the sun is too much to bear. I heard that the best way to describe Seattle is like having a beautiful girlfriend who is always sick! I also lived in NYC until 2000 and have been here in California for 7.5 years. Lived in Carmel valley, move to Olivenhain, and then to La Jolla where we are renting. Also have the wanderlust – can’t imagine staying in the same house for more than 5 years. Kids are learning the gypsy lifestyle. It’s very hard to give up the sunshine (even though I am a bit of an indoor person!)
To hit the point of this post – I sold my house in North County and broke about even (after 2 years and real estate commisions) in December. SO GLAD TO BE OUT OF THIS MARKET! Pocketed 350K after leaving Carmel Valley before that. Renting in La Jolla right now at about 40% of what owning here would cost. 1 kid in very expensive private school, and the other will probably go there in 2 years.
Great time to be renting – watching the real estate market implode from the sidelines with LOTS O’CASH!!! It’s gonna keep being a dozy!
