4 Clear Signs This Raging Seller’s Market Has Peaked—and a Buyer’s Market May Be Slowly Moving In

Some signs are afoot that today's raging seller's market might be shifting slowly toward a buyer's market. Here's how to tell. The post 4 Clear Signs This Raging Seller’s Market Has Peaked—and a Buyer’s Market May Be Slowly Moving In appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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The 10 Best Lawn Maintenance Projects Based On How Much Time You Have

Whether you're doing the bare minimum or looking for ways to maximize the time you spend tending to your lawn, here's what you need to know. The post The 10 Best Lawn Maintenance Projects Based On How Much Time You Have appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Thinking of Leaving California? Here's Where To Go

 Reprinted from The Orange County Register.

https://ocregister.com

Ready to leave California?

The pandemic era has certainly created tons of buzz about Californians moving to greener pastures, with household pocketbooks in mind. Or maybe they’re seeking redder pastures, politically speaking.

So as a public service, my trusty spreadsheet composed a 2022 quality-of-life scorecard that’s designed for Californians who are considering a new home state.

This ranking’s recipe is a mix of livability factors key to a Californian’s successful out-of-state relocation. It uses benchmarks for wealth, nurturing, livability, foundation and popularity for the 49 other states. The data was taken from state-by-state “best places to live” scorecards, other gradings of key economic factors, plus a dash of government data.

The “happiest potential landing spot” for folks who want out of California sits just up the Pacific coast — Washington state. No. 2 was Virginia, followed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire and a tie for fifth place between Utah and Vermont.

This same math says Californians on the move should avoid Louisiana. Its status at the bottom of this scorecard was just below Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (Full results can be found by clicking the map above or GO HERE!)

And just so you know, California’s economic arch-rivals had uninspiring results on this scorecard — Texas was the 13th worst place to go and Florida ranked only 20th best.

Recipe for success

So what’s the secret sauce of a great state for a soon-to-be ex-Californian?

ABOVE: THE DARKER THE COLOR ON THE MAP, THE BETTER IT IS TO MOVE THERE FROM CALIFORNIA

Let’s look inside the scorecard to see leaders and laggards in the five elements that created this relocation ranking. Try to ponder these topical gradings as clues as to which states to consider should any of these factors be really important to your move-making decision.

Wealth: Many departing Californians seek “affordability” and/or “opportunity.” You know, “show me the money.” So, the size of paychecks, job prospects, cost of living and overall economic oomph is important.

The spreadsheet says New Hampshire is the best spot for your wallet, then Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa and Virginia. Worst for finances? Wyoming, then New Mexico, Louisiana, Connecticut and Alaska.

Nurturing: The quality of education and healthcare is on the minds of numerous exit-minded Californians. These are critical relocation factors for families and retirees alike.

For people eyeing schools and/or medical care, the spreadsheet says Massachusetts is No. 1, then Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Jersey. Worst? Louisiana, then Nevada, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Alabama.

Livability: It’s hard to leave the California weather — and its accompanying lifestyle. So climate, natural beauty and attractions must be a relocation consideration.

For those keeping “fun” in their departure formula, the spreadsheet says Hawaii is tops, then Florida, Massachusetts, Washington state and Rhode Island. And playful Golden Staters should be wary of Indiana, then Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky.

Foundation: Some folks say they’re leaving California due to its “progressive” culture and perceived declining social underpinnings. This kind of relocation targets quality infrastructure, limited crime, low taxes and conservative politics.

For what we might call “traditionalists,” the spreadsheet says Idaho is your ideal place followed by Utah, North Dakota, Virginia and Vermont. Avoid Louisiana, then New Mexico, Arkansas, South Carolina and Mississippi.

Popularity: Talk is cheap. Let’s admit rankings are more conjecture than concrete evidence. So I’ve included states and their share of new residents from California, based on last decade’s migration patterns.

The spreadsheet says Nevada has the most ex-Californians in its population, then Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Hawaii. Conversely, it’s hard to find an ex-Golden State resident in Delaware, then New Jersey, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Realtor Chris Gallatin can help you sell your home here in California and set you up with a powerful Realtor in the state you are thinking of moving to... What do you have to lose, besides a huge mortgage payment?  Contact Chris at 323-447-6989 for details.  CalDRE02057954

Winning formulas

So what do the “winners” of this contest do right?

For No. 1 Washington state, it’s a mix of beauty and money. The state ranked fourth-best for livability and No. 6 for wealth and popularity. The Evergreen State also offers the 16th-best nurturing and 22nd-best foundation to those considering a move.

No. 2 Virginia combines opportunity, traditional values and all-around high grades. It was fourth-best for foundation and No. 5 for wealth. The Old Dominion life ranks No. 14 for livability, No. 15 for nurturing and No. 18 for popularity.

No. 3 Massachusetts’ reputation for top-notch schools and healthcare is a key lure as it was top-ranked for nurturing. It also scored high for livability (third-highest) and foundation (No. 14). The Bay State had mid-range grades for popularity (21st) and wealth (22nd) tied to its high cost of living.

No. 4 New Hampshire’s low cost of living got it a No. 1 for wealth. It also scored No. 7 for nurturing and foundation and No. 10 for livability. But few Californians don’t go to the Granite State — it’s 37th for popularity.

Tied for fifth, Utah is for ex-Californians seeking a “traditional” lifestyle as evidenced by its No. 2 ranking for foundation. Californians like the Beehive State as shown by a No. 8 rank for popularity. It was No. 12 for wealth and 13th for nurturing. It’s flaw, a No. 33 score for livability.

The other No. 5, Vermont, scored high for nurturing (fourth-best), foundation (fifth-best) and livability (eighth-best). But the Green Mountain State is only 23rd for popularity and maybe that’s linked to a No. 28 ranking for wealth.

Caveat

Don’t trust my math? Or simply want a second opinion?

Here are the top states based on the average rankings of four “best states” scorecards from U.S. News & World Report and Top Agency, plus WalletHub’s family-friendly state rankings, and MoneyRates’ top states for retirees grades …

Best? Vermont was No. 1, then Nebraska, Iowa, New Hampshire and North Dakota.

Worst? Louisiana came in dead last, just above New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alaska and Nevada.

Oh, Texas ranked No. 38. And Florida? No. 13.

About the Author:

Jonathan Lansner is business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

High Home Prices And The B-Word...

 We ARE in a bubble. The experts are all over the map on this one. Home prices in SoCal went up 24% on average in a year. Don't let anyone tell you that a 24% rise is anything but a bubble. The question now, is... when will it burst?

No idea.

Will it burst due to inflation? That is the most likely cause, though the markets are rather irrational.

Will it burst due to interest rate rises?

Only if they top 4.25%. That amount, coupled with the current high prices, is the absolute deal breaker for the market.

The San Fernando Valley vs. The Santa Clarita Valley: A Showdown

Which is the better place to live FOR YOU?
View the full-screen presentation on Adobe Spark here.

If you've always thought you need to save up 10, 15 or 20% to buy a home, you USED TO BE correct. Right now, however, if you spend a great deal of time trying to save to get to one of those amounts, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Read on, at The Gallatin Group website

I've moved the Blog

If you like my entried, please follow me on over to my website blog. Same Name and style!

My latest entries:

Zillow Got Better At Zestimates.. So What?:

The Rehabbers Guide to 203K Loans

Our Annual Santa Clarita Schools Report Card

Are Santa Clarita's Bidding Wars Over Yet?

Santa Clarita Really IS The Safest Place To Live

5 Things You Need To Know About the Santa Clarita Real Estate Market Today

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Plains Trains and Restaurants - A Newhall Suggestion Box

Newhall is undergoing a renaissance of sorts with the recent decision to add the Laemmle Theater art film house to the downtown Newhall area. The area has been neglected from the late 70's up until the turn-of-the-century, when new developments began to pop up like weeds. The Santa Clarita City Council is trying to turn those weeds into grass by creating a more cohesive and compelling area for residents to visit for entertainment and arts/culture.

Restaurants like the Newhall Refinery have opened everyone's eyes to the possibilities that the quarter mile stretch of land offers. Even newer restaurants such as Southern Smoke Barbecue and Brew House and the Persia Lounge recently started capitalizing on the trend, adding decidedly different choices to Old Town Newhall. The area has long had great casual eateries such as Egg Plantation, El Trocadero Steakhouse, Jimmy Dean's, Cathy's Deli and The Grand Panda, but new upscale restaurants such as The Social, Bricks and Eat Real Cafe are adding culinary gravitas to this southern section of Santa Clarita. So what's missing?

New residential developments. Newhall is by no means at full capacity, with land between Circle J Ranch and Valle de Oro sitting idly by, as shown in this gorgeous Google picture.

I haven't researched what the growth plans in that area are, but I know development here is needed. I HAVE researched the Old Town Newhall plans, and they were off and running on their plans way back in 2005, describing how they wanted it to look, right down to the species of shrubs to be used in medians...

 

The plans later called for multi-story high density mixed-use projects that feed off the proximity to the Newhall Metrolink station.

I get it; we need housing of all types.

But every new home development in Santa Clarita has been further North, with tightly packed lots, and patio homes selling for prices that make me scratch my head. Where are all of these high paying jobs coming from that supply these buyers?

Are the hipsters quietly moving up here? I know neighborhoods in the San Fernando valley such as Valley Village are out of reach for Millenials, and I sense that Santa Clarita could be attracting all of the non-traditional households out of the valley. Large, extended families have reached out to us to find them the homes they can not afford in the valley, but we have to point them to patio homes?

Active families just getting started also find that they are relegated to a patio home, or worse yet, a townhome, with zero grassy area.

What Newhall needs is development of properties with lots at least 6500 square feet in size, and areas like those I mentioned (from Claibournes Arch south to Valle De Oro) are the perfect place for them.

     While I'm at it, the railroad tracks that divide Newhall in half, have got to go. Underneath, that is... Cities along the Metrolink line in the inland empire have paid to create grade crossings, so that traffic stays at existing height, while the trains intersect underneath. Those cities did this 10 years ago, but the prospect of doing that here would draw curious expressions from city planners. They are costly, at $35 million apiece, but that is what government is for... Not Common Core... But that is another story. The tracks also serve to slice Old Town Newhall in half, with homes east of the tracks considered the scariest at night, while businesses on Mains St. enjoy relatively safe, pedestrian traffic at night.

If quality of life is truly the goal here...if Santa Clarita is all about being Awesome, then homes with actual yards are a necessity. We need streets that don't turn into logjams on the hour, every hour, when freight trains blow their whistles waking the dead at 6 o'clock in the morning. Remember: if there are no crossings... there's no need for horns...We need an Old Town Newhall that is vibrant, but not a congested, overbuilt mess. Plans there call for a 5 story parking garage, with 400 spaces. They also call for 26 new housing units. They've got that corner figured out. Now, they need to zoom out, and look at the BIG PICTURE...

The growth of Disney Studios at Placerita Canyon virtually demands Newhall build TOWARDS the Southern end of town. City planners looked at the highway off-ramp at Newhall Ave. years ago, and called for massive beautification. The spiral cloverleaf leading to the entrance to Newhall from the south is not a thing of beauty. It all starts there, and at the Lyons exit off the 5. Those are the gateways, and both have remained untouched for decades....

We need even newer ideas than the ones currently under consideration, if Newhall is going to compete with Valencia and Stevenson Ranch for tax dollars, and 'quality-of-life' enhancements. 

In short, we need new homes on the plains... less trains.. and even more restaurants.