GonPostal
Knucklehead
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Member Number
- 289
- Messages
- 193
I've lived in California for over 64 years. Grew up here, starting out in So. Cal and eventually ended up in remote section of Nor Cal, in Humboldt Co; where I finished my career with PG&E after 35 years. It's beautiful up here and I really considered this our retirment location.
We bought an ocean view lot just over 3 years ago, and have been working with an Architect to draw up plans to suit the lot. The house came out awesome. Kinda of "beachy" in design, with nothing really "opulent" as far as trim and finished touches. It would have been built on a sloped lot, but nothing terribly difficult to deal with. At the start of the design, we had budgeted $750,000 for the build of the house alone, since the lot was purchased free and clear.
We got 3 bids back from local builders. The cheapeast bid to build our house came in at $1.2 million.....all said and done, this brings construction cost to about $350/sf.....
WTF ?????
Seems stupid labor costs and costs of materials as a result of Covid, have skyrocketed, in California. A 2x4 stud that cost just over $2 a few years ago is now over $9 a stud. A sheet of 4x10 T-111 plywood siding use to be about $35 is now over $95. The concrete for the foundation, retaining walls, driveway, etc was $150,000 alone. :rolleyes:
Fawk it...we are so outta here.
Our son (who also use to work for PG&E) and his family relocated to Georgia 3 years ago for a new job with Georgia Power. They love it there and have been trying to get us to move there to be closer to them. They are getting their wish, and we are packing up. We are currently looking around the Lake Onocee area of Georgia, where it's not too crowded and the housing isn't rediculously stupid in price. We can get an awesome newly constructed country club home in gated community, on the lake or with lake access for less than $600,000.
PLUS, we won't get taxed on our Social Security, and our retirement pension is exempted for the first $65,000 before State tax kicks in. There are so many other cash savings positives, that it makes the move easier to swallow. Gun laws are also much more friendly too!
Much as I tried to put up with it, the liberal politcal diatribe in California are getting to be too much. At least I signed a recall petition to oust Newsom, so hopefully that will turn into a nice parting shot for me....
Fawk California.....
We bought an ocean view lot just over 3 years ago, and have been working with an Architect to draw up plans to suit the lot. The house came out awesome. Kinda of "beachy" in design, with nothing really "opulent" as far as trim and finished touches. It would have been built on a sloped lot, but nothing terribly difficult to deal with. At the start of the design, we had budgeted $750,000 for the build of the house alone, since the lot was purchased free and clear.
We got 3 bids back from local builders. The cheapeast bid to build our house came in at $1.2 million.....all said and done, this brings construction cost to about $350/sf.....
WTF ?????
Seems stupid labor costs and costs of materials as a result of Covid, have skyrocketed, in California. A 2x4 stud that cost just over $2 a few years ago is now over $9 a stud. A sheet of 4x10 T-111 plywood siding use to be about $35 is now over $95. The concrete for the foundation, retaining walls, driveway, etc was $150,000 alone. :rolleyes:
Fawk it...we are so outta here.
Our son (who also use to work for PG&E) and his family relocated to Georgia 3 years ago for a new job with Georgia Power. They love it there and have been trying to get us to move there to be closer to them. They are getting their wish, and we are packing up. We are currently looking around the Lake Onocee area of Georgia, where it's not too crowded and the housing isn't rediculously stupid in price. We can get an awesome newly constructed country club home in gated community, on the lake or with lake access for less than $600,000.
PLUS, we won't get taxed on our Social Security, and our retirement pension is exempted for the first $65,000 before State tax kicks in. There are so many other cash savings positives, that it makes the move easier to swallow. Gun laws are also much more friendly too!
Much as I tried to put up with it, the liberal politcal diatribe in California are getting to be too much. At least I signed a recall petition to oust Newsom, so hopefully that will turn into a nice parting shot for me....
Fawk California.....