Reasons People are Still Moving to California
Moving to California: Natural beauty, cutting-edge technology, vibrant food culture, movies and music – California has it all,
Key Points
1. If you love nature you’ll love living in California.
California is a great place to be a nature-lover and an outdoor enthusiast. You can visit a number of national and state parks, hike mountains, visit beaches, ski, surf, swim and camp. If you’re on a tight budget, getting into the great outdoors for a hike or a walk provides free entertainment in the Golden State.
2. It helps to speak some Spanish.
Like the other 49 states, California is multi-lingual. And if you don’t already know Spanish, you might want to pick up the language upon moving to California. You’ll expand your potential friend circle and have an easier time making yourself understood in the Golden State.
3. You’ll be living in an agricultural hub.
California produces a lot of the produce that the rest of the country – and many other countries – depend on. When you drive by farms in California or head to your local farmer’s market, remember all the hard-working men and women who grow and pick the produce that California is famous for.
4. It’s easy to maintain a healthy diet in California.
If you want a diet that’s heavy on fresh produce (and you can afford it), California is a great place to live. If you want fresh juice, ditto. And if you love eating out but you don’t eat meat, sugar, gluten or some other controversial ingredient, you should have an easier time of it in California than in other U.S. states. Healthy living is big in California and, at least in urban areas, it’s normal to be a little fussy about one’s diet.
5. You might become a wine aficionado.
California is the country’s biggest producer of wine. Even if you don’t settle in California wine country after moving to the Golden State, you might want to take a trip there to see what all the fuss is about. Living in California could be the inspiration you need to explore the world of wine.
6. California is a high-tax state.
California income taxes are high – there’s no way around it. If you’re a high earner, you’ll pay a sizable chunk of your earnings to the state government. Of course, you get a lot for that money in California and property taxes are below average which can soften the blow.
7. Housing is a hot topic.
In much of California, housing is a big topic of concern. In some cities, housing is out of reach for even upper-middle-class Californians and local zoning rules keep the housing supply low. Other parts of the state still haven’t recovered from the Great Recession and have homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages. If you’re lucky enough to have a house in California that you love and can comfortably afford, you’re doing well.
8. Living in California has its risks.
Wildfires, mudslides and earthquakes are all hazards of living in California. That doesn’t mean you’ll fall victim to one of those natural disasters, but it’s a possibility that’s worth knowing about. It may also affect how much you pay for homeowners insurance if you go from renting to buying in California.
9. California is a testing ground for renewable energy.
If you’ve always wanted to put solar panels on your home and sell energy back to the grid, California may seem like a great place to get started. And it’s true that solar energy is big in California.
However, selling energy back to the grid isn’t as easy in California as you might think. California homeowners with rooftop solar systems face controversial fees as part of an ongoing battle between utility companies and advocates of solar power. It will be interesting to see how the battle plays out and how other forms of renewable energy take off in the state in the years to come.
10. Your friends will want to visit you.
California is a beautiful state that looms large in American culture. You can expect your friends and relatives to want to visit you if you’re moving to California. Your couch or guest bedroom will probably see a lot of use while you’re living in the Golden State.
