California has always been a place where people want to live. The reasons are obvious. The weather is amazing. The people are beautiful. There is Hollywood, incredible beaches, and classic cities like San Francisco and San Diego. This will always be true, even as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state harder than others. People have left California, but people have also moved into it. The population growth simply slowed, but perception has been that there is a mass exodus out of the state. This makes it a perfect time to invest in property in California. Here are some reasons why.
Money is Leaving
What people are really talking about when they say there is a mass exodus out of California is that people with a lot of money are leaving. The taxes are undeniably high, making it less and less enticing for wealthy people. Famous people like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have been very clear why they are leaving the state, and they are saving millions in the process. With wealthy people leaving to places with fewer taxes, there will be less people to buy those expensive properties. This means that the real estate market for luxury housing may go down, making these properties cheaper. But when it comes to houses for sale in California, this won’t last.
It Won’t Last
Just because Elon Musk and Joe Rogan have left and people have followed them to Austin, this doesn’t mean that people will continue to leave. It was a reactionary response to the situation. California will always be California. People will always want to live in the state, even if it’s just for the weather and the reputation. Hollywood will remain Hollywood and the entertainment industry will stay here. The money leaving is actually a welcomed fact for the people looking to move here, invest here, and make some money off it.
Prices Have Gone Down
The price of the median house has decreased. It is currently cheaper to purchase a house than it was a few years ago, but prices are beginning to rise again. Now the idea is that this price will remain low, but has it ever stayed low in California? It is still the fifth biggest economy in the world. There is no worrying that the prices of homes won’t come back up, it’s just a matter of when that will happen. If you are okay with making a long-term investment, now is the time to spend some money on a property that you project will increase over time. When you have the money and the time to wait, it is a fantastic financial choice.
People are Leaving Cities
While the idea of a mass exodus out of California is more fantasy than reality, people are actually leaving the cities. San Francisco, for example, has seen a significant amount of people leaving the city. This makes it a great time to purchase property there. Others have also left Los Angeles for obvious reasons. The problems of both cities were magnified last year and some are just sick of the homelessness issue, the bad infrastructure, the smog, and the sky-high prices. Still, if you have the money to work with, investing in property in California’s cities will surely pay off in the end.
It’s California, After All
California will continue to exist in the imaginations of not just Americans, but everyone around the world. People absolutely love the idea of the Golden State. Whether this ideal matches up with reality is difficult to determine, but there is no doubt that people will continue to flock to California. The state isn’t going anywhere in the way of prominence or wealth. High-end properties will be built, bought, and sold. The future is uncertain, but if you are willing to invest the time and money into California you have a pretty safe investment.
With perception looking negative and prices going down, now is the time to find that real estate steal you’ve always wanted. It’s time to buy that California dream house on the beach or in the Hollywood Hills. If you are one of the lucky ones and have enough to work with, investing in California is never a bad idea.