There is a mass exodus of middle class and wealthy people from California, and they have been moving in large numbers to the Northwest after doing their due diligence on where the best places to live in America are. I know this because I am a Realtor in Sequim, Washington, and more people move to Sequim from California than any other state. I’ve been asking Californians for a couple of decades why they are leaving California and why they choose Sequim.
From California to Sequim
I stumbled upon a video that explains in plain language what hundreds of Californians have been telling me for over 20 years. By the way, I don’t consider myself a Republican or a Democrat, so don’t be put off by the title of this video. This video does not express my views, because I don’t live in California, and I have no idea what it would be like since I’m not tuned into the politics of the State. But this video expresses what about 97% of all California buyers in the Sequim area have been telling me. Also, I’m not interested in the politics that are represented by the person who produced this video, but I am interested in the financial statistics he provides, which are the reason people seem to be leaving California.
It’s fascinating, but sad. California seems to be chasing the most extraordinary people away in droves. Having said that, I am very pleased to welcome you to Sequim and to help you find your retirement home. Housing prices here are not low, unless you compare them to California housing prices.
Sequim, Washington: The Best Place to Retire
You can look at homes in the Sequim and Port Angeles area by going to the best Sequim MLS site in the area, and you can always email me or text or call for more information about any homes you see. I hope I’ll see you in Sequim.
Last Updated on September 6, 2019 by Chuck Marunde
Sir, I humbly suggest that you should check the economic and demographic data (readily available on the internet from both government and private sources) before posting such a video. Briefly, according to 2017 data, California has not only one of the best economies (in the top 10) in the US, but also one of the best run states (in the top 15) based on a number of criteria. Also, California ranks 10th in personal tax burden by state. As the most populous state, California has lost a pretty small portion of its population to out migration in the past few years, mainly due to high housing costs, not taxes. (Washington state is the 5th or 6th most popular destination, by the way.)
Bottom Line: So, please, before propagating false, right-wing claptrap, you should first examine the evidence.
Response from Chuck Marunde:
RG Stout, thank you very much for your comment boasting about how great California is and successful it is. Here’s my response.
Are you serious? Are you serious? California does have a big economy, but it isn’t one of the best–it is one of the worst in the world. Many are asking when the state will go bankrupt. Unfunded pension liabilities alone are about $1 trillion dollars. I repeat “unfunded pension liabilities are about $1 trillion.”
Here’s a quote from a long time Californian:
“Honestly, if I could be free from extremely high taxes, massive immigration problems, extreme housing costs, increasing crime, and out of control legislative oppression, I would stay in California. I could deal with the flaky people. Without all those other issues, there would be no better place to be.” [https://bit.ly/2LpXPBM]
And these statistics:
“California has the highest state income tax rates in the entire nation. . . . The state government in Sacramento seems to go a little bit more insane with each passing session. This time around, they are talking about going to a single-payer healthcare system for the entire state that would cost California taxpayers. . . . The traffic in the major cities just keeps getting worse and worse. According to USA Today, Los Angeles now has the worst traffic in the entire world, and San Francisco is not far behind. . . . Thanks to unchecked illegal immigration, crime is on the rise in many California cities. The drug war that has been raging for years in Mexico is increasingly spilling over the border, and many families have moved out of the state for this reason alone.” [https://bit.ly/2MjWSvR]
And this:
Guess which state has the highest poverty rate in the country? Not Mississippi, New Mexico, or West Virginia, but California, where nearly one out of five residents is poor. That’s according to the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure, which factors in the cost of housing, food, utilities and clothing, and which includes noncash government assistance as a form of income. [https://bit.ly/2AI5YkK]
You must work for Governor Brown. By the way, if you were right, why is there a mass exodus of the middle class from California? Apparently Californias en masse disagree with your fairy tale view of California.