>The cost of living in California is still too high for it to compete >with other livable areas. Therefore, no new business moves to >California, especially the bay area. But if housing costs matched those >in the Plains or Appalachia then it would be more attractive to open a >business in California. After all, a low cost of living is why New >England has weathered the Great Recession so well.
I think you're right....even money, I'd rather be in San Francisco than Austin...but there's a long way down to even money. In the high tech corridor north of Austin friends of ours bought a nice newish house for < $80 per square foot. It's not in a bad neighborhood or anything, has nice upgrades, etc. It's only about 20 minutes from a lot of high tech employers. San Francisco is $550 per sq. ft., Berkley is $440, so there is a long way to go, even if you think living in the bay area is worth twice the price. Prices have to drop a factor of two. In the new world we're living in (trade deficit should be another half trillion this year), companies cannot afford to hire engineers or programmers at salaries that allow them to live in the Bay area. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
