Posted on 11/04/2004 5:37:45 PM PST by BurbankKarl
An exodus of California residents this summer, strong enough that one company temporarily suspended truck and trailer rentals for one-way moves out of state, is continuing deep into autumn.
Some of those running for the border are cashing out equity in their homes, others are fleeing high housing prices and apartment rents, while others are seeking a place where the living is cheaper, indicate interviews with rental company officials, economists and analysts.
Demand in California peaked in late summer, prompting Phoenix-based U-Haul International to restrict rentals for out-of-state destinations from Aug. 2 though Sept. 7, though they were modified somewhat in late August.
Demand remains strong, though, and U-Haul still has cities that are only taking reservations if they are based on incoming equipment arrivals, and the customers may have to travel to pick up the equipment or just wait, said company spokeswoman Joanne Fried.
It's made for a 7-day, 70-hour workweek for Mike Jubrail, who runs a U-Haul store at his MJ's Auto Care and Fast Lube business at 8659 Corbin Ave. in Canoga Park.
"We've seen a lot of people move to the closer cities -- Phoenix and Las Vegas -- and we've seen them go up north to Spokane, Wash., and Boise, Idaho," Jubrail said.
And lots of his customers talked about housing prices as they signed the rental forms.
"The main thing is the cost of living and the price of housing. A person can sell their house here for half a million and go to Boise and buy a house for $100,000 and have a couple of bucks to live on. The other reason is jobs," he said.
U-Haul said that a check of its customer database showed that between Jan. 1 and mid October:
3.5 percent more families moved out of Los Angeles County than moved in. San Diego was the top destination followed by Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Riverside and Phoenix.
5.7 percent more families moved out of Ventura County than moved in. The migration pattern was slightly different, though San Diego was also the top destination. It was followed by Las Vegas, Lancaster and Bakersfield. Phoenix and Mesa, Ariz., were also top ten destinations.
Jim Webber, national lease and rental product marketing manager for Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP, tells a similar story, though he doesn't share migration data.
"There has been an extensive demand for rental equipment out of California this year. I've heard a lot of people are selling out and getting-out-of-Dodge type of things," he said.
Most of the outward migration is coming from the state's major cities, Webber said.
California is still expected to gain in population, but it will be driven by people coming here from other countries rather than other states.
This doesn't surprise William H. Frey, a senior fellow at the Milken Institute who specializes in demographic trends.
Foreign-born Californians assimilate after several years then look elsewhere, where housing and other costs are cheaper, allowing them to keep improving their economic lot.
"I think it's consistent with the longer-term trend. It's more the people who are squeezed by high housing costs," he said.
Take me! Take me! I'm qualified. I'm from Eureka...
I can offer a ditto for that in Pocatello. Few houses are being built because we have a finite amount of water available from underground wells. Unlike California, the locals won't permit development to outstrip resources. Besides, there aren't any jobs outside of fast food and retail in the local economy. I report to a manager in Mclean, VA.
You are in Boise? What's the deal? My husband and I were just talking about considering checking it out. We're in NYC. What can you tell me?
ARF!
I'm headed out there eventually but I plan on getting a couple hundred acres waaaayyy out in the sticks... ;-)
LOL! What the heck, we could use another republican up here!
Just make sure to tell any Dem Californians you know how HORRIBLE and MISERABLE it is up here!
Same for Las Vegas and the majority of them are braindead liberals.
If this election was left to the voters of Las Vegas, Nevada would have gone to Kerry.
Thanks
ping
It's called Metastatizing...
Something like Fort Simplot? Does he still have that huge American flag that snaps and cracks and keeps his neighbors awake at night? LOL!
That flag is still there.
Unfortunately they bring their liberalism with them.
That didn't work in Humboldt county. It went sKerry 58%...
Good for old Jack. What a character! An American original.
ping
Not in the San Jose area. Prices have stabilized, but it's the time of year for things to stabilize. I think things will pick up in the spring again.
"California is still expected to gain in population, but it will be driven by people coming here from other countries rather than other states"
TRANSLATION, the ILLEGAL INVADERS keep on coming!
So long as Kali. continues to fill the feed trough with freebies and racial preferences for illegals, to be paid for by the diminishing number of hard working Americans, Kali. will continue it's slide toward becoming a third world dictatorship c**p hole.
I only wonder how bad it has to get before any real action is taken.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.