This is specifically for those of you relocating to California (and perhaps other close-by states that may have similar issues).

You will find, as I did, that some things are different here, as they are in other states of course. I'm talking specifically about the homes themselves. You might as well be prepared so it will come as less of a surprise, depending on where you are coming from. And you will surely notice these things if you are reviewing MLS listings in your search for a new home here.

If you are coming from the East Coast (or the Mid-West) you are probably accustomed to having a basement, plus some sort of attic, maybe even one with stairs. You are in for a surprise.

NO BASEMENTS - at least here in Southern California, homes are built on SLABS and do not have basements. You may wonder...what will I do about storage? More on that later.

SLABS - yes, your house will be on a slab of concrete, so the surface under your tile, carpet or hardwood will be concrete (it's harder) than the sub-flooring so many homes typically have (plywood, etc.)

LAUNDRY - because of the weather, and other reasons, you will often find that the laundry is in the garage, not in the house, although in most new homes there is a separate laundry room.

GARAGES - 2 and 3 car garages tend to be more common, especially in new homes. THAT'S where you get your extra storage. Again, with the weather being what it is, lots of folks use their garages for storage and keep the cars in the driveway (no worries about snow and ice here!).

ATTICS - nope, don't have many of those either. There will be space in many homes for the heating or cooling units above the ceiling, but you won't have a big walk-up attic for storage as you do elsewhere in the country.

SPAS, WATER FEATURES, POOLS - you're moving here because of the weather, right? So these are much more common, just like in Florida and some other "hot" states. Nice to have but they take some work.

HOA FEES and MELLO ROOS - definitely more common than back East, for example. HOA (Home Owner Association) fees are similar to condo fees.

TILE ROOF - much more common here. May be clay, concrete or other man-made substance

If you are moving here from another part of the country, especially one that is not on the list of most expensive cities in the US (e.g., Boston, New York, Washington, DC), you are probably experiencing sticker shock as you start looking at homes for sale.

Even though you have most likely seen some of the articles in the newspapers or on the Internet about the realities of home prices here on the West Coast, somehow it always seems worse when you are actually searching for a home, rather than simply reading about the plight of others living in expensive areas such as ours. And while the market has changed drastically in the last couple of years, it does not mean that it is inexpensive to live here now.

There was also a recent article in the Union-Tribune entitled Locked out of the Market, which focused on the many folks living here who cannot afford to buy since their salaries are lower than that needed to buy the median priced home. Scary stuff, but not a surprise for those who live here.

Keep in mind that the median price home they used was $477,000, and it IS the median, i.e., 50% of the homes cost less. Now, while that doesn't mean there are lots of properties, or any in our area, costing $100K (except for mobile homes), there are options - in my general area there are well more than 250 properties with at least 2 bedrooms for $350K or less. Still a high price compared to places like Austin, TX, but  it does mean there are some options for people relocating here who have lived in far less expensive places - there are just trade offs, and major adjustments.

This, in no way, means that we do not have a serious housing problem, here and elsewhere, and the problem is likely to get worse unless salaries rise dramatically and there is more affordable housing created. And it's a challenge for many even to find affordable rentals. There are many people here, and elsewhere, who may never realize the dream of owning a home, even with creative financing options for first time buyers, seller concessions, price drops in some communities, and more.

So, if you are frustrated, I do understand. And coming from Boston was a shock even for me. But there are some good loan programs out there, especially for first time buyers, and with the inventory, sellers are willing to negotiate much more than in the past. Will the prices drop further? Hard to say. The changes we have seen are, in the overall picture, pretty minimal. If I can help in any way, or answer any questions about the market and the options you have, please let me know.

Many people relocate when they have reached a time in their lives that they wish to downsize and simplify their lifestyle. The majority of the people in this category are Baby Boomers. They may want to near children and grandchildren, or live in a warmer climate such as San Diego where they can spend their time golfing year-round. One of the options that some people in this generation choose is a 55+ community - an association of homes of perhaps varying styles and sizes, where the requirement is that one or possibly both members of the household are at least 55 years of age.

These communities offer a particular lifestyle that can appeal to those who no longer wish to have a large home, and prefer to not have to deal with the maintenance issues. The 55-year age requirement can be met in a number of ways depending on the stipulations in the association's by-laws. Often only one member is required to be 55 or older, but sometimes both. There are some large associations where only part of the subdivision is reserved for this age group, whereas others are completely self-contained, gated communities. It is common to find a range of amenities that will appeal to the residents - some have their own golf course (e.g., Ocean Hills in Oceanside), and a clubhouse that offers a variety of activities is fairly common (bridge, dances, community events and dinners). Home styles vary - some communities offer manufactured housing while others are more tract-like, either attached or detached. Commonly they are single story to better accommodate the residents as they age, but some offer both single and two-story arrangements. Because of the number of communities in our area, you will likely find what you are seeking, both in terms of amenities as well as price. San Diego offers a wonderful year-round lifestyle, but is not the least expensive areas for retirement.

In order to preserve the desired lifestyle, these communities may have restrictions on visitors - the number who may visit at a time and how long they may stay. The golf courses are usually private (but guests will usually be allowed to use the course), and the fees may be included as part of the monthly maintenance fees the residents pay to cover exterior and grounds maintenance. The overall convenience of no maintenance, a range of amenties and a group of similarly aged residents can allow for the perfect lifestyle. But it is not right for everyone, so do your due diligence before you make a final decision.

Here are some more observations on the housing in the San Diego area, and some comaripsons to "back East."

1. Closets - People here in California don't have a clue about the luxury they have (well, most do) with their closets. I've seen bigger walk-in closets here than entire $400K condos in Boston. Yep, some "bedrooms" don't have them (so it’s a den or office) but most are pretty reasonable in size, if not spacious, and in the newer homes they are downright huge. Now, every New Englander knows that the Victorians, who built a large number of the homes before and after the turn of the century, didn't like closets, or didn't have clothes to put in them...in any case you are hard pressed to find a closet in the older homes where you can hang enough clothing on hangers to last you a week, and THAT'S in the master bedroom. A closet that is 30" wide and 12" deep is a pleasure in Boston. Guess that's why there were so many armoires made back then, or maybe everyone just threw their clothes on the floor.

And these mirrored doors on every closet, in every room (I'm exaggerating, just a bit). Yep, it gives you more light, a feeling of more space, yada yada, but back in New England it's a dead giveaway that the resident is still living in the 60s and 70s and loving it, and a definite negative for buyers.

2. Furnaces and heat - what I love about the weather here is that I only HAVE to turn on my heat a few times a year, and then only to take the chill off the air, and most people have forced hot air. No matter that the furnace is in the ceiling somewhere (I know because the HVAC guy who came to repair it said so). And gas is the typical source of fuel, although there are some unusual electric devices on walls or baseboards occasionally. And furnaces are pretty new here. In Boston, we have something called a "snowman" in many old homes and buildings. Yes, it is kinda rounded and bulgy like a snowman and rather an ugly dirty dusty gray...and it is COVERED with asbestos. Plus it is almost as old as the house. They are gradually disappearing, fortunately, due to the health hazards associated with asbestos, and it costs a boodle to have them removed, and you have to have a certified professional do it. Not everyone has a snowman, but lots of furnaces are 30 - 50 years old, or more. Some are great because, due to how they were made, they will probably never fall apart. But at least you have a furnace...and with the cold Boston winters that last for 6 months this is a priority for any condo or homeowner. And you pay dearly for the fuel (often oil, but more and more so gas). And the steam and hotwater radiators in many old homes are a sight to see - they work great, by the way, and stay warm forever once heated up, and can get hot enough to fry an egg and dry your clothes (instead of going to the basement for the dryer). And in some fun old homes people do not have a source of heat in some rooms, like the kitchen, and you have an ancient stove that also provides the heat. Haven’t run across that here in San Diego…yet.

3. Parking - I have to say that, despite the number of cars (rumor has it there are more cars than people in LA, for example) in Southern California, we are pretty car friendly overall. You can park at the beach, often for free. There is free parking everywhere (and parking meters, too). And these interesting Self-pay parking lots - these would never survive in Boston because Bostonians would simply refuse to pay the machine. They ignore pedestrians, red lights and stop signs, don’t they?! I didn't have a clue about what to do the first time I encountered a self-pay lot (what do you mean there is no nasty attendant waiting to take your car and squeeze it into a space only 1 mm larger than your car, and have the nerve to charge you $10 for the first 15 minutes for the pleasure - or worse, expect YOU to park your own car). Parking is cheap here, overall. There are some more expensive places, true, but it is typical in Boston to pay $10-$15 per hour to park, and more. But the worse thing is even finding a place to park in Boston, on the street OR in a lot. One commonality - the people who staff the meter-ticket dispensing workforce here (at least downtown) and in Boston are equally rude, abusive and have the ticket on your window only a nanosecond after the time expires. It’s like a cult.

The other nice thing about parking here is that resident parking is rather unusual. You can park in a neighborhood (well, not the gated ones) and walk to the beach, go shopping, enjoy a restaurant, or go to school, and no one knows who don't live there, and IT'S FREE...and you won't get towed. Most areas, at least in Boston proper and nearby communities, have parking by resident permit ONLY on the streets - no sticker, no parking. The other hassle is the monthly street cleaning, when you can’t park in that area at all – you WILL get fined and you WILL get towed, as it makes money for the city.

Another difference - lots more valet parking here, and it's either free (except for the tip, perhaps) or inexpensive. Boston has caught on to this finally, and some places offer valet parking (otherwise NO ONE would ever come to the restaurant because there is NO PARKING anywhere), the difference being that valet usually costs $10 - $15. Where the valets find room to park the cars, no one knows.

4. Mello-Roos – well, what the heck is that? First time I saw this in the MLS when I started my California home search back in Boston, and it said “no Mello-Roos” I wondered what was missing? Was this a good or bad? I had never seen a Mello-Roos before; was it unique to Southern California? Do they import them? Or do they grow wild?

I did some on-line research to figure it out, and learned it was a fee you sometimes had to pay in newer subdivisions (often in undeveloped areas) where a Community Facilities District has been created. The CFD allows for financing to cover the costs of certain improvements (e.g., streets, sewers and other basic infrastructure, police and fire protection, ambulance services, schools, parks, museums, etc.). The Mello-Roos, a special tax, is collected from each resident in order to pay off the financing; the tax is not based on the value of the property. And that could be in addition to a Home Owner’s Association fee. The good news is that the Mello-Roos will stop in the future once the bond (if issued) is paid off, although sometimes a reduced fee may be levied to cover the cost of maintaining the improvements. BTW the name comes from the co-authors of the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982, Senator Henry Mello and assemblyman Mike Roos.

5. Subdivision Names and Gated Communities – Getting used to all the subdivisions and the names has taken some time. It certainly helps you to keep track of where certain people live, or to give directions, or to figure out how much money someone has or if they are worthy of being your friends, and as a Realtor you want to sell in certain subdivisions if you can. What was so different is the sheer number of them, and the manner in which the names are emblazoned on the gates on some fancy stone edifice at the entrance. And if this is a gated community, this is where they hide the electric eye that lets in residents, or the magic keypad that will allow visitors to gain entrance if you are lucky enough to have been given the secret code. Or, if you are REALLY lucky, you have a guard in a nice little gatehouse who decides if you can pass or not, depending on the kind of car you drive. Certainly there are subdivisions in the Boston area, as well as gated neighborhoods, and condo buildings have names, but New Englanders tend to be a bit more conservative, so you don’t see the advertising quite so much.

I'll add more musings as they arise.

If you are moving to coastal San Diego, or thinking about it, you might enjoy reading this post on the housing - it is NOT about pricing. I wrote this as somewhat of a newbie myself (moved here from Boston 17 months ago), with a bit of tongue-in-cheek, as I thought about my impressions of the housing as it compared to New England and what I was used to for 20 years. But it will give you a good feel for some of what we have to offer. There was too much for one post so Part 2 will follow. Enjoy!

1. Housing in general - Well, there's lots of it, with San Diego being one of the 10 largest cities in the country. There is much diversity in styles of housing - condos, multiunit properties, rental apartments, time shares (Aviara Four Seasons in Carlsbad, at the high end), fractional ownership condos (e.g., at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, for example), 55+ communities, mobile and manufactured homes, high rise apartments and condos (plenty of new ones and under-construction downtown in the Petco Park and Gaslamp Quarter areas, for example), beach bungalows, attached and detached homes, twin homes, Spanish, Tuscan, Mediterranean, California Ranch, Cape Cod, Italianate, Old World, contemporary, Craftsman, tract homes, mansions, estates, homes with guest houses...the list goes on and on.

2. Age - seems that the preponderance of the housing has been built since the 60s, and in some areas most is post-1980 (with a large number of new subdivisions springing up since 2000, such as Encinitas Ranch (great public golf course), La Costa Greens/Ridge/Oaks, and a zillion more, and that's just near the coast). Sure there are homes built in the 20s, but that is more the exception. When people say they have an old house it refers more to the 1970s and 1980s. Back in Boston and Cambridge much of the housing was built between 1880 and 1920, and an "old" house there means early 1800s or before.

3. Basements - well, they are kinda hard to find here except in older homes. Everyone here sits on a slab!! So where are you supposed to store all that junk?? Sure, due to some zoning restrictions in some areas we are seeing homes remodeled or built with basements added to increase overall space but keep the above-ground size within the limits set by the town for the lot size (e.g., Del Mar). Now in Boston most everyone has a basement or access to one - if you live in a condo building there is one for all to share, to do laundry, store stuff, etc. Yep, some have dirt floors, and low ceilings, and cracked or sagging beams, and they get wet and have mold and asbestos, but you have a basement!! You don't get that with a slab - just cracks and sagging and unevenness. What fun is that?

4. Lead paint - not much to say here. It is a HUGE deal in New England since most housing was built pre-1978 when lead paint was outlawed. Everyone knows they have it, although some de-lead (by choice or requirement if they are landlords). Not much of a problem here due to age of housing. It's still a disclosure, however.

5. "Laundry in the garage" - that was a new surprise. Who wants to go to the garage to do laundry? Well, it's not such a big deal, given the temperatures here. It can be a great use of space instead of in the house, among other factors, but it took some getting used to the idea (we have a laundry room, by the way, which appeals more to me). Now, in Boston it is a big deal, and more expensive, if you have an in-unit washer and dryer if you are a condo owner. Many people living in condos trudge down to the basement and SHARE, heaven forbid, a washer and dryer, or maybe several in a large building...and lots are coin-operated, just like in college. It can be a treat to live on the upper floor of a 3-story building, or worse, and have to cart everything down to the basement and do your laundry with the dampness, mold and asbestos. And there are still many people, both in condos and homes, that have to trek their laundry baskets to the Laundromat, just like in college. And some people, who don't have interior access to their beloved basements, but must get to them from outdoors through a "bulkhead," have the added pleasure of taking their laundry out in the freezing cold, snow and rain. Doing laundry in the garage sounds like a good deal to me.

That's it for now. By the way, I love real estate and the variety we have here, as well as compared to elsewhere, is fascinating and part of what makes this business such a pleasure. Good luck in your home search, and let me know if I can help in any way.