Now Is the Time…

Those of us who inhabit the Upper Midwest have a rich cultural history, defined largely by the extreme bipolarities of weather we must endure–the sweltering humidity of our Augusts, the -60 degree wind chills of February, and of course the more moderate and desirable springs and autumns. So not surprisingly, many of us are more than familiar with the innate desire to some day move out of this area to a fairer and finer life in California, where the weather is (for the most part) warm, sunny, and consistent.

Well, according to an article on InmanNews.com, the median price of homes the southern parts of the Golden State are dropping and sales are down.

Now could be the perfect time to turn your California Dreamin’ into California Livin’.

It’s not just SoCal that has prices plummeting. Median prices on homes across the San Francisco Bay Area have dropped to $548,000, down from $620,000 a year earlier.

Maybe you don’t want to deal with the overcrowded highways and smoggy skies of SoCal. And you can’t afford the costs of living in the Bay Area. Maybe you want a secluded spot where you can enjoy pristine mountain ranges, beaches that are clean and unpopulated, and the stunning magnificence of the Redwood Forest. If that sounds like you (and you don’t mind rainy winters), you might consider living in Humboldt County. The heart of it is arguably in Arcata, a progressive town (possibly the country’s most progressive town) that plays host to a small state college and a legion of retired hippies. The county’s largest city, Eureka, boasts a modest 28,000 people. The nearest metropolitan areas are Portland, San Francisco, and Sacramento, all about 5-6 hours of driving on winding, two-lane switchbacks. So if you’re not into big city life and want to be surrounded by natural beauty in its greatest form, it might be the place for you.

You can read the whole article on dropping home prices in California here.