Have you ever wondered why if ‘everyone’ is leaving California as the media portrays, why we still have a housing shortage? Well, migration patterns in and out of our state have changed over time – and it’s no secret that achieving home ownership here is not easy. So, this week we wanted to shed some light on what recent polls and stats say about those who call California home sweet home.
As you will see from the recent infographic below from the California Association of Realtors®, only 20% of those surveyed in a recent Google poll have actively considered leaving the state. 63% of respondents declared they would NOT move out of The Golden State in order to achieve home ownership. (This does not mean they will not buy – just that buying today is not as important as where they live today. With a strategic plan and an experienced agent team on your side – anything is possible!)
According to the most recent US Census Bureau surveys (released in December 2018 for data analyzed in 2017), net migration is our state is fairly stable.
CALIFORNIA RESIDENT DEPARTURES 2017: 661,026 PEOPLE
CALIFORNIA RESIDENT ARRIVALS 2017: 523,131 PEOPLE
NET DEPARTURES: 0.35% OF THE POPULATION
As quoted in the LA Times, USC demographer Dowell Myers describes the state of our state’s migration patterns perfectly: “The cost of living, especially housing, is what stops the whole world from moving to California. Otherwise, who wouldn’t prefer California? We have superior weather. We have mountains and oceans. And we have better jobs — better paying and more specialized, whether in tech, entertainment, the arts or medicine.”
Other Fast Facts
| The top 5 states where new California residents came from in 2017 were: Texas, New York, Washington, Illinois & Arizona.
| The 5 states which accounted for the largest portion of California departures were: Texas, Arizona, Washington, Oregon & Nevada.
| California’s overall population has grown (220,000 more births than death annually) despite a US declining national birth rate since 1990.
| International newcomers rose by a net 185,000 people – with 58% of new Californians coming from China, India & other Asian nations.
| The workplace demographic is an interesting one; Baby Boomers are exiting the workforce but still occupying housing – and we are gaining 20-somethings but losing 30-somethings. The resulting imbalance creates a young, highly-educated population – demographers fear we are not growing a ‘complete’ society.
Did you learn something new about the state exodus? Do the numbers reflect the trends that emerge in the media? If you have any questions about how the state migration patterns may impact your short and long-term real estate goals – please do not hesitate to reach out!
Resources Used & Further Reading:
Must Reads: Who Moves To California? The Wealthier And Better Educated, Mostly
No Place Like Home: CAR®
Nearly Same Amount of People Move to California as Move Away
The California Exodus Is Speeding Up
All our best,
Mark & Sarah