California

California Relocation Information

I am one of the top real estate agents in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, and I would be happy to help you find the perfect home in Southern California. Please see my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com

California is bordered to the north by Oregon, by Nevada and Arizona to the east, by Mexico to the south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west.

California is the most populous state, with a population of approx. 34 million, and is the third largest state in area. California's economy is larger than all but 7 of the largest countries in the world. California's main industries are agriculture, entertainment, light manufacturing, and tourism. California has three basic geographic areas, Northern California (including the San Francisco/Oakland Bay areas, Central California (including the farm communities of Fresno, Modesto, and Bakersfield), and Southern California (including the Los Angeles, Orange County. and San Diego Metropolitan areas. Southern California also includes the coastal communities of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Oxnard.

The name California comes from a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called Califia that was featured in a Spanish romance ("Las Sergas de Esplandian") written by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo in 1510. The Spanish explorers originally thought that California was an island.

California has several taxes collected at the state level, including state individual income tax, state sales tax, and property tax

State Capital: Sacramento
State Motto: Eureka!
State Bird: California Quail
State Flower: California Poppy
State Song: I Love You, California
State Tree: California Redwood
State Gem: Benitoite
State Fish: Golden Trout; marine - Garibaldi

State Relocation Information Guide

State Ranking:
Most Liveable State: 34
Lowest Overall Taxes: 31
Best Environment for Education: 46
Lowest Crime: 41

In 2008, Coldwell Banker looked at the cost of a typical 2,200-square-foot house with 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a family room and a two-car garage. The neighborhood - a more subjective measure - is one "typical for corporate middle-management transferees." The following is a sample of cities in the state:

CA	Fresno	$331.000
CA	Bakersfield	$273,457
CA	Grass Valley	$435,075
CA	Riverside / Ontario	$301,000
CA	Modesto	$313,333
CA	Sacramento	$295,000
CA	Santa Clarita	$619,488
CA	San Diego	$542,500
CA	Davis	$650,000
CA	Rancho Bernardo	$607,000
CA	Napa	$644,688
CA	Encinitas	$712,500
CA	Pasadena	$794,500
CA	Monterey Peninsula	$736,250
CA	Walnut Creek	$807,250
CA	Mission Viejo	$715,500
CA	San Rafael	$845,000
CA	Irvine	$773,750
CA	Pleasanton	$560,000
CA	Santa Cruz	$811,667
CA	Fremont	$957,000
CA	Long Beach	$912,308
CA	Thousand Oaks	$815,735
CA	Oakland	$916,667
CA	Palos Verdes	$1,293,750
CA	San Jose	$1,012,675
CA	San Francisco	$1,513,181
CA	San Mateo	$1,366,475
CA	Newport Beach	$1,546,250
CA	Palo Alto	$1,740,731
CA	Santa Barbara	$1,599,667
CA	Beverly Hills	$1,777,475
CA	Santa Monica	$1,653,333
CA	La Jolla	$1,841,667

Cities in the state that ranked in the top 100 "Best Places to Live" by CNNMoney.com include:

Folsom
Livermore
Rancho Cucamonga
San Diego
Santa Clarita
Simi Valley

If you would like me to help you find a realtor in a specifc area of the state, just contact me and I would be happy to help you.

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