US economy is getting regional; the middle class income is now regional as well

[tripods68]

Another way is to lift restrictions ...currently certain cities in CA have massive amount of restrictions on building new houses (as in you can't build sky raisers..buildings can't be higher than 3 stories..or certain zones are forbidden to have newer houses within certain miles of the city).

Ah...This solve "poverty" in America by lifting building restrictions.

What about jobs, better education, free college tuition, $15.00 minimum wage increase across all businesses, increased EIC tax credit on low earners to lift the poor? Does any of this fascinate you, or have a take?

[Singuy]

Ah...This solve "poverty" in America by lifting building restrictions.

What about jobs, better education, free college tuition, $15.00 minimum wage increase across all businesses, increased EIC tax credit on low earners to lift the poor? Does any of this fascinate you, or have a take?

We are most likely not going to solve the pricing of houses with any of those you have put forth. If houses were beyond the reach of the median income by a little than yes, what you have put forth can help. When we are talking about a 2 bedroom condo costing 600k, or normal run of the mill houses costing 800k, I don't think 15 dollars/hr min wage is going to cut it. Even better education will have little impact on the situation. With my salary of 150k which is the current offers I see in a HCOLAS, I could only afford to rent and this is with a Doctorate degree...buying a house will be a pipe dream. I just looked at LA house prices and your 400k houses look like 40k manufactured houses in Orlando.

You see how in Orlando, making technician money at 12/hr can probably get you a 50k manufactured house that's 1300 squareft..making 20/hr in LA will not get you the same. Even with our median income being quite low in the nation (43k/year in FL), you can still easily raise a family with enough space because houses at 50k are available.

Here's an example of one with a pond view, 2 miles from Disney. Pretty decent area too.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16641-Cordoba-St-Winter-Garden-FL-34787/2100919440_zpid/

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think people in HCOLA tend to just bite the bullet and make crazy sacrifices to survive. They pay 40-50% of their income to mortgage. They have 4 kids in 3 tiny bedrooms (1200 sq ft). They live in apartments, they rent longer, they live really far out from the city.

These are all examples of people I know who do that. But that's their choice. I wonder what would they do if they read mr money mustache and read why a clown car commute? 1.5 hrs one way? But sometimes you choose to live close in an apartment because that's the sacrifice. Different choices.

But I do think you have to look at the underlying reason. Maybe people want to live a certain location because they get free childcare. Or lots of support from parents on weekends or emergency help. Until you are in their situation you wouldn't know or understand.