Baby Boomers LEAVING the Central Valley - California

[Mark Freeman]

I over heard an older guy in the Home Depot in Clovis yesterday saying he was taking care of some things and trying to get out of the state ASAP. I bought a house from a lady two weeks ago who was selling everything and headed to Washington state. It seemed like she was in a big hurry too. Three or four weeks ago my real estate agent told me that a very successful agent with an office next to hers, who I'm sure is on the top 100 list for the Fresno area, just got an offer accepted on a house in Idaho and is putting her own house on the market and moving as soon as she can. My agent then tells me she has a 10 year plan to pay off all of her real estate, she has about 8 SFR rentals, and leave the state as well. All of these people seem to be at least in their 60's, besides my agent, who will be before her 10 year plan finishes.

I think many of the conservatives in the central valley are fed up with the direction the state is heading on the whole and getting out. I don't want to talk politics, but I bring this up to make a point. I think there WILL be OPPORTUNITIES for investors as baby boomers are motivated to leave the state! Sometimes I want to leave, but I'd rather stay and cash in on others seemingly desperate need to get out fast! In fact, I think I should have followed that old fellow in the Home Depot after he finished talking with the associate and found out if he had any real estate to liquidate. (Missed opportunity)

I'm just wondering if other BPers have noticed the same thing? I'm too new to BP to call out specific people but I will mention Fresno, Madera, Visalia, Hanford, Merced, Modesto, and Bakersfield just to see if I can activate some key words out there.

[Gene Hacker]

I have a lot of older neighbors that have similar opinions.  Some cannot wait to move to a different state in which the policies closer reflect their ideals.  But then again I have a new neighbor (that is likely more conservative than the ones that talk of moving) that just moved here from Idaho.  The long winters were too much and they decided the foothills of the sierras is what he wants in terms of climate and topography.  

Everything said and done...this nation is pretty evenly split when it comes to the two political ideologies, for the same reason some people are repelled...others are attracted.  Because our nation is so evenly split, I think its a wash.  

In terms of investing, there are likely other factors that would likely create more "motivated sellers"...job loss, medical bankruptcy, divorce, etc.