40% of Residents Would Leaving Bay Area
Living in the San Francisco Bay Area has many wonderful characteristics, but concerns over housing costs and transportation has forced 40 percent of the residents in the region to consider moving. The tremendously high cost of housing has put pressure on residents and can degrade the quality of life if you are spending such a high percentage of income on housing expenses.
Of those thinking of a move in the survey of 600 residents, 70 percent said high housing costs are a major factor driving them.
Housing is the second most important issue facing the region, behind only transportation, according to results of the Council Poll released earlier.
The council also said it found strong support for an infrastructure bond proposal that is headed for a possible statewide vote.
Seventy-four percent of those taking the poll said they are inclined to vote yes on some or all of the bond proposals.
Support was largely bi-partisan, with 70 percent of Bay Area Democrats saying they would vote yes on all or some of the bonds, and 77 percent of Republicans would support them. Via Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.



Comment by Affordable Land on 28 January 2009:
The Bay Area has become so crowded, town boundries are no longer seperated by orchards, and the costs of maintaining a home are enormous in comparison to other parts of the country. It’s no wonder so many have already left, or are seriously considering relocating. Naturally, when living costs are lower, wages drop as well, but to some of us, it’s an even trade. I left the Bay area 20 years ago, with never a regret. My children were able to grow up in a small rural community, and have chosen to remain in this area with their families for the same reasons. I’m not surprised by this article at all. Affordable land is out there, just waiting for a family like mine, to make a change for the better.