Moving in and out of Southern California

It would seem that still-high prices and hard-to-get loans would keep people away from Southern California's pricier areas. But they're still coming. According to a recent NorthStar Moving Corp. survey of their customers' moving requests from June '07 through May '08, nearly 2,000 of them transplanted to Los Angeles and Orange counties. And that's just one moving company.

The top L.A. County destinations:
1) Los Angeles (city of)
2) Pasadena
3) Santa Monica
4) Marina del Rey and Woodland Hills (tied)
5) Long Beach

The top Orange County destinations:               
1) Irvine
2) Huntington Beach
3) Newport Beach
4) Costa Mesa
5) Aliso Viejo

Californians moved away too. The most popular destinations:
1) Las Vegas
2) Austin, Texas
3) New York City
4) Chicago
5) Houston

-- Diane Wedner

Photo: Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times

Questions? Comments? E-mail diane.wedner@latimes.com.

Comments

[Anon.]

Where did they transplant from? How many transplanted out during this time? What conclusions do you draw from this?

[dunno]

"And that's just one moving company."

Exactly. Nice sample size there. I'd file this under anecdote rather than real statistic, unless there's any other data out there from other companies, govt, etc.

Speaking of anecdotes, LAUSD teacher friend says enrollment has been decreasing because families are moving away. And that's just one school.

[mike]

buying or renting?

[E]

Thanks for useless anecdotal information.

[puckhead]

dunno,

LAUSD enrollment is down because the enviroment for illegals from Mexico is not as "welcoming" as it was a few years ago. Much of the enrollment decline is in schools that serve largely Latino communities. Coincidence? And mayor Tony V. wants another massive bond measure to build more schools. Maybe the LAT should write an article about why LA needs more schools if enrollment is declining.

[Laker]

Go to uhaul.com !
Ask to quote you a move from Texas to LA
Then ask to quote you a move from LA to Texas.

Come back and tell me if there is inflow or outflow of people....(hint..between 2-3 times more expensive...guess where which way is more expensive ????????

[firesale]

Pointless piece. Where's Peter Viles?

Let's see if you publish this comment.
Looks like the LA Times is trying to hold
the RE priceline for your advertisers.
Good luck.

[MarkW]

Just how good are statistics from a moving company? Is this from a spreadsheet, database, what? Where did these people come from in the first place?

I'm moving into a new house (a rental) in Claremont this weekend. Because of timing issues with the prior tenant, I had to put my stuff in storage for 3 weeks. I was in Claremont before. How would they characterize that move?

Also, every Summer thousands of students flee Claremont only to return in the Fall. Some live on campus, some rent, some parents buy condos.

[fezco]

Now Now....Don't pick on Diane. I think this is an interesting read and can lead to interesting discussions. How's about the rapid 'brain drain' on the state that even Sacramento acknowledges. My employer, an engineering/software company, hasn't been able to recruit out of state employees for a number of years. We have needed to open up offices in AZ and MA to attract engineers. Once those offices opened up, many fled to those states. So my question for the moving company: Who is moving in? Wannabe actors/actresses?

[geomath]

That's nice. How many people moved OUT?

Further, how many of those people moved to SoCal because they wanted to or because they had to due to job relocation, terminal illness of a family member, or another situation where they didn't have the option of saying NO?

In 2003, I remember it being in the news that more people were moving out of California than moving in; this had been going on for several years and was an issue during the recall election.

[Laland-Nostalgia]

IS THIS THE NEW LEVEL OF INSIGHT ON THIS BLOG?

Of course, you have to look at the relative flow (returning) also. There are 10 real estate blogs I can name off the top of my head that would never..NEVER..consider this to be worthy of a posting.

Peter, please don't let them ruin your blog like they have ruined the rest of the paper. I won't tolerate a lot of posts of this quality before I stop reading your blog (comments and all).

[LONGDRIVER]

I agree with the useless and poorly investigate theory. If you look at ANY do it your self rental van company you will find that there are WAY more outgoing vans than incoming. Since most people use them and not the large moving companies you might end up with a very different conclusion. Also as already mentioned, school enrollment is down in most areas too. Another indicator that families are moving away.

[I live in LA, too]

Outmigration from LA County has outpaced inmigration since at least 2002. The only reason our population keeps increasing is by having more births than deaths.

From 2002 to 2005, the folks moving out of LAC went to the IE or out of state. Texas was the biggest recipient of Angelenos, as I recall. I would like to see a more recent statistic that shows actual migration patterns, but I'm guessing people aren't leaving here for the IE anymore, not with that economy.

[the problemwithcaring]

Yea um, peter - could you tell the guest bloggers, team bloggers, destroyers-of-all-that-is-good (whatever we are calling them) that the people who read this blog, by and large, have a rudimentary understanding of statistics, insomuch as we recognize that one-sided, dubious stats reported anecdotally about one small company and presented with not so much as link to the original survey is beyond useless information.

It’s not even Tree of the Week useful. Thank gawd AnnS isn't here to see this...

[yourkillingmelarry]

Well there is some pleasure with post like this, it's kind of fun watching it get torn to shreds in the comments section. This was simply horrible and untrue and actually contradicts reporting from the LA Times.

http://tinyurl.com/ywqg2x

"More flee state than move in

Population is up thanks to births and foreign immigrants, but rest of U.S. isn't California dreamin' like it was.

By Sharon Bernstein and Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 20, 2007

California's population continued to grow modestly in the last fiscal year despite a significant exodus of residents to other states, according to a state report released Wednesday."

___________________

This post seems to play into the realtor meme that "everyone wants to live here, thats why home prices will never fall". As the LA Times story points out California's population growth is being fueled by births and non-monied immigrants. These people could not afford to buy a home in Kentucky much less LA. California has a housing shortage in multi-tenet apartments. There is no shortage of overpriced houses languishing on the market.

[Cassiopoea]

I just Googled the moving company, since no link was provided to the survey. Looks like they are an L.A.-area based company and, according to the Examiner.com, "NorthStar Moving is the luxury moving service of choice for celebrities, other individuals, the entertainment industry and a myriad of businesses seeking the utmost care for their prized possessions."

So, an L.A.-based moving company that caters to the luxury and high-end market... think those survey numbers might be a little... um.. off? For the general population, at least?

[mucker]

"NorthStar Moving Corp. survey of their customers' moving requests from June '07 through May '08, nearly 2,000 of them transplanted Moving to Los Angeles and Orange counties. And that's just one moving company."

I quote this line from the article to highlight the muddledness of the post. It doesn't say where Northstar is nor where movers transplant from, could it be Bakersfield, Riverside, San Berdo? or what percentage of total moves the 2k reps. By the accompayning photo one would think the moves are local. That's not a Mayflower truck.

[Bargain House Hunter]

Laker, nice idea. I just tried it. Uhaul truck pulling Uhaul trailer, pickup on August 26th, from LA to Dallas.

LA to Dallas $1227. Dallas to LA, $550.

Right on, about 2.1 times more expensive. :)

I wonder if people moving in get a removal company (they're moving somewhere expensive, maybe have a nice new job), but people moving out are doing it themselves (they're moving somewhere cheaper - they've not got a nice new job any more).

[shockg]

Laker, Since you have nothing positive to say about southern CA (Yet you want to own a home here again) why don't you follow the herd to Texas. I promise no one will miss your whinning @sss

[original thinker]

Last monday, there were 4 long haul moving vans
LOADING on the 2100 block of N. Beachwood Drive,
Hollywood. All apartment dwellers moving out of
state.

Admittedly, not a survey. Just an impressive
site. Is a picture worth a thousand words?

[Crash and Burn]

My God, people in wealthier areas use movers when they move into wealthy areas, and wealthy people don't move into poor areas.

This is shocking.

This is the stupidest piece on this blog I have ever scene.

Great start to the new Great Path Forward LA Times. At least I used to be able to laugh when I read an SF tabloid.

[dclogang]

"My God, people in wealthier areas use movers when they move into wealthy areas, and wealthy people don't move into poor areas. -Crash and Burn"

I tototally aggree with Crash and Burn..

Now try to goto U-haul and ask them how many trucks are LEAVING california compared to moving in.

I have a feeling it will be the total opposite.

I wanna know who picked Northstar and why this was the only moving company. Why not balance it out and ask other companies?

and I bet in a month their will be an even greater spike in leaving after this last earthquake we just had. I know I'm thinking about leaving.. and YES... in a U-Haul (like most people and not an expensive "moving company" who is probably feeling the pinch.

Sorry but this is kind of lame...