Moving to Oklahoma from California

At Homes By Taber, we’ve been watching an interesting trend. There’s a growing number of people moving to Oklahoma from California. The “gold” in Golden State might be a better reflection of the high cost of living there than the sunshine. Between 2007 and 2016, six million residents moved away from California.

Cost of Living in Oklahoma vs. California

Californians are migrating to other states where they can enjoy warm weather that isn’t accompanied by the heat of keeping up with the high cost of living. Oklahoma is one of the recipients that fits that description. As an example, the price of gasoline in California is as high as $3.62 per gallon—which includes a whopping 41.7-cents-per-gallon state tax—while here in the OKC region, you can fuel up your car for less than $2.00 a gallon. That’s a huge cost saving for any commuter. 

In addition, California has the highest personal income tax in the country, along with some of the toughest regulations.

Jason and Shannon Mays were inspired to leave California after Jason read an article about living in Oklahoma.

“I was just reading an article one day and it popped up as a great place to retire is Oklahoma," Jason said. "I never really thought about Oklahoma at all. But then I started looking at the prices of houses, and the cost of living and I thought, 'Wow, that’s really neat.'"

Real Estate in Oklahoma City versus California

Steve Feldman, a real estate agent covering the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley area of California, says the math is simple and adds up to enlightened Californians leaving the state to enjoy a more affordable, higher quality lifestyle elsewhere. “People who have owned their house for a while can cash out with quite a nice bit of money in their hands. They can go to another state and buy a house for a fraction of what they have here and tuck away a lot of money and retire, work or bring their cost of living and overhead down.”

The median home value in California is another motivation for people to move to Oklahoma. According to Zillow, the median home value in San Diego County is $602,153, and $638,484 in Los Angeles County. In San Francisco, the median home value is a whopping $1,387,263! Homebuyers can purchase two or three, fully appointed homes in Oklahoma County for less than the price of one new home in California. In fact, some new Oklahoma residents are doing just that—purchasing a home for themselves and another for either an aging family member or adult children. What a great way to keep your family close by but under another roof.

In Oklahoma, we’re shaking our heads because those California home prices far exceed the norm here. For hundreds of thousands of dollars less than an average California home, you can live in a vibrant OKC suburb, like Edmond, with some of the best schools in Oklahoma. You can also have a brand new home with all the “Proudly Overbuilt” features you want: granite and quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances are just the beginning. How about a smart home automation system, fully sodded yards with a full sprinkler system with a smart home irrigation controller, whole-home air filtration system, jetted tub, ceiling fans in all bedrooms, and both a gas fireplace in the living room and a wood-burning fireplace on a covered and extended patio?

People in California would gasp at the cost of owning all this in their home state. Actually, some people here in Oklahoma might be hearing cha-ching in their heads, too. Homes By Taber has elevated the definition of standard features for all the new homes for sale in our Taberhoods.

We love the Sooner State’s lifestyle, particularly in the Oklahoma City metro area, where there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With a truly affordable cost of living in Oklahoma, you’ll have the means to do it all!

Are you ready to make a life change for the better? Whether you’re relocating to Oklahoma from California or any other area, get started by talking to Frankie Lewis, Homes by Taber’s knowledgeable, helpful, and smart source for homebuyers who have many questions.