Thanks for the input, guys. As I said, I'm looking for all the pitfalls and, hopefully, I can lead the search to the "right" homes with a sufficiently shocking price. I know she'll respond to the "costs more cash, leaves less stash" argument. Stash is her term for spending-money.
The main consideration has been n the Pismo BEach area, with some talk of Ventura. (Rolling my eyes, I know how much Ventura costs). Another fun area is Santa Barbara. Two years ago, we saw a shack there for $500,000. + . Would have fit in my garage. Shut that down for a while. But, she's getting the ideas again.
It's nuts here in Pinellas - for those who don't know the area, it's on the West coast, about 15 miles due West of Tampa. Areas include St. Petersburg and Clearwater (thanks for the link comparing Clearwater with San Mateo). The prices have gone NUTSSSSS here in the past year and a half. You would not think you are in FL. Junk that I wouldn't expect to be more than $300,000. (and that only because it's on a canal; otherwise it would be $125,000) is going for $500,000., and that's needing work. ANd anything decent (no, not looking for any mansion) is rapidly heading over $600,000. Interestingly, some of the most significant overpayments, which drive up the market, are followed by (guess what?) cars with CA tags. My only guess is that the exorbitant prices here look cheap. Seen a number of those.
Then, all I need is she sees houses on Realtor.com , in Pismo BEach, for $450,000 to $550,000, and says, well you can guess.
Tomorrow I'm taking her on a ride over to the St. Augustine area, and coming back down through a couple of the beach towns north of Daytona. Prices "seem" a bit better there. Sheesh, some of the towns/cities here think they are in CA - Sarasota, for example. The Keys went over the top about 3 years ago. Florida isn't the cheap mecca of years ago. Sure, you can get cheap in the middle of the state, for old farms/ranches, stewing and steaming with nothing around. But, get to anyplace worth living, it's getting high.
I see auto insurance is still about 30-40% higher in CA. And, the license fees. Might be able to bring some influence to bear with those stats.
And, a big part of it is something to which a couple of you alluded: job pay. I am retired. At 55, though, I don't intend to sit around and rot. So, I need money left over to go do things. And, I don't need to find a job just to make ends meet, either. That defeats the whole purpose.
Don't get me wrong, CA is a beautiful state, and a climate second to none. But, it seems to have been taken over and is being ruined, in my view. Thirty years ago, I would have loved to have moved to the LA area - was offered a job in Woodland Hills - but things have changed. The hows and whys are a bit much for my poor little brain, but it's something I'm trying to avoid. MAybe it will be natiowide eventually, but we'll wait for it's own good time.
To the California Kid. Thanks for the list. And I agree about NJ - anything is better. I used to live there, so I'm allowed to say it.