Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?
(Look at and consider the charts at this site)
http://www.academycomputerservice.com/economics/charts.htm

People Looking for Work?
Job Creation?

[Real Reality]

California households are making less than half the income necessary to buy a median-priced home in the first quarter of 2005.

The HIGI is calculated with the same assumptions used to generate C.A.R.'s monthly Housing Affordability Index (HAI); a 20 percent down payment and a monthly payment for principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) that is no more than 30 percent of a household's income.

For Southern California, the median-priced home was $477,660, which required a qualifying income of $111,370 to make the monthly PITI payment of $2,780. However, the median household income for Southern California was $52,050, leaving an income shortfall of $59,320.

"These numbers are particularly troubling for would-be first-time homebuyers, who often are locked out of homeownership because of the lack of affordable homes for sale," said C.A.R. President Jim Hamilton. "While home sales statewide continue to surge, the California real estate market is being dominated by repeat homebuyers, who account for three out of four home purchases in the state."

The HIGI for California increased 44.9 percent during the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004, when the gap stood at $41,660, the median household income was $52,320, and qualifying income needed to purchase a median-priced home at $407,710 was $93,980.

According to the report, potential homebuyers in the Central Valley, with a median household income of $41,040, had the smallest income gap at $32,660, and needed a qualifying income of $73,700 to purchase a median-priced home at $316,100. The San Francisco Bay area had the highest gap in the state at $92,930, where potential homebuyers had a median household income of $67,770 but needed qualifying income of $160,700 to purchase a median-priced home at $689,240.
YAHOO! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/sddt/majorityofcaliforniansmakelessthanhalftheincomenee

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

Southern California sucks, period...saving enough money here so I don't have to go back there.

[SuperHero]

What does this have to do with Korea?

Anyhow my life gets better and better every year I spend in Korea. I'm debt free, have a nice apartment and make good money with tons of vacation doing a job I am good at and enjoy. Why would I live anywhere else?

[schwa]

Yep. 4 years ago I was just getting the hang of Korea, 8 years ago I was feeling oppressed by a job in Canada headed nowhere.

[Tiger Beer]

4 years ago.. 2001.. started that year in Seoul (good).. ended that year in San Francisco (not so good - few jobs, no money, high rents, too expensive).

8 years ago.. 1997.. started year in Pusan (good).. ended that year in Brazil (bad for $.. good for everything else).

By 1998 though I lived in New York City for a couple years.. and the money was rolling in.. economy was great.. my pocketbook was huge.. very good existance.. when I was living in San Francisco in 2002.. couldn't find much work.. struggled paying rent..

In other words.. definetely 8 years ago was much better.. the CLINTON era.. when the deficit was cut back to zero.. when the economy was thriving.. and good jobs were everywhere!! Good times they were.

[desultude]

Eight years ago I was sure having a better time! I was living on South Beach, when it was one of the great places to live- a great mixture of writers, artists, poets, partiers- still bohemian enough to be interesting on a nightly basis. Then it became Star(*)ucked and Gapped. Million dollar condos replaced low rent old deco apartment buildings, and it became one big outdoor shopping mall/cafe.

Financially I am much better off today- but no thanks to the U.S. economy. Well, maybe small thanks- my won are more valuable daily due to the fiscal mess the administration has made of the economy.

[bucheon bum]

Better off 4 years ago in many ways. 8 years ago, debatable. I was finishing high school/entering college, so totally different situation than now.

[funplanet]

better off each and every year...my stash o' cash grows no matter the shape of the economy...

make money when it's up and make money when it's down....

stop your whining

[jajdude]

I'm worse off. So F--- off and leave me alone.

[flakfizer]

Wether or not a person is "better off" has little to do with money. If you're not "better off" now than you were 4 or 8 years ago, you are either in bad health or doing something wrong.

[desultude]

[crazykiwi]

haha, definately better off, both financially and emotionally. 4 years ago, i was living in a tent, in a rest area in the south island of new zealand trying to get enough money to feed myself picking grapes for 8 dollars an hour. sure the rent was cheap but my state of mind was in a bit of a state! now, im married, seen half the world and am on my way to a nice house in new zealand in a years time! so hell yeah my life is better.

8 years ago? haha, i was drunk evry weekend with my high school buddies, didnt know where i was going and didnt care! now hang on, dont i do that now? haha, only now i can actually afford to buy my own alcohol all by myself without the help of a 20 year brother!

[bucheon bum]

[Tiger Beer]

Let's see... 4 years ago.

JUNE 2004. I was in Spain/Austria working on a MA...previous to that, had been bouncing around with random jobs.

Got the MA and been doing uni/college jobs ever since. Much better now!

8 years ago.

JUNE 2000. I was living in Manhattan working at investment bank doing graphic presenations for them. Hmm.. that was the best job I ever had in the U.S. Tough to compare with now. Slightly better off now as I have tons of vacation time.