ADIOS COSTLY CALIFORNIA, HOLA AFFORDABLE TEXAS

Family-of-eight who left their $4,000-a-month California home to move into a $386,000 Texas mansion reveal how relocation saved them THOUSANDS

Jennifer and Chuck Balek have six children between them from past marriages. They said they were 'so tired' of not being able to afford things on the West Coast 

 

By Sadie Whitelocks

 

Daily Mail

June 4, 2023

 

Jennifer and Chuck Balek - who have six children between them from past marriages - said that they were 'just so tired' of not being able to afford things on the West Coast. They are pictured in front of their Texas 'mansion'

 

A family-of-eight have revealed how they have saved thousands of dollars after relocating from California to Texas, saying they would never go back to their previous high-priced lives.

Jennifer and Chuck Balek - who have six children between them from past marriages - revealed in a first-person piece for Insider that they were 'just so tired' of not being able to afford things on the West Coast.

Rent on a 3,200ft property was coming in at $4,000 a month and gas costing $6 a gallon, the Baleks said.

When Covid came, it tipped the couple over the edge as the restrictions in their county were 'tiring,' so after some initial trips to investigate different areas they settled on Rockwall, Texas.

The Baleks relocated to the Lone Star State in April 2021 and managed to snag a redbrick mansion for $386,000.

 

The Baleks relocated to the Lone Star State in April 2021 and managed to snag a redbrick mansion for $386,000

Overall, the family say the cost of living is 'probably a good 15 to 20 per cent lower than in Southern California'

 

Revealing how they went about getting a good deal on the sizeable property, Chuck said: 'It just felt like it was meant to be.

'Initially, we put in an offer of full asking price. They came back and said they had three other offers. Jennifer felt very inclined to include a little love letter, a photo of our family saying we're just a family looking for a home to raise our kids.

'That worked. They accepted our offer even though there were offers that were above us.'

Along with cheaper property prices, the Baleks found gas was more reasonable. 

At the time they moved, gas was about $2 less in Texas compared to California. 

'We were paying $2.86 when we first got here and in California, it was $5,' Chuck said. 

As a result of the high gas prices, Jennifer said there was a time when they were spending at least a thousand dollars a month on filling up their cars.

The high living costs meant the family was never able to save enough to buy a home as they would have needed a deposit of more than $100,000 for a property big enough for eight people. 

Overall, the family say the cost of living is probably a good 15 to 20 per cent lower in Texas.

Jennifer, who works as a client service executive for an insurance company, told DailyMail.com that they were probably saving about $1,500 to $2,000 off monthly bills.

They also save $800 a year annually on car registrations for their two vehicles.

Other positives of living in Texas, the Baleks say, include less traffic, good schools and the friendliness of people. 

Jennifer told DailyMail.com that they are probably saving about $1,500 to $2,000 off monthly bills

While the couple say they have struck gold with Rockwall, there are some things about California that they miss, the biggest being a decent mix of food choices

Since the Baleks made their move to Texas, several family members have followed suit, including Chuck's mother and father-in-law, and his brother and sister-in-law

 

Jennifer mused: 'Everyone is so nice out here. Southern hospitality is definitely present. Everyone is very respectful. 

'They hold the door for you. They don't cut you off for a parking spot. It's very community-based.

'It's a slower pace here. Everyone will stop and talk to you. You go to the grocery store and you strike up a conversation with literally anybody.'

While the couple say they have struck gold with Rockwall, there are some things about California that they miss, the biggest being a decent mix of food choices. 

Both say there's lots of barbecue spots in Texas, but good Mexican food is 'hard to find' and 'everything is Tex-Mex and drowned in queso.'

Chuck, who works in sales for a wood floor finish manufacturer, explained: 'Don't get me wrong - some of it can be extremely delicious, but when you've lived 41 years eating Los Angeles Mexican food, it's not the same.'

Jennifer added: 'In Southern California, you're really spoiled with the number of restaurants.'

Despite the lack of good Mexican joints, the Baleks say 'there's no looking back.'

Chuck revealed: 'My boss asked me the other day if I would ever go back to California, and I said he could offer me a 4,000-square-foot house on the beach and $200,000 in income and I still wouldn't do it.'

Since the Baleks made their move to Texas, several family members have followed suit, including Chuck's mother and father-in-law and his brother and sister-in-law.

Chuck concluded: 'My best friend says I need to be a spokesman for Texas because all I do is sell people on moving to Texas. I just want people to understand that this was the best decision we could have ever made.

'I think we landed exactly where we were supposed to. Everybody adjusted really well. The kids have all thrived.'