California is a massive region, and its history is pretty massive too. So, here’s the synopsis: California did not officially become a U.S. state until 1850, but it’s history extends way back.  The first Spanish missionaries came to what would become California in the 1700s. The region's history coincides with Baja California, a peninsula on the west coast of Mexico. When Spainards arrived, they thought modern-day California was just an extension of this peninsula and called it Alta or “upper” California. 

Spaniards eventually traveled north from Baja California and began creating settlements. Chrsitian missionaries established churches in San Diego and then began moving north to create more settlements in places like Monterey and San Francisco. The remnants of these establishments can still be seen in cities like San Diego, which has an Old Town neighborhood that includes shops, old pueblo style buildings, and authentic Mexican restaurants. The point is that Spanish food, language, and culture via Mexico has been making a mark on California for centuries. 

When the United States was able to win California away from Spain, the region was home to nearly 150,000 indigenous peoples and 14,000 inhabitants of European and Mexican descent, which to this day is responsible for contributing to California’s incredibly diverse population. 

After statehood, California’s history moved very quickly. Gold was discovered in the 19th century, and the state became a hotspot for exploration and settlement. It was also clear that there was an incredible amount of wealth to be made in this region. People from all around the world, including China, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii came to California to make their fortune. 

Fast forward to modern day, California is the most populous state in the country and has some of the most diverse,  most renowned, and economically robust cities in the country. The state is marked by Hollywood in Los Angeles, technology hubs in San Francisco, and beautiful beaches in San Diego. 

California’s population is still predominantly white, but is still incredibly diverse, particularly in city centers. According to 2020 Census Bureau data, the population of 40 million people is roughly 37% white alone, 2% indigenous or Alaska Native, 16% Asian, 7% Black, and 40% Hispanic or Latino.

The state is also home to some major military bases, like Camp Pendleton in San DIego. There are roughly 1.5 million veterans in the state. And because the state has so many unique neighborhoods, like Korea town in Los Angeles, it attracts a lot of immigrants. Around 27% of the population is foreign born. Also, the state is really young. Only 15% of the population is above the age of 65, and 23% of people are under 18. 

California’s population is highly concentrated in cities, as the state is largely one gigantic desert - which we will get into later. But, if you’re looking at a condo for sale in one of the state’s major cities, it could be helpful to those demographics as well. 

Los Angeles has roughly 3.8 million people. Around 52% of the population is white alone, 9% is Black, less than 1% is indigienous or Alaska native, 12% is Asian, and 49% of people are Hispanic or Latino. 

San Diego has roughly 1.4 million people. Around 43% of the population is white alone, 6.4% is Black, less than 1% is indigienous or Alaska native, 17% is Asian, and 30% of people are Hispanic or Latino. If you’re looking for  California condos for sale in Oceanside, California, just north of San Diego, it’s close to Camp Pendleton. So,  it’s also a common destination for military families and veterans. 

San Francisco has roughly 800,000 people.  Around 40% of the population is white alone, 5% is Black, less than .5% is indigienous or Alaska native, 34% is Asian, and 15% of people are Hispanic or Latino. 

Southern California is well known for having fairly consistent and lovely weather in the 70s throughout the majority of the year. Beach-going is common even into December and January, while cities like San Diego experience a phenomenon known as “June Gloom,” when there’s a bit of cooler, overcast weather before the hot summer months,which can get into the 80s and 90s.  Northern California also has great weather, but can get colder in the winter months. 

Much of the population lives on the coastline, for obvious reasons. The beaches are gorgeous. But more inland, the state is essentially one gigantic desert and can get very dry and hot especially during the summer. The state gets about 75% of its rain and snow from the watersheds north of Sacramento, but California is mostly dry.The state ships in water from the Colorado River in order to keep the southern region moist and feed the state’s massive agricultural fields in the Central Valley. 

California is in the top 20 states for K-12 education options. And when it comes to higher education, the state is home to some top-tier and ivy league universities, such as Stanford and CalTech. 

However, when it comes to actual test scores, public schools in California definitely have some work to do. One WalletHub study has found that California ranks in the bottom-tier of states, and that could have to do with factors like lack of state public school funding, the existence of large, diverse, socioeconomically lacking neighborhoods where schools are behind, and children not being able to get as much one-on-one attention. 

Depending on neighborhoods, though, it is possible to find great private and public school options. Palo Alto Unified school district, for example, is considered to be a better place to send kids. San Dieguito Union High School District is also a higher ranking option.

Let’s be realistic, property in California is expensive. Maybe you’re looking at condos for sale in Corona California, and thinking a property is only the stuff of dreams. But, the housing market is booming. For those that invested even just ten years ago, their properties are worth much more than what they bought it for. If you’re thinking of looking for a long-term investment and have the funds to buy a dream home in California, it’s definitely worthwhile to explore that option. The fact of the matter is that the reasons why people go to California will always be there – those are the beaches, the lovely weather, and the lifestyle. 

Furthermore, renting can be a major money drain in California. The rental market is certainly sky-high. A 500 sq. foot one-bedroom in San Diego, for example, can cost around $1,500 to $2,000 a month. But, you could buy a nearly 1,000 sq. foot apartment in San Diego city for around $450,000, and bay a mortgage of less the rental amount. Plus, if you find a great real estate company, they won’t be trying to make a massive profit off your home. They’ll make sure you find a great California condo with great views and great California condo management. They might also be able to point you to the best condo insurance California. After all, California condo insurance is a must.

Investment into real estate, especially condos in California, is certainly only going to create wealth, as the equity and value of the home continues to balloon in value. The state continues to grow and be a popular destination for home-buyers, especially as the government invests in environmentally friendly laws that draw in younger and more conscientious populations.