For the first time in 11 years, the four major moving companies that release data agree: More families are moving to California than are leaving it.

For a decade, high housing prices made it hard for people to stay in the state, even if they wanted to. But falling house prices and increased hiring are enticing former Californians to come home, moving company officials said.

"I think the people realize that when we move back to California, we're never going to have interest rates or (house) prices this low," said Linda Oakley, owner of Atlas Transfer and Storage Co. in Poway, affiliated with Allied Van Lines. "We want to live in California, where it's warm and sunny and happy."

Indeed, 2,926 more families moved into California than moved out of it, the third-highest figure of any state or Washington, D.C., according to the combined data of Atlas Van Lines Inc., United Van Lines LLC and Allied Van Lines Inc. For years, California had seen more households moving out than in. In 2007, Atlas' data indicated that trend had reversed, but it didn't turn around in Allied's data until 2011.

U-Haul International Inc., which doesn't provide the same type of data, said it helped move 5.6 percent more people into California than out of it, according to spokeswoman Ashleigh Wagner.

Wagner also had some local data from U-Haul: Between January and November 2011, it helped 1 percent more people move out of Escondido than in, it helped 1.9 percent more people move into Oceanside than out, and it helped 11.5 percent more people move into Temecula than out.

U-Haul, United and Atlas represent 40 percent of the moving market, and Allied is private so there is no market data available, according to Boston-based market analyst Pell Research.

By the raw numbers, California had the third-highest net gain of movers, behind Texas and Florida, but those are all states with large populations. When viewed as a rate, California ranks 13th, with 0.23 moves per 1,000 households. Washington, D.C., ranked first by this metric, with a net of 2.68 incoming moves per household, almost four times that of No. 2-ranked North Carolina (see this article online for the complete table).

Illinois had the highest rate of departing families among the 50 states plus the district, losing 0.91 families per 1,000 households. New Jersey and Connecticut had the next two highest rates.

California has long seen more people leaving the state as the cost of housing skyrocketed. By 2007, the median house price in North San Diego County peaked at $639,000, and it peaked in 2006 in Southwest Riverside County at $420,000, according to a North County Times analysis of transactions in the two counties. Those prices plummeted 38 percent and 50 percent respectively as a real estate bubble imploded and a recession pushed many people out of work. As of December's data, the nation had added more than 100,000 jobs for six consecutive months, and that trend is reflected in California.

"We're seeing corporations wanting to hire again," said David Frank, vice president and general manager of the San Diego office of Alexander's Mobility Services, an Atlas affiliate. "We're seeing technology companies wanting to get ahead of the game. Even if they're not selling product yet, they're hiring designers and those kinds of jobs. We're seeing Qualcomm, and Sony, and some of the other companies doing some of the hiring."

Oakley and other local moving company officials said 2011 had been an up year. Oakley said her business was up 6 percent compared with 2010. Her company moves people all over Southern California, and she said she's been bringing people in from out of state. Paula Nix, office manager for Eckert's Moving and Storage in San Marcos, said business was up in 2011, including local moves, although not always for the cheeriest of reasons.

"A lot of them are losing their homes, or they're just first-time buyers and they're all excited about getting a new deal on their home," Nix said.

Nathan Pletcher, an electrical engineer, has enjoyed the tech resurgence. On Friday, Linda Oakley's movers came to take his belongings out of his Leucadia home to bring them up to Mountain View so he can start work for Google.

He originally came to California from the Midwest. Now he and his wife, Andrea, a teacher, have fallen for California.

"We both like California a lot, we like to do stuff outdoors, we like all the opportunities California offers, oceans and mountains and stuff like that," Pletcher said the day before Oakley's company came to take his stuff away.

Move to the island paradise of Hawaii or back to the continental US with Atlas Transfer & Storage Co., an agent of Allied Van Lines.

We are here for your interstate moves from California to Hawaii or Hawaii to California. With our expertise, we can help your high-quality relocation and provide storage for your valuables until you arrive. We can keep our competitive so you can enjoy your new home. Click on the links below to learn more about what we offer as an Hawaii moving company:

Household Moving: From the packing and crating to the storage and vehicle shipping, we can take care of your every need during your residential relocation.

Corporate Relocation: We provide every corporate relocation with a single source contact for seamless, expertly managed relocations.

International Moving: Moving overseas? Benefit from the full menu of international moving services from Atlas and Allied International.

Household Storage: Our household storage services ensure we have a secure, cost-effective solution for any size and scope storage need.

Commercial Storage: Store your commercial commodities within our state-of-the-art, secure, climate-controlled warehouses featuring barcoded inventory management systems.

Do you have an upcoming relocation to, from or within Hawaii? Choose Atlas Transfer & Storage Co. as your Orange movers for your residential or commercial relocation. We are the Hawaii moving company to choose for quality service at competitive pricing. Contact us today regarding your Hawaii moving needs, or fill out our quick quote form for your FREE moving estimate right now.

 

One could never be too safe and secure, especially when it comes to home security systems. Moving can be draining and distracting but don’t forget that there are numerous ways to protect your home and all your valuables. Don’t let your valuables or your family rest in the hands of your town’s common police force. Take precaution. How you go about protecting your home and everything in it is up to you of course, but keep in mind the wide array of options that sit in front of you.

Depending on how much money you’re looking to spend, you could have your regular indoor security, or you could have some outdoor security. Your windows could be protected with grilles or iron gates. Closed Circuit TV, otherwise known as CCTV, would allow you to monitor your premises from your own home. If you would want take a little precaution without putting a dent into your pocket is simply placing those fun ‘Beware of Dog’ signs on your front lawn, or signs indicating your home is protected by your new home security systems. If you’re a pet lover, you could delve into the guard dog industry and use a gristly canine patroller.

Indoor/Outdoor Security Systems

Indoor security systems obviously monitor the behavior inside your home, which is normally, if not always conducted with motion sensors. Indoor systems are usually placed and installed in the doors and windows.

Outdoor security systems monitor your grounds with flood lights. Thanks to our modern technology, the systems are able to detect the height and weight of anyone partaking in suspicious activity.

Windows

If you decide to place grilles or iron gates on your windows, make sure you have a plan b just in case those forms of protection do not hold up.

CCTV

Closed Circuit Television allows you to be one step ahead of anyone who tries to put you in danger. CCTV has the ability to monitor and even record something you might be suspicious of. CCTV is the result of fiber optics, electrical cable and a television signal; it’ll allow you to watch several areas around your new home from one room.

Signs

Whether it’s a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign or one of those ‘This home is protected by neighborhood security’, even if you do not have a dog or any security protection, these signs should be able to thwart off any novice thieves.

Door Hinges

There are specific hinges for doors called setscrews that prevent the hinges from being popped out of place like normal hinges once the door is closed, this is the case for exterior swinging doors. It’s a primitive form of protection but durable nonetheless.

Guard Dog

If you want a pet and a body guard, a guard dog may be the way for you. Dobermans, German shepherds are examples of guard dogs. However, you must be careful when it comes to purchasing a guard dog because some dogs may just be watch dogs. Watch dogs alert people by barking at intruders. Guard dogs will attack intruders. Other examples of guard dogs are

• American Bulldog
• Rottweiler
• American Pit Bull Terrier

Whatever route you decide to take make sure price isn’t your number one priority. There are many options for securing your new house, evaluate as many as you can. You don’t want to wake up one night to suspicious sounds coming from your living room because they were able to manipulate your affordable home security system.

You spent your life savings paying for your home and used your rainy day fund to pay the moving company. Trying to figure out how you can afford a few furnishings? Luckily, interior decorating isn't just for those who have the money to pay professionals. In fact, really good home décor - getting your home to reflect your personality - is in some ways easier to do when you do it on the cheap. When your financial resources are limited you have to make up for it with creativity: use your own, inexpensive interior decorating ideas and combine them with some used furniture and discount paint to make the space come alive.

Don't be hesitant if you don't know where to start. Before you begin decorating your home it's best to ask yourself a few important questions. Do you plan to be in the home over the long term, or is it just a starter home? What furnishings can't you live without? What home décor ideas have you seen elsewhere and might like to adapt to your home? The answers you come up with should guide your interior decorating ideas. Once you've got your home décor ideas all lined up, it's time to pull together the materials.

Since you can't afford Pottery Barn, or even Pier 1, you'll have to find inexpensive, unique furnishings and discount furniture somewhere else. Check out the following tips to find out where to shop:

Shopping for Discount Home Décor

• Consignment shops - stores where private owners sell their used furniture - are becoming more and more popular. Check if there are any in your area. The inventory is one-of-a-kind, so if something catches your eye be prepared to buy. If you get to know the manager they can let you know when the sort of home furnishings you're looking for come in.
• If your new home is in a pre-planned community, check out the developer's model home for pieces you like. They may be a bit worn, but often the developer will sell off the home's furniture after a period of time. It's a great way get room sets that are already coordinated.
• Many big furniture stores have scratch and dent rooms: sections where they keep slightly damaged (but very inexpensive) models. Also keep in mind that most furniture stores periodically sell off used furniture (again, comparatively cheap) when they get rid of "showroom samples" or "floor models." Ask about both possibilities when you shop retail.
• If you have any wholesale furniture warehouses in your area, consider stopping by. Buying wholesale furniture is almost always cheaper than buying retail.
• When looking at used furniture - or any used furnishings - don't think of what they look like now, but what they could look like with a little refurbishing. Maybe that coffee table wouldn't fit your living room now, but sand it down and add a coat of stain and it might not be so bad.
• Flea markets can be a great source of inexpensive, one-of-a-kind interior decorating materials. But finding a bargain at one can involve a lot of time and a lot of effort. Preparation always smoothes the way. The next few tips show you how.
• Nowhere is the expression "the early bird gets the worm" more apt than at a flea market. Vendors' best used furniture and bargain furnishings often go quickly, leaving late arrivals with the leftovers.
• Some flea markets can be huge and it's easy to lose focus. Take along a list of the furnishings you want before you set out. It also helps to take along sketches of the rooms you need to decorate, complete with dimensions and a tape measure to see whether the furniture in front of you will fit with your plans
• If you fall in love with a piece of discount furniture at a flea market, bear in mind that moving it can be an issue. Some vendors will deliver, but only at the end of the day and only for an additional fee. Thus, you'll want to bring the biggest vehicle you have available (i.e. a pickup truck or a van) or consider renting one.
• When you're moving a piece of furniture home from a flea market, you'll want to take all the packing precautions you normally would when moving furniture. Before you head out to the flea market, make sure to bring a few old boxes, blankets, tarps, tape, twine, bubble wrap and a box cutter with you for the ride home.
• People selling antiques out of the back of van usually don't take MasterCard or Visa. When you're going to a flea market, bring cash.
• Don't be afraid to bargain. Flea market vendors expect it, and with a little negotiation inexpensive items can become even cheaper.
• When perusing home furnishings, try to think outside the box. You might not want to eat off that set of ceramic dishes, but they might make colorful, unique wall hangings.

Texas tops the list in U.S. for seventh straight year, followed by Florida and South Carolina California regains its status as an inbound state, jumping 33 positions to 7th place.

Texas may be holding on to the Magnet State title, but the Allied Van Lines’ 44th Annual Magnet States Report released today shows California enjoying a position on the inbound list after more than a decade on the outbound.

For the seventh year in a row, Texas eclipsed every other state and took the lead as the No. 1 magnet state in 2011 based on Allied’s report, which tracks U.S. migration patterns.

Texas realized the highest net relocation gain (inbound moves minus outbound moves performed by Allied Van Lines, one of the world’s largest moving companies but its momentum is slowing. In 2009, Texas attracted nearly 2,000 families; in 2010, that number dropped to 1,640. Last year, the margin narrowed again as its total net gain dropped again to 1,556.

Florida moved higher in the rankings with a net gain of 809 moves, capturing second place from last year’s title holder, Colorado. South Carolina, Colorado and newcomer Oregon rounded out the top five states.

The biggest surprise on the inbound list clocks in at number seven – California. With about a decade on the outbound list (and as the No. 1 outbound state in 2006 and 2004), California has made a strong leap to the inbound list.

“It’s not surprising that California has made such a dramatic turnaround and has once again become a strong inbound state,” said Brook Taylor, Deputy Director at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “California has seen an increase in company expansions, resulting in strong overall job growth. In the last year, one out of every 6 new jobs created in the U.S. was created in California which is more than any other state in the nation.” Allied Van Lines agents have seen the shift as well. “People are realizing that living in California is finally affordable and they’re jumping on that bandwagon. We’ve had customers that we’ve moved out of state that have called us back to say, ‘I want to come home,’” said Linda Oakley, vice president of Atlas Transfer and Storage, an Allied Van Lines agent.

California also secured its title once again as “most mobile state,” as well, with more than 12,000 interstate moves with the highest volume of inbound and outbound shipments by international mover Allied Van Lines.

“2011 is certainly a turning point year for California,” said Bill Lyon, Vice President and General Manager, Allied Van Lines. “Overall, Allied Van Lines has seen modest growth this year, and we see the news from California as a bellwether for positive movement in the future for states that have seen hard times in this economy.”

Outbound States Illinois usurped the title of top outbound state with the highest net relocation losses (more outbound than inbound shipments), followed by Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey and New York – all part of the top 5 outbound states in 2010. Illinois lost ground this year, with a net loss of 1,198 moves out of state, versus 2010 losses of 1,050. Michigan, the No. 1 outbound state in 2010, had a net loss of 900 moves, an improvement over last year’s 1,149 outbound moves. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York rounded out the bottom five, with net relocation losses of 940, 841 and 669, respectively.

California, here we come? 

Changing your address isn't the hardest part of moving (at least compared to lugging your grand piano down three flights of stairs), but making sure everyone who needs your new address has it isn’t as easy as you might think. Unless you fill out an official US Post Office change of address form, your mail won't follow you to your new address. And unless you remind yourself to mail out change of address cards to all the companies you do business with, your magazine subscriptions will be worthless in a few months.

Of course, that's all common sense. But did you know you don't have to go down the post office to get the change of address form? Read over the following tips to make sure that when you move your mail will be moving with you:

Before you've even begun your relocation, head down the post office and take a minute to fill out the US postal service's official change of address form (also known as PS form 3575; if you don’t see them out, just ask a clerk).

The most important part of filling out the US postal service's change of address card is including your old address and your new address. However, it's also vital you remember to include the names of anyone else who is moving with you. If you only include your name, your husband / wife's mail won't follow you.

If you don't feel like waiting in line at the post office you can have your mail forwarded from the comfort of your own computer by completing a short form at the US postal service's address change webpage .

Think you're done? Sorry, nothing involving official government documents is ever that easy. Turning in your change of address form to the post office only means that your mail will be forwarded for a limited time. First class mail – letters and such – are forwarded for one year. Periodicals – newspapers and magazines – are only forwarded for 60 days. After the forwarding period expires, anything that arrives for you will either be sent to the post office's dead-letter room or stay with whoever's moved into your old place.

If you're a college student who is relocating to a new school (either for the summer or for good) check with the campus mail service to see what their mail forwarding policies are. Colleges and universities have their own delivery systems, separate from the post office, and usually their own forwarding policies.

To keep receiving your mail after the US postal service stops forwarding it, you need to send out change of address cards to everyone you do business with. These change of address cards are available at the post office for free.

Most of the bills you receive – from your utilities, your credit card company, your insurance carrier – have a section where you can update your address information. Take advantage of it and you’ll save yourself a little trouble down the road.

Keeping track of who you've given your new address to and who still needs it can get pretty confusing pretty quickly. Make a checklist of all the companies that need your address (don’t forget the IRS) and all the friends and relatives you want to keep in touch with before you start mailing anything out. Keep your change of address checklist after you've moved into your new home, so if a few months down the road you can’t find your current phone bill, you’ll know exactly why.