Will we be able to afford life in SoCal? (Los Angeles: environment, real estate)

[txspamom]

Ok, my husband is getting transferred this spring, although we don't know exactly where yet. Options are: Seattle, Portland, Pheonix, or LA/Orange County area. I have visited the Seattle forum already but I needed advice about SoCal. I'm getting even more nervous now that I have read some of the posts. Will we be able to afford life there??

We are a family of 4, I'm 30, my husband is 33. Our kids are 7 and 9. My husband will be making about 75k/year + car allowance of about another $8k/yr. Since we will be moving away from family, I would prefer not to work because we will not have after-school child care....but I would consider part-time while they are in school -- summer time? Nope, I can't work.

I have been looking on rentclicks.com and I see some decent looking rental houses in the Santa Anna/Temecula/Sun City/Hemet and more areas (yes we will rent, because I would like to get over to the east coast in about 2 years!) the prices look good at about $1400-$1800/mth for a nice house. Here where we live in the Dallas area, that price range won't get you a very nice house in a nice area.

So, my question is....in that salary range -- will we be able to afford living in those areas? My husband is a retail district manager and will be driving 90% of the time anyway so a longer commute is not a problem in order for us to find good housing costs. Looking for family oriented areas of course, lower crime and good schools.

Can you help? I'm scared to death! Thank you!!

[missionhome]

Some of the areas where you found homes in your price range are not the best. Santa Ana is in Orange County, but is not the safest city and best for raising a family. Basically it wouldn't be summed up as a great area. Also, 75% of the population of Santa Ana is Hispanic, just so you know that areas demographics. If you are used to this environment then fine, if not, you may want to reconsider. The public schools in Santa Ana are also the worst performing in Orange County and not good at all. If you want good schools, look elsewhere.
Temecula is definitely the best city you mentioned. It is located out in Riverside County and about an hour (no traffic) from Los Angeles and Orange County. It is more affordable in Temecula simply because it is so far from the high paying jobs in LA and Orange Counties. If you can work with out having to be right in the heart of the big metro, then this is a great city. It is in a nice setting with rolling hills on its sides. In a lot of ways, Temecula is basically a city that would be very expensive in LA or Orange County because of how nice it is, but again the farther location lowers the home price. All the basic needs and stores are out in Temecula so you'll be fine. Temecula's schools are good too and the area is very safe. The only downside would be that it gets hot in the summer, but other than that, Temecula is a great area and the only one of the four you listed that I recommend.
Sun City- Do you want your kids to grow up surrounded by old people? The average age of a resident in Sun City is 65 years old because the entire community is for residents 55+, so I don't think you can live there. That would also explain why it is affordable. The area isn't as nice as Temecula either. Perhaps you were thinking of neighboring Menifee which isn't a senior community.
Hemet is a desert city of about 60,000 people. It is not a very nice area and I don't think many will recommend it for a family. Only 23% of people here even have kids. The area isn't attractive, its really hot, and there are mobile home parks everywhere. The cities schools vary between bad and average in scores.
Here are some nice places in Temecula:
BEAUTIFUL TEMECULA HOME - GATED COMMUNITY
House For Rent
Murrieta Homes (next to Temecula, very similar and just as nice:
4 BD HOME FOR RENT
4Br - Fabulous Single Story!!

[maggiekate]

you also do need to consider with your choice the state taxes and car insurance.
since that will be a minus from his income.

[california_guy110]

Yes you can definitely find a place in SoCal in that range, if you are willing to live in a place such as Temecula. It is kind of far away from anything, out in the desert a bit but it seems like a decent town and there are others like it, the weather is still good its just not near the beach or anything but the cost of living is reasonable because of this.

[lindrix]

Hi Txspamom,

I've been living off and on in Southern California for the past six years. Affordability is indeed something you need to examine critically.

Your housing costs will be the biggest hurdle to overcome. Heating bills will be non-existent and fresh produce is cheap and plentiful. The farther East you live, such as Murrieta, Temecula, Poway, Pasadena, Redlands, you should expect to spend a lot on air-conditioning bills. The thing to remember is most of Southern California is essentially reclaimed desert; closer to the coast the climate is moderated by the ocean. Water is fast becoming an issue. Population has grown considerably over the last five years, especially in San Diego. The cities are having a difficult time negotiating for water rights with the central valley and Northern California. For now, things are fine but if there is a long drought there will be warnings issued and the price of water could go up.

Are you selling a house? Do you have a big down payment? This will help considerably.

San Diego is cheaper than Orange County, but only by a small margin. The outlying towns going East get cheaper the farther out you go.

Personally, because I'm looking at retirement, I'm thinking of moving to Portland.

If you have any specific questions to ask you are welcome to email me directly.


Good Luck!

[OutOfSoCal]

figure out where hubby will be based out of. Your range is quite spread out. None are city I would really raise my family in. Temecula is not bad but far away from alot of things. If hes going to be near Sanata Ana maybe look at Brea or Fullerton, a little bit further away but nicer,safer areas for sure. I would bet far better schools than Santa Ana as well.

[Axiom]

If your kids will be in public schools I'd be sure to research that before making a decision as well. Unfortunately, many of the most affordable areas in So Cal have schools with dismal performance statistics (Santa Ana)

Greatschools.net should have enough info to give you a pretty good idea of whether a particular school would be acceptable to you.
We found a couple of houses we thought were great, in areas that seemed nice, etc. but when I checked school attendamce boundaries... yikes! No way I would have put my kids in those schools.

Good Luck!

[missionhome]

Air conditioning and such will cost you out in Temecula during the summers, but at leat you will be able to have a detached home in a nice area. In a safe area of Orange County with good schools there is no way you would be able to get a home like you could in Temecula. Your price range puts you at a condo in most OC cities, with the exception of Santa Ana, which you don't want to live in. The heating costs in Temecula will never add up to the higher rent for living in nice Orange County cities.

Schools: I think Temecula has some of the best schools in Southern California for someone looking in your price range. The schools in Temecula are just as competitive and good as ones in nice areas of LA and Orange Counties. In California schools are ranked off their API (Academic Performance Index). This allows schools to be compared and is compiled by using the schools test scores on the various state testing. The score is on a scale from 200-1,000. The state has set a goal of 800 or above for a school, but the vast majority of schools in California are far from that, especially in the high school levels. There are a lot of good high schools that are still in the high 700's for their API and that is acceptable in my opinion. Even the best high schools aren't that far over 800. Elementary and middle schools should be above the 800 mark to be considered good though. In Temecula, I recommend you find a home in the southern portion. The elementary and middle schools in the south are the best and feed into Great Oak High School which is the top performing high school in Temecula. Great Oak has an API of 789, only eleven points short of 800. This is way better than the other cities you were looking at like Santa Ana and Hemet with API's in the 600's. The elementary schools are really good that feed into Great Oak. There are six elementary schools feeding Great Oak. They are Tony Tobin (API=898!!), Crowne Hill (API=894!), Pauba Valley (API=883!), Red Hawk (API=864), Vail (API=845), and Helen Hunt Jackson (API=822). The two middle schools that these elementary schools feed into, that are the middle schools that feed to Great Oak High are Vail Ranch Middle (API=834) and Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School (API=822). As you can see, these are really good scores and I think you will be challenged to find schools this good in any other area of So Cal that you look at with rents in your range.
Here are more detached 3+ bedroom homes in your price range, that also fall in the attendance boundaries of Great Oak High and the elementary schools listed above:
This home is in a clean neighborhood and walking distance to park and Pauba Valley School. $1,800- 4 beds, 3 baths
Rental Home in Temecula, CA 92592 - $1800 per month

This home has a pool and is 3 beds, 3 baths. Vail Middle School is two houses down. $1,800
Rental Home in Temecula, CA 92592 - $1800 per month

3 bedrooms, 3 baths. Crowne Hill neighborhood. $1,650
Temecula-Murrieta Property Management, Rentals, Houses/Homes For Rent/Sale, Real Estate, #1 Property Management Company in Temecula-Murrieta

Properties on Pechanga Drive and Nighthawk are in good areas.
Current Rentals

REALTOR.com: Find a Home - Listing Detail

Those are some ideas. I think you could be financially comfortable out in Temecula. It really is one the gems and good areas of Riverside County. You area reasonably close to San Diego and LA/Orange County also.

[txspamom]

thanks, makes me feel a little better.........

[missionhome]

Temecula pictures to let you get a feel for the area:
Old Town Temecula


The arch and entrance to Old Town


Redhawk Golf Club


Rural outskirts of Temecula, going out to its wine country.


Community Theatre


Temecula Winery, there are a lot surrounding the city. Hot air ballooning is popular with tourists also.


Pechanga Indian Casino and Resort Hotel


Temecula's Promenade Mall


Redhawk Plaza


Beautiful city parks


Great Oaks High School


Tobin Elementary


Just a few photos to let you see the area of Temecula.