East to West/looking for advice (San Francisco, Sacramento: ski resorts, real estate, to rent)

[kayte]

Boston couple looking to make the move from Boston to California.
Winters are intolerable, kids are off to college.
I know it is an oxymoron but we are looking for advice on afforable/small/quiet and safe areas.
Affordable to us is 375k-475k. We have been to La Jolla (love it but could never ever afford it), Oceanside(I tought it was a little bit "seedy"), Vacaville, San fransisco, San diego, Placerville, Lake Tahoe and Sausilito.
Would prefer Southern Cal but would consider anything at this early stage.
Preferable to the ocean but I doubt we could afford that.
Definately want to avoid inland desert areas that are just too hot and arid.
Definately would prefer to avoid tons of smog and overcast weather too.
You know, just looking for the "perfect" area which never totally exists.
Need to be reasonable distance to major hospitals for work.
hoping to get some ideas. Is there anyplace reasonable maybe just outside San Fran or San diego that we could get to the beach easily?
Will research all suggestions!

[AA702]

I think you would be better off renting if you want all those qualities you want. Buying at $475K is not going to get you much unless you move inland to San Bernadino/Riverside counties and you dont like the desert either. I would try a coastal town in LA, OC or SD counties and rent.

[irvm]

Originally Posted by AAPoolServiceLV

I think you would be better off renting if you want all those qualities you want. Buying at $475K is not going to get you much unless you move inland to San Bernadino/Riverside counties and you dont like the desert either. I would try a coastal town in LA, OC or SD counties and rent.

Save your money and rent.
Odds are in your favor that prices will come down.

[Idunn]

You might find something in southern California that suites you, but such things as affordable, small and quiet don't readily come to mind.

Thus I would suggest, unless you really must be south, you consider northern California. While San Francisco and environs are very expensive, if you move a bit north of there you might find something to taste. Perhaps beginning with Santa Rosa as ground zero and spread out your search from there.

Santa Rosa isn't exactly inexpensive, and other communities within the nearby wine country even more so, but you can also find towns in the vicinity within your given price range. Sebastopol, for one, has single family residences within that price range. Granted, at that price they tend to be small and more like cottages, if cute, so you'll have to decide what your priorities are.

As others have mentioned, probably not at all a bad idea to rent initially, both to give yourself a chance to explore and really see what you like and as real estate prices may still be trending downwards. One caveat being that within some communities they may even still be escalating.

As you mentioned the ocean, I might have suggested some place such as Bodega Bay, but if not fond of overcast skies you may not favor anything along the northern California coast. But the sun does appear at times and if visiting an entirely different thing. From anywhere around Santa Rosa the coast a relatively short journey away, and the weather distinctly different. If anything, you might feel areas near Santa Rosa too warm, especially in the summer. But basically it is quite nice and generally temperate.

Anyway, there are a lot of choices in that area and yourself with the luxury of deciding which parameters you like best.

Good luck.

[humboldtrat]

Check out Sacramento and the surrounding towns. Warm to hot summers (but low humidity) and mild winters with fog and/or rain, but no snow. It's about 2 hours west to San Francisco and the beaches and 2 hours east to Reno and Lake Tahoe and the ski resorts. The Napa/Sonoma wine country is about 90 minutes away.

[kayte]

Thank you all, esp Idunn...looking into all suggestions and seriously considering renting for a year to find our "dream destination" and eventually buy a home in the area we will soon call 'home"
Cal is so big..especially coming from this tiny east coast state. A bit overwhelming. So as sdvised...looking now to rent and spend 1 months searching for a home to settle into our "empty nest" phase of life.

[tigerclaws]

While we are at it, you should consider the central coast but again the problem could be the cost which could be overwhelming.

Assuming you buy a starter home, you should definitely consider Ventura. I lived in Santa barbara (which is north of Ventura) but SB is prohibitively expensive and that is the reason I moved. IMHO, it is the best place I have ever lived in my life. There are festivals going on almost all year around and the weather is just unbelievable.

I share your pain in that I live in Boston metro as well and I absolutely hate it here. This is going to be my second and last winter in the North east. I am moving back west next year in spring.

My 2 cents.

[Calibound-Yorkiemom]

Originally Posted by tigerclaws

While we are at it, you should consider the central coast but again the problem could be the cost which could be overwhelming.

Assuming you buy a starter home, you should definitely consider Ventura. I lived in Santa barbara (which is north of Ventura) but SB is prohibitively expensive and that is the reason I moved. IMHO, it is the best place I have ever lived in my life. There are festivals going on almost all year around and the weather is just unbelievable.

I share your pain in that I live in Boston metro as well and I absolutely hate it here. This is going to be my second and last winter in the North east. I am moving back west next year in spring.

My 2 cents.

.
Santa Barbara sounds delightful. I've never been How is it? were you born there? May I ask why did you leave Was it for a job? Santa barbara seems to me like one of those places that if you were able to get into it while it was affordable you'd be set once you sell.