From Missouri to Cali.. are we crazy? (Los Angeles, Fresno: vacation, rent)

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Sadie85

What about La Jolla? I've heard it was nice..

Yeah, its real nice. Have you looked at prices there? Rule #1: nice = expensive

[Sadie85]

lol I see. Are there any not-so-expensive, not-so-ghetto areas in Cali? I just really want to move somewhere that doesn't have a winter!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Sadie85

lol I see. Are there any not-so-expensive, not-so-ghetto areas in Cali? I just really want to move somewhere that doesn't have a winter!

Well it all depends on what you honestly think you can earn. "Expensive" or "not so expensive" are relative terms. One person's affordable is another's highway robbery. California is a huge state with good and bad areas all over, often right next to eachother. If you tell us you're qualified for jobs out here that regularly pay $50k/yr, that means you could spend 1/3 of your gross income on rent and you can look for places up to $1388/mo. That might be a nice townhouse in some areas, or a 1 bedroom ghetto apartment in another.

[Sadie85]

Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, Poway. Those have all been mentioned on here as good, inexpensive places to live (by other members). I've got three children - I just don't want to move out there and find that it's hell and so expensive that we can barely afford to eat. I provide for our family out here, but this is Missouri. I plan on renting until we can buy a house (probably a few years from now). A small place is fine for now. I just want us to be safe, and not anywhere near snow!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Sadie85

Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, Poway. Those have all been mentioned on here as good, inexpensive places to live (by other members). I've got three children - I just don't want to move out there and find that it's hell and so expensive that we can barely afford to eat. I provide for our family out here, but this is Missouri. I plan on renting until we can buy a house (probably a few years from now). A small place is fine for now. I just want us to be safe, and not anywhere near snow!

OK, Huntington Beach is right next to me so I'm familiar with it. I believe the median home price is around $700k. $1200-1400/mo rents you a 1 bedroom apartment. $1600-1900/mo rents you a 2 bedroom. Multiply that by 3 to see your minimum monthly gross income required. I don't have kids so I don't know exactly how much more you'd need but its not going to be cheap.

[Sadie85]

Anyone have links to job sites or local newspapers? I won't be moving for a few months but I am starting to look for a job now. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Have a look around here: Jobs - Orange County and Southern California - OCJobFinder

Huntington Beach is in Orange County. Carlsbad and Poway are in San Diego County.

[vfrpilot]

Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, Poway. Those have all been mentioned on here as good, inexpensive places to live (by other members). I've got three children - I just don't want to move out there and find that it's hell and so expensive that we can barely afford to eat

.
I would not consider these areas as inexpensive. Carlsbad and HB are coastal communities and Poway is just north of San Diego and has few if any 'inexpensive' rentals. You might look in the 'Inland Empire' areas of Riverside or San Bernadino Counties. It's a bit cheaper as you leave the coast. With 3 kids and 1 income, it can be done but will be pretty difficult in most of CA.

I just really want to move somewhere that doesn't have a winter!

Have you considered Texas? Warm climate with low cost of living.

[LDH]

I would highly encourage you to look in another state. I'm a native of CA and DH and I cannot afford to buy a house with 2 incomes. When housing prices were low we made the sacrafice to put our kids through private school so they could get a good education because the schools stink here. Unfortunately now that they are almost done with school the prices have risen so drastically that we can no longer afford one. They are vertually untouchable.

As a sole breadwinner, you might have to work two jobs to make ends meet. You need to look at the cost of utilities, food, taxes, etc when living in CA.

[Sassberto]

I read posts like this and I am concerned, because so many people seem to have their minds made up but so little information around what the costs really are.

We need to know what you can afford. Even the middle-class areas are expensive here. If you want good schools and a safe, clean neighborhood, you will pay through the nose for it.