Looking for info on Atacadero, Santa Margarita, Templeton area (Los Angeles: real estate, mobile home)

[aj661]

My wife and I are looking to retire to CA in a few years. I love the central coast, but it's way out of our price range. We are trying to find somewhere that's somewhat affordable, yet within a few hours drive of the Big Sur area. Are the locals hostile to "outsiders"? Any info on housing, crime, etc. would be appreciated.

[aj661]

Should have checked my spelling: Atascadero

[greatbasinguide]

Atascadero means mudhole in Spanish the towns are friendly, not redneck locals who do not like outsiders, they are upscale horsey and wine country. Visit and look around. They are popular retirement towns. Check Cambria, great town. Towns nearer to Big Sur that can be more affordable are Kings City, Soledad, heavily agricultural and big gang problems.

[aj661]

Greatbasinguide, Thanks! We aren't "retirement age", both still in our early 50's. At that 'awkward' age so to speak. I'm retired Highway Patrol, i.e. lower middle class income now. She works for a city PD and can retire in less than 4years.I know the cost of living is higher, but the cost of housing is all that matters. I found one real estate site that had new mobile homes on 2 acres for under $300K. Sounds to good to be true. Here is the eastern part of the Phoenix metro area, no one knows their neighbor, which is okay. She's from upstate NY originally, and the 1st time I went there, the contempt I felt directed towards me just for being from the outside was unbelievable. We just want a comfortable area relatively close to the ocean. I lived in CA when I was VERY young...(hope you're sitting down), in COMPTON! Believe it or not, it was a middle class city back in the fifties. I still have the paperwork on the house my parents bought there in 1949, for $10K. The Army took us away for good in 1959.

Back to the subject: Even though I've lived most of my life here in the Phx metro area, I've always felt like an exile. I appreciate the insight.

[greatbasinguide]

My family is from the SLO/Santa Maria area, my sister lives in Atascadero, I used to know the area well, but not so much anymore.. There should be a range of properties and prices,, good to visit and explore.

Compton,,, !! Well, I remember oranges and strawberry fields between Los Angeles and Disneyland,,, now it is all buildings.

[SamInCA]

atascadero is a great place...most places in slo county are really nice all around. If you want a place closer to big sur, look at towns along 101 between salinas and the monterey-slo county line. Big Sur has an excellent marathon there, my gf's mom is has a chair on the board of directors. Places really close to big sur like carmel and pacific grove are quite expensive.

[aj661]

SamInCA, yea, I know about Big Sur and prices! I'd love to run that marathon, but it's been many years since I've even done a 10K. (Do you think your gf's Mom would want to adopt a retired AZ Highway Patrolman? I do dishes, laundry and windows!)

We thought about looking for a small piece of land off Hwy 1, but we've heard horror stories about trying to get approval for building permits or (gasp!) putting in a modular up there. I'd gladly live in a tent in the Big Sur area if they'd let me. In fact, next week I AM living in tent there. It's been 6 months since I was in CA, so I'm camping at Pheiffer Big Sur for a couple days next week.

Where exactly is the border between SLO and Monterey counties? Any suggestions on those towns? Thanks.

[greatbasinguide]

That is betwen King City and Paso Robles, along 101,, check the towns out,,

[susie4]

I have lived in Atascadero since 1977. We stayed for two years and then moved to Napa California. We were priced out of Napa County and decided to come back to SLO county and ended up living finally in Atascadero. This is a slow growth town. Its small, in driving distance from most any stores you would like to go to. Prices continue to rise in the three towns you are interested in (Atascadero, Templeton and Santa Margarita). There is a lot of growth currently in Templeton -- lots of new homes going in, the local hospital just moved into a new building, lots of new clinics in Templeton. As I mentioned, housing is steep. Homes start out around $475,000; new homes around $600,000 and up.

To be honest, I think this area will be a place where mostly retirees live. The younger families cannot live here due to the high cost of living.

[stellar9]

I haven't experienced hostility from locals, but we've been in the county for 16 years and lived in various cities here.

Santa Margarita is quite small, but very nice and an easy jaunt to SLO if you like going there. Templeton is small, but growing a lot.

San Miguel is just north of Paso Robles and a lot like Santa Margarita, but growing. They are building here and will be opening a bank and a grocery store in town this fall. And you're just 10 minutes from Paso Robles, which has all the stores you'd need.