S. CA. houses w/in 10 miles of liberal beach town, $600,000 (San Diego: condos, buy)

[stephfal]

Hi! My husband and I are currently living in the San Francisco East Bay where houses average about 1 million. We like some things about the S.F. East Bay, but it's too cold, too congested and TOO expensive!

We want to move somewhere warmer, within 10 miles of the ocean and can pay about $600,000.

Are there any towns near the beach in Southern California that are very liberal, have a strong animal advocacy community (VERY important), near a major university a plus AND where we can buy a single family house for $600,000 or less? Would love to live in Santa Barbara, but only condos (and not many of them!) available in this price range (as far as we've been able to determine).

Availability of work is NOT an issue.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by stephfal

Hi! My husband and I are currently living in the San Francisco East Bay where houses average about 1 million. We like some things about the S.F. East Bay, but it's too cold, too congested and TOO expensive!

We want to move somewhere warmer, within 10 miles of the ocean and can pay about $600,000.

Are there any towns near the beach in Southern California that are very liberal, have a strong animal advocacy community (VERY important), near a major university a plus AND where we can buy a single family house for $600,000 or less? Would love to live in Santa Barbara, but only condos (and not many of them!) available in this price range (as far as we've been able to determine).

Garden Grove, pretty much right next to Huntington Beach, and you can get a house for $450-$500k there, it will be between 900-1,200sq ft though, don't know if you had a size requirement

[saibot]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Garden Grove, pretty much right next to Huntington Beach, and you can get a house for $450-$500k there, it will be between 900-1,200sq ft though, don't know if you had a size requirement

No place in Orange County is exceptionally liberal, though. I googled Garden Grove and found it ranked 17th most conservative city in the US--higher than Oklahoma City.

You can find single-family homes for your price in OC, but most of them will be more than 10 miles from the beach. I just looked up an estimate of my own house in Rancho Santa Margarita and it was just under $600K. We're 15 miles and 30 minutes from Laguna Beach.

As for your other requirements, in south OC you are close to UC Irvine. I don't know about animal advocacy.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by saibot

No place in Orange County is exceptionally liberal, though. I googled Garden Grove and found it ranked 17th most conservative city in the US--higher than Oklahoma City.

You can find single-family homes for your price in OC, but most of them will be more than 10 miles from the beach. I just looked up an estimate of my own house in Rancho Santa Margarita and it was just under $600K. We're 15 miles and 30 minutes from Laguna Beach.

As for your other requirements, in south OC you are close to UC Irvine. I don't know about animal advocacy.

Different type of conservative though, LA/OC/SD conservatives are closer to libertarians than to the bible thumping racists of the south.

Even OC is liberal in comparison to the south or the midwest/plains

[saibot]

Would someone from San Francisco consider OC "very liberal," though...?

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by saibot

Would someone from San Francisco consider OC "very liberal," though...?

I'm from NY originally, so I know what true liberal is, and I don't feel I'm in conservative country in NWern Orange County... Escondido/north San Diego County or San Clemente/Dana Point/SEern Orange County maybe, or really anywhere SE of the 55

[BRinSM]

i bet you could find something in woodland hills or west hills in that price range. as the bird flies it's about 10 miles to the beach, but the weather is certainly not beachy.

[pacific2]

I think that most South OC towns have a mixture of conservatives and liberals, with most leaning towards the conservative end.
Orange County Is No Longer Nixon Country
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/us...ange.html?_r=0

Regarding animal advocacy groups, I can think of several rescue groups here in OC.

Finding a SFR for $600K or less within 10 miles of the beach will be a challenge. Check San Juan Capistrano on Redfin.com to see if there is anything available. Also, you may still be able to find a detached condo within 10 miles of the beach for less than $600K.

UCI is the major university in South OC. FWIW, this country's only Buddhist-inspired university, Soka University of America, is also here, in Aliso Viejo:
Soka University of America: California Private University for undergraduate, graduate and Study abroad Programs

[CaliforniaGal]

Why must you live among only Liberals? That's pretty shallow. We live in a very diverse community with Liberals and Conservatives. Not a big deal. We're not far from the beach either. Ever hear of assimilation? Before I forget, we probably have one of the largest animal advocacy communities around. I live in Wiseburn.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Different type of conservative though, LA/OC/SD conservatives are closer to libertarians than to the bible thumping racists of the south.

Even OC is liberal in comparison to the south or the midwest/plains

Where exactly in the South were you to come up with this analysis summary?