Moving to Santa Barbara, Need Advice (San Bernardino, Oxnard: apartments, crime, neighborhoods)

[coholder]

So, my soon-to-be wife and I are moving to California in May, and we are going to be settling in the Santa Barbara area. I am going to be a Ph.D. student at UCSB, and she is *hoping* to be an elementary school teacher (although from the things I've heard, that may be easier said than done).

So basically, I'm looking for advice on places to live. Which parts of town to avoid, which parts are nice. I've read some general statements on places to avoid, but I'm looking for more advice from people who know. I've seen some good housing prices of small apartments in the Mesa area, and some around the east side of Goleta also, but more specifics about places would be nice. Such as "Avoid between ___ Rd. and ___ St., but as long as you stay south of Hwy ___ you should be fine". I don't mind a short drive commute, and I don't mind biking or public transportation if it's convenient (like an express bus or just an easy route). Thank you very much.

[peony]

Originally Posted by coholder

So, my soon-to-be wife and I are moving to California in May, and we are going to be settling in the Santa Barbara area. I am going to be a Ph.D. student at UCSB, and she is *hoping* to be an elementary school teacher (although from the things I've heard, that may be easier said than done).

So basically, I'm looking for advice on places to live. Which parts of town to avoid, which parts are nice. I've read some general statements on places to avoid, but I'm looking for more advice from people who know. I've seen some good housing prices of small apartments in the Mesa area, and some around the east side of Goleta also, but more specifics about places would be nice. Such as "Avoid between ___ Rd. and ___ St., but as long as you stay south of Hwy ___ you should be fine". I don't mind a short drive commute, and I don't mind biking or public transportation if it's convenient (like an express bus or just an easy route). Thank you very much.

Hi, my favorite neighborhoods in Santa Barbara were: Mountain Drive, you get there off the Salinas exit, to the roundabout (five corners I think it's called) up Sycamore Canyon, which is a beautiful drive. These aren't exact directions, so you'd need to ask someone. The Riviera off of APS (Alameda Padre Serra) and the lower Riviera above Salinas north of Canon Perdido. Mission Canyon, a little hotter there in the summer though, a world away, yet within minutes to downtown. Goleta is nice between Turnpike and Fairview from Cathedral Oaks to Hollister. West of Fairview off Hollister is not very nice. The "San Roque" area is said to have the best weather, and the "Le Cumbre" area are nice, and are north of State Street, between San Roque Rd. and La Cumbre. Be prepared for exorbitant rents in SB.

[the city]

Zodo's Bowling and Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta the beach, the zoo, the 2 open-air malls and downtown in Santa Barbara. it's a great area! i hope you like it!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by coholder

So basically, I'm looking for advice on places to live. Which parts of town to avoid, which parts are nice. I've read some general statements on places to avoid, but I'm looking for more advice from people who know.

I lived in Santa Ynez Graduate Student Housing there and there is married (family) student housing NW corner of Los Carneros and El Colegio in Isla Vista. It is very nice, very quite and everything is close enough ride your bike. Far enough from IV to not be distracted but close enough to enjoy it when you want. Maybe one-half mile to the beach.

UCSB Apartments General Information

[coholder]

I'm on the waiting list for graduate family university housing, but I'm not going to be able to get a placement before when I have to be there this summer, so that's out at least for this year.

How about Carillo St southwest of the 101, and Meigs Rd. There's a convenient bus route, and the prices seem reasonable, but that worries more that the rents are somewhat less in this area, is there a reason for it being cheaper due to the neighborhood?

Also, around Cottage Hospital? I think I remember reading that it isn't as good as other options.

Thanks for the great replies, exactly the things I was hoping to get.

[beachlover1]

Originally Posted by coholder

So, my soon-to-be wife and I are moving to California in May, and we are going to be settling in the Santa Barbara area. I am going to be a Ph.D. student at UCSB, and she is *hoping* to be an elementary school teacher (although from the things I've heard, that may be easier said than done).

So basically, I'm looking for advice on places to live. Which parts of town to avoid, which parts are nice. I've read some general statements on places to avoid, but I'm looking for more advice from people who know. I've seen some good housing prices of small apartments in the Mesa area, and some around the east side of Goleta also, but more specifics about places would be nice. Such as "Avoid between ___ Rd. and ___ St., but as long as you stay south of Hwy ___ you should be fine". I don't mind a short drive commute, and I don't mind biking or public transportation if it's convenient (like an express bus or just an easy route). Thank you very much.

In my opinion, all of SB is very nice and a beautiful area to live. Like paradise. The crime is very low. Very expenisive though.

[EastCoasterNYC]

Hi, I'd also like to ask for advice - I'm an East Coaster and my husband and I are reloacting to the Santa Barbara or LA area in the fall so he can pursue his PhD at UCSB. I work in media and will be looking for jobs or relocating in my current job to either downtown LA or Burbank. I know very little about the area and will begin to explore it in the next few months but my primary question right now is, do people recommend that we live closer to SB or LA? If we live near SB it looks like my commute into and out of LA will be brutal. If we live closer to LA maybe I can take public transit and my husband can be the one who commutes. Or we could live somewhere in between, but coming from New York City we're afraid we might go crazy in a town like Ventura or Oxnard. Any preliminary recommendations? Thank you so very much.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by EastCoasterNYC

Hi, I'd also like to ask for advice - I'm an East Coaster and my husband and I are reloacting to the Santa Barbara or LA area in the fall so he can pursue his PhD at UCSB. I work in media and will be looking for jobs or relocating in my current job to either downtown LA or Burbank. I know very little about the area and will begin to explore it in the next few months but my primary question right now is, do people recommend that we live closer to SB or LA? If we live near SB it looks like my commute into and out of LA will be brutal. If we live closer to LA maybe I can take public transit and my husband can be the one who commutes. Or we could live somewhere in between, but coming from New York City we're afraid we might go crazy in a town like Ventura or Oxnard. Any preliminary recommendations? Thank you so very much.

These two towns are way too far away for two different careers. If you lived in Ventura (or Oxnard, I forgot) I think there is a train that goes all the way to downtown LA. It would still be about 35-45 minutes to UCSB. I can't imagine a train ride to downtown would be enjoyable everyday - it is so far away.

Look at maps for distances and realize the traffic gets bad heading east from Camarillo all the way to ....well, San Bernardino...

I would expect you should be able to find some work on the Oxnard Plain (Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Point Mugu) or maybe the Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park). Simi and Moorpark would be too far also. I wouldn't even consider anything else east.

[EastCoasterNYC]

Thanks so much for your input!

[SoCalif]

Due to Gov. Arnold's budget cutbacks, most school district are not hiring, but actually laying teachers off. It's going to be tough for your soon to be wife finding a teaching job anywhere in Calif. Good luck though.