Moving from Spokane, WA to Fountain Valley. Good move? (San Diego: real estate, crime rate)

[chiaroscuro]

Pushing forward amidst the tide rushing *out* of california to buy real estate elsewhere, I am considering going to school down there (only for the weather though). I stayed in OC for a few weeks during the summer, checked out San Diego and Pasadena (relatives), and happened to drive through Fountain Valley during my sight-seeing. Seemed alright for living and school, and also close enough to the beach to satisfy me. Any thoughts in general on the move? Good/Bad areas, and also words of wisdom for someone born in a quiet, smallish city in washington? Any opinions from people who actually live there would be much appreciated.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Its a nice area. Just stay west of Euclid or South of Edinger, preferably south of Warner. The east and north edges aren't as nice and the rest. If you're looking for housing, the cheapest stuff that comes up will probably be in the NE corner right up against Santa Ana. It basically IS Santa Ana up there. Santa Ana = Mexico.

[christyorange]

I'm up here in Spokane for a wedding and loving the river, the people, the clean air. You will have to find alternate routes for driving to school to prepare for the gridlock. If you can avoid Brookhurst, Magnolia, and Little Saigon in general, the traffic is terrible there. Bike riding is not the safest mode of transport. We live in an okay neighborhood just south of Edinger and wish it could be farther south for the better homes and less traffic and noise from the freeway. Use the secondary streets to get across town. Stay away from the Santa Ana, Westminster areas for the gangs. Crime rate isn't too high in FV, but be wise.
They wait till you go to work/school, then burglar your home if you're obviously away. It's still going to be expensive to live there, unless you have roommates.