Nice Areas to live under $325,000 (San Diego, San Francisco: buy, school, places to live)

[LadmoFan]

Try Ridgecrest. If you have technical skills or a medical background this is the place to live. Affordable housing, low crime, clean air, no commute time.

[jayely1]

For Corona, Murrieta, Riverside ... ask on the San Bernardino/Riverside forum to see what the current economic conditions are. If your parents are retired, they might like it very much (since they would not have to consider finding work and possibly facing a huge long commute). It's really pretty, hilly country, with the California golden hills all around, with some lakes and such. And you can get a big newer house for cheap.

Are you attending college? I'm not quite sure what your plans for yourself are. There are colleges in that area - I think there is a University of California in Riverside. Where there are colleges, there will be something for 20-year-olds to do.

I will check out that forum, I would be attending college so that would be a plus.

Murrieta and the surrounding towns look like a good deal right now. We have friends with children who are moving there to buy a home. The reason they selected it is because homes are more affordable (they have dropped a lot after recent decline) and the schools are pretty good. Also crime isn't too bad.

IMO Corona and Riverside are along the 91 corridor and are not as appealing in terms of a nice area, but definately a step up from Lancaster/Palmdale. Each town is a little different out there. I would research each one in their respective sub forums.

One major problem you will deal with in Corona/Riverside and San Bernardino is Smog, which is some of the worst in the nation. All the LA smog rolls into that area and settles there. I think Murrieta is somewhat better in that regard as it is removed from the base of the Mtns and LA where things settle.

Also Riverside and San Bernardino counties were high on the list for Meth capitals of the nation. I know Reno and a few others have them beat now. But this is still something to consider.

Here is something to check with regards to good family areas - The School Performance Map (Double click to zoom in). At first glance you may think this is not as important since you are out of school and you parents retired. But 99.9% of the time the areas with higher school performance are better neighborhoods for everyone. Think lower crime, more stable home values, more involved parents, etc... The demand is greater in these areas so it also makes for a better investment in the long run.

I did my undergraduate work in the Inland Empire so I am familiar with it. There are a lot of colleges and universities out there which may be important to you if you plan on furthering your education. And of course there are a lot of young ppl which go along with it. So that is a plus.

I am not quite sure what you mean by commutes if your parents are retired? Commuting too what? The beach, shopping, college, jobs, etc..?

Derek

Im really interested in the commute to work for most people. Im sure its not Ideal to work in LA living in those areas, but Im sure there is plenty of businesses along the way right?

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by jayely1

I will check out that forum, I would be attending college so that would be a plus.

Im really interested in the commute to work for most people. Im sure its not Ideal to work in LA living in those areas, but Im sure there is plenty of businesses along the way right?

Yes, there is enough work right in that region with Lake Elsinore, Temecula and Murrieta next door to each other. Of course it will depend on what type of work you are looking for. My friend got a promotion with an insurance company out there. However you won't drive into LA for work as it is too far. But there are plenty of other opportunities closer by. You might commute into Riverside for example for school and/or a job especially if you go off peak hours. Usually as a student you can customize your schedule around peak traffic.

You'll be close enough to LA, OC and San Diego to visit those places without the same high housing costs. And the drive to the coast near Oceanside is only 37 miles. Overall its one of the better values in SoCal right now.

Derek

[jayely1]

Thanks again for the info, how busy is Telecula and Murreta??

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by jayely1

Thanks again for the info, how busy is Telecula and Murreta??

I can only answer you generally since I don't live/work out there.

In general these are smaller to mid sized towns by SoCal standards. Murrieta is ~ 60K in population. So it shouldn't be too busy, especially when compared to LA, SD or OC. The one complaint I've heard is from the ppl who moved out there but still have to work in LA or OC. If you can avoid that it shouldn't be too bad.

But I recommend asking this on the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties forum and be more specific about what you mean by busy.

Derek

[jayely1]

Goodyear to 7th street? 7th street is by Care Free right? Thats a long ways!

[Merl Elton]

Majin is very funny; lol; saying Stockton all the time. However, it depends on what you can live with. Stockton would be ideal for some; however, not all by any means. Stockton is more affordable, near public trans, has jobs, many blue collar. However, many cities are congested, noisey, and have high crime rates and other social problems.

[jayely1]

My last post was for another forum sorry...
Stockton had a crazy crime rate

[Hawk J]

Many towns have a side of their town where there is more crime.

Some neighborhoods are usually pretty nice & kept in better condition.

If you have a Neighborhood Watch & folks lookout for each other it works out pretty good.

...

[AKgirlinCA]

I agree with the suggestion of Florida...why not start looking there? Or is humidity a big issue? Where are you located now, if I may ask?