Confused - Wanting to Stay in Cali... (Bakersfield, Redlands: house, to buy)

[kiwi29]

I'm looking for some advice on where to move within California. I grew-up in the Bay Area, but live in Lake Tahoe now. We've outgrown Tahoe quickly - not enough going on professionally. We're considering Oregon, but I really want to stay in California. Looked at Santa Cruz, but it SO expensive and has some downsides.

We're in our late 20s - both educated professionals - liberal. Obviously, love the outdoor lifestyle. We'd like to live somewhere where we can continue that lifestyle, but also go out at night, walk to a cute downtown, shops, etc. The hotter, the better. We'd like to buy a house that's not outrageously priced (but we grew-up here, so we know what to expect). We'd like somewhere relatively safe, good for kids (in the future), and a solid community.

Don't want to live in a city - don't want to move to the 'burbs. Somewhere that has it's own personality / lifestyle - probably around 100,000 people.

We're open - anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by kiwi29

I'm looking for some advice on where to move within California. I grew-up in the Bay Area, but live in Lake Tahoe now. We've outgrown Tahoe quickly - not enough going on professionally. We're considering Oregon, but I really want to stay in California. Looked at Santa Cruz, but it SO expensive and has some downsides.

We're in our late 20s - both educated professionals - liberal. Obviously, love the outdoor lifestyle. We'd like to live somewhere where we can continue that lifestyle, but also go out at night, walk to a cute downtown, shops, etc. The hotter, the better. We'd like to buy a house that's not outrageously priced (but we grew-up here, so we know what to expect). We'd like somewhere relatively safe, good for kids (in the future), and a solid community.

Don't want to live in a city - don't want to move to the 'burbs. Somewhere that has it's own personality / lifestyle - probably around 100,000 people.

We're open - anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

Check out the central CA coast - SLO / Atascadero / Paso Robles. It's pricey though, and job opps are not plentiful. gorgeous area though.

[kiwi29]

My husband went to Poly - he's an architect. That area is AMAZING, but there's not enough happening architecturally - SLO is obviously saturated with architects too.

Any other suggestions??

Thanks for replying.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by kiwi29

My husband went to Poly - he's an architect. That area is AMAZING, but there's not enough happening architecturally - SLO is obviously saturated with architects too.

Any other suggestions??

Thanks for replying.

To be honest, I don't think anything meets your criteria. CA's professional opportunities are concentrated in it's cities. Rural CA is gorgeous and safe but I can never seem to understand how anyone makes a living.

[CityGirl72]

Have you tried Davis? YOu might really like it - or even Auburn since it's still in the foothills but close enough to sacramento to commute for jobs.

In southern California - I'd look into Redlands

[PinkString]

Come to Vegas and live in one of the many master planned communities. It gets nice and hot here in the summer.
That way you aren't smack dab in the middle of the city,but in a nice little community of about 100,000 people.

[Caliguy2007]

The Central Valley has so many nice towns and cities,but I highly recommend Bakersfield.

[morefromcali]

What about Ojai? It's small, but it's beautiful and it's pretty close to Ventura. Ojai has a pretty strong sense of community and personality.

[morefromcali]

Oh, and I forgot -- Ojai gets nice and hot in the summer

[WNYerinSOCAL]

What about Redlands? It is its own little town/city nice down town good uninversity close to lots of big cities for you all professionally, good hiking in the local mountiains, sking and snowboarding in Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, they have a street fair farmers market and a lot of nice local shops/boutiques etc? No ocean though