relocating to Torrance (San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Ana: apartments, for rent, home)

[stregleshl]

I'm coming from Chula Vista to Torrance. My wife may end up working in Santa Ana. Is there a decent area where we could live between the two places to divide our commute?

I want to try to keep my commute to about 30 - 40 minutes. How far north or south or east of Torrance should I look? Thanks.

[sgvkev]

Chula Vista to Torrance in 30-40 minutes? That's almost impossible, even moreso since Torrance is off the 405 (a freeway known for big traffic). 10 years ago I had a drive from San Diego to Pasadena with no traffic whatsoever (came back from spending a weekend there) and even that took a couple hours. Santa Ana would be around 30 minutes less but still it would be quite a long drive...

[NaplesRes]

I think you're asking for a place halfway between Torrance and Santa Ana. If so, east Long Beach would be a great fit. Try Belmont Shore, Naples, the Peninsula, Belmont Heights, or Park Estates. Those are all really nice areas each with a different style.

[stregleshl]

Thank you. Yes, I meant that I was getting a job in Torrance and looking at moving to that area. I currently live in Chula Vista so I don't really know the Torrance area all that well. I've seen it twice now. My job will be in Torrance and looking for an easy commute. Looking for advice. Thanks.

[kareybear]

Your best bet for both of yah to travel at least half way to work would be to live in Seal Beach or Lakewood area. Find a place to live in these area and let us know where so we can tell yes or no to live in that street or area.

[stregleshl]

We have visited Seal Beach and liked it very much. I haven't been to Lakewood yet. What is that like?

My wife and I looked at Ocean Avenue in Long Beach and liked it. What do you think of that area?

One thing we liked about Seal Beach is that it had a Wild Oats store, Trader Joe's and the beach seemed a little tame, not too crowded. We had breakfast this morning and a nice little bistro. My only concern with Seal Beach is cost...we are wanting to rent first and spend about $2500 tops for a 2 br, 2bath place. We want washer dryer hook up which seems challenging to find in apts.

Thanks for your help

[NaplesRes]

The Wild Oats and Trader Joes are actually in Long Beach. If you drive over the 2nd street bridge you'll be in Naples. Continue west and you'll be in Belmont Shore and then finally Ocean Ave toward downtown LB. Naples, Belmont Shore, and Seal Beach are all very nice and expensive. But I think you could find a 2 BR for $2,500 per month. Might not be that big but you could probably do it. Parts of Lakewood are OK but very different from these other areas. These are coastal beach towns.

[stregleshl]

Thank you for the correction. I do get a bit turned around up there because we move in and out of different towns. It seems she wants to be close to those types of shops and also close to the beach.

[longbeachhomes]

Are you looking to rent or own a home when you move? Do you have children? What do you and your wife enjoy doing? This would also make a difference about what area in Long Beach (or close to Long Beach) you would like to live. You can actually take the side streets straight to Torrance during peak traffic. Your wife can also do the same although she will be going against traffic so her drive to Santa Ana wont be as bad.

[stregleshl]

Our strategy is this: I go up first and rent a room or studio. I do that for 3 or 4 months while we decide if the job is a good fit and to learn the area. After that, then my wife will move up and we will probably still just rent for a while to get to learn the area together.

We looked at two places we liked but both had deal breakers. 1900 Ocean Avenue apartments were nice but the one we liked only had 1 bathroom. My wife says no to that. The Oakwood apts in Seal beach had a laundry room instead of washer dryer hook-up. My wife says no to that. So we're hoping to find a home for rent in that kind of area, but with two baths or at least 1.5 baths, washer dryer hookup and I prefer to have 2 sinks in the master bath. San Diego seems to have a better selection of apartments which is the area I'm coming from.