Where to live in LA area with good schools and safe community (Santa Clarita: sales, houses)

[Mckenfin]

I know this has been posted before, but everyone's opinion is different and everyone has different circumstances.

My family and I are being relocated to LA area. I will be working in downtown LA in the financial district and my wife is a homemaker, but when the youngest gets a little older she will be going back to work. Most likely she will be working in the Burbank area, but it will definatley be north of the city. I don't mind taking public transit and commuting up to a hour and fifteen minutes one way.

We have 3 kids: 8 year old in 3rd grade, a 6 year old in kindergarten and a 3 year old. We are looking for a good safe community with a strong school systems from K-12 as we would send them to public schools. We are looking to buy a home in the $550,000 to $575,000 with 4 bedrooms.

We have our eye on the Santa Clarita area; more specifically Valencia. That's the only place we have found so that fits our needs. We like the area, I just want to make sure we are not missing any areas that we should be considering. If Santa Clarita is the best community, which area/schools are the best fit.

Thanks in advance for all of the advise.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Mckenfin

I know this has been posted before, but everyone's opinion is different and everyone has different circumstances.

My family and I are being relocated to LA area. I will be working in downtown LA in the financial district and my wife is a homemaker, but when the youngest gets a little older she will be going back to work. Most likely she will be working in the Burbank area, but it will definatley be north of the city. I don't mind taking public transit and commuting up to a hour and fifteen minutes one way.

We have 3 kids: 8 year old in 3rd grade, a 6 year old in kindergarten and a 3 year old. We are looking for a good safe community with a strong school systems from K-12 as we would send them to public schools. We are looking to buy a home in the $550,000 to $575,000 with 4 bedrooms.

We have our eye on the Santa Clarita area; more specifically Valencia. That's the only place we have found so that fits our needs. We like the area, I just want to make sure we are not missing any areas that we should be considering. If Santa Clarita is the best community, which area/schools are the best fit.

Thanks in advance for all of the advise.

Burbank itself is the obvious choice. Excellent schools and safe community. It's closer to downtown than Santa Clarita.

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by majoun

Burbank itself is the obvious choice. Excellent schools and safe community. It's closer to downtown than Santa Clarita.

4br homes in OP's price range is probably unlikely. Having said that, woodland hills may also be a good option.

[Cheektowaga_Chester]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

4br homes in OP's price range is probably unlikely. Having said that, woodland hills may also be a good option.

WH would be a tougher drive unless he worked all those metro buses and subways.

There are a few in that price range in Burbank

1450 North ROSE St, Burbank, CA 91505 | MLS# SR13099976 | Redfin

[JohnG72]

^^^^ there's something odd with that sale. That home in that area is more like $650-750k. That sales price is more like a vey small 3/2 there...under 1500 sq ft.

OP should not expect to find that.

OP I don't know current selling prices for certain, but Simi Valley might also work. Metro link train to union station and then red line to 7th/fig and maybe a 1-3 block walk to work.A little over an hour is about right.

[yby1]

I would stick with your choice of Santa Clarita. Valencia and Newhall have good schools.

[ImtheBrilliantest]

I'd second Burbank. However, Santa Clarita has Westridge, which is a rather new and developing neighborhood. The drive from Valencia, however, may be the hardest part of this, as the rush hour traffic on the 5S in the AM and the 5N in the PM (which is what you'll be taking for a good stretch of the drive) is pretty heavy.

[Mckenfin]

Thanks for the feed back. What does "OP" stand for?

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Mckenfin

Thanks for the feed back. What does "OP" stand for?

Original poster.

[genjy]

Santa Clarita is a fine place--excellent schools, very safe, nice houses, active community... but if you work deep in Downtown, the commute might be 45 to 60 minutes or more.