House for median home price in Los Angeles (Ontario, Santa Clarita: rent, high crime)

[tspoir]

Hi everyone!
Long time reader, first-time poster here.
The median home value in Los Angeles is $752,508 (stated by Zillow) now.
Where would you buy a house for this amount?
I am ready to buy even fixer-upper because I have some construction experience from my 20-th.
Looking for good schools (kids are 2 and 5 now).
I work mostly from home (1-2 business trips bi-weekly to Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, and Malibu, so I do not care about a commute).
She works from home too, our total income is close to 110-125 pre-tax.
We rent 2bd/2ba tiny house in Mar Vista, we like the area, but it is too expensive to buy.
We have considered Santa Clarita, but it is too hot for us. Ontario Ranch is too far from our friends and beach.
We need some decent restaurants (not Mastro, but not IHOP) in walkable/5-min driving distance. We need some kid activities close by (library, dance studio, etc). We need safe area, because we do not carry. We need some immigrant-friendly environment (I am Russian and she is from Guatemala). We need some backyard - without pool, but large enought to install trampoline or grill some meat with 5-7 friends. We need some good groceries i.e. Trader Joes. We are more Costco shoppers than Dollartree or Whole Foods.
Thanks, Mike

[KemBro71]

Reseda

[tspoir]

Unfortunately, Reseda has no good schools(

[kantobento]

Looking for somewhere in Los Angeles city? or LA metro? Generally, North OC cities are safe and affordable (except for small parts), have okay schools and lots of Asian immigrants. Restaurants are somewhat weak.

[saybanana]

Look for best school districts in LA Metro.
Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site
Niche often ranks them by grade. Really anything in A grade is worth looking to if you want very good school districts. Many middle class families and above move to these places just for the schools. That is why housing prices are higher there. So just find out if you can find homes in your price range in these school districts. Then you can go on google maps and it will show all the different places to shop/eat.

LAUSD can have good schools in certain areas especially elementary, and generally starts to fall in middle/high school. But I think things might change in the near future. Charter schools are sometimes good options. Also religious schools or independent schools are options. My sister sent her kids to Catholic School because the schools in her area are not that good despite the area where she lives is quite affluent but go down a few blocks it is quite the opposite.

[nmnita]

Mike, I think you may have some issues; maybe you will have to do some compromising. Just thought I would add this thought: of course schools are very important but kids can excel in life without top schools as long as their parents challenge them as well. This does not mean you have to settle for really bad schools, but check the middle of the road rated and see what there is out there.

[KemBro71]

Originally Posted by tspoir

Unfortunately, Reseda has no good schools(

Not true.

Look into magnets and charters within LAUSD.

Otherwise be prepared to move FAR out.

[tspoir]

Magnets and charters are pure lotteries IMO. And Reseda is very Hispanic population and with kind of high crime

[TimTheEnchanter]

I'd start with Placentia and Fullerton in OC, then look at Lakewood, Cerritos, Northridge, Chatsworth, Van Nuys and Granada Hills.