Moving out of Long Beach - Torrance vs. Redondo Beach vs. Another Option? (Orange: middle-class)

[Blitz2014]

Ok

So here's the situation:

I work 4 Jobs:

1. North Long Beach (Signal Hill)
2. Orange
3. Costa Mesa
4. Fullerton

All My Jobs are roughly 8a-6p, M-F

My wife works 2 jobs, all 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am (50% day shifts, 50% night shifts), weekdays and weeknights (mix)

1. North Long Beach (Signal Hill)
2. Fountain Valley OC

We currently rent in Long Beach, want to buy a home

We want:

1. Close to 405
2. Relatively close to LAX
3. Relatively close to Fountain Valley
4. Live in LA County
5. Starter Home
6. Culturally Diverse Neighborhood
7. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom - 2500-3000 sq feet
8. Budget: 1.5-2M
9. Keep our commute for both of us, within 35-45 min 1 way (particularly wife's commute to Fountain Valley)


We Are

1. Couple in mid 30s
2. Starting a Family with a newborn on the way
3. Liberal
4. Minority
5. Don't Really Care About Schools, since we will likely move out of this starter home in 5 years

Therefore, based on my above analysis, the best fit for us is:

Torrance
Redondo Beach

Thoughts? Suggests? Any other cities?

And if Torrance/Redondo Beach is a correct potential location, any suggestions on which part of these cities, most fit our criteria?


Thanks!

[CA4Now]

Torrance would be more affordable than Redondo Beach. After the five years is up, are you planning to stay in California or move out of state?

[Blitz2014]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Torrance would be more affordable than Redondo Beach. After the five years is up, are you planning to stay in California or move out of state?

Definitely stay here, same area likely too (South Bay).

Will likely just try to move to a bigger home in 5 years and/or better school district

[Veritas Vincit]

Both meet your requirements in general, but your budget and size requirements are more easily met in Torrance. Torrance has huge Asian communities though the influence is rather subtle. Redondo Beach is going to be wealthier and whiter, and a mix of West L.A. bougie and beach bum vibe. Torrance's vibe is definitely more inland middle-class suburb with a blue collar undercurrent than beach community.


The 405 isn't far away no matter where you are, but obviously it's closer in the northern sections of Redondo and Torrance. The rule of thumb is you want to be west of Western in Torrance though you may as well make that Van Ness as it gets pretty industrial. Of course, there's also the huge industrial complex between 190th and Del Amo. If the possibility of an industrial accident is a concern to you then you might wanna steer clear of any blocks within a half mile of that in any direction.

[Blitz2014]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vincit

Both meet your requirements in general, but your budget and size requirements are more easily met in Torrance. Torrance has huge Asian communities though the influence is rather subtle. Redondo Beach is going to be wealthier and whiter, and a mix of West L.A. bougie and beach bum vibe. Torrance's vibe is definitely more inland middle-class suburb with a blue collar undercurrent than beach community.


The 405 isn't far away no matter where you are, but obviously it's closer in the northern sections of Redondo and Torrance. The rule of thumb is you want to be west of Western in Torrance though you may as well make that Van Ness as it gets pretty industrial. Of course, there's also the huge industrial complex between 190th and Del Amo. If the possibility of an industrial accident is a concern to you then you might wanna steer clear of any blocks within a half mile of that in any direction.

Very helpful.

Thanks

Any specific parts of Redondo or Torrance you reccomend, that meets our criteria?

[Veritas Vincit]

Originally Posted by Blitz2014

Very helpful.

Thanks

Any specific parts of Redondo or Torrance you reccomend, that meets our criteria?

I like the area around Old Town Torrance/Torrance Blvd, and it's much much more affordable than Redondo Beach. But it is not as close to 405 as it is possible. If that access is a priority I think the streets around 182nd are fine too. Honestly, as long as you stay south of Artesia and west of Van Ness you're fine, again with the caveat that if you're right off 190th or Del Amo you're looking pretty much right at an oil refinery. Some people have a problem with that, but it does keep things more affordable than they otherwise would be.

[pathrunner]

At the risk of sounding like a Negative Nancy, Torrance to FULLERTON? By 8 am on a weekday?! With your wife's hours, the commute is pretty easy, but it would not be easy for you.

I remember you OP from several months ago! Didn't you say that you don't have to go to the office every day?

Isn't there something around the Orange Avenue/Wardlow area in Long Beach that would fit your budget (I've said this without looking it up first)? The area is very diverse and the commute would be much better. If you wanted to stay, the schools are good too (The school on Bixby Avenue is good. I don't know what "minority" means in your case. That school is quite high percentage of Mexican and Filipino, and well rated. So is the middle school next to it. Anyway, just throwing thoughts out there, no daggers please.

[Blitz2014]

Originally Posted by pathrunner

At the risk of sounding like a Negative Nancy, Torrance to FULLERTON? By 8 am on a weekday?! With your wife's hours, the commute is pretty easy, but it would not be easy for you.

I remember you OP from several months ago! Didn't you say that you don't have to go to the office every day?

Isn't there something around the Orange Avenue/Wardlow area in Long Beach that would fit your budget (I've said this without looking it up first)? The area is very diverse and the commute would be much better. If you wanted to stay, the schools are good too (The school on Bixby Avenue is good. I don't know what "minority" means in your case. That school is quite high percentage of Mexican and Filipino, and well rated. So is the middle school next to it. Anyway, just throwing thoughts out there, no daggers please.

Hey!

Very helpful! Yes, moved to Long Beach 1 year ago, now looking to move again next year. Very good memory, that is correct that I have to go into office daily.

Yes, Torrance - Fullerton commute might be tough ugh

Thanks for the tips with LB.

I guess we are wanting to go more west, deeper into LA county....

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by Blitz2014

Ok

So here's the situation:

I work 4 Jobs:

1. North Long Beach (Signal Hill)
2. Orange
3. Costa Mesa
4. Fullerton

All My Jobs are roughly 8a-6p, M-F

My wife works 2 jobs, all 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am (50% day shifts, 50% night shifts), weekdays and weeknights (mix)

1. North Long Beach (Signal Hill)
2. Fountain Valley OC

We currently rent in Long Beach, want to buy a home

We want:

1. Close to 405
2. Relatively close to LAX
3. Relatively close to Fountain Valley
4. Live in LA County
5. Starter Home
6. Culturally Diverse Neighborhood
7. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom - 2500-3000 sq feet
8. Budget: 1.5-2M
9. Keep our commute for both of us, within 35-45 min 1 way (particularly wife's commute to Fountain Valley)


We Are

1. Couple in mid 30s
2. Starting a Family with a newborn on the way
3. Liberal
4. Minority
5. Don't Really Care About Schools, since we will likely move out of this starter home in 5 years

Therefore, based on my above analysis, the best fit for us is:

Torrance
Redondo Beach

Thoughts? Suggests? Any other cities?

And if Torrance/Redondo Beach is a correct potential location, any suggestions on which part of these cities, most fit our criteria?


Thanks!

It seems to me that your job situation heavily favors living in north OC. But, I get the impression that political/tribal considerations make you averse to living in OC. It may be worth pointing out that OC did vote Democrat in the last two Presidential elections. And, north OC is really not right-leaning. So, you may want to consider Orange area.