Temecula and Santa Barbara/Ventura/Santa Clarita (Folsom, Lompoc: condo, loan)

[love that sunshine!]

I'd like to move to CA from Wa. As I don"t have a job & hope to get one once I get moved,the location is open. I don't have a job now and the area I live in is very depressed so I am not loosing anything by moving.I want to move to where I can live for my 2nd half of life. I have a middle school child. Schools are important. Obviously safe, affordable neighborhoods are a need. A want w/be at least 1600 sq ft/2 story w/ bdrms up & a 2 car garage. Prefer a house vs a condo so he can play & won't be too noisy for neighbors I do banking (loan officer, escrow/title & construction) so hopefully I can be in an area where a job is not totally unavailable in one of those areas. Home $350k or less. Don't want (LA,SD)don't care for traffic & hope to have a calmer life.I am hoping that the outlying areas are still within reach. Any such area(s)? I like the greater Folsom, Temecula, Santa Clarita & Santa Barbara/Ventura areas. I KNOW I can't afford SB, but are there any outlying areas w/ good schools, safe, affordable neighborhoods? Where in CA could I get any of the above? I need your input. Can't take the rain & cold anymore!

[Papaskunk]

Well I'll bite. Your budget's pretty small for the house. I hope you don't mind commuting 45 minutes or more. The only house you can get for that price would be in areas like Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Fillmore, etc. Ventura is out of the question but I'm not familiar with Santa Clarita so I can't comment on that.

I doubt the job market is any better down here than it is up there. LA has been hit really hard.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by love that sunshine!

I don"t have a job
location is open.
I don't have a job now
I have a middle school child.
at least 1600 sq ft/2 story w/ bdrms up & a 2 car garage.
Prefer a house vs a condo
I do banking (loan officer, escrow/title & construction)
Home $350k or less.
Don't want (LA,SD)
I like the greater Folsom, Temecula, Santa Clarita & Santa Barbara/Ventura areas.

are there any outlying areas w/ good schools, safe, affordable neighborhoods? Where in CA could I get any of the above?

Where does your spouse work or plan on working?
Suggest getting a job first, then moving to the job. It's easier to find those living requirements around a job than it is to find a job around those living requirements.