Should I move to Covina, CA or somewhere close by? (Los Angeles: rentals, condo)

[James in CA]

I have a job in Covina. Everything is great about this job except that it's in Covina. (Sorry Covina... I live at the beach right now and really like it here.) I would like to live close to where I work but want to live in a affordable & decent neighborhood w/good schools as I have two young kids heading to elementary school in the next couple years.

If you have info on a perfect neighborhood with:
1. Affordable housing (300k - 400k purchase or $1200k - 1500k rent)
2. In or close to Covina (5-10 miles away max)
3. Good schools
4. Oh and no smog.

I will probably rent for 6m - 12m first. So if you know anyone w/nice 3-4 bedroom for rent please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

[JohnG72]

Your rent price is way on the low side by at least 1K for a 3 bed+.

Your purchase price will buy in Covina, but Covina does not match your criteria.

I ran a search on Westside rentals for cities in East SG Valley. Only one 3 bed+ home for rent under $2K. And that was $1950 in Claremont.

As to your criteria:

1.) Rent Price - Too low anywhere.
Purchase Price - That price gets you Covina, Azusa, Pomona, Baldwin Park, Duarte, El Monte.

2.) See above.
3.) Good schools in Walnut, Diamond Bar, Rowland Heights, Montclair, Glendora, San Dimas, etc. None of which you can afford. Crap schools in the cities you can afford.
4.) Keep dreaming. Its East SG Valley.

If you really have a down payment for a $300-400K purchase, even on FHA, you really may want to consider Chino Hills. Not sure how traffic is, but your money will go very far there and provide good schools and a very nice house. Its not THAT far from Covina...I'd guess 15 miles. Or maybe RC. Farther drive, but again, affordable housing with good schools. Smog in these areas is unavoidable though.

[David Aguilar]

I would look harder at Covina and immediately surrounding cities. Look at Charter Oak.

The schools don't seem to score as bad as JohnG72 implies (no offense meant, of course).

[thatNEWTHOUGHTguy]

And this is a serious question?!
Well I have lived in both and this is a question I would have never even thought would exist. But if you need really need help, then here goes; uhhhh NO.

Originally Posted by James in CA

I have a job in Covina. Everything is great about this job except that it's in Covina. (Sorry Covina... I live at the beach right now and really like it here.) I would like to live close to where I work but want to live in a affordable & decent neighborhood w/good schools as I have two young kids heading to elementary school in the next couple years.

If you have info on a perfect neighborhood with:
1. Affordable housing (300k - 400k purchase or $1200k - 1500k rent)
2. In or close to Covina (5-10 miles away max)
3. Good schools
4. Oh and no smog.

I will probably rent for 6m - 12m first. So if you know anyone w/nice 3-4 bedroom for rent please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

[Lefteri]

Hands down Arcadia is the best community for you in that area. It's the only one that is safe enough to live, yet close enough to commute. It is quite expensive (many houses are around 800,000-2,000,000) So you'll have to acquire a rather small home. However, the schools are the best in Los Angeles along with La Cañada and San Marino. It's predominantly Chinese and therefore safe, but at the same time rather sleepy outside of the mall.

Another community to consider is Hacienda Heights but that is quite expensive as well (awesome schools, Asian). Everything else is rather poor and Hispanic.

Last Thought: Check out Glendora. More affordable, decent schools, largely white.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by James in CA

I have a job in Covina. Everything is great about this job except that it's in Covina. (Sorry Covina... I live at the beach right now and really like it here.) I would like to live close to where I work but want to live in a affordable & decent neighborhood w/good schools as I have two young kids heading to elementary school in the next couple years.

If you have info on a perfect neighborhood with:
1. Affordable housing (300k - 400k purchase or $1200k - 1500k rent)
2. In or close to Covina (5-10 miles away max)
3. Good schools
4. Oh and no smog.

I will probably rent for 6m - 12m first. So if you know anyone w/nice 3-4 bedroom for rent please point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

James, 1200 to 1500 will not get you anything. I have a friend who lives in a condo (little tiny place) and is paying $1600.00.

As for schools, I see someone suggested Charter Oak district, that would be about as good as you will get anywhere in your price range. You are living at the beach now, what beach? You certainly know about property in the beach communities.

I am sorry to be so negative, but believe me, you will get nothing with good schools, no smog and affordable housing anywhere near your price range. You would probably have to double that...

Nita

[mattja]

I grew up in Covina and went to Royal Oak when it was a high school. You could not get me to live there today or raise my daughter there. Charter Oak is a small oasis worth looking at, but by and large the area has turned for the worse. Look at the school ratings. It's a shame.

[JDRCRASHER]

West Covina. Very nice area....also it's where I live...

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by Lefteri

Hands down Arcadia is the best community for you in that area. It's the only one that is safe enough to live,

That would surprise the hundreds of thousands of people in nearby cities who thought they were alive.

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by Lefteri

It's predominantly Chinese and therefore safe, . . .

Another community to consider is Hacienda Heights but that is quite expensive as well (awesome schools, Asian). Everything else is rather poor and Hispanic.

Last Thought: Check out Glendora. More affordable, decent schools, largely white.