Looking to move to Monterey Bay area, need advice! (Salinas: rental, credit)

[CT to CAL]

Hey folks, just wondering if you can offer up some opinions. I've read a lot of threads but seems others that posters have different goals and requirements than we do.

My wife and I (and cat) are looking to move West from CT. We are mid 30's age.
We've no kids to put in school, looking to rent not to buy, do not need much of a nightlife, would love to get as close to the water as possible. Not interested in beaches to tan so much as we are being able to just walk/hear/be near the water. We love aquariums and museums and simple living.
Safety is very high priority.

I have lived and worked in Silicon Valley, but that is a bit too busy for our tastes. Not out of the question but we're more nature-oriented folks. I work from home now, but that may not last. I am studying Environmental Science now but do not graduate for a couple years.

Wife is an office manager (long time) and would like to work in a school office or in an office for a larger company, I can do a few different things but we are working class for sure.

Would we be able to find a place to live? We're okay devoting a larger piece of income towards rent, great credit.
Do you think she would have any chance to find work inside a 40 minute commute from near the water (if we got so lucky)?
Is Seaside as bad as folks make it out to be lately?

Anything you can offer, even if I didn't think to ask, is appreciated.

[MtnSurfer]

Seaside can ok, depending on where you are at. Upper Seaside tends to be nicer than other parts. Marina is another option. We've considered both. However, we greatly prefer Monterey and PG. That said, its not far at all to drive from Seaside or Marina to Monterey. There is a bike path one take connecting them all.

I can't speak to what you can or cannot afford because I don't your income or what it might be out here. There are quite a of working class folks here along with younger students. It mostly depends on what you can find for work, your wife in this case. There are plenty of businesses in and around Monterey which include a lot of medical work. We have a number of colleges and universities. Though, there aren't as many of large corporations you would fin in the SV. I work for one them that's happens to have work in the area. It's mostly specialized work and as such we don't have office managers. The key is finding your niche.

Here's one of many job boards to check: Office Manager Jobs, Employment in Monterey, CA | Indeed.com

Derek

[CT to CAL]

Thank you Derek

- James

[blueskywalker]

You didn't state what your budget for a rental is.
If you can afford it, find a place in Monterey, Pacific Grove or Carmel (including Carmel Valley).
Something is wrong with my internet connection (as slow as dial-up!) so i couldn't post a link to craigslist for you. But it's a good way to get a sense of rental properties and costs in these communities.
Go to craigslist California and then find the link to Monterey.
I'd take a small little rental in one of these more pricey communities than a less expensive and/or larger rental in Seaside, Marina and Salinas. It will be worth it imo. Especially since you are nature / natural folks.
Santa Cruz county is also on the Monterey Bay but it's a different scene (less stayed, younger, more chaotic but lots of 20 and 30 people and very environmentally progressive as well as being overly impacted at this point but if you can find a sanctuary here it can be ideal). It's also quite pricey. But give it a looksy on craigslist too. It's one of the many tabs on the S.F. craigslist.

[Clark9272]

If you want to live on the Monterey Peninsula, close to the water, might not have a job for much longer and are still in college, I have two words for you.

Dream on.

[TwistedGray]

What's your budget?

[mhennessey]

Depending on your budget, which I must say needs to be within the 1300-2200 range to live in Monterey area. I think that the best are in Monterey for you to live based on what you stated would be in Central Monterey or Lighthouse areas. It is walking distance from the Coast Guard pier, aquarium, and bike trails. I would also suggest Del Rey Oaks and some parts of Seaside. The ocean is 5 - 10 minutes from any of this small cities. I would not recommend Marina because it seems like you are looking for more of the ocean, biking and walking trails. Please keep in mind that rent is a lot more this way.