Where would you move, if you were me? (San Diego, San Francisco: apartment, rental)

[grovemonkey]

I've posted before regarding my move from Japan and I've been looking at lots and lots of locations.

My job is mainly new business development and account management in the the SoCal area and everywhere on the west coast, etc. We also work remotely, so I don't need to be in any particular location. Our head office is in San Francisco.

I'm wondering since I don't need to commute to the office every day but will frequently be visiting clients who are located everywhere, is there any location you would suggest? I've looked at Irvine, Mission Viejo, Chino Hills, even Temecula.

I'd be open to any thoughts or advice.

Grovemonkey

[Coldjensens]

Laguna Beach if you are wealthy.

Silverado Canyon if you are average.

Thise woudl be my personal choices. BUt it depends on how old you are. Married? Kids? Interests? Preferences? Straight/gay? Hobbies? Where do you live now and what do you like about it and dislike about it.

[grovemonkey]

Married, 37, 2 kids. I'm not wealthy, probably SoCal middle class. Over 100K a year.

[rickc007]

Originally Posted by grovemonkey

Married, 37, 2 kids. I'm not wealthy, probably SoCal middle class. Over 100K a year.

That aint a lot of $ for O.C.
Unless you don't mind living check to check

If you aren't set on being near the ocean, then inland
is much more affordable, but very mediocre, no real attractions

In your situation, I'd go to North San Diego Count myself
if you want to stay in South California

[Charles]

Originally Posted by grovemonkey

Married, 37, 2 kids. I'm not wealthy, probably SoCal middle class. Over 100K a year.

Renting or buying? What is your budget?

[grovemonkey]

Originally Posted by rickc007

That aint a lot of $ for O.C.
Unless you don't mind living check to check

If you aren't set on being near the ocean, then inland
is much more affordable, but very mediocre, no real attractions

In your situation, I'd go to North San Diego Count myself
if you want to stay in South California

We are not interested in being by the ocean. Our budget for a rental apartment (first 12-24 months) is a maximum of 2.8 ~3.0K a month. Our base income is a little over 100k but our actual is much higher. That said, I try not to base my rental capacity on income that is not guaranteed.

As for mediocrity, I've lived in middle of Tokyo for over 14 years so I'm looking forward to few years of mediocrity. I'm not sure if anywhere in O.C. could top the shopping, entertainment and lifestyle of Tokyo, anyway.

That said, I've been considering North San Diego, even Temecula/Murrieta.

Not sure about doing business development from North San Diego, going into LA, O.C., etc.

I figure if you only have to drive into those areas 2 times a week and the hours are flexible, why live in O.C.?

[ragnarkar]

It's difficult to say without any more information.

If you won't be flying much but will be visiting clients all over So. Cal, then live in a very centrally located part of the region.

Try these cities: Cerritos, La Palma, La Mirada, Whittier.

You'll want to live close to freeways, and these cities put you near I-5, I-605, CA-90 and possibly CA-60.

[jacobwilliam77]

Originally Posted by grovemonkey

I've posted before regarding my move from Japan and I've been looking at lots and lots of locations.

My job is mainly new business development and account management in the the SoCal area and everywhere on the west coast, etc. We also work remotely, so I don't need to be in any particular location. Our head office is in San Francisco.

I'm wondering since I don't need to commute to the office every day but will frequently be visiting clients who are located everywhere, is there any location you would suggest? I've looked at Irvine, Mission Viejo, Chino Hills, even Temecula.

I'd be open to any thoughts or advice.

Grovemonkey

Move to Irvine.

[grovemonkey]

Jacobs, thanks for the thought. Care to share more on why?

[Coldjensens]

Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Cota De Caza, Tustin, . . . All typical south county Cities that are very much the same. Decent to very good schools, low crime, thousand of pleasant matching houses on identical lots with deintical cars, etc. It is bland (Make that "B"land), but is it clean nice pleasant and un-challenging.

If you want things a little more interesting, you can go to central or north OC cities (Santa Ana, Orange, Fullerton, Anaheim, etc), or to the expensive beach cities (which you already said that you do nto want to pay for. in Central/North OC schools are not as good, crime is a bit more prevalent, classes and types are more mixed. It is less mind numbing conformity, but more challenges and risks.

Many areas are similar. Most people who like Irvine will also like Mission Viejo, Aliso Veijo, etcetera. Most people who like Santa Ana will also like Orange, Anaheim, Fullerton, etc. There are also some unusual places like Silverado Canyon, Orange Park Acrea, Anaheim Hills, old town Orange, that do not fit into any generalized description.

You can live a very pleasant life almost anywhere in OC. It just depends on your preferences. I hope that you are in the high 100,000s for your base pay, or that you have some savings that you can draw from.

If you go to San Diego a lot look at San Clemente. It is a beach town, but a very nice quiet place.