Retired Female OC housing less than $300K

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by pacific2

Retirees often travel during off hours.

True but the terrible traffic results in a very narrow travel window to OC from the IE.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

True but the terrible traffic results in a very narrow travel window to OC from the IE.

The point is that both OC and San Diego are accessible, and people do make the trip for recreational reasons. Nothing is perfect.

[pacific2]

It might also be a good idea to check the San Diego Forum if you are interested in living close to the coast, because there are homes available in North County (Oceanside, Vista, etc.) for less than $300K.
Real Estate Search | Redfin

Parts of Oceanside and Vista can be rough, so check with San Diegans to find out which neighborhoods are safe. They may also be able to tell you about safe and affordable housing in surrounding areas.

A lot of military people (active and retired) live in Oceanside/Vista, but there are also a few gangs in the area.

I don’t know how gang activity in the Ocaenside/Vista area compares to, for example, that in Anaheim, La Habra or Santa Ana. No one is surprised to hear about crimes occurring in these larger inland cities, but people may be surprised that a coastal town like Oceanside could have a problem.

[masalamomma]

If you get a good real estate agent, you should be able to find something along the coast in your price range - like a townhome. I think Laguna Woods is very pretty, so I would investigate your options there further.

If you are willing to consider other areas.... I am a big fan of Austin, TX. And with $300k there, it will be a McMansion compared to here. I love the Steiner Ranch and Riverplace areas.

[susiekay]

Originally Posted by loveorangecounty

My mother-in-laws HOA fees are $400 per month in Seal Beach Leisure World. She is living for less than when she owned a mobile home and had to pay space rent. There is also much more available to her within the community and is covered under the fee such as a 24 hour on call nurse and all kinds of activities. You definately need to weigh the pros and cons but this was a great option for her.

I will be 65 shortly. My problem regarding location is that my son and his family live in Fullerton. I want to be close enough (within 10 miles or less) to help out when necessary to pick up kids at school, take them to Little League practice, etc. as well as actually be close enough to be part of the family "daily life". If I have to drive 20-30-40 minutes it makes everything much more of a chore and I will be less help to them and I will have less opportuity to pop in for visits with them or for them to pop in for visits with me. So bottom line is that I want to live as close to their neighborhood as I can.

I did a lot of research on senior mobile home parks and was almost at the point of going out with a Realtor to look at homes to buy but I just can't deal with the thought that I would own my home but still be held hostage by a landlord to rent the lot. Seems like the landlord would have a big advantage over me. If you have rental issues in a park, you can't just up and move like in an apartment becaue you have a home to sell.

I may be in an impossible sitaution - I only wnat to live in Fullerton, Brea, Yorba or Buena Park and I have a budget on the low end. I may be expecting the Impossible Dream :-(

I may have to rent an apartment rather than buying. I was just hoping the depressed real estate market might help me out but it looks like OC isn't depressed enough for me !! Which I guess - looking at the bigger picture -is a good thing. I don't want to live in a depressed situation.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by susiekay

I may have to rent an apartment rather than buying. I was just hoping the depressed real estate market might help me out but it looks like OC isn't depressed enough for me !! Which I guess - looking at the bigger picture -is a good thing. I don't want to live in a depressed situation.

The crash has largely affected the garbage no one really wants (run-down condos in Santa Ana) or the high end where you can get a "deal" on a $5,000,000 house for only $3,000,000. The homes that most people would be attracted to have only dropped from stupid expensive down to very overpriced.

[susiekay]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

The crash has largely affected the garbage no one really wants (run-down condos in Santa Ana) or the high end where you can get a "deal" on a $5,000,000 house for only $3,000,000. The homes that most people would be attracted to have only dropped from stupid expensive down to very overpriced.

LOL - Thanks for putting it in perspective for me :-) Your remark has actually helped me a lot. Now I understand the market a little better. I think my buying area is "stupid expensive down to very overpriced." Which I still think I probably can't afford I will have to deal with "very overpriced" or find a nice apartment or townhome to rent. I'm lovin' all the information I'm gathering on this forum.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by susiekay

LOL - Thanks for putting it in perspective for me :-) Your remark has actually helped me a lot. Now I understand the market a little better. I think my buying area is "stupid expensive down to very overpriced." Which I still think I probably can't afford I will have to deal with "very overpriced" or find a nice apartment or townhome to rent. I'm lovin' all the information I'm gathering on this forum.

Yep, if a 3 bedroom house was $750k in 2006 but now its only $500k, is that really a bargain?

[Bob Gilkison]

Susie K

My wife and I are also moving to SoCal from Virginia to get close to kids. We have virtually eliminated OC from our search, as we do not want to take on big debt at this stage.

One option in OC is the Lake Park Santa Ana North retirement community. You can get a very nice house in there for under $140k. Yes, the lot rent gives me a little heart burn, but it is a very pleasant community. The rent is set by contract for the whole park, and not on an individual basis. Although the homes are bolted to block foundations, they are treated as personal property rather than real estate, so the taxes are very low. One daughter's father in law lives in the park. We are quite familiar with it, and are definitely considering it carefully. You can find the park on line at Manufactured Homes Today - Your Home on the Web
There is another park called The Groves, in Irvine. Think you could find it on line. In this park you do not have to pay lot rent; the owners each own a share of the land. The HOA is around $150/mo, and there are nice homes available from below $200k. This one looks more like a mobile home park, but is well regarded.

Clearly Riverside County offers much better pricing on single family homes than does OC. I have studied the 91 closely, and sat in the traffic a few times. It is bad; but I believe the workable window is a little larger than 10 to 2.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

If you are willing to purchase a Condo on Leased Land (lease matures in 40 years) there are a lot of units in the 150K - 250K range.

What happens after the lease expires? Do you lose everything?