Moving to OC in less than a month and I have no idea where to live! (San Francisco: cheap apartments, rentals)

[JOL]

I am relocating from San Francisco to Orange County (Costa Mesa) for a new job. However, I am not familiar with Orange County at all and I have no idea of where to live.

I was considering Irvine, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Costa Mesa - these areas all seem close enough to work (right by South Coast Plaza).

Ideally I'd like to pay $1200 for a studio or one bedroom. However, I am finding that my expectations need to be adjusted, since places in those areas seem to run $1300+ (just from looking through craigslist).

I've read that there are certain areas of HB to avoid, but in all honesty, I am absolutely clueless as to the neighborhoods of Orange County.

I want to live in a nice place, but it does not have to be a brand new building. What's most important to me is that I live in a safe neighborhood and safe complex.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[WannaBNorCal]

Congrats on the new job.
There's a lot of posts on this subject.
IMO, you're more likely to get the studio for $1200, then a one bedroom, rent is rising out here.
You're right about the 1300+, the commute down the 55 to Costa Mesa (if that's near where your new job will be) is a drag.
Newport beach is beautiful, but costly.
Fountain Valley has some nice places, and if you want to go further to North County, Placentia, Yorba Linda, or even HB is really nice for the most part.
There are many rentals near South Coast.

[JOL]

Originally Posted by WannaBNorCal

Congrats on the new job.
There's a lot of posts on this subject.
IMO, you're more likely to get the studio for $1200, then a one bedroom, rent is rising out here.
You're right about the 1300+, the commute down the 55 to Costa Mesa (if that's near where your new job will be) is a drag.
Newport beach is beautiful, but costly.
Fountain Valley has some nice places, and if you want to go further to North County, Placentia, Yorba Linda, or even HB is really nice for the most part.
There are many rentals near South Coast.

I apologize for the not searching the previous posts before posting this thread. I will read through the other posts for more information. However, I do appreciate your response.

A friend of mine has an apartment in HB that I am thinking about taking over on a month-to-month basis (he and his wife are moving into a house in the Long Beach - Belmont Shore area). He lives southwest of Beach and Adams, and not too far from Main Street. Does anyone know much about this area? Since my friend has lived here for 3 years, I assume that it's a pretty decent area. However, I'd still appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

[wealthtrader]

SW of Beach/Adams....It's a nice area. Mostly families. Very Safe.

[OutOfSoCal]

used to love hanging at the bars on main St in HB. great place for an early lunch with clients in the summer.

You'll be fine anywhere near there

[WannaBNorCal]

Originally Posted by JOL

I apologize for the not searching the previous posts before posting this thread. I will read through the other posts for more information. However, I do appreciate your response.
A friend of mine has an apartment in HB that I am thinking about taking over on a month-to-month basis (he and his wife are moving into a house in the Long Beach - Belmont Shore area). He lives southwest of Beach and Adams, and not too far from Main Street. Does anyone know much about this area? Since my friend has lived here for 3 years, I assume that it's a pretty decent area. However, I'd still appreciate your feedback.
Thanks.

oh no no no apolgy needed. As I was reading your post, I was thinking, 'this person is not alone, I've seen so many posts from different people wanting to move to OC from all different areas' - just making reference.
Month to month leases are good, imo, safer, less difficult...
I think I know what apartments you are talking about
There's a Trader Joe's shopping center near by?...
Beach Blvd, and surrounding areas is full of rentals, near the beach too

All the best.

[sirwinston73]

Just curious - do you consider leaving San Francisco a good thing or a bad thing? I ask because SF and OC are polar opposites. If you are happy to get out of SF and are generally conservative, you will love OC. However, if you love SF, the decision as to where to live in OC becomes more difficult.

[WannaBNorCal]

Originally Posted by sirwinston73

I ask because SF and OC are polar opposites. If you are happy to get out of SF and are generally conservative, you will love OC. However, if you love SF, the decision as to where to live in OC becomes more difficult.

I agree, I'm in it right now, and it's the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life, what do you mean by "polar" opposites?
OC, like HB is very Conservative.

Anyway, OP, keep us posted

[Italian Princess]

My mother was a teacher for 30 + years at Ocean View High School which is in Huntington Beach (around Beach/Adams). Her classes were filled mostly with Mexicans (illegals), asians & some whites. I don't associate Huntington Beach as being a very nice area to live. In fact, there is a place called "The Hood" near Beach/Adams. "The Hood" is a neighborhood filled with mexican gang bangers (the gang's name slips my mind). A lot of the surrounding cities are kind of seedy as well like Westminster, Stanton, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, ect. I suggest if you want to live in a "nice" area you should check out south Orange County. I currently live in Orange & the demographics aren't too great & there is a lot of crime starting to occur in my neighborhood, so I'm relocating to Ladera Ranch (there are apartments there). Other cities that are "nice/decent" besides Ladera Ranch are Irvine, Tustin Ranch, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach & Laguna Niguel. I can't think of much crime happening in those cities, but they are a little more pricer then Huntington Beach.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Italian Princess

My mother was a teacher for 30 + years at Ocean View High School which is in Huntington Beach (around Beach/Adams). Her classes were filled mostly with Mexicans (illegals), asians & some whites. I don't associate Huntington Beach as being a very nice area to live. In fact, there is a place called "The Hood" near Beach/Adams. "The Hood" is a neighborhood filled with mexican gang bangers (the gang's name slips my mind). A lot of the surrounding cities are kind of seedy as well like Westminster, Stanton, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, ect.

I don't know where you get your information about HB but its wrong.

First, Oceanview HS isn't anywhere near Beach and Adams. Its several miles away at Warner and Gothard. Yes, there's a lot of Mexicans there but that's the only high school in the district like that. It pulls from the Slater slums (Beach and Slater) and from cheap apartments up Gothard near the school. To say Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley are seedy because of one section of HB is laughable. Stanton and Santa Ana don't even border HB.