Moving to San Clemente/Oceanside area, looking for advice ASAP (Santa Ana: rentals, condos)

[jamsifoes]

A 3 room, 1600sqft condo in Aliso Viejo rents for $2500. Lake Forest is a little cheaper but schools aren't as good. At 2000/mon you are not going to find anything with 3 rooms in this area.

It all depends on what you have as a goal. You can definitely make it with 105k as renters and live from paycheck to paycheck. What I see is going to be difficult for you is to have extra money every month to save up for a downpayment.

If the move is inevitable, I would rent a 2 bedroom place in Lake Forest or Aliso Viejo or Rancho Santa Margarita. Save like crazy for the next 5 years (no cable subscription and no cell phone data plans...I just saved you $300/month here). In 5 years, you can tell people you've made it with the downpayment in hand to buy a place of your own.

[AnnieB85]

The job situation is unique and I don't feel like going into specifics on this forum is relevant to what I'm asking. Fact of the matter is we need 3 bedrooms and he will drive to san clemente 2-3 times a week so we want to live a pleasant life within a reasonable distance. North is super expensive so we are open up to south.

Very good to know about that checkpoint! Nobody mentioned that before, so oceanside may be out.

As for debt, I'm intelligent enough to budget and live within my means. We are fine now making payments. We will be fine there making payments if everything stays the same except for rent, which I've budgeted for a significant increase. But since I don't live there and can't just go spend a week there to see how much living there ACTUALLY costs day to day I rely on the experience of strangers to guide me.

Right now I can see there are some affordable condos in lake forest, mission Viejo and irvine. Some of the homes further away in my budget look sketchy. I've been told all the less expensive areas inland are basically meth towns or have gang issues. So if I want a decent home not in a gang area for under 2000k within 30 min of san clemente I would want to be where?

Thanks though for the tips! When it comes time to make a final decision about whether or not to go to CA i'll be informed enough to make the one that is best for our situation.

[dexter14]

The only reason anyone lives in Oceanside is if they are a Marine, a hooker, a drug dealer or a gang member. Not a place for a family at all. Apartment rentals in OC have skyrocketed last few years. You are talking about one of the most expensive areas in the country. I live in Anaheim, one of the least expensive cities in OC and you won't find a 3 bedroom apartment here for $2k. tiny 1 bedrooms with no central air in shady parts of the city are running $1300+ here. Price, safety, close commute. Pick one, you aren't getting all 3 on that budget.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by AnnieB85

So if I want a decent home not in a gang area for under 2000k within 30 min of san clemente I would want to be where?

The fact is that San Clemente is somewhat isolated, being bordered on three sides by Camp Pendleton, the Cleveland National Forest, and the Pacific Ocean.

You can not get to the inland areas (Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Fallbrook, etc.) in 30 minutes from San Clemente. You might be able to make it to & from Oceanside in 30 minutes; all the other options are in South Orange County. Whether you can find a 3-bedroom house for under $2k in any of the places within the commute you want is what is debatable. Believe me, a LOT of people would like to find that living situation somewhere around here.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by AnnieB85

My husband is being transferred to OC next month and will be getting a boost to 105k. Based on the cost of living calculator we would need another $30k to live similarly to how we live now so I am pretty worried. Is 105k enough to live well? I can make anything work but I'm really tired of barely scraping by. So living well is key. Like go to the zoo whenever well, not renting a yacht and buying Gucci well.

Things to consider:
Family of 3, 1 toddler. I will stay home to save on child care. It would take a while for me to get a job anyway.
We will rent for sure, preferably under $2000/mo. Need 3 rooms, hubby works from home.
We have student loan debt, dental debt (braces) and major home repair debt from selling our stupid house. We are currently able to stay out of the red on our salary here (80k), but it is definitely tight. Thanks to the repairs mostly. It wasn't always tight, we were doing fine before everything broke.
Our cars are paid off, we generally only pay cash so CC debt isn't our go to form of payment.
I haven't bought shoes in like 3 years and mine are falling apart. Obviously I've learned to go without.
I don't want to live in a gang infested area- any suggestions on decent cities within 30 minutes of San Clemente?
Is this even a good idea? I'd rather not live paycheck to paycheck. I could really use an updated shirt or two. I lost a bunch of weight so I don't fit in anything I own (boo hoo I know).

We're moving next month but can still opt out if it's just not doable. What do you guys think?

Based on your budget and the need for 3 rooms I think you might want to look into Temecula/Fallbrook. They're further than 30 minutes from San Clemente, but are significantly cheaper.


I just went on craigslist and there's slim pickings for your needs. However, this did come up

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/apa/4897440664.html

You should rent it immediately.

[jamsifoes]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

Based on your budget and the need for 3 rooms I think you might want to look into Temecula/Fallbrook. They're further than 30 minutes from San Clemente, but are significantly cheaper.


I just went on craigslist and there's slim pickings for your needs. However, this did come up

Updated Single Story Condo with Granite Bathrooms and Detached Garage

You should rent it immediately.

LOL. That listing is in an area known as the "ghetto of Aliso Viejo". Google it. The whole community is low income. This is probably the only place in South OC you will find graffiti and gangs. Stay away if I were you.

To my surprise, there are actually some 3 bd that rent for $2000. But most of these are in so called low income complexes. If you increase to $2300, you get a lot more hits. http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/s...300&bedrooms=3

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

Based on your budget and the need for 3 rooms I think you might want to look into Temecula/Fallbrook. They're further than 30 minutes from San Clemente, but are significantly cheaper.


I just went on craigslist and there's slim pickings for your needs. However, this did come up

Updated Single Story Condo with Granite Bathrooms and Detached Garage

You should rent it immediately.

I would not recommend that area. It's a very low income outlying immigrant community in Aliso Viejo with dated housing and "issues."

It's a world apart from the rest of the city.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by pacific2

I would not recommend that area. It's a very low income outlying immigrant community in Aliso Viejo with dated housing and "issues."

It's a world apart from the rest of the city.

The horror! I thought South OC was free from such mundane problems as dated housing!

[Goin' Coastal]

This is on a minor note in your post, but if you're wanting to shop for "new" clothes in your new size, don't forget consignment shops. I live inland from where you're looking, and I have a friend from Orange County who drives out here for one of her favorite shops. If not consignment, check the Angel View shops and others like that. Personally, I've donated new clothing, tags still on, and I am sure I'm not the only one.

There must be some great consignment shops in OC.

[Podo944]

Originally Posted by HyperionGap

Based on your budget and the need for 3 rooms I think you might want to look into Temecula/Fallbrook. They're further than 30 minutes from San Clemente, but are significantly cheaper.


I just went on craigslist and there's slim pickings for your needs. However, this did come up

Updated Single Story Condo with Granite Bathrooms and Detached Garage

You should rent it immediately.

Oh goodness, my husband and I looked at a few places in that neighborhood a couple of years ago when we were toying with buying a condo, and we would ALWAYS take a walk around on a Friday or Saturday night any place we were remotely considering to check out the noise level. Well, ya better learn Spanish, and get ready for some CRAZY fiestas on the weekends! Wow! (we passed, it was the noise level more than anything!)