Best place for early retiree couple (San Diego, Huntington Beach: real estate, budget, apartment)

[cstleddy]

We arrived in Orange County (Irvine), California from Minnesota 3 yrs ago when my husband convinced me to "retire" and move to a warmer, drier, bug-free climate. We've been waiting out the housing market in an apartment and educating ourselves on the OC area but are still undecided as to where to settle down. We'd like to pull the trigger in 2008 (either buy a home or get outta Dodge).

We'd appreciate your input...

• She's 45 and he's 60.
• No kids and jobs are not a concern.
• Love the climate (warm/dry/no bugs).
• Want to stay in Central or SoCal. Not too far inland (Irvine gets HOT in summer!)
• She's a foodie (love to eat and cook good food) and would like to garden.
• He's a car nut and audiophile.
• Have dog, like to stay fit, walk, bike, go for drives, and check things out in our area.
• We are grounded, down-to-earth, but also upscale (former Yuppies/DINKS).
• Looking for city/neighborhood that has a good vibe, culture, good eats. A place where we can be locals/regulars and hang out...A place where there's a sense of community or a real neighborhood feel...Looking for a place where $700k gets you more than 1200 s.f. condo next to The 5.

Where should we be looking? Thanks.

[EscapeCalifornia]

You might want to check out a town on the central coast called Nipomo. Its really grown in the last few years and I don't know how many of your requirements it meets, but the climate is even better than OC's. I know a retired couple who just recently moved up there from Huntington Beach and love the area. Its definitely more relaxed than OC if that's what you're looking for.

If you think Irvine is hot in the summer, you won't like most of SoCal except for a very thin coastal strip (up to maybe 5 miles deep) but of course that's the most expensive real estate around. $700k would buy you a single family home in Huntington Beach or Fountain Valley but it'll be 30-40 years old.

[Unkllars]

Nipomo sounds fun. Is that North or South of SLO? I was thinking of between Encinitas and Carlsbad for most of the needs and definitely the budget. Land, climate, yuppies just a little South, food (in Cardiff, Del Mar, La Jolla, Little Italy), and the car shows!! I am a gearhead, so I love car shows. Carlsbad has its own show. Then there's always the Goodguys annual car show in Del Mar. Look for my uncles '65 Mustang with a tubular chassis, a 302 bored to 356, and independent suspension. Then, in a few years, look for my '67 Ford Fairlane GTA convertible. Big and heavy, but beautiful and fast.

Question though, what type of audiophile? Car, home theater, or both?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Nipomo is right between Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. Its closer to Santa Maria though. I've been going up there for years to this great steak house called Jocko's. Mmmmm....can't wait to go back.

[bhcompy]

Seal Beach. Live somewhere off Electric Ave and you can walk to Main Street where there are all kinds of nice eats, hangouts, etc. Great local crowd, yearly car show, on the beach so it has a nice climate, etc. I would also check out Surfside and Sunset Beach. The only problem you may have is that some of the older houses are smaller, but they have nice style and character. You'll find bigger houses West of Main I would say. It is more traditional suburban(meaning built in the 70s and 80s with bigger houses) above PCH, but that takes you that much further from the beach and Main Street.

[Unkllars]

Let's all go to Jocko's steak house, it sounds great!! Then we can cruise through Seal Beach and make our way through Carlsbad down to the Goodguys Car show in Del Mar. I'm ready, only I have convince my wife that its fun to stare at the restored undercarriage of a hotrod ;-)

[kturbe]

If you are plan to stay then I would recommend checking out Palmia in Mission Viejo. It is a nice neighborhood for mature residents but is also not Leasure World. If you have any desire to go out towards the desert there are several communities in La Quinta but I just visited some homes in the community of Trilogy and it seemed great and a good mix of people.

[cstleddy]

Thank you all for your excellent suggestions. The SD north county coastal areas of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff look promising. We may even venture closer to San Diego. Someone mentioned Torrey Highlands. Now we have some things to research further.

Thanks again!

[NaplesRes]

Seal Beach, Naples, or Belmont Shore. All are upscale without pretentious attitudes. Great climate, very walkable to shops, eateries, etc. They are expensive but not as much as Newport. Certainly not as "showy" as Newport, which I think is a good thing.

[RAMFEB31]

All the "wants" that you have described are right where you are. Irvine is a great place. If you wish to have a cooler place, Irvine have homes closer to the coast. Just keep this in mind, in So.Ca., the closer you are to the coast, the higher the value of the home. As mentioned by the other post,there are a number places in central Ca. you may wish to investigate. But, you certainly need to sacrifice something. (A little less nearby cultural happenings, perhaps?)
Personally, after living in So. Ca for over 50 years, I would rather be a long ways from here. And San Luis Obispo, where I've attended college, or any of the nearby local coastal area is not where I have in mind for retirement