Where Should I pick? (San Diego, Long Beach: apartment, rent, schools)

[Dub D]

Right now, I'm in Northern San Diego and love it.

However, I'm possibly getting a job in Carson. My sister is possibly going to start going to school in Irvine.

Cost wise, seems like it's a bit more than San Diego. I've been lucky where I'm at, rent hasn't gone up since I moved in but I did a side by side, seems like OC is about $150 more right now.

I'm looking for a 2 bed / 2 bath for $2200. I see some within that range so I think I can manage. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley so I'm familiar with Orange County but I don't know much about 405 freeway except how horrible it always tends to be.

Map and miles wise, I'm thinking Huntington Beach is the best middle spot for our commutes.

[ElDiabloJoe]

HB or Costa Misery (or adjacent Fountain Valley) are probably about halfway, and still decent areas to live. I would aim for something 405 adjacent (near South Coast Plaza maybe? Like the places in the 500 block of Baker st (Baker/Bristol) or the ones on Paularino at Bear St.).

It would be crazy to commute from North SD to Carson. The traffic through the Pendleton and San Clemente areas is constant and without discernible cause, and the 405 traffic through Long Beach blows.

Just my .02

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

HB or Costa Misery (or adjacent Fountain Valley) are probably about halfway, and still decent areas to live. I would aim for something 405 adjacent (near South Coast Plaza maybe? Like the places in the 500 block of Baker st (Baker/Bristol) or the ones on Paularino at Bear St.).

It would be crazy to commute from North SD to Carson. The traffic through the Pendleton and San Clemente areas is constant and without discernible cause, and the 405 traffic through Long Beach blows.

Just my .02

You are correct. A North SD to Carson commute would be insane.

[djg06]

I don’t think he’s contemplating on staying in SD - he’s asking about cities in OC

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by djg06

I don’t think he’s contemplating on staying in SD - he’s asking about cities in OC

Correct. Worse case, I think I could stay at my friend's in Bellflower for a week or two while I find a spot.

I've done the SD to Carson commute before for my current job. Left at 815 and got there at 1015. I was expecting it to take longer. I mean, it's definitely doable if I had to but I rather punch myself in the balls over having a four hour commute each day.

[cornsnicker3]

Originally Posted by Dub D

Right now, I'm in Northern San Diego and love it.

However, I'm possibly getting a job in Carson. My sister is possibly going to start going to school in Irvine.

Cost wise, seems like it's a bit more than San Diego. I've been lucky where I'm at, rent hasn't gone up since I moved in but I did a side by side, seems like OC is about $150 more right now.

I'm looking for a 2 bed / 2 bath for $2200. I see some within that range so I think I can manage. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley so I'm familiar with Orange County but I don't know much about 405 freeway except how horrible it always tends to be.

Map and miles wise, I'm thinking Huntington Beach is the best middle spot for our commutes.

I worked in at Jacobs in North Long Beach (practically Carson) and lived in Huntington Beach for a year. My commute was about 25 minutes in the morning and usually 35-40 minutes in the afternoon. When we lived there, we paid ~$1900 for 2 bed/1 bath apartment (Pacific Shores). I considered the complex below average. The city was an alright place to live and the schools were decent. Other than the ocean, it felt like a decent, yet generic suburb.

I don't imagine $2200 gets you much better of a place and rents are rising quickly.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by djg06

I don’t think he’s contemplating on staying in SD - he’s asking about cities in OC

Yes, I understood that - hence my first paragraph before you replied in an attempt to re-focus a thread that had yet to require refocusing.