What's the ideal area that best meets this criteria? (San Diego: extended stay, for sale)

[ecsdude]

I currently live in NorCal, less than a 2 hour drive from Lake Tahoe and the SF Bay Area, which is great when you want to be near the water side while enjoying beautiful scenery. But as beautiful as Lake Tahoe is, it's not the same as being by the ocean with the waves and the ocean air. And as beautiful as the SF Bay is, the beaches aren't quite in the same league as those in SoCal, and there are a lot of days when it's really windy, cold and foggy when its covered by the marine layer. Along the way to SoCal from NorCal, there are places like Monterey which are also beautiful, but the weather there can vary and the beaches also aren't in the same league as those in SoCal.

I like the average year-round climate and the beaches of SoCal areas and would love to be able to go on regular scenic walks and bicycle rides along the ocean side while occasionally walking on the beach and getting knee deep into the waves. The two main things I don't like about SoCal are the smog and traffic. I've found on at least a couple of occasions during summers when I landed at LAX and stepped outside the terminal, I could feel that the smog was having a negative impact on me. But then there have been several times I have driven to SoCal and when I arrived I was fine. Maybe on those days the smog levels weren't as bad.

In any case, I was wondering what SoCal ocean side town would fit the bill best if these things are what I'm looking for:

1. 2bd/2ba/1car condo between $500-600K that is fairly modern/updated in a safe, well kept area.
2. Being able to see the ocean from a distance from the inside or from the balcony would be a definite
plus.
3. At the least, being within a 10-15 minute drive to the beach would be ideal, but 20-25 mins would
also be decent.
4. Good selection of supermarkets, shops/restaurants, other attractions.
5. Close proximity (no more than 30 minutes away) to a good major hospital.
6. An area that will be senior friendly as I age and retire (safety, transportation options, shopping,
medical care, etc).
7. The least impacted by LA smog and traffic.

The challenge will be in finding a job of comparable pay so I can relocate well within my working years rather than waiting until retirement age. I make a pretty good salary currently so that may be a challenge to find in a SoCal ocean side town. An alternative to moving to SoCal would be to make frequently multi-day trips throughout the year, as a compromise, but I'm exploring options to make moving there possible. Before doing so, I may arrange an extended stay to really get a feel for things so I can more accurately consider the pros and cons and understand what day-to-day life would really be like.

I've been told the Long Beach area may still be relatively affordable. Some areas I've enjoyed: Manhattan Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Carlsbad, and San Diego, but they're all pretty much likely expensive. Maybe Carlsbad would be less pricey.

Could those who live in those areas shed some light on what areas would be my best bet and what day-to-day life is really like? Do you take advantage of living by the ocean and enjoying the year-round mostly good climate?

[kauaidooley]

If you are at the beach cities, smog should not be much of a problem. However, all along the coast
at times, we will have the marine layer until about 10 or 11 a.m. Or it could be sunny and beautiful
all day and night long.

As to LAX.....Unfortuantely, we just do not care for the LAX FOLLIES, or the terminal . Does not feel good.
We would rather fly out of Orange County John Wayne, or Long Beach, but that is not always possible.

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Owning property inland a bit, is going to be less expensive than at the beach. Beach property is very
expensive.

The RE market right now, is slowing down, and so that is something to take into consideration as well.
We are not in the market , but have talked with friends in Real Estate, and Mortgage Business. and that
is where I am getting the info on home purchasing.

Have you thought about renting or leasing a nice place, a bit inland, with an easy drive or walk to the beach,
and maybe getting a lay of the land, and be able to make a more informed decision before buyng a home ?.

You have picked some pretty great places to live, I am only knowledgeable about Orange County, and have lived
at or near the beach for most of my life.

You also might check out home prices in Huntington Beach, in the area of Bolsa Chica Beach / Huntington Bach .

Also, inland a bit from Seal Beach . Old town Seal Beach, is very nice, easy going, non pretentious, friendly, nice
beach, quaint three block main street, and easy access to the freeway if you have to commute to get to work.

Newport Beach, is going to very expensive. Currently, we live in Dana Point, and love living in South County.

Laguna Beach Town is super crowded, hard to find a parking space , and major flat lander, tourist area in the summer,
and we border Laguna Beach, but only pass thru on PCH when absolutely necessary . For us, big difference between Laguna and easy going Dana Point. We really enjoy life here in Dana Point, and South County, and have easy access to our sister towns of San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente . there are other inland communities that are very,
Very, nice as well.

Seal Beach , Old Town Area, is also feel good special to us. Erica lived there for 12 years before we moved to kauai
island for 10 years. But, now from Dana Point, when I go up to the VA Health Center for appointments, after what ever, Erica and I always stop in Seal , walk main street, go out on the pier, and have lunch and libations at one of
the neat restaurants on main street. Seal beach feels good to us. Great small beach town feeling.

Huntington Beach, at the same time Erica was in Old Town, Seal Beach, I was living in Huntington Harbor ( Huntington Beach ). Also a very nice area that is next to Bolsa Chica Beach, and Huntington Harbor and Marinas were right there. Also had the wetlands trail to hike, and Huntington Main Beach, and a short 10 minute drive to Seal Beach. Just beyond Seal ( Old Town ) is Long Beach.

There are plenty of restaurants, shopping, movies, markets, most anything that you would need, in
the South County area, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Dana Point, etc. And the surrounding areas .

We gravitate toward the Beach Cities, since we like the casual lifestyle and friendly attitudes, and the ocean,
beaches and marinas.

Our thoughts only, we all have different priorities , and likes .

The above are some of our choices.

Also, we rent and are a five minute walk to the beach, and I do not own a suit, tie, dress shoes, or dress shirt,
and enjoy casual beach style living. But, we are retired and that can make a difference in wardrobe.

Hospitals, we seem to have plenty of medical centers, specialists, primary care, and large hospitals.

South Laguna Hospital is about a 10 minute drive , Erica uses Kaiser, probably 30 minute drive, and I
use the Local VA Clinic in Laguna Hills, and sometimes local civilian medical offices, and also the VA up in Long Beach.

Those are some of our thoughts to some of your questions , hope it helps a little.

We do love south orange county.

[Socalpal]

San Pedro or Signal Hill

[joepierson]

I always recommend leasing an apartment for a year for you to get the "feel" of each town before committing to a condo.

It's very hard to convey what it's like in each town, what you may feel is crowded, I may not, what you may feel is unsafe, I may not, or vice versa.

An apartment will get you within walking distance to the beach, for about $2500 to $3000/month. $600K condo will be inland quite a bit.

For least amount of traffic you probably looking at Dana Point. Manhattan Beach is out of your price range as things get a little sketchy pretty quickly inland. Whereas Dana Point is pretty good inland, as is Laguna Niguel. Again everyone will disagree so you need to get out here and scope it out for a year or two.

[psichick]

Here you go: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Newport-Be...home/104262134

[ElDiabloJoe]

Hey kauaidooley and ecsdude, I was thinking her requirements would be VERY well met in either the condos at Niguel Rd / Camino Del Avion (Street names Corniche), and the condos at the end of Selva Rd. across from the public parking at Strands Beach.

Whaddyathink?

[DinsdalePirahna]

there are condos available for sale in the Bolsa Chica Area.

here are two in our complex:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Huntington...1/home/5716652
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...9_M14120-79461

The units are a bit small, but perfect for couple/singles without kids.
Meets all your criteria. 1 mile to the beach. 1/2 mile to the harbor. We have a lot of very good restaurants within walking distance, downtown Huntington Beach is 5 miles away, downtown seal beach is also about 4 miles away. Belmont Shore in Long Beach is about 7 miles.

We see the ocean everyday when we walk our dogs (plus there is an awesome 10 mile+ bike trail where you can ride into Newport Beach.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by psichick

Here you go: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Newport-Be...home/104262134

be careful with those. they are on leased property, and most only have about 20-40 years left on the lease.

When looking for homes make sure you are not on leased property. There is a reason why they appear so inexpensive.

[czarinalex]

There are plenty of options in Dana Point and San Clemente.

This one, across the street from the ocean:

https://www.redfin.com/CA/Dana-Point...5/home/5708620

Walk down to the beach from this one in a gated community:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Dana-Point...G/home/5706924

Another gated community:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/Dana-Point...2/home/5411510

In San Clemente with an ocean view:
https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Clemen...3/home/5724561

All are in safe neighborhoods, near to shopping, restaurants, beach trails, etc. As stated above, marine layer is present when close to the ocean(mostly May/June), but not really smog.
Traffic.... sigh, it's Orange Co

[psichick]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

be careful with those. they are on leased property, and most only have about 20-40 years left on the lease.

When looking for homes make sure you are not on leased property. There is a reason why they appear so inexpensive.

Yikes. Good to know. I never knew that about that area.