Which City to move to Laguna Niguel vs San Juan Capistrano (Santa Ana: low income, appointed)

[bmxbobby2004]

Hello Everyone,

So after retiring this January, my wife and I are looking to move to either of these cities. Our search for the perfect home has been going on for the past 6 months but we keep loosing home we have offered on. Anyway, we have been seriously looking at Laguna Niguel and occasionally looking into Dana Point. Recently we found a nice home in San Juan Capistrano and we were wondering if anyone could give us some input of which city would better serve our wants. We are looking at homes priced around 650K-750K and over 2400 square feet.

Whatever home we buy, we will rent for a year or two before moving in ourselves. Ultimately we would like to know which city would have a better rental price and resale value in case we decide to sell the home and move closer to our kids who will be graduating college in the next couple years.


Thank you for you input, it is greatly appreciated.

[GonzoSurfer]

SJC is more tourist-oriented and has a higher Hispanic demographic than Laguna Niguel.

[Vary]

All three cities are great choices. There might be an edge on rent and resale value in LN and DP over SJC, but it depends on the area where that particular house is you're looking at. There are neighborhoods in SJC that are easily comparable to the other two cities. And the nice thing is that all three are so small and connected that you enjoy the benefits of all three cities regardless of where you reside. I don't think you'll be disappointed in a house in that price range in SJC.

[CAVA1990]

Niguel may be a bit more attractive to someone commuting to job centers North of there.

[InvestingOC101]

This is my honest opinion that you will never hear a realtor say. If you have a choice, I would avoid San Juan Capistrano. There is a reason why homes are a lot cheaper, just drive around. Look up sober living homes in Southern Ca. San Juan Capistraino is very, very high for such a small population. The large homes in subdivision are called Poor Rich Man’s homes. San Juan Capistraino is a place to visit, but not live. The street The Mission is on is pretty cool with great restaurants. It has a big police presence at night. Costco, Marshall’s, Ross for Less, Target, Thrift stores are your major retailers. Don’t believe the realtors when they say they are revitalizing San Juan and now is the time to buy, when you see all the construction going on. There is a housing shortage in Southern California for low income housing, San Juan Capistraino and Santa Ana is where they will be building those low income homes to meet CA State mandates.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by InvestingOC101

This is my honest opinion that you will never hear a realtor say. If you have a choice, I would avoid San Juan Capistrano. There is a reason why homes are a lot cheaper, just drive around. Look up sober living homes in Southern Ca. San Juan Capistraino is very, very high for such a small population. The large homes in subdivision are called Poor Rich Man’s homes. San Juan Capistraino is a place to visit, but not live. The street The Mission is on is pretty cool with great restaurants. It has a big police presence at night. Costco, Marshall’s, Ross for Less, Target, Thrift stores are your major retailers. Don’t believe the realtors when they say they are revitalizing San Juan and now is the time to buy, when you see all the construction going on. There is a housing shortage in Southern California for low income housing, San Juan Capistraino and Santa Ana is where they will be building those low income homes to meet CA State mandates.

Great post....... except the original posters asked this NINE YEARS ago and never posted again.

[kishac]

Originally Posted by InvestingOC101

This is my honest opinion that you will never hear a realtor say. If you have a choice, I would avoid San Juan Capistrano. There is a reason why homes are a lot cheaper, just drive around. Look up sober living homes in Southern Ca. San Juan Capistraino is very, very high for such a small population. The large homes in subdivision are called Poor Rich Man’s homes. San Juan Capistraino is a place to visit, but not live. The street The Mission is on is pretty cool with great restaurants. It has a big police presence at night. Costco, Marshall’s, Ross for Less, Target, Thrift stores are your major retailers. Don’t believe the realtors when they say they are revitalizing San Juan and now is the time to buy, when you see all the construction going on. There is a housing shortage in Southern California for low income housing, San Juan Capistraino and Santa Ana is where they will be building those low income homes to meet CA State mandates.

although OP asked the question 9 years ago, a lot of good info in your post since I was searching for a possible second home in SJC.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by kishac

although OP asked the question 9 years ago, a lot of good info in your post since I was searching for a possible second home in SJC.

Then disregard his post. My "great post" was sarcasm. SJC is a great place to live with very good schools and a real sense of community that goes back to its founding in 1776.

SJC has great July 4th activities, an annual rodeo, a long standing as a horse community, with stables and riding trails, an annual Greek Festival, and more. It is much more of a real community than Laguna Niguel, which is just a place to live.

[kishac]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

Then disregard his post. My "great post" was sarcasm. SJC is a great place to live with very good schools and a real sense of community that goes back to its founding in 1776.

SJC has great July 4th activities, an annual rodeo, a long standing as a horse community, with stables and riding trails, an annual Greek Festival, and more. It is much more of a real community than Laguna Niguel, which is just a place to live.

Thanks, I've read quite a few of your posts throughout the OC forum, and learned much from you as well! cheers.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

Then disregard his post. My "great post" was sarcasm. SJC is a great place to live with very good schools and a real sense of community that goes back to its founding in 1776.

Oddly enough, that's also when its traffic handling abilities date back to.

Source: I lived there from 1960 to 2004.