Can a single teacher afford to relocate to Tustin area? (Santa Ana: for sale, real estate)

[oconnors]

Hi,
I recently visited the OC and fell in love. I have lived in the same city in Texas my whole life (27) and I'm ready for a change. I have some friends who live in Tustin. I see the teaching salary is about $47,000. Two friends want to move with me so we would be splitting rent. Could I survive in Tustin? And, how hard is it to get a teaching position (elementary)? I wouldn't be moving until next summer. Any advice or thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

[EscapeCalifornia]

You can afford to share a nice apartment or townhouse in Tustin on $47k. Good luck getting a teaching job with the public schools. The state's broke.

[MisterDuke]

You can definitely live on a 47k job if you will be renting and living with roommates. The problem will come when you want to buy a house on that salary. Marry someone who makes over $80k a year or be prepared for a very long commute from where housing is more affordable.

You will need a California Teaching Credential, which involves additional coursework. Most teachers who come from out of state try to get in at a school that really needs them and will assist them in getting an emergency credential, which is like a temporary permit to teach until you get the real thing. Or they will apply to private schools, since the credential doesn't matter there. Public schools with low API scores are a good place to start looking. If you are going to live in Tustin, Santa Ana would be a good place to look for such schools.

[Aqua Bliss]

Watch out when you're looking online many of the "Tustin" properties are on the border of Santa Ana and the area isn't so great. Try to find something in the "Tustin Ranch" part (near Irvine border), close to shopping, food, movies, etc. you'll be much happier.

If you can do 3 of you in a 2 bedroom Apt I'm sure you could make it in some of the Irvine Company communities in the Tustin Ranch area.

[Broadmoor]

I live in the area of Tustin that Aqua Bliss refers to as "not so great" and let me assure you it's just fine. We do indeed have a substantial Hispanic population here, but a look at Tustin High School's API score and graduation rates shows that the kids here are doing much, much better academically than those in Santa Ana.
Tustin is a very safe city, violent crime is rare and our police protection here is outstanding. However, if you begin to follow the published crime stats, you'll realize your likelihood of having a higher level property crime will be in the northern/Tustin Ranch area of the city. It makes sense -- who's going to risk 15 years to life for what's in a modest house? Crimes here in the south/central part of town are more of a petty and annoying nature, such as tagging, trash scavenging, stealing change or an Ipod out of a car. The whole car is more likely to get stolen in the more upscale areas. Just last week, a string of second story break-ins/burglaries took place in Tustin Ranch, and suspects are now in custody, according to the TPD website. Gated communites are the worst of all -- these things are a security joke. Police can't patrol streets behind gates and criminals know this. Gated communities are defended by untrained, unarmed rent-a-cops with fake badges, while the real police have to figure out how to get inside, which gives crooks additional getaway time.
Also, it's true that Tustin Ranch has movies and shopping in an area called The Market Place but it's a big box store experience. We're near Old Town which is a wonderful mix of small restaurants, antiques, clothing and a great little thrift store.
My neighborhood is full of teachers, nurses, veterans, and retirees. Real people can afford to live here. Folks are friendly and look out for each other. If you want more detailed info, check my profile -- there's a link to a page about our community, and info on places available for sale or to rent and it's updated regularly.

[killer2021]

I'd hardly call, "renting an apartment with roommates" as making it.

47k is $2,798/month after taxes and 30% of that is $839. So realistically you can only afford $839/month for housing expenses. You won't find any 1bed/1bath apartments for $839/month in Orange County unless there is something seriously wrong with the unit or the area. So realistically you have to have roommates or you can't afford to live here.

good luck.

[Avalon08]

I was just in CA for vacation and visited my friend, who was staying with her in-laws in Tustin. I was surprised at how lovely the area was. Beautiful ranch homes (older homes) with nice-sized yards and lush, mature landscaping. Turns out the official address is not Tustin, but Santa Ana. (It's near Newport and Foothill) I know that's not the type of housing the OP is looking for, but I just wanted to comment on the "bordering Santa Ana" thing. It would be ashame if a Santa Ana address automatically devalues a home, because IMO that particular area looks expensive and very attractive.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

I was just in CA for vacation and visited my friend, who was staying with her in-laws in Tustin. I was surprised at how lovely the area was. Beautiful ranch homes (older homes) with nice-sized yards and lush, mature landscaping. Turns out the official address is not Tustin, but Santa Ana. (It's near Newport and Foothill) I know that's not the type of housing the OP is looking for, but I just wanted to comment on the "bordering Santa Ana" thing. It would be ashame if a Santa Ana address automatically devalues a home, because IMO that particular area looks expensive and very attractive.

That's a very nice area. Locals know that the only thing it has in common with Santa Ana is a mailing address. Its not even part of Santa Ana but in fact unincorporated Orange County. I have some customers a bit further up Newport into the hills and the houses have got to cost in the millions.

[punkrocker27ka]

As others have stated, you will certainly be able to afford an apartment with your friends. But the real problem with be owning a home if that is something you plan to do. The "affordable" properties in North Orange County still cost approx 350k and up. A modest home in south county would go for approx 450k and up. The high cost of real estate is a big problem for California. The real estate in Texas is quite affordable by comparison and also you might want to think about your teachers pension if you continue to work in your school district. Pensions are growing increasingly rare and are exceptionally helpful during retirement. Orange County is a wonderful place to live and although the rents are on the rise you still could afford a room for yourself or to share with a roommate on the salary you stated. But compare the long term cost/benefits with Texas before you make a decision.

[mija N' me]

Originally Posted by oconnors

Hi,
how hard is it to get a teaching position (elementary)? I wouldn't be moving until next summer. Any advice or thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

Please do your research before moving to CA in hopes of finding a teaching position. As someone already stated they are very hard to come by.

Mind you, I am not an expert on the subject however I have seen first hand what the economy is doing to our educator's in this state. My niece just graduated with a Masters in education, has her teaching credentials, spent her entire college career in schools as an aide and as a sub, both of her parents are retired teachers and she cannot find a job. Thousands of teachers in CA received their pink slips in the spring as the state's way of letting them know they had no guarantee of a job to return to in September. Several states (ie. Nevada and Georgia) are actively trying to recruit unemployed, experienced teachers from CA and are paying siginificant signing bonuses and relocation costs. Teachers that want to continue teaching in CA are gravitating to private schools but taking considerable pay cuts just trying to wait this out until things improve.

You will have no problem making it in So CA if you have a job. Do your research before you make the move and know for sure what you are getting into. Good Luck!