Moving from N. Shore Long Island to LA. Help! (Long Beach: foreclosure, low crime)

[jpcook]

We currently live in a quiet, safe, clean, coastal community on the N. Shore of Long Island and may be moving to the LA area in the not so distant future. Prior to moving here 3 years ago we lived in the Bay Area for 13 years, Vancouver, BC for 3 years before that, but I don't know much about LA neighborhoods and towns. Here's what we're hoping to find: safe, family oriented community (we have 3 year old twins), larger lots (say, around half an acre), great schools, neighborhood with character (no tract type homes), recreation opptys for the children close by, down-to-earth people, healthy environment (ie., safe running trails, organic farmers markets, cleanish air, yes, I know it's LA), good restaurants, independent movie theaters, low crime. We used to live in the Oakland Hills in the Bay Area, so I'm pretty familiar with living in a crime ridden city - although usually only property crime bled up to the hills. The area we live in now is virtually crime free, so I know the difference it makes to live in a place that feels safe for my children,though I don't expect to find the same level in LA. My husband will be working in an industrial area, I think Cerritos, and is willing to commute up to an hour. He should miss the most brutal commute hours. We want to spend up to $1.2M on a house with a nice yard. Is this crazy? Everything looks so expensive there despite the mortgage meltdown/foreclosure situation. The house doesn't have to be large, under 2500 sq ft is fine. The lot and neighborhood are more important. I would so appreciate some suggestions to get me focused on a few areas. We love coastal, but mountain is good, too. We want to be inspired by our environment. We're not big on flat, suburban, strip mall type areas. Thank you for any advice you can give!

[NaplesRes]

Belmont Heights

[jpcook]

Thanks! How would I search for this area in Realtor.com? It doesn't come up as a 'place'. Is it considered part of a larger area that would come up?

[EricReingen]

I am a Realtor in the area and I would love to help you find a home. If you love coastal, Huntington Beach has some great properties in great family-oriented neighborhoods. It is a place where you can get coastal living for a cheaper price tag than Santa Monica or Newport Beach. Though it is a distance from Cerritos, traffic is not bad in off hours and well within an hour.

If you would like to talk more please don't hesitate to contact me.

Eric Reingen
Prudential California Realty
949-698-3573
ericreingen@pruoc.com

[BRinSM]

I think anywhere in eastern long beach would be a good area for you. downtown and the belmont shore area offer much of the urban amenities you are looking for with many suburban neighborhoods in the vicinity. Cerritos is also very close, maybe 30 minutes with traffic.

[jpcook]

Can anyone offer thoughts on the Aliso Viejo or Mission Viejo areas or other spots around this area? Can we get good elementary schools, amenities for kids, decent house for under 1.2M on a little bit of land big enough for a pool? Plus a little bit of local culture and character? I'll think we'll be heading out there in a couple of weeks, so I'm quickly trying to narrow our focus. We've also looked way up to the Woodland Hills area, but I guess hilly coastal appeals to me more.

[jpcook]

And thanks for all the thoughts so far!!!

[BRinSM]

there is not much in terms of culture and character in south OC. Most homes look nearly identical, and besides the OC performing arts center, culture and character are very limited. The coastal portions of Newport, Laguna, and San Clemente offer a bit more in this regard, but anywhere inland more than a mile is just like everywhere else. however, OC has some of the safest neighborhoods in the country and also some of the best performing schools, you just have to decide what is more important to you.

[bhcompy]

I would look at old town Seal Beach. You won't get the lot size you want, but its the perfect neighborhood as far as commute(Cerritos is right up the 605 fwy or Seal Beach Blvd 20min), schools(McGaugh Elementary, part of Los Alamitos Unified), houses with character, strong community, quiet, safe, lots of recreation, beach to swim or jog on, clean coastal air, etc

You also have nearby "organic" stores in Trader Joes and Wild Oats.

You have the independent Bay Theater on Main Street.

Dining wise there are a lot of good, small restaurants on Main Street and it's not too far to Long Beach or down the coast in Orange County to find other great restaurants

Your price range would put you in for the best of the homes in old town I would think.

Orange county is mostly made up of tract homes(developed during or after the Levittown era), so you need to look in the oldest communities to find the homes with the "most character". The problem is that the prime area for that, Santa Ana, is also the poorest community. Areas like Balboa Island and Lido also have homes like what you're looking for, but you're looking at similar small lots to Seal and Seal is a better quiet family community imho.

When researching schools keep in mind many districts have been hit hard by the budget problems in the state. Many of the hardest hit districts are in south Orange County and are making staff cuts to make budget. This won't effect this years numbers, but down the road it will as cuts take place. Be sure to research the cuts before you make a decision.

[jpcook]

Yes, California schools are such a disaster. This is a big part of the reason we want to be so careful. Had we stayed in the Bay Area a few years ago we would have to have moved outside of the Oakland Hills because, although it was a beautiful place, the schools were officially bankrupt. But still there were quite a few options that weren't too far out. We're so spoiled here on LI because our local schools are basically as good as private schools where we used to live. When we first moved here we checked out the local high school and actually giggled when we saw a huge outdoor ropes course, official looking tennis courts, 300 piece marching band. I love CA, but why can't they get their act together? I guess they should have thought about this when they introduced prop 13?? Anyway, that's all beside the point, but I think you touched a nerve, bhcompy!