moving from Missouri to Cali (Los Angeles, Riverside: foreclosure, to rent, crime rate)

[MOCali]

Greetings, My wife and I are living in St.Louis, Mo. We are looking to relocate to just about anywhere in California within the next 6-8 months.
I am well aware of the cost of living differences between MO. and CA.
With that being said...i was born in Culver City, CA. and have visited several times in the past few years. My wife and I own a home now but when we move would it be better to rent?
I am a journeyman faux finisher and painter and also a carpenter. I am currently running a 50,000 sqft. wherehouse for the company I work for and I'm also involved with tradeshow booths(setup/teardown/modifications).I'm also a welder. So I have a lot of portable skills.
My wife is an optician and has 10yrs. experience in that field.
We are both 36.
Any ideas as to where our best bet might be?
We're also quite tired of the midwestern political atmosphere.
I've literally checked out every town listed on this sight and I've heard alot about crime and gangs...Yawn...Check out St.Louis' crime stats sometime!
Hell, even Compton is 3x's lower that good ole St.Louie. That doesn't mean I'm looking for a dangerous place to live, just a happy medium.
So far Apple Valley and Yucaipa and a few others don't sound too bad...
Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks

[dusesean1986]

Wait a little while, the home prices are beginning to come down.

I'll answer everything you need to know in a little bit, I gotta run tonight.

[dusesean1986]

1. Definently rent if moving in 6-8 months. The foreclosure on Southern California homes has skyrocked, the California Homeowner Commission has stated they believe homes will come down as much as 150K in certain parts. I would definently rent, many Californians are heading out of California due to the increase of housing prices over the past fifteen years. The bubble is definently beginning to break and will continue to do so. There's alot of Construction work out here, and the competition for work in SoCal is not very high in comparision to other areas. There's no shortage of workers, if you can establish yourself as a sub-contractor as you are in Missouri, you can make very good money, ecspecially in high growth areas of Los Angeles, i.e. Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern Counties. There are plenty of jobs for an optician, as there for any field in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.

2. Apple Valley and Yucaipa are great places to live. The schools are excellent, and you are closer to winter/summer distinct seasons. You could look into Redlands, Fontana, Corona, Norco, Clairmont, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, Murrieta, San Dimas, Glendora, La Verne, Loma Linda. I'm not sure if you were looking outside of the city as were your first choices. These places still have very expensive housing, I'm not sure of your price range, but you can do the research. Up North, look into Acton. All places listed will be quite warm in the summer, but a nice, dry heat, not the sweltering humid heat of the midwest. That's basically the only season. There's a million cities I could give you in all certain directions, it would help me greatly if you could narrow down exactly what your looking for.

I HOPE THAT HELPS!

[MOCali]

Originally Posted by dusesean1986

1. Definently rent if moving in 6-8 months. The foreclosure on Southern California homes has skyrocked, the California Homeowner Commission has stated they believe homes will come down as much as 150K in certain parts. I would definently rent, many Californians are heading out of California due to the increase of housing prices over the past fifteen years. The bubble is definently beginning to break and will continue to do so. There's alot of Construction work out here, and the competition for work in SoCal is not very high in comparision to other areas. There's no shortage of workers, if you can establish yourself as a sub-contractor as you are in Missouri, you can make very good money, ecspecially in high growth areas of Los Angeles, i.e. Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern Counties. There are plenty of jobs for an optician, as there for any field in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.

2. Apple Valley and Yucaipa are great places to live. The schools are excellent, and you are closer to winter/summer distinct seasons. You could look into Redlands, Fontana, Corona, Norco, Clairmont, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, Murrieta, San Dimas, Glendora, La Verne, Loma Linda. I'm not sure if you were looking outside of the city as were your first choices. These places still have very expensive housing, I'm not sure of your price range, but you can do the research. Up North, look into Acton. All places listed will be quite warm in the summer, but a nice, dry heat, not the sweltering humid heat of the midwest. That's basically the only season. There's a million cities I could give you in all certain directions, it would help me greatly if you could narrow down exactly what your looking for.

I HOPE THAT HELPS!

Wow thanks, Yeah we are looking for something in a smaller town atmosphere 15,000 to 100,000 people.And preferably closer(within 50-70 miles)to the coast.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by MOCali

Wow thanks, Yeah we are looking for something in a smaller town atmosphere 15,000 to 100,000 people.And preferably closer(within 50-70 miles)to the coast.

Whoa, LOL! I'll help you out friend, but the list could be extremely long. I think almost every city in the Metropolitan Los Angeles Area is between both those ranges. DEFINENTLY WAIT, DO NOT BUY UNTIL THE MARKET REALLY COOLS OFF, I WOULD DEFINENTLY RENT.

[MOCali]

Yeah, We're not too picky. I've lived in small towns as well as very large. Although I guess i would prefer closer to the 15,000 mark. I guess I'm just trying to find something with not too much of a commute time at least for my wife. Renting is our plan.

[gfunkclydefrog]

comton does have a lower crime rate but its still unbelievably dangerous.

[Paula Lynn]

Look into Diamond Bar.

[la quinta family]

Good choice on renting. Dusesean is right... we're on the brink of
collapsing home prices. Where they will bottom is anyone's guess
but they will be coming down for at least 2 years and with rent being
about half the payment of owning it's a smart move to rent because
you'll save a ton if you wait to buy in 2 years.

[MOCali]

Originally Posted by gfunkclydefrog

comton does have a lower crime rate but its still unbelievably dangerous.

Agreed. I guess what I am saying is that you can find dangerous places all over.I actually live in St.Louis proper and we are a very segregated city.About 60% African American..I am White and to be quite honest I don't feel threatened at all.Most of it is how you carry yourself.But I of course would like to find a place that is a little less 'dangerous' that's all.