Need info on Fullerton (Long Beach, Santa Ana: condo, rental, jobs)

[jenn5011]

I may be flying in next week for a job interview in Fullerton. I now live in Northeast TN. Near Bristol Motor speedway. My questions are, Is Fullerton a nice place? what is the cost of living there? I have 2 boys, so how are the schools? Also I understand that a house run about 600K, that seems to be the norm, is this correct?
Plus my husband works on Helicopters, are there jobs for him? Does anyone know.
How big are the homes? Is property tax high?
I have so many questions. Thank you for any help or input!

[snb3]

I've lived there for over 20 yrs, went elementary & up & have family there.
Fullerton is one of the nicer cities in North OC. Homes might start @ $600k but you might need to spend about $700k and up for a home to live in a nicer area. Some parts of east & south Fullerton are not so nice (gangs in those areas, although nothing like LA or Santa Ana). Cost of living is high like the rest of OC. I believe some of the newer homes tax is 1.9% (then again, some of those tract homes are over $1mill.) Nearby Placentia & Brea are similar in terms of homes & schools. A condo in a good area will start about $400k, go to $600k. Fullerton has lots of older neighborhoods that have been kept up well & older neighborhoods can be as safe as the newer ones.
Troy & Troy Tech & Sunny Hills HS are usually ranked in the Top 100 in all of US. As a whole, OC and Fullerton even moreso, has good schools, from K to HS.
There is Fullerton Airport, a small muni airport.
need more info, PM me

[Sage of Sagle]

Call Fullerton PD at (714) 738-6800. Talk to their crime impact unit, or their detective bureau. Ask them about areas of the town safer for your family. Go visit, and the day before you spend time with a realtor, get the PD to approve a ride-along with an officer. The average street cop will give you an earful about their town. Note that they will generally be a bit jaded and negative in general about the town (street cops get that way, I know I was in my career). So take the negative with a grain of salt, but it's good information as you build your personal knowledge of the town.

[mdmagana]

I grew-up there and only recntly did I move away. PM me and I will give you my e-mail address if there is anything specific you need to know about the area, even if you just want a suggestion on where to eat dinner... I know it all like the back oy my hand.

Working for a Helicopter company... will you be at or near the airport?

I would not recommend living near the airport. In a previous comment it was mentioned you might want to stay away from south and east fullerton... not sure what is wrong with East Fullerton? I would stay away from South and West Fullerton. (Anything that borders Anaheim or Buena Park) West Fullerton is okay, but there are nicer areas to live in for only a little bit more money. 600k, may be a little low... now taht it is more of a buyers market you can probably get a nice home in North Fullerton for 650+. North Fullerton may be worth it to you for the schools. Are you looking for elementary of high schools?

You may also want to take a look at neighboring Placentia. Placentia has lots of nice communities and costs roughly about the same as much of Fullerton. If 650K and higher is an option, take a good strong look at neighboring Brea to the North. Brea has excellent schools and great neighborhoods.

In all honnesty there is really nothing wrong with any part of Fullerton. It is just a matter of what you are used to. The North end of town is nicer than that South end of town. I lived on the North end of town, but I never felt unsafe about walking into a store in any part of Fullerton at 2am. The parts that border Anaheim are just a little older and a little more working class... it isn't like we are talking about Compton here or anything.

[snb3]

Let me elaborate, what I meant by East Fullerton, I should've meant SE Fullerton. Like you correctly said, any areas bordering Buena Park or Anaheim should be avoided. NW Fullerton (anything north of Malvern), where I grew up is an expensive golf community. There is a large buffer zone south of Malvern (a man made river, train tracks, commerical areas) that separates the two. Actually, it can be debated that any areas south of Malvern/Chapman would be less desireable.
Parts of Placentia has gang issues also.

[mdmagana]

Originally Posted by snb3

Let me elaborate, what I meant by East Fullerton, I should've meant SE Fullerton. Like you correctly said, any areas bordering Buena Park or Anaheim should be avoided. NW Fullerton (anything north of Malvern), where I grew up is an expensive golf community. There is a large buffer zone south of Malvern (a man made river, train tracks, commerical areas) that separates the two. Actually, it can be debated that any areas south of Malvern/Chapman would be less desireable.
Parts of Placentia has gang issues also.

Those parts of Placentia with gangs are the parts bordering Anaheim. We had rental property their... it was a nightmare. When you said East Fullerton I was tihnking by Troy and Cal State, I see what you mean now and I agree.

[jenn5011]

I am comming form Hickville USA. But that is OK. I like Hickville. I will be flying in next week for my job interview. I have no idea what the pay is yet.
My husband works on the helicopters. He saw some jobs near longbeach. He knows of places near Oceanside too, but I see that is way to far. Home's are Very high. Here we have 2665 sq ft home and it was 105k, so paying 650+ is a BIG jump. I am still looking at what all this will contain. Schools yes I will need schools. I looked at homes in the internet in Corona(can't spell tonight) there much cheaper, but the drive worries me. I hear the traffic is real bad there. Thank you all so much for the replies!!!!

[snb3]

Fullerton to LB commute is ok, I did it for 5yrs (went to Long Beach State). Corona to LB would be a nightmare. Maybe central OC might be good for both of you & cheaper than North OC. Both of you will have about a 30 min commute & homes will be about $100k cheaper (cities like Garden Grove, Cypress, Los Alamitos).

Good luck!