Living in Orange County (San Diego, Riverside: real estate, apartments, rental)

[bigd8200]

I am originally from Houston, TX. I recently received a job offer from a company in Irvine, CA. I flew out for the interview and fell in love with the job and location. However, once I got back to Texas and did some number crunching I turned the job down because of the significant rise in cost of living.

I truly liked the company and the job I was offered in Orange County but was intimidated by the cost of living there. Being from Texas, where it is mostly affordable to live (especially compared to California) didn't help. I often look back and wish I would have taken the job anyways. The job is in the electronics industry (which I am very interested in) and I feel that California would be a great place for a career in electronics. I am considering contacting the person who gave me the job in the future to see if there is still an opening but I want to do ample research before doing so. To some degree, it was a dream job in my opinion, but the cost of living intimidated me.

The company was going to start me out around $50K a year. When I was in Orange County I particularly became interested in the Rancho Santa Margarita area. While it is a very nice area, because it is further from the coast, the rent is lower (a little) than say Newport or Huntington Beach. Plus, I liked the feeling that it was away from the clutter. I currently do not know anyone who lives out there who I could room with and if I did move out there I would be looking at rental property from the start. I recently graduated from college and in no way can I afford real estate out there. I am wondering if anyone knows more about the Rancho Santa Margarita area or other semi-affordable areas in South Orange County and whether or not it is easy to make a living there off of $50K a year living by myself. Also, if anyone knows of good apartments or condos, or even roommate matching services please let me know. I am trying to make an informed decision before I consider contacting the potential employer. Thank you.

[pdbaugh]

I moved from a town near Rancho to the DFW area, a year ago Lived in OC for 20+ years. You will be struggling on 50K unless you have a room mate. Rents for a small one bedroom for a friend is $1100 per mo, and that's the cheapest.

You also might not get to know your neighbors. It's pretty but in the summer you won't be able to see the mountains, and on the weekend it will take you at least an hour to get to Laguna. In the winter if you go to Big Bear (the local mountains) to go 120 miles will average 5-6 hours on Friday night.

However, the weather is cooler, especially at night. I'd consider moving up here instead.

[bigd8200]

When you say move up here, do you mean move to Dallas or another part of California?

[smu7070]

If you can afford RSM then definitely go for it. I used to live in the area and moved to a suburb of San Diego. I regretted it and will return as soon as possible. I think it's a lot nicer then Corona.

[reg_girlalu]

Hi. I am in a similar dilemma. I currently live in Jersey City but work in New York City. I am being offered a job in Corona Del Mar in a good firm. It's similar to my current job in New York but the firm in Corona is bit bigger. I have friends who are willing to help me out for a certain time until I settle in CA when I do move but the standard of living iintimidates me in California. I know Manhattan is expensive but I save money by living in Jersey. I also don't need a car since I live near the city. It's just a 25 min train ride and I'm in the city. However, the job exposure is good in CA. I would have to deal with buying a car and save up for that when I move there meaning I won't have a car for a couple of months.I will receive an annual 48K+/- salary and I don't know how I could survive in having a place and a car in CA...could someone give me an idea how to go about starting out and surviving in CA with the standard of living there?

[kotto_bass]

Originally Posted by bigd8200

...The company was going to start me out around $50K a year.

Do you plan on renting a tiny apartment, or buying a home? Typically with $50K, there's not much you can do in OC. You'll probably enjoy the weather and the diversity! If you are looking at raising a family, with that income in OC, forget it! The median home price is $725,190 in July '06. Plus, the traffic to LA and other places can be insane sometimes!

[shannon94]

Originally Posted by bigd8200

I am originally from Houston, TX. I recently received a job offer from a company in Irvine, CA. I flew out for the interview and fell in love with the job and location. However, once I got back to Texas and did some number crunching I turned the job down because of the significant rise in cost of living.

I truly liked the company and the job I was offered in Orange County but was intimidated by the cost of living there. Being from Texas, where it is mostly affordable to live (especially compared to California) didn't help. I often look back and wish I would have taken the job anyways. The job is in the electronics industry (which I am very interested in) and I feel that California would be a great place for a career in electronics. I am considering contacting the person who gave me the job in the future to see if there is still an opening but I want to do ample research before doing so. To some degree, it was a dream job in my opinion, but the cost of living intimidated me.

The company was going to start me out around $50K a year. When I was in Orange County I particularly became interested in the Rancho Santa Margarita area. While it is a very nice area, because it is further from the coast, the rent is lower (a little) than say Newport or Huntington Beach. Plus, I liked the feeling that it was away from the clutter. I currently do not know anyone who lives out there who I could room with and if I did move out there I would be looking at rental property from the start. I recently graduated from college and in no way can I afford real estate out there. I am wondering if anyone knows more about the Rancho Santa Margarita area or other semi-affordable areas in South Orange County and whether or not it is easy to make a living there off of $50K a year living by myself. Also, if anyone knows of good apartments or condos, or even roommate matching services please let me know. I am trying to make an informed decision before I consider contacting the potential employer. Thank you.

Don't do it!! I moved to Texas from San Diego....my hometown, so I know how enticing it can be to people. Alot of jobs are leaving San Diego because they can not recruit people due to the cost of living. Making 50k a year out there is like making 20k in Texas. Stay put!! Trust me!!

Originally Posted by reg_girlalu

Hi. I am in a similar dilemma. I currently live in Jersey City but work in New York City. I am being offered a job in Corona Del Mar in a good firm. It's similar to my current job in New York but the firm in Corona is bit bigger. I have friends who are willing to help me out for a certain time until I settle in CA when I do move but the standard of living iintimidates me in California. I know Manhattan is expensive but I save money by living in Jersey. I also don't need a car since I live near the city. It's just a 25 min train ride and I'm in the city. However, the job exposure is good in CA. I would have to deal with buying a car and save up for that when I move there meaning I won't have a car for a couple of months.I will receive an annual 48K+/- salary and I don't know how I could survive in having a place and a car in CA...could someone give me an idea how to go about starting out and surviving in CA with the standard of living there?

Not to be negative, but you'll regret it. 48k is nothing in Cali right now. You would defiantely have to have a roomate...or don't ever plan on doing anything except going to work. Seriously!!

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by reg_girlalu

Hi. I am in a similar dilemma. I currently live in Jersey City but work in New York City. I am being offered a job in Corona Del Mar in a good firm. It's similar to my current job in New York but the firm in Corona is bit bigger. I have friends who are willing to help me out for a certain time until I settle in CA when I do move but the standard of living iintimidates me in California. I know Manhattan is expensive but I save money by living in Jersey. I also don't need a car since I live near the city. It's just a 25 min train ride and I'm in the city. However, the job exposure is good in CA. I would have to deal with buying a car and save up for that when I move there meaning I won't have a car for a couple of months.I will receive an annual 48K+/- salary and I don't know how I could survive in having a place and a car in CA...could someone give me an idea how to go about starting out and surviving in CA with the standard of living there?

You won't be able to buy right away, but you should be able to find a decent place to rent. You also wont be making that much forever. If you think it would be a good career move then you should at least give it a try.

It would be a completely different lifestyle than you are use to. I think it would be a good experience. If you don’t have any strong ties to NY then this might be something that would be fun for a few years, or you may find that it is where you want to live.

Talk to your friends ask the same kinds of questions. If you can make it in NY on the same salary then you can make it in CA. Good luck.

[Deserter]

Originally Posted by reg_girlalu

I am being offered a job in Corona Del Mar in a good firm. It's similar to my current job in New York but the firm in Corona is bit bigger. I have friends who are willing to help me out for a certain time until I settle in CA when I do move but the standard of living iintimidates me in California.

Is the job in Corona, Riverside county or Corona del Mar, Orange County? Cost of living is much more affordable in Riverside county, but Corona del Mar is a cute (and expensive) little beach town. You'd definitely need to look for a roommate situation. In Corona, you'd probably want to drive out of town for weekend fun, but in CdM you'd already be at the beach and there's plenty to do there and in nearby Laguna and Newport Beach.

[reg_girlalu]

The job is in Corona Del Mar, near the beach but looking at rent there it looks pretty pricey. Like I said prior, I save money by living in Jersey City the commute isn't bad it's even more reliable than the NYC subway more often, the neighborhood that I live in is decent, not scary. So definitely the cost of living freaks me out especially the gas prices and having the need to drive everywhere.I'm thinking twice if it's worth it.

Opps it's in Corona del Mar, Orange County I forgot to clarify that