Returning to Westminster (?) (Huntington Beach, Irvine: mortgage, house, neighborhood)

[Sarilas]

My family has owned a 1959 built home in Westminster since 1974 - it's been rented out all this time and I've lived elsewhere in the country, but there is an opportunity for us to return to OC and to stay in the Westminster house while we get ourselves situated. (Or even permanently - the home is completely paid off- obviously this is a major attraction for us.)

Here's where I could use your help.

I haven't stepped foot in Westminster for 15 years; I have no idea what I'd be going back to.

I understand about it now being Little Seoul, and I'm completely content with that (our family is multi cultural as well and we love being immersed in other cultures), but I've read some about there being gang issues to go along with this? Am I making a mistake taking my children into this environment, or is the area about as safe as any other urban community?

The house is right off Magnolia and McFadden, in the HB school district.

Thanks for your help, in advance!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Sarilas

I understand about it now being Little Seoul,

Little Saigon, actually

Originally Posted by Sarilas

and we love being immersed in other cultures

You're headed to the right place then.

[Sarilas]

Ah, Saigon... obviously not a culture I'm currently familiar with!

So... can anyone expand upon the obvious?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Sarilas

My family has owned a 1959 built home in Westminster since 1974 - it's been rented out all this time and I've lived elsewhere in the country, but there is an opportunity for us to return to OC and to stay in the Westminster house while we get ourselves situated. (Or even permanently - the home is completely paid off- obviously this is a major attraction for us.)

Here's where I could use your help.

I haven't stepped foot in Westminster for 15 years; I have no idea what I'd be going back to.

I understand about it now being Little Seoul, and I'm completely content with that (our family is multi cultural as well and we love being immersed in other cultures), but I've read some about there being gang issues to go along with this? Am I making a mistake taking my children into this environment, or is the area about as safe as any other urban community?

The house is right off Magnolia and McFadden, in the HB school district.

Thanks for your help, in advance!

Out of curiosity,

What do you do now in Nashville for work?
Where will you work in OC?
Kids? Ages?

[Sarilas]

I've returned to school so will be doing that full time for the next few years. All of my family still live in OC, and we have some inside tracks for graphic design type work for my husband (mostly software/gaming companies and the like) but it's not so much of an issue as without paying a mortgage a huge chunk of our monthly income is freed up. Most of the companies are in Irvine.

My kids run the gamut from 2 to 14 years old, so while we'll be concerned about everything from elementary to high school.

Thanks for your help!

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by Sarilas

I've returned to school so will be doing that full time for the next few years. All of my family still live in OC, and we have some inside tracks for graphic design type work for my husband (mostly software/gaming companies and the like) but it's not so much of an issue as without paying a mortgage a huge chunk of our monthly income is freed up. Most of the companies are in Irvine.

My kids run the gamut from 2 to 14 years old, so while we'll be concerned about everything from elementary to high school.

Thanks for your help!

They should learn Vietnamese, they are the majority of the population.
I'd love to live there but it's a little pricey for me

[Sarilas]

It would be amazing to learn Vietnamese maybe we'll have helpful neighbors; travel and culture are very much something we like to encourage.

We probably couldn't afford to live there at this point in time either if it weren't for the house being available.

[bhcompy]

Huntington Beach district isn't too bad last I checked(and the school performance maps seem to echo that). Pretty close to Beach Blvd and Midway City, which are not the best parts of WM, but that area could be far enough from it to be unaffected by it. That said, the worst parts of WM aren't as bad as the worst areas in LA county. Just take a quick drive around the neighborhood and you should be able to evaluate the neighborhood quality pretty quick.

The area on the whole is a great place to raise kids and I know you called it urban, but it's suburban, at least as far as LA standards go

[Sarilas]

Thanks so much, bhcompy; I checked out the area on Google maps, and it looks alright to me, but then I haven't lived in So Cal for so long it's always hard to tell. The first-hand experience of others is invaluable to me in knowing what to expect ahead of time!

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Sarilas

Ah, Saigon... obviously not a culture I'm currently familiar with!

So... can anyone expand upon the obvious?

Yes, pho will become your stomach's newest best friend.