Moving From Seattle to So. Cal

[JesusisLord]

Originally Posted by Miz

I am looking at an area that is suburban, good schools, low crime, and homes priced from $300,000 to $450,000. I perfer to stay in the $300's.

I'm sorry you will have an almost impossible time finding a home in that range in a decent area.

[Hazel Eyes]

I live in Chino and for $300,000 here you get a condo. For that price anywhere in So.Cal you're not going to be in a very good area. Forget the pool and 2,000sf..If you have kids, you'll want to live in good areas and schools will be a concern.

I wish you all the best, but this is why we're on our way out of So. Cal..It's getting to expensive to make a living here.

[MKyz]

With a little research, you can find great buys all over Riverside county due to the high foreclosure rate. Homes that were $550K+ are in the $400K range and even lower. You have the upper hand in purchasing, and I would suggest not rush into anything because there's strong possibility that prices will fall more in the riverside county area or sellers will become even more desparate to sell.

I am originally from Seattle (the Eastside) and I currently live in the Corona area. It's a big change! I would definately suggest renting to find an area that you like before buying. Good luck!

[fairweathergolfer]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-b...alifornia.html

They have some very positive things to say about some of the areas you mention that you are interested in and also talk a bit about pricing that is not far off from what you are hoping to spend.

I am also from the Seattle area and have been down here for nearly a decade now (LA/San Diego), but it was a HUGE unexpected culture shock when I moved here. H-U-G-E! This is partially too why a lot of people recommend renting as there are a whole new set of variables to get a grasp on here before you make such a huge financial committment to an area.

You definately need to do some serious research first (you are already off to an excellent start posting here!! Smart lady!) and ON SITE. No Seattle or WA state for sure down here. I know you know this, however I never realized how different until I lived here awhile. Things I could not have even thought of or envisioned (both very positive and negative, but I guess that is true whenever one moves to another region--this one just happens to be pretty pricey). It is a whole other reality in my opinion. Be prepared to ask a lot of questions, tour schools, check out the website greatschools.com etc. Rent close to where you are hoping to buy and go to all of these malls and new home communities etc. It is good to know though that you don't want a city, that will help a lot! I love California and Southern California now, but not without a serious breaking in period. If you want a pool and malls close by that bodes well for you :-). Clearly you are looking forward to the great things that Southern California offers. Best of luck to you and to your husband as well.

[Miz]

I made a trip down to So. Cal and found the commute is bad no matter where you live. We looked in Corona (92881 and 92882 areas) the area seems really nice, there were a few areas in the unincorporated area that seemed rough, but besides that I saw beautiful homes, very nice people, and shopping near by. I was expecting to move my purchase price to $500k but found I really did not have to. There are many short sales which is causing homes not in short sale to lower there price. We found 5 great home, 2 with pool that were under $450k, the square footage was just under 2000 sq ft but the layout made them seem bigger, plus I learned that in California you mostly use the outdoor areas so I am okay with the smaller sq foot. So we still plan on moving into an apartment until I find the right house (we listed our home last week and need it to sell first before we buy another). I am confident we will find it and very close to the $450k mark.

I also found out that 30% of people in Corona rent so we plan on buying a home closer to Cerritos in about 3 years and placing that home for rent.

For the people from Seattle the Corona area really feels like Mill Creek or other east side cites, minus the rain .

People were exceptionally nice men hold doors, people smile, they let you cut in line for the restroom if you have a kid. Well, that was my experience.

[eminent]

if you are considering a place between those two cities, i suggest temecula. it is a growing area that is considered to be "new." the only down side is that there is a casino in the city. however, home prices are affordable and crime rates are low. i believe there are a couple of newer schools in the area as well. i recomend taking a detailed tour of the surrounding areas prior to making any judgements from seattle. Moderator cut: advertising and or soliciting are prohibited per site TOS

[fairweathergolfer]

That is excellent news Miz! I am so happy you came down and had a very positive experience. Very good point too about us using the outdoors so much more here that we do not need a huge house as in many ways the outdoors figures in with that sq. footage because we spend so much time outside (compared to Seattle).

Pool!