Thinking of moving to Winchester. Is it an OK place to raise kids? (Hemet: new house)

[evolutionrules]

We put an offer on a house in Winchester. From what I can tell it seems like a nice place to live. Close to Temecula and Murrieta. School district is great. Are there any big negatives to this area?

[BRinSM]

I think that whole area out there (Winchester, Hemet, Murrieta) is really feeling the pain of the subprime fallout. Before going through with the purchase of a house, make sure that you aren't over bidding. I've heard developers are selling of their excess inventory for 50 cents on the dollar in some areas just to get the properties off of their books.

[orangeapple]

I think I already mentioned that it's a bit backwoods-y. I've heard about people squatting on land out there, like vagrant type of people. Everyone I know from there is a bit, er, white trash... Maybe I am just a snob, haha. The newer housing looks nice though, so it may be changing slowly.

I would recommend Menifee over Winchester. I think a house in Menifee would be a better investment in the long run too. There's more in the way of shopping & restaurants coming to Menifee; but that also means it's slowly losing it's open country feel, so if that appeals to you, then stick to Winchester, or maybe even the French Valley.

Generally, this whole area (Temecula Valley area) is a nice place to raise kids. I grew up out here & it's very sheltered & safe & clean, and the schools are considered good. It's a very family oriented area, with people who tend to be on the religious & conservative side.

The negatives are mostly for young single people, as there's no nightlife or anything like that. If you can't get a job in the area, then commuting is another issue.

[egglady]

We lived in Winchester for 15 years (just recently moved to NM). Raised our kids there in the same house. They went to school in the Menifee district. I have never seen a 'squatter' in all the time I've lived there. The 'vagrants' I've seen were in Temecula in the area across from the post office and down the river along Jefferson.

The pro's (IMO) are: large-ish parcels of land available. Big sky. Close to shopping but far enough away not to be right in your face. I drove to Hemet for the Henry's market, and to Menifee Ralphs shopping center for the Target and a great Mexican Food restaraunt (Casa Viejo). Diamond Valley Reservoir for recreation. Fresh yummy strawberry stands everywhere when it's the picking season. DO take advantage of this, you can get a flat of 4 baskets for like $8.00 and they are all ripe.

Now I'm missing strawberries!

The cons (IMO): gets REALLY cold in the winter and REALLY hot in the summer. Not much protection from the elements (that 'big sky' I mentioned). Leon floods at Scott Road every year. That's the lowest point and it all drains there and stays wet. It also floods at the College (San Jacinto) frontage road. If you are going to be rural prepare yourself for the rainy season. There WILL be mud

There are housing tracks on the Temecula side, around French Valley area. But the traffic starts to get nasty there in the mornings and afternoons. Also new houses on the Menifee side. Both are real nice, and not so 'rural' if you don't go for that.

Enjoy Winchester!