Want to move back to California (San Francisco, Sacramento: sales, home, neighborhood)

[ArizonaBear]

In all fairness: aside from that certain 'vibe' that California is noted for having---------I have a lot of it here next door in Arizona.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by skittles2u

For those moving back and wanting to move back, how are you deciding that the heat of the summer (especially in the Inland Empire area) you can deal with it? What is the tradeoff, is it missing family the most that draws you back?

I'm wanting to move out of the heat, so it is with interest that I'm reading so many wanting to come back. The cooler areas just seem to pricey and if you had a job, it would necessitate a long commute, which isn't fun either.

I just moved from the IE to the Central Coast (without, thankfully, a long commute) so ... maybe I can add some insight to this question.

The IE technically is California but, in a lot of ways, it isn't the California people have fond memories of. The weather is more extreme ... more hot, more cold.

A lot of it is sprawling suburbia ... not a lot of art and culture ... and not great air quality either. It's more conservative and blue collar ... kinda like a Texas version of California. You see a lot more of the jacked up pick up trucks, dirt biker types, etc.

However, it is cheap and, like all cheap areas probably the future growth and boom area of the state. It got me through school and, eventually, to a better paying career so that I could move the central coast so ... for that I am grateful.

As far as moving to the coast you do have to have the job skills to make more money here. Otherwise, you'll be struggling ... a lot. But with the housing crash some areas are getting pretty affordable and prices are still falling ... which is one of the major reasons we decided to move here now.

If you can swing it ... it's totally worth it. We are having the time of our lives since we moved back to the coast.

[Kootenai]

Temecula is known for having really good schools and with prices having dropped so much it is much more affordable. I lived in Hemet for 10 years and I wouldn't recommend it - schools are way crowded. Check out Menifee and Sun City - seriously Sun City isn't just for seniors anymore. Good Luck with your move.

[shannonM]

sorry, but i would definately NOT recommend victorville or the high desert. not at all! it is extremely run down and the element of people that are moving up there due to the low prices are bringing with them alot crime. we lived there for 3 years because we built our dream house. and we finally got out and thank god. the high school that my kids went to was absolutely sub par. the city has nothing to offer. not even the city library is any good. there are alot of pan handlers thugs and homeless. IMO it is not somewhere you want to raise kids I wish someone had told me this before I invested time and money into that community. remember it's cheap for a reason.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by shannonM

sorry, but i would definately NOT recommend victorville or the high desert. not at all! it is extremely run down and the element of people that are moving up there due to the low prices are bringing with them alot crime. we lived there for 3 years because we built our dream house. and we finally got out and thank god. the high school that my kids went to was absolutely sub par. the city has nothing to offer. not even the city library is any good. there are alot of pan handlers thugs and homeless. IMO it is not somewhere you want to raise kids I wish someone had told me this before I invested time and money into that community. remember it's cheap for a reason.

Sounds a whole lot like South Central LA.

Funny I did not get that 'ghetto' vibe in Yucca Valley............then again, I prefer desert towns to, say, Seattle or Wash DC.

[dmax0502]

Hi,

Honestly, the Inland Empire(San Bernardino County) has horrible schools. My son lives in Vista, CA down by Carlsbad, CA. I highly recommend the schools in Carlsbad. My children attended Carlsbad High and it was a wonderful school with a great academic program. My son when he was in school had surfing for his PE class. My Daughter was attending Alta Loma High schhol in the inland empire and it was horrible. I transfered her out the first year in to Carlsbad where my ex lived as she started getting into trouble. That was the ticket as she graduated with honers at Carlsbad. If you have to go to the Inland Empire the only school district I would suggest is Etiwanda High School and jr high also. Carlsbad has some pretty cool rentals available and the price is around the same as the Inland Empire. If you are looking for that area email me back what area and I'll give the number for my Daughter-in-laws porperty management business she owns there. She is also a Real Estate Broker if you are looking to buy. GOOD LUCK AND GOD SPEED

[dmax0502]

Originally Posted by sheri257

I just moved from the IE to the Central Coast (without, thankfully, a long commute) so ... maybe I can add some insight to this question.

The IE technically is California but, in a lot of ways, it isn't the California people have fond memories of. The weather is more extreme ... more hot, more cold.

A lot of it is sprawling suburbia ... not a lot of art and culture ... and not great air quality either. It's more conservative and blue collar ... kinda like a Texas version of California. You see a lot more of the jacked up pick up trucks, dirt biker types, etc.

However, it is cheap and, like all cheap areas probably the future growth and boom area of the state. It got me through school and, eventually, to a better paying career so that I could move the central coast so ... for that I am grateful.

As far as moving to the coast you do have to have the job skills to make more money here. Otherwise, you'll be struggling ... a lot. But with the housing crash some areas are getting pretty affordable and prices are still falling ... which is one of the major reasons we decided to move here now.

If you can swing it ... it's totally worth it. We are having the time of our lives since we moved back to the coast.

If you are looking in Carlsbad the prices have dropped alot. It has wonderful schools. My daughter in law is a broker and property management business owner right on Pacific Coast HWY . She has alot of rentals and houses for sale. Contact Barbara McClain Properties and ask for Lisa Fore. Tell her momma sent you.

[babilz]

Originally Posted by fergusonsix

I love this thread! We left California for Tennessee three years ago and I can't wait to come back. I see people posting about how they left in the last year or so and love it and will never come back. For the first two and a half years we were here, I swore I would live in Tennessee forever and NEVER live in California again. Then last Christmas it hit me - we are 2,200 miles from family and on our own!

I miss the beaches, the weather, the produce, the REAL Mexican food, the diversity, my family, and the whole way of life.

Wow, reading that is like my boyfriend posted this haha. He misses Cali so much.

I have lived in Tennessee my whole life, and my boyfriend is from Murrieta, so after practically no convincing we're moving in a month there. Seriously, Tennessee has brought me down for years. I've heard so many great things in the Temecula area, I'm really excited to start my life there!

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by babilz

Wow, reading that is like my boyfriend posted this haha. He misses Cali so much.

I have lived in Tennessee my whole life, and my boyfriend is from Murrieta, so after practically no convincing we're moving in a month there. Seriously, Tennessee has brought me down for years. I've heard so many great things in the Temecula area, I'm really excited to start my life there!

Calif is quite different; trust me. Both good and bad.

[dweej]

Originally Posted by babilz

Wow, reading that is like my boyfriend posted this haha. He misses Cali so much.

I have lived in Tennessee my whole life, and my boyfriend is from Murrieta, so after practically no convincing we're moving in a month there. Seriously, Tennessee has brought me down for years. I've heard so many great things in the Temecula area, I'm really excited to start my life there!

Congratulations! I would encourage you guys to shoot for Temecula over Murrieta- property values, when they start going up, will go up here first and faster and right now there are a lot of good buys to be had. When people talk about traffic around here, it's usually folks who don't live in Temecula who come into Temecula for shopping, restaurants, city activities, etc. Those of us who live in the middle of Temecula rarely have those same experiences. Good luck!