Canyon Lake? Or other SoCal areas? (San Diego, Riverside: houses, college, retirement)

[doug25]

I am considering moving my family out to SoCal in about two years after college. I've found that Canyon Lake has some good stats and seems like an overall good area. I lived in Mission Viejo in the 80's, but the price is too high for now. Is there any other area's (besides Canyon Lake) that would be good for a family of 5(3 young kids)?

To give some insight on where I'm from: Live in Shamokin, Pa. Pop. of 10,000 with no economical growth. The school systems are lacking some muster and have a growing drug problem, there is very little to do for kids, teens, and adults seeing that this is a basic retirement area. It is a depressed coal mining area, with the only thing to do within a considerable distance is Wal-mart and Malls for shopping, Knoebels amusement park(which is actually nationally recognized), and ATVing. I want my family to grow up in an overall better area with more options available for them.

So, I ask for your opinion...be brutal if you have too.

[uglyblackjohn]

Mission Viejo in the 80's-back when the Natadores were the swimming program in America. Canyon Lake is nothing like the M.V. you remember from one of So.Cal.'s last "golden ages". Actually nothing (in S.C.) is the same as that place at that time. Do you plan on living on or near the lake itself? If so it's not a terrible area. Try Temecula or go farther south into North San Diego County. The only livable parts of Riverside are pretty expensive and you'll have a lot of big city problems in a smallish town. You can find anything you're looking for - it'll just cost you a lot more in Cali. .

[doug25]

Thanks, If I can live near the Lake, it would be great. Although, I will research the areas you spoke of. I can remember some great times back then, but times change. And again, thanks.

[twinmum]

Canyon Lake is nice to live, but you still have to send your kids to school in Lake Elsinore... YUCK!
Drive a little further south and you can get similar priced homes and waaaaay better schools in Murrieta & Temecula.

[tkdmom]

I agree with twinmum. The amenities of CL are nice, but LE schools are scary.

[evolutionrules]

Just bought a house in Winchester in the Temecula school district. We have 2 boys ages 5 and 3. Very family oriented. Houses prices are very low. Got our 3150 square foot house for $295,000. My wife and I are both teachers and TVUSD is very good. Parts of Winchester are in the Murrieta and Hemet school districts so we had to watch where we looked for houses because we wanted the temecula district. Our dead end street has a ton of kids and very friendly neighbors. We are very happy. I really like the area and highly recommend it. if you want more info or our agent then send me a private message and I would be happy to pass on all the little things I've learned through out this process.