Moving from Midwest to Murrieta (Oceanside, Temecula: house, public schools, contractors)

[runningfromthemw]

My wife and I are looking to move our 3 kids from the Midwest to the Murrieta/Temecula/Menifee area. We have visited and generally like the area, but it’s the proximity to things plus the “affordability” that draws us to these cities. The question we have is how are the schools? Is there a lot of bullying and stuff like that? How’s the homeless problem in these towns? Anything that we’re missing by just visiting that a local knows and would warn us about would be appreciated. I work remotely so the commute isn’t something that I’m that concerned with.

[wp169]

It's too hot in that area, but i liked the wineries and the casino. My friends lived in Murietta until they moved to Oklahoma, they didn't like the heat.

[mchang43]

Temecula is the least affordable of the three cities and Menifee is the most affordable. Temecula public schools are excellent. If you are not satisfied with public schools, there are private and charter schools to choose from. Temecula, especially South Temecula, get the most sea breeze from Rainbow Gap in the afternoons. Actually, breeze is an understatement. It's a strong wind from the coast. It gets cold even during summer time. If you can afford it, check out South Temecula.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by runningfromthemw

My wife and I are looking to move our 3 kids from the Midwest to the Murrieta/Temecula/Menifee area. We have visited and generally like the area, but it’s the proximity to things plus the “affordability” that draws us to these cities. The question we have is how are the schools? Is there a lot of bullying and stuff like that? How’s the homeless problem in these towns? Anything that we’re missing by just visiting that a local knows and would warn us about would be appreciated. I work remotely so the commute isn’t something that I’m that concerned with.

Murrieta has homes within walking distance of all schools and they are quite good. West side of the 5 and North of Kalmia. Like Temecula that are gets a nice breeze in the afternoon and you can turn off your A/C and open the windows and be just fine. Easy access to a lot and less traffic than Temecula. Menifee is not that good and I have had friends and family who lived in all 3 cities.

[DanceswithBeagles]

Originally Posted by Racer46

Murrieta has homes within walking distance of all schools and they are quite good. West side of the 5 and North of Kalmia. Like Temecula that are gets a nice breeze in the afternoon and you can turn off your A/C and open the windows and be just fine. Easy access to a lot and less traffic than Temecula. Menifee is not that good and I have had friends and family who lived in all 3 cities.

West of I-15, I think you mean.

That area of Murrieta you describe is where we’ve lived for the past 7+ years, and we do enjoy a great breeze in the afternoons. It can be 95 degrees but when I step out of the pool, I’m reaching for the towel because I’m cold!

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by DanceswithBeagles

West of I-15, I think you mean.

That area of Murrieta you describe is where we’ve lived for the past 7+ years, and we do enjoy a great breeze in the afternoons. It can be 95 degrees but when I step out of the pool, I’m reaching for the towel because I’m cold!

Yes I mean the 15. I missed the 1.

It is probably the best area in Murrieta or Temecula if schools and less traffic are an issue.

The breeze really helps deal with the Summer heat.

[NORTY FLATZ]

The thing about Temec/Wildomar/Murrieta is that the vast majority of homes built are 2-story. This means the bedrooms are almost all upstairs. Since heat rises, it becomes the hottest part of the house. In Winter, this is ok, but during the Months of April to now, it can make sleeping very uncomfortable. This makes people run their A/C's all day/night/month/season. Once you get your first $1200 electric bill, you learn to minimize this, hopefully. Or, you go solar.

Also, the major arterial used for getting around is I-15. This 8-lane freeway can handle A LOT of traffic at once. This is greaat for North/South travel (as most of it will be.) But, if you gotta go West towards the coast, then you're stuck with "Ortega Highway." A 2 lane stage coach route from the 1880's. It's a windy/twisty mountainous route with sheer drop-offs that you don't want to even consider. When there's a head-on there, it can be closed for hours. This means you gotta drive all the way up to the 91 Fwy, and that's a parking lot, or go all the way down to Hwy 76 in Oceanside. Pick your poison...

Don't get me wrong, the area is great if you're into wine tasting, or balloon flying, but other than that.....

From what I understand, there's FINALLY a close-by hospital now. This was sorely needed for many years.

[DanceswithBeagles]

Our hottest months are August and September, although we can have temperature spikes earlier and later in the year.

For the 2 weeks a year or so (at most) that we run the A/C at night, it is during that time period, and for only a short time. Most of the time, we cool down plenty at night, and we sleep under ceiling fans with our windows open. That afternoon breeze cools us down. Some of our neighbors swear by their whole house fans, which facilitate that cool down at night, but we’ve never felt the need for one.

I agree about the Ortega; I won’t drive it, so to go west I use 76 or 91 with FasTrak, which I love.

Since OP is working remotely and has children, I think Temecula and the west side of Murrieta may work well for his family.

We see a lot of new things going up in Menifee, but I don’t know about the schools, and I hear from a relative who lives out there that it’s hotter.

A few years ago a woman from Florida was looking to move her family to the area. They moved into a gorgeous pool home just up the hill from us in Copper Canyon and love the area. We met and became friends. Her husband says our climate reminds him of Spain’s.

Re: electric bills, our highest one came the first year we moved in, when I wasn’t used to the heat. I think we hit $450 one month because I went nuts with the A/C while getting unpacked and moved in. But our usual electric bills in west Murrieta run $200/mo. or less for a single story, 2800 SF house.

The only $1200 electric bill I’ve ever seen here came for a month we didn’t live in the house but had contractors running pumps, fans, and dehumidifiers in our house after a water leak.

Re: hospitals, we have Loma Linda, Temecula Valley, Rancho Springs, and a new Kaiser coming in a couple of years.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by DanceswithBeagles

Our hottest months are August and September, although we can have temperature spikes earlier and later in the year.

For the 2 weeks a year or so (at most) that we run the A/C at night, it is during that time period, and for only a short time. Most of the time, we cool down plenty at night, and we sleep under ceiling fans with our windows open. That afternoon breeze cools us down. Some of our neighbors swear by their whole house fans, which facilitate that cool down at night, but we’ve never felt the need for one.

I agree about the Ortega; I won’t drive it, so to go west I use 76 or 91 with FasTrak, which I love.

Since OP is working remotely and has children, I think Temecula and the west side of Murrieta may work well for his family.

We see a lot of new things going up in Menifee, but I don’t know about the schools, and I hear from a relative who lives out there that it’s hotter.

A few years ago a woman from Florida was looking to move her family to the area. They moved into a gorgeous pool home just up the hill from us in Copper Canyon and love the area. We met and became friends. Her husband says our climate reminds him of Spain’s.

Re: electric bills, our highest one came the first year we moved in, when I wasn’t used to the heat. I think we hit $450 one month because I went nuts with the A/C while getting unpacked and moved in. But our usual electric bills in west Murrieta run $200/mo. or less for a single story, 2800 SF house.

The only $1200 electric bill I’ve ever seen here came for a month we didn’t live in the house but had contractors running pumps, fans, and dehumidifiers in our house after a water leak.

Re: hospitals, we have Loma Linda, Temecula Valley, Rancho Springs, and a new Kaiser coming in a couple of years.

Yep even a 2 story gets cool in the afternoon when you open the windows and turn off the A/C. The electric costs are not that much most of the year and even the worst time in Summer, yours would be about the norm.

I have relatives living in the area and when there and I wanted to go the the beach, I would drive the Ortega a lot, with no issues though gotta be careful at a few places, unless I wanted the SDC beaches then I would take the 76. Taking the 91 can be time consuming, but if you don't like cliffs, use it.