Chino vs Menifee vs Moreno Valley (bank, good, about)

[that1guy]

Personally since being to the airport is important...I would consider Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario (near Rancho Cucamonga), or Fontana (Sierra Lakes).

Mennifee is too far out as is Moreno Valley. I used to live in Moreno Valley and drive to near the airport. It is a 25 mile drive from Sunnymead Ranch on the NW end of town, but with traffic usually takes 45min or so (once 1h30min!!!). It's not the gang problem that should a concern (really, a zip code with a higher median income than Mennifee has a gang problem? Last time I checked, typically doesn't happen that way.)

Best bet is sticking to cities in San Bernardino County...save your gas money.

[shannonM]

contrary to what that1guy says moreno valley really does have alot of problems. and yes alot of gang activity. my husbands aunt is a police officer and lives in moreno valley and she says that it is a really tough area. the only reason she stays is because she inherited a house and has no children to worry about. as for moreno valley having a higher median income i honestly doubt that. they probably have a smaller percentage of people paying into the tax base also.

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by shannonM

contrary to what that1guy says moreno valley really does have alot of problems. and yes alot of gang activity. my husbands aunt is a police officer and lives in moreno valley and she says that it is a really tough area. the only reason she stays is because she inherited a house and has no children to worry about. as for moreno valley having a higher median income i honestly doubt that. they probably have a smaller percentage of people paying into the tax base also.

I live in Moreno Valley and never had any problems...sorry, but it's a city of nearly 200K Like most cities of that size it will have very nice areas and not so nice areas.So contrary to shannonM, I will say that I live in an area that has virtually no crime. Smaller percentage? No...this is not the third world. The median income of the city and the average income are relatively close...thus, there is a LARGER percentage of people paying into the tax base (since the median is 58K...higher than the county, and the average is 64K...the small difference indicates that the majority of people are well within the realm of middle class, which stands at around 54k by most sociological definitions). The area around Iris median income is around 75k with an average of 80k, higher than Mennifee city which is about 70ish average (I don't remember the median figures).

[Kevin Preston]

I have lived in both, in Chino right now. Love it. But like any place else, there are problems.

There are new housing developments right near still extant dairy farms/cow areas. When the wind blows wrong it does not smell good, and there can be a fly problem. These issues will likely go away as the farmers sell off valuable land. The downside is the wide open spaces that Chino had are diminishing.

The biggest problem with all new housing around here are the CCRs. If you like living in a restricted area because of--God forbid--basket ball hoops on garages, and you don't mind rules in some developments that don't let you keep your garage door open for more than 30 minutes and you may face a fine if you put your garbage cans out early, there are alot of new home neighborhoods for you! Don't forget to budget in your $150-$300/month "fees", for things like the little strip of grass in the "common" areas and paying for the goofy security guard in his golf cart.

My wife and I wanted a place where I could have my small car collection, put up a workshop, shoot baskets, have room for the kids to run around, all the things that you think you are buying a home for. If you want to do these things, or maybe have a sailboat on your property, try to find an older resale. There are still a few neighborhoods around that have not fallen to the HOA Nazis.

[bankura]

I visited all the places finally this weekend. menifee was a combination of good and few bad parts where I see mobile homes and junk cars all over the place. But new developments going on/shopping complexes are coming. the house price is really cheap there now(90-100$ sq ft you can get 2 years old upgraded homes). I made an offer but builder ddin't accept it. I am not in hurry to buy from them and was just trying to get a good deal.

I feel bad about Moreno Valley. I wnt to Iris avenue Khov's Palcio. You can get 1598 sq ft condo for 178K(They only have the model left though) but I didn't feel I can raise my daughter in that area. While any growing city has pros and cons after drving/stopping for 2 hours, I decided not to go back to Moreno valley agin for housing.

We went to Chino(Preserve) and Colege Park today. I agree with what kevin said like many new developments are going on. It's loosing its charm. I think pretty soon farm lands will be gone and HOA rules etc. will come. That's said Chino is my number one preference now and waiting to make the right offer at Preserve(I liked preserve better than college park). I am sure this place in near future as economy comes back will grow more.

The place I liked most though is Harveston community at Temecula. If it was not that far and few more choices like Preserve in terms of builder were there, may be I could look there. Only Mertiage home has 3-4 more new homes left in their final phase and they will not do much negotiation. Harveston is the best community I have seen so far(Chino's Preserve if you take that smell and fly problem may be near).

All in all Inland empire is a big contrast from places to places. Chino Hills, Temecula can compete with some the best places in Southern CA and at the same time there are places like Moreno Valley(If I am single no issue but with family raising kid, I am not), Perris etc. are downhill.

About orice, last 6 months it has dropped 30-40% in some places. For exaple I remeber in April-8 we wnt to Lake Hills reserve at Riverside. Beautiful homes on top of mountain with almost all more than 3000 sq. ft was selling 750K+ by Brehm communities. Now majorty of them sold out or 1-2 left as they had to reduce price to 400-500K range. The sale sguy told me they were planning to seel them 1 million plus in 2006.

Keep posting

[Tim-mac]

Originally Posted by that1guy

I live in Moreno Valley and never had any problems...sorry, but it's a city of nearly 200K Like most cities of that size it will have very nice areas and not so nice areas.So contrary to shannonM, I will say that I live in an area that has virtually no crime. Smaller percentage? No...this is not the third world. The median income of the city and the average income are relatively close...thus, there is a LARGER percentage of people paying into the tax base (since the median is 58K...higher than the county, and the average is 64K...the small difference indicates that the majority of people are well within the realm of middle class, which stands at around 54k by most sociological definitions). The area around Iris median income is around 75k with an average of 80k, higher than Mennifee city which is about 70ish average (I don't remember the median figures).

Borm and raised in what was Sunnymead (Moreno Valley now). Graduated from MVHS. I finally moved away from MV a few years ago and darn glad I did. Yes it is close to 200K in population, but for it's size, it has more problems then other cities it's size. I won't say that it doesn't have it's nice areas. You still have to shop and deal with the rif raf that ruins the city. South Riverside county Menifee, Murrieta, and Temecula are a much better choice. As for the Iris area... From Perris Blvd to Laselle, Not an area I'd raise a family in now.

[jasmine22]

hi,
my husband grew up in moreno valley and we often visit family there from time to time. i would NOT invest in a home there. high crime. ugly. so many better options for you in the inland empire.

my husband and me are also considering the preserve in chino.

[SoCal Bottom Rider]

Now with a housing crash underway and recession, you can expect..the further out you look the uglier it will get as time progresses. Try to stay close the the western IE areas but even then try not to overpay. Wait it out for further declines to get you in there.

[SoCal Bottom Rider]

one more thing..stay close to the western IE due to proximity to job hubs. You want your employment options wide in this downturn. You dont want to limit yourself to Brea or taking the Ortega hwy to Irvine. Sucks.

[bankura]

Decided to go with Preserve at CHINO.