The Inland Empire's Affluence (Los Angeles, Riverside: foreclosures, how much, new house)

[US-Traveller]

I was wondering what the most affluent and/or expensive neighborhoods and cities are in the Inland Empire. I have tried to figure it out but it all seems relatively inexpensive and middle to upper-middle class.

[bhcompy]

yep, and thats pretty much it. there may be some pricey parts of lake elsinore and temecula or something, but thats about it.

[US-Traveller]

I noticed some expensive housing going up in Chino Hills. It is a golf course community called Vellano. I thought it seemed similar to some things you'd see in Southern Orange County.

I read that Riverside had some nice upscale neighborhoods. What are the names of those neighborhoods? Are there any other affluent areas of the Inland Empire?

If you had a choice between living in Phoenix, Arizona and the Inland Empire, which would you select?

[bhcompy]

ie is where the middle class go when they cant afford orange or la county housing and dont want to move north of la in palmdale or something, so its mostly middle class. until 15 years ago it was farm/ranch country and still is in some places where phoenix was where rich northeasterners had their summer homes. if you want upper class, you probably wont find as many options in IE as you would in phoenix, but how much is it worth to live nearer to the beach, theme parks, etc?

[US-Traveller]

Would you say that the Inland Empire is gentrifiying with high-end mall developments and upscale home developments like Vellano?

[bhcompy]

i think most of it is too young to gentrify or too cheap. why spend the same amt to live in a 30 year old home in the city of riverside when you can move 20-40minutes in basically any direction and get a home built in the 90s or later? heck, with ie being near the top, if not at the top, in the nation in foreclosures in these newer communities, its probably cheaper to buy a new house than an older one

[Twinkle Toes]

You might want to check out the Hawarden Estates area of Riverside. Or come out to the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area) where I live.

[that1guy]

Riverside: Hawarden, Canyon Crest, Arlington Heights, Orange Crest, Lake Hills Reserve, Mockingbird Canyon
Corona: Sierra del Oro, The Retreat, Dos Lagos, parts of Eastvale
Norco: Norco Hills
Chino Hills: Most of the city
Chino: The parts closest to Chino Hills
Redlands: Southern Redlands
Rancho Cucamonga: Alta Loma (near the mountain)
Moreno Valley: Reche Canyon (albeit more middle class, still contains some higher end housing selling in the 800k), Northern part of Rancho Belago (again same situation, mostly higher end horse ranches).
Lake Elsinore: Tuscany Hills, parts along the Ortega Highway
Temecula: Wine Country
Murreita: Take Clinton Keith Rd. Southwest in the hills.
Wildomar: Hills above Lake Elsinore (very small pocket of million dollar listings, rural estates)
Upland: San Antonio Heights
San Bernardino: Northern SB
Ontario: Areas closest to Rancho Cucamonga

All these areas are above upper middle class. Some more than others. For example, the Moreno Valley, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, San Bernardino, Ontario areas are closer to upper middle class, but still on the higher end. The majority of the IE is middle class. There are a lot more upper middle class areas. Most families in the IE make between 50-90k. Again though, the area has grown in affluence, but still mostly middle class in character.

Downtown Riverside is the only place that is undergoing any sort of gentrification. This is not on the same scale as downtown Los Angeles. Gentrification implies age and urbanicity. Most of the IE is too young and still too rural/suburban in many parts to experience gentrification.

I still would choose the IE. Cooler weather, closer to the ocean, and close to other entertainment.

[Fontucky]

Add for Upland: The old central core neighborhood with the huge Victorian mansions, South of Foothill.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

If you had a choice between living in Phoenix, Arizona and the Inland Empire, which would you select?

Phoenix all the way.