Relocating from Illinois to Irvine area (Los Angeles, Santa Ana: rentals, condos, crime)

[dnlstar]

I am looking at relocating with a position through my company from Illinois to Irvine. I have done some research online regarding housing and Southern Corona area seems great in the 883 area code - Lake Elsinore also very reasonable. Family of 3 with a 7 yr old, going on 8. Want kid friendly, prefer under 45 min drive to Irvine, and within a 270-320 home purchase. We would like a pool and yet want to be in a safe area where there are plenty of kids and families. Husband won't have job right away so preferably somewhere within 15 min into town for him to find a reasonable full time job for just extra $$. Also enjoy diversity but we are non-hispanic/caucasion so don't want to be in a neighborhood that is majority hispanic. But definately want culture for our son.

Any advice?

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by dnlstar

I am looking at relocating with a position through my company from Illinois to Irvine. I have done some research online regarding housing and Southern Corona area seems great in the 883 area code - Lake Elsinore also very reasonable. Family of 3 with a 7 yr old, going on 8. Want kid friendly, prefer under 45 min drive to Irvine, and within a 270-320 home purchase. We would like a pool and yet want to be in a safe area where there are plenty of kids and families. Husband won't have job right away so preferably somewhere within 15 min into town for him to find a reasonable full time job for just extra $$. Also enjoy diversity but we are non-hispanic/caucasion so don't want to be in a neighborhood that is majority hispanic. But definately want culture for our son.

Any advice?

92883, is mostly unincorporated SE Corona, along I-15.

You will not, repeat, will not, be within 45 minutes of Irvine during commute time. There's this thing called the "Corona Crawl", which occurs during rush hour, and if you were to come from 92883 or Lake Elsinore, you will be in great company of others planning to go to Irvine or other parts of OC. That commute is much worse, and longer than if you were to come from other parts of Corona, like say the actual city of Corona.

If you don't want to be around Hispanics, DO NOT move to Southern California. 1 out of every 2 people in the Los Angeles megalopolis (which includes OC, Irvine, Corona, etc.) is Hispanic. "They even live in the "rich areas"", which is something you cannot afford. Your dream home/neighborhood will cost a lot more than your budget affords. Double it.

I would recommend not buying a home at the outset. Find somewhere to rent closer to Irvine. Hopefully the prices will continue to go down, or your incomes will start to rise, and then you'll be able to purchase a home, close to work. You don't want to buy a home in Corona and decide you hate the commute (you will), or decide that you don't like all the Hispanics in Southern CA and decide you want to move back to IL.

[dnlstar]

I am sorry if I made it sound like I do not want to live around or with Hispanic people. That is certainly not the case at all. Just want a general mix of population. 1 to 1 is fine. I was only saying I would prefer to not be directed to an area that is only 20% caucasion while 70% hispanic. I do not mind commute (being from Chicago), so any recommendations for cities, towns, etc. That can keep me within an hour or Irvine would be appreciated. I can adjust my hours for rush hour times if need be. But still would appreciate a general discussion around which areas are nice.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by dnlstar

I am sorry if I made it sound like I do not want to live around or with Hispanic people. That is certainly not the case at all. Just want a general mix of population. 1 to 1 is fine. I was only saying I would prefer to not be directed to an area that is only 20% caucasion while 70% hispanic. I do not mind commute (being from Chicago), so any recommendations for cities, towns, etc. That can keep me within an hour or Irvine would be appreciated. I can adjust my hours for rush hour times if need be. But still would appreciate a general discussion around which areas are nice.

Got it. Most of the people on this forum are good, and wouldn't direct you to a place where you wouldn't feel comfortable. In Southern CA, there is no such thing as a 95% (or more) one-race area. IMO, race isn't as much of an issue as it is in CHI -- there isn't the level of segregation in CA that you find in CHI.

In many "1 hour to Irvine areas", many of the places you could afford to purchase a home would be the 70% Hispanic areas. You can find $2000/mo rentals close to Irvine, but they'd most likely be townhomes/condos, etc. I think that'd be the route to go, to start.

First, I'd recommend searching the threads in the Orange County forum. What's nice to some isn't nice to others. Reading through the threads will give you a salted idea as to what's nice, and what's not. IMO, any part of Corona is too far for somebody working in Irvine. I grew up in Corona, and commuting to OC is a lifestyle for many there, a lifestyle that tends to wear people down and give them a lesser quality-of-life. IMO, a house (or a bigger one) isn't worth the time spent commuting.

Second, come out to CA and get a lay of the land. Do the "Corona Crawl" drive I spoke of and see if you'd be able to put up with it day after day. The way I see it, why commute if you don't have to? Think about the extra 2-3 hours a day you could spend with your family if you lived closer to Irvine, you might even be able to apply that to you life in CHI now.

[dnlstar]

Hi David;

In Chicago, living in the suburbs I have done the 90 min one-way drive, down to what I am doing now - which is less than 15 min. Of course I would prefer the 15 min. However, my drive sacrifice for my son's education and surroundings is a clear choice for me.

It seems in the Corona area - it would be about an hour each way, depending on where within Corona area. it looks like Lake Elsinore is a decent area also, but I don't understand why the directions to Irvine take it through Corona instead of NW towards Irvine through the south point.

Can you tell me your thoughts of Corona as far as family upbringing, crime, safety, community and schools?

I may not have the ability to "take my time" once I get there, which is why I am doing the research now. It does seem that there are some great middle class type houses available around 280-320 in Corona, which is why it seems like an obvious choice to me.

I am sure I will be working with a relocation realtor, and they want to sell houses, so I want to be sure I can direct a realtor where I want to look at.

Thanks again for all your input. And like I said, I live in a community right now, that is 99.99999% all caucasion. I do not prefer this for my children. There are towns withim 5 minutes that are a much higher populated ethnicity, speaking mostly hispanic. Here they are run-down neighborhoods with higher crime and gang neighborhoods. This is what I am trying to avoid, not the ethnicity itself. I embrace that. :-)

[BRinSM]

I spent much of my younger years in corona as well and it was perfectly fine as far as being a family area for any race. there are white, latinos, blacks, and asians, so you won't be lacking diversity. the schools are fine too, i graduated high school there and now i'm college educated and make a decent living. the commute is going to be the tough part. there is a toll road you can access as well as a commuter train, but depending on where you will be working in irvine, those options may or may not be worth it. unfortunately, you will most likely be priced out of orange county or be stuck with a small, older home in a so/so neighborhood. good luck though!

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by dnlstar

but I don't understand why the directions to Irvine take it through Corona instead of NW towards Irvine through the south point.

Because the "south point" is CA-74, otherwise known as "Ortega Hwy", a dangerous, winding, mountain road that occasionally gets foggy. From what I hear, it's quite a long traverse through the Santa Ana Mountains to get to Irvine. I wouldn't recommend it.

Originally Posted by dnlstar

Can you tell me your thoughts of Corona as far as family upbringing, crime, safety, community and schools?

Yes. I grew up there, and in neighboring Riverside, and lived in the area from age 2 until age 20. IMO, it's one of the better places to raise a family in Southern CA -- I look back on my wonder years with fondness.

I grew up in the "shady neighborhood" of Home Gardens, which is wedged between Corona and Riverside, and contains both Corona and Riverside addresses (parts of zips 92879 and 92503). I would not recommend this neighborhood for you and your family, as its schools and residents are over 70% Hispanic (you said you didn't want that, the schools are more like 90%), a good chunk of residents are Spanish speaking, and a large portion are poor.

We had some crime there growing up, but nothing to lose sleep over really. Anywhere in Southern CA, you really just need to keep your wits about you, which I'm sure applies in Chicagoland as well.

CNUSD (Corona-Norco Unified School District), gets high marks from me, the schools I attended in the district were excellent. They were able to take advantage of my gifted status as a boy by putting me in a gifted program. I don't think there is much bad to be said about CNUSD, though they've had problems with crowding over the years (I guess in a way that could be looked at as a good thing). But hey, I turned out ok.

Originally Posted by dnlstar

There are towns withim 5 minutes that are a much higher populated ethnicity, speaking mostly hispanic. Here they are run-down neighborhoods with higher crime and gang neighborhoods. This is what I am trying to avoid, not the ethnicity itself. I embrace that. :-)

There is a lot of this in CA as well. You just need to choose your next home carefully, and when it comes to Corona/Riverside, I won't steer you in the wrong direction. You can even post or DM me addresses, and I'll give you my opinion on the area.

The thing I worry about for you is the commute, if you think you can bear it, more power to you. The commute out of Corona in the morning is something I'd only wish on my worst enemy.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

I spent much of my younger years in corona as well and it was perfectly fine as far as being a family area for any race. there are white, latinos, blacks, and asians, so you won't be lacking diversity. the schools are fine too, i graduated high school there and now i'm college educated and make a decent living.

What schools did you attend? (if you don't mind sharing)

[BRinSM]

although i lived in corona through my jr. high years, i went to school in OC. As for high school, I went to Santiago.

[dnlstar]

Thank you both for all the information. If I see something that interests me I will certainly see if you would be willing to take a look and let me know about the area itself. Thanks again!