Temecula or San Marcos (Riverside, Oceanside: 2014, rental, home search)

[malcorub16]

If you work in Temecula, live in Temecula. Many people in nice new cookie cutter homes in Temecula would love to have the opportunity you have and not commute to San Diego County.

[Rpallstate]

Thank you RossieSD, oside5 and bigdaddy5.

I read each community is very unique in their own way in Temecula and whole city is family friendly. Is any of them more preferable for parents like us( very young kids 2 and 5 months).

[SanDiegoSarah]

If your husband is going to be working in Temecula, I would consider Temecula over San Marcos. Yes, it gets hot but the prices are more afforable than San Marcos overall (saves room in the budget for A/C) plus overall the schools are pretty good (they vary of course) and there is pretty much any store, restaurant, etc that you could possibly need.

[psychmd]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Don't under-estimate the benefits of a shorter commute in southern California. Every extra 15 minutes of commute time is 15 minutes subtracted from family time. If I worked in Temecula, as your husband will be doing, I'd want to live in that wonderful family-friendly and safe community, even if it meant a few hotter days every year. And, the schools in Temecula are very good too. As mentioned above, house prices will be slightly less than San Marcos too.

Totally agree from personal experience. I recently moved closer to work, my commute went from 30 min in the morning and 45-50 min in the evening to 15 min in the morning and 20-25 min in the evenings. It doesn't seem like that big a deal on the face of it (15-20 minutes each way) but that time really adds up. I really do notice the extra 40-45 minutes I have at home each day and if we got nothing else from the move it would've still been worth it.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Rpallstate

Thanks expatCA and Louisvuitton1.

Do you know How much commute to promenade mall from RedHawks or Morgan hill in Temecula? I checked google at rush hrs both way and its 17-22 mins. And San Marcos is about 35-40 min. Does that come close to real driving?

Louisvuitton1- which area of Temecula you were in? I read that northern part is much hotter but southern Temecula has very cool breeze and people usually don't need to use AC. Is that much different in both part of town?

Keep in mind there are benefits weather wise living in San Marcos and being near the beaches and SD. In addition the morning drive TO Temecula would be easy as most traffic is going the other way. Ond the evening drive home is also in much lighter traffic. However Temecula has a lotto offer within the community, though San Marcos is closet to outside the city activities. Having lived in both areas I would carefully select a home in San Marcos. Now I grew up at the beach so I am drawn to it, but Temecula is a longer drive to anything much you would want to do in SoCal, outside the immediate area.

The drive times are close from Redhawk etc to the his work, but street traffic can be bad in the Am and PM (Rush hour) in Temecula.

[Rpallstate]

Thank you Malcorub16, sandiego sarah, psychmd, and again to expatCA.

After hearing from all of you and our research, we are leaning more towards living closer to work in Temecula.

Hubby is planning to work mainly 4 -10 hrs day so hopefully beat most traffic on street.

Psychmd- If you do not mind, can you PM about where are you working? Hubby may be working in similar field.

[hkbruin]

Are you buying or renting? Buying in Temecula would prob be a better option than in SM. But SM is definitely valued higher and pehraps better investment overall.

[AADAD]

Temecula has some of the worst air quality in all of So Cal. If you or your family is concerned about that I would choose San Marcos. I work with the doctors who study such things.

[Louisvuitton1]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

By the way, here are the average year round temperatures for Temecula: Climate Temecula - California and Weather averages Temecula It's not like it is unbearably hot in Temecula 12 months of the year.

Will you have a few days every year where it's pushing 100? Yes. But keep in mind that there won't be much humidity in Temecula -- it will feel hot, but a hot day in Temecula will feel much more tolerable than a hot day with humidity in Temecula. And, you won't ever have to worry about snow.

But only you can decide if more family time and less drive time will balance out a little extra hot weather. For me, a few hot days would be worth it, especially to live in a nice family oriented place like Temecula, but your mileage (no pun intended) may vary.

I'm sorry but it's WAY more than a few days over 100.. lol
In less you lived there you really don't know how unbearable it can be..
Not to mention $300 plus electic bills because of the AC during the day.
If you can stay far from Pechanga you will be better off. Traffic around there now that's unbearable!

[pacific2]

This site might add another perspective on Temecula's historical weather trends. It says there were nine days of 100+ degree temperatures there in 2015.
2015 - Temecula, California Weather Summary