considering relocation to monterey bay (Salinas, Watsonville: real estate, apartment, renting)

[considering reloc]

We are considering relocation to the monterey bay area. The job is in Salinas. Any suggestions for a community with good public schools and a reasonable commute to Salinas?

[SusannaK]

The Washington Union School District is one of the best. My mom taught there for many years and just retired. Anything within that district will be an easy commute to Salinas.

Unfortunately, anything in that district is going to be very, very, very expensive. A "starter home" is anything under 1 million, to give you some idea. These aren't mansions, they're ordinary ranch and tract houses that just happen to sit on some of the most expensive real estate in the U.S.

Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove also have good schools. Houses aren't less expensive there, but you might be able to find an apartment or rental.

[Wisteria]

Oh, go and search other threads about Salinas. I wouldn't recommend living in the city of Salinas....check the other threads for more info! Good luck!

[Luke9686]

Monterey is very nice. I've heard Salinas has drug/crime problems though. I would recommend Monterey, if you can afford it.

[45mphk9s]

If you want to live in Monterey bring a big fat checkbook. We're here temporarily. The area is beautiful but not an inexpensive place to live.

[AuburnJack]

We lived in Monterey for a decade after going to school there. It's a beautiful, quiet area. The scenery is the best in the state (some say the nation, especially the Big Sur area), the restaurants are fantastic, and it's a paradise for wine-lovers, nature-lovers and those who like a slower pace.

We left because we refused to pay $750,000 for a 800 square foot, two-bedroom house. Let me emphatically echo: Monterey is very expensive. Salinas is consistently touted as the most unaffordable city in the nation, due to its median wage/median housing cost ratio.

If you're already wealthy or have a sizable amount of equity, or have no plans to purchase a home and are happy renting, you are going to love it in Monterey Bay. Otherwise, be wary.

All that said, it really is a great area, and will always be home to me. I would look at Monterey and Pacific Grove, as the commute to Salinas from there is not bad at all (about 25 minutes or so... we used to drive it daily to perform in Salinas's theatre company). Salinas, Marina and Seaside are sketchier, although there are decent neighborhoods in all three if you do your research.

[sonarrat]

If I was working in Salinas, and wanted to raise a family, I would live in Soquel or Aptos and endure the crunch on Highway 1. Very highly rated schools, but not as inflated in price as the Monterey area.

[fromthebay]

Dont live in Salinas or Watsonville IMO live somewhere like aptos or santa cruz or maybe even scotts valley(could be a difficult commute) even down in the monterey area is really nice too

[Woof]

I'm just curious .... if Considering couldn't afford to live in Monterey or Carmel, would Gonzales be a reasonable alternative? I was just looking at a map, I've never heard Gonzales being discussed.

[sonarrat]

I don't like the area between Salinas and King City at all. It's a very, very poor, depressed region with little to offer the average buyer.