Best Central Coast Retirement Location (Santa Barbara, Goleta: for sale, real estate, rent)

[Climbtraditional]

Hey all,
I am an Ojai native whose life took me to Missouri some 25 years ago. Each summer I come home, meaning SB or Carp, and rent a house for a week. Only spending a week here each year is tough, and now that I am getting close to retirement it is time to think more carefully about where to settle down for retirement. I am torn! I love Ventura, but haven't spent much time in places like Goleta or SLO. As an active retiree, with a pension of $100,000 per year between my wife and I, where would you all recommend? We will come out with about $300,000 to dump towards a small house. We'd love a neighborhood with character within walking distance of coffee shops, etc. we are dog lovers, so dog parks are a must. Is living in SB comfortably even a possibility, or will we be house poor? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[nightlysparrow]

Goleta is not walkable. SB maybe you could get a small condo, if that. You could try Carp. Ventura seems the happy medium.

Example of small house:

94 S Santa Cruz St Ventura CA - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - MLS #12004377 - Realtor.com®

[Climbtraditional]

Thanks so much for your thought. Goleta didn't seem that walkable the few times I've been there.

[Perry Mason]

Carpinteria is the most walkable city on the central coast, with Ventura being the second. Ventura is more affordable and would fit within a retiree's budget easier. Santa Barbara County is quite steep in terms of affordability.

[Patrolman]

I'd go for SLO. Being a college town, it is very walkable and housing prices are still pretty reasonable. Clean air, tolerable traffic, low crime. Things to consider.

[Climbtraditional]

Thanks for the SLO suggestion. My uncle lives there and the area is lovely. My wife likes a beach that is a bit warmer, as both Pismo and Morro Bay seem to be at least 5 degrees than the SB or Ventura on most days. I love the trails in that town and as I grew up in Ojai, I love the small town feel. I will have to keep SLO in mind.

[Senno]

Patrolman beat me to the SLO recommendation. You will be inland a bit off the coast and avoid some of the fog, and it's a quick jaunt down to Morro or Pismo if ya feel like beachin it.

I've always found Morro a wee bit colder than Pismo, but that might be as we pass through it's still often foggy there. We often stay in Cambria and roam the central coast. By the time we get down to Pismo around noon or so (lazy morning with a buckaroo breakfast) the fogs burned off and its really nice usually. If not we hightail it back into SLO.

[sourdough]

yep! Carpinteria is do-able with your income and very walk-able. Biking is excellent too.

[MrTudo]

May I please ask, what is SLO ?

[nightlysparrow]

San Luis Obispo.