Silicon Valley or Orange County (Los Angeles, Irvine: homes, school district, college)

[jobar]

Hi All,

I need some help in deciding where to move. I lived in Irvine/Mission Viejo area for several years (during my college and early job years). Then I got sick of that area (not very natural, lot of traffic etc.) and moved to Seattle/Bellevue area. Seattle/Bellevue areas are very nice in the summer/spring time, but the winters are kind of harsh (specially this year it was really bad). I am thinking of moving back to CA as I think I really need more Sun shine in my life. I've two options, either to move to SV area (as a close friend lives there) or back to OC.

What matters to me is:

-- Descent housing ($500 - $600K)
-- Good schools (kindergarten)
-- Jobs in IT (programming)
-- Commute to work no more than 30 - 45 mins.
I'll love to hear some opinions.

Thanks!!!

[missionhome]

Well you can afford to get back into a small starter home in the Mission Viejo area again. That is if you want to come back. Mission Viejo itself looks more beautiful then ever right now as the city has added a beautiful nature area and walking trail down the middle of the city around Oso Creek, all the medians have been re-landscaped, and many of the slopes have been redone. Please go to the Orange County subforum and click on the sticky thread "Pictures of Orange County" to see many photos of the Mission Viejo area today. If you are looking for natural beauty, well you could always go for a foothill area like Portola Hills which is more close to the wilderness. As far as home price, there is plenty in your range, but they will be smaller (think 1,200 square feet or less). You can definitely live in the attendance boundaries for good schools for your child, and there are lots of IT jobs in Irvine which is only about 20 (south part of Irvine) to 35 minutes (north part of Irvine) away. It is a very family friendly area, which I assume you know from being here before.

As far as the Silicon Valley, well I have driven through it. It doesn't seem any more natural and I think it may be slightly more expensive for housing. There are probably more IT jobs there though. Hopefully a SV resident can chime in.

Good Luck

[jobar]

Thanks for your input missionhome! I hope someone else can give some input.

[NYSD1995]

Silicon Valley will have more R&D and product development jobs, it is the center of the software and technology industry for the country. That said it is not necessarily the best IT market if you are talking about your typical corporate stuff. Silicon Valley is lots more expensive than OC but you will most likely be making more as well.

[kturbe]

I use to regularly travel to SV and always liked coming home to the O.C.. There are nice towns up north, I especially liked San Mateo/Burl but it is way more expensive then O.C.. You mentioned the weather and it is a bit cooler/wetter (is that a word) then down south but can't really compare it to Seattle.

As Mission home, South Orange County Canyon Areas may be a good area to consider if you are looking for that feel and it is really a 20 minute drive into Irvine if that is where you work. Saddleback Valley School District is the District you would fall under in the canyon areas and both Portola and Foothill Ranch elementary schools are highly rated.

[18Montclair]

Orange County has that gorgeous coastline. Gotta give them that. I also like SoCal homes and gardens more than NorCal-neater and generally prettier imHo.

That said,
I still would prefer Silicon Valley. The pay is a bit higher and the career oppurtunities in SV are really unparalleled. And the natural surroundings in the Bay Area are beautiful too.

[Unkllars]

Real People in SV. Real(ly) fun in Southern California!!! But you already knew that, you lived here. I've considered moving back up North near where I was born, but my wife likes the warmth of SoCal and would actually rather move back to her hometown in Arizona than NorCal. So we'll sit tight here

[Charles]

Housing downturn moves up to Silicon Valley - Los Angeles Times