How much home can we afford in LA area?

[Marv101]

^^^I second these superb tips for several reasons, starting with the fact that Santa Clarita & Valencia are both extremely safe and family-oriented communities with excellent schools as others have stated, so if you have the chance to live and work in either of those communities, I'd go for it at once.

Weekend splurges/getaways at the beaches in Ventura or other nearby communities with tons of hotels in all rpice ranges would be something you'd get used to very easily.

Come summertime when the thermometer in Santa Clarita is hovering around the century mark while it's 15-20 or more degrees cooler in Ventura, you'll love those weekend getaways even more---trust me!

You can buy a very nice house in either Valencia or Santa Clarita for a lot less $$$ than an identical house in Ventura

[HOU2LAX]

Originally Posted by Marv101

^^^I second these superb tips for several reasons, starting with the fact that Santa Clarita & Valencia are both extremely safe and family-oriented communities with excellent schools as others have stated, so if you have the chance to live and work in either of those communities, I'd go for it at once.

Weekend splurges/getaways at the beaches in Ventura or other nearby communities with tons of hotels in all rpice ranges would be something you'd get used to very easily.

Come summertime when the thermometer in Santa Clarita is hovering around the century mark while it's 15-20 or more degrees cooler in Ventura, you'll love those weekend getaways even more---trust me!

You can buy a very nice house in either Valencia or Santa Clarita for a lot less $$$ than an identical house in Ventura

Thanks Marv101... what nice beaches are the closest to SC? That is one thing that I would look forward to, as well as the national parks. Houston is as flat as a table and the closest real "hills" are about 2-3 hours away.

I've talked to colleagues who have made the move (and back), and most people wished they were back in the LA area, even though they were born and raised in the Houston area.

BTW, in California, do you get to deduct the full amount of the state income tax from federal income taxes?

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Outdoor magazine voted Ventura the 2nd best beach city in the world. Then again that was back in 2006. Still not much has changed. If you were in the Santa Clarita area the fastest beach you could get to would be in Ventura. You would be not more than 2 hours away from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica and that would include the beaches in Malibu, between Malibu and Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, County beaches between Ventura and Santa Barbara County, Carpenteria, and Santa Barbara beaches. Make a weekend of it in any of those areas and that is one fun time.

Santa Clarita is surrounded by hills and near mountains.