If you could live anywhere in Southern California where would it be? (Los Angeles: condo, crime rate)

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by pacific2

Actually, neither does Aliso Viejo, and I don't know if it really matters. Even though Aliso Niguel High School, one the the two high schools which service Laguna Niguel, is physically located in this city, it is not administered by the city of Aliso Viejo. It's run by the Capistrano Unified School District.

BTW, while most Aliso Viejo teens go to Aliso Niguel High, the others attend Laguna Beach High.

I don't know, but I guess the Aliso Niguel High name is derived from contracting Aliso Viejo with Laguna Niguel.

They all blend into one for me (Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, etc). None of those places existed as independent cities, they are all master planned communities and to me that effects the atmosphere of them.

Some Aliso Viejo kids go to Laguna Beach High School because before there was an Aliso Niguel High, the developers of Laguna Audubon lobbied hard to be zoned in the Laguna Beach USD so they could claim the LB connection and LBUSD wanted more kids for more funding since LB was built out.

There is not a huge difference between Saddleback USD and Capo Valley USD.

Originally Posted by marcellamiami

Thank you for the tips. I will look into the school websites and go from there. No one has said anything negative about Corona del Mar so I will start there, followed by Laguna Niguel and Dana Point. Of course as it has been suggested, one visit could change my mind completely but it's a good starting point.

Any input on Los Alamitos?

No to Los Alamitos.

Too close to Long Beach (gang problems), too much activity at the two navy bases in Los Al (jet fighters and ammunition dump). Maybe the navy presence will wind down as the Middle East winds down, but it could heat back up pretty quickly.

Joint Forces Training Base & Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station

Look at the map above, you can see the air strip and the other open area at the bottom is the weapons station.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

They all blend into one for me (Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, etc). None of those places existed as independent cities, they are all master planned communities and to me that effects the atmosphere of them.

Hmmm, okay.

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

Too close to Long Beach (gang problems)

Wow. Way to stereotype an entire area. You think the area between Ocean Blvd, Livingston, and 2nd is full of gangs? What about Bixby Knolls? What about the neighborhood near the country clubs on Long Beach blvd? Those areas are also full of gangs?

Gee.... no gross, oversimplification here!

[marcellamiami]

I hear good things about Seal Beach but it has Wilson High which rates 6 so that's out of the question. I also hear good things about Los Alamitos so I was wondering how it compares?

I will definitely visit both Ladera Ranch and Nellie Gail Ranch but I think I prefer coastal if possible. I have never been to either. I have only made two quick visits to California and only went to all the touristy places.

[marcellamiami]

Los Alamitos is off the list. Thanks for your honest opinions. Laguna Niguel schools have mixed reviews from the parents. I will have to do more research.

How about South Redondo? Any opinions on that? No one has mentioned it?

[thelopez2]

Originally Posted by marcellamiami

If you could live anywhere between Los Angeles and San Diego where would it be? Has to have:
great high school and middle school
great safe community feel
a budget of $1.5 million or less to buy a single family house
at least 2000 square feet
not Irvine
not too far from civilization
hopefully a good investment

I have compared cities and gotten great feedback but I need to narrow it down! We currently live in Miami but are planning to trip to Southern California to decide where we are going to move this summer. My husband is getting transferred (travels for work) and our two daughter, 9 and 11 years old, and I are leaving it all behind and starting a new life! Such a huge decision! Please give me your feedback?

Your title didn't really match posting in the OC forum, so like everyone , they though you wanted just OC. I love South Redondo, a president recent visited the local high school. Since it seems that you are open beyond OC and willing to do some research, research the other adjacent southbay schools too and Bishop Montgomery is local private school. Communities may feel safe, but if they were would we really need police, alarm companies, and bulletproof glass in banks?

In south redondo 1M will get you a house around 2000 sq ft small lot and a beautiful ocean view and a block from the beach 1.5 will get you a larger house in the same area. If you don't want a view , the homes are 700k. Moving south or north, prices move up a lot. East is Torrance and prices are just weird and when you drive though the Christmas light area, you'll understand why. North Redondo has a mixed up identity with some SFR and huge McMansion, two or more on a lot Condo for people who don't want or need a house or yard. Think 3000 sq ft for 700k 4000 for 1M. With enough parks, beach, etc, doggie parks, people want just enough space for their propane bar b que.

You'll find a lot of adults that grew up in the area still live in the area. Although in LA county, it is unlike LA where we don't have big office buildings and a lot of people moving in and out.

As far as an investment, please don't think of your home as an investment, don't really need more speculators, there are enough cash buyers around here.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by ExeterMedia

Wow. Way to stereotype an entire area. You think the area between Ocean Blvd, Livingston, and 2nd is full of gangs? What about Bixby Knolls? What about the neighborhood near the country clubs on Long Beach blvd? Those areas are also full of gangs?

Gee.... no gross, oversimplification here!

If you go 6 blocks inland from Ocean Blvd you start into gang territory. You can pretend all you want that Long Beach doesn't have a gang problem, but that is not reality and it bleeds over into even the nicest areas, especially when it comes to the Asian gangs.

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

If you go 6 blocks inland from Ocean Blvd you start into gang territory. You can pretend all you want that Long Beach doesn't have a gang problem, but that is not reality and it bleeds over into even the nicest areas, especially when it comes to the Asian gangs.

Why are you posting inaccurate information about an area you obviously know nothing about?

Let me ask you this. You do know that the City of Long Beach takes very detailed statistics of crime that occur in every district in the city right? So if you lie, you can be called out for lying very easily.

The area around Ocean Blvd is called District 10 and is broken up by these sections: 572, 571, 610, 623, and 622. This includes an area "6 blocks inland" from Ocean BLVD which you claim is full of gangs and is "gang territory".

Guess what the amount of violent crime was for the entirety of that area for 2013? 11 crimes. All aggravated assault (fist fights, drunken brawls, mad spouses, etc). 0 murders, 0 rapes.

You think 11 is a lot? Well Corona Del Mar had 27 reported violent assaults in 2013 according to SpotCrime.

You might want to rethink trashing areas you don't know much about, and instead focus on where you live.

[scgali]

Originally Posted by marcellamiami

I hear good things about Seal Beach but it has Wilson High which rates 6 so that's out of the question. I also hear good things about Los Alamitos so I was wondering how it compares?

I will definitely visit both Ladera Ranch and Nellie Gail Ranch but I think I prefer coastal if possible. I have never been to either. I have only made two quick visits to California and only went to all the touristy places.

If you are leaning more towards coastal areas, I would go for Seal Beach or Newport Beach/CDM. I remember you said the peninsula is out of budget but there is a neighborhood off PCH by the peninsula called Newport Shores which is in budget and very nice. Anyway, something to look into

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by TimTheEnchanter

They all blend into one for me (Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, etc). None of those places existed as independent cities, they are all master planned communities and to me that effects the atmosphere of them.

There are, in fact, real differences in style here, believe it or not. LN is admittedly masterplanned, but exceptionally livable. Aliso is younger, hipper and has more condos; also extremely livable. Aliso cannot really be compared with Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo, the most inland and centered on a lake as opposed to the ocean, *might* be the best place for families. It definitely has a different feel with its Mission themed streets. Mission Viejo is pretty but noticeably different than less dramatic, and more coastal LN. If anything, AV and LN are most similar in that they have similar distances to the ocean, the real yardstick.