Where to live in OC for a couple (rent, buy)

[HB2HSV]

OP,

Trying to find something between UC Riverside and Long Beach will just end up both of you will have no life other than being trapped in the traffic several hours a day. You may think driving toward East in the morning and West in the afternoon is "reversed commute" but it is not. To give you an example, I used to drive from Huntington each to Placentia. It was 28 miles one way but it takes me no shorter than50 minutes in the morning and no less than 1.5 hour for the afternoon commute. On Friday afternoons it takes no less than 3 hours to get home. The 91 freeway traffic jams can choke the life out of you even at 3:00 am. It's congested all the time.

I'd like to suggest something different since your employment is firmed while your spouse is still looking for work, why not get both of you settle in a neighborhood both of you will enjoy and suitable for your commute, while he can adjust his job search game plan accordingly?

I'd like to suggest that you look for single family residence (SFR) in the city of Chino Hills instead. First, it is a convenient commute to UC Riverside, Second; Chino Hills has become an upscale city with malls and shops but also very well planned communities but still affordable more so than most of the Orange County. Third; as Chinese you will be very pleased with it's close proximity to one of biggest Chinese community in SoCal, Rowland Heights, with best restaurants that put Chinatowns in both SF and NYC to shame. It's a 15 minute drive away on the 60 fwy. Generally look for homes stay west of 71. You can get to the nearby Diamond Bar on local route without battling traffic on the freeway, just take Grand Avenue west and you will reach nice Korean/ Chinese shops such as the Super H-mart supermarket and many fine restaurants.

As to your spouse'a commute, I had coworkers who car-pooled from the nearby Diamond ar to Huntington Beach for over 20 years. It can be done by coming early in the morning and leaves early in the afternoon. Besides, IT jobs are all over LA/OC areas. He maybe able find something closer to home.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

OP,

Trying to find something between UC Riverside and Long Beach will just end up both of you will have no life other than being trapped in the traffic several hours a day. You may think driving toward East in the morning and West in the afternoon is "reversed commute" but it is not. To give you an example, I used to drive from Huntington each to Placentia. It was 28 miles one way but it takes me no shorter than50 minutes in the morning and no less than 1.5 hour for the afternoon commute. On Friday afternoons it takes no less than 3 hours to get home. The 91 freeway traffic jams can choke the life out of you even at 3:00 am. It's congested all the time.

I'd like to suggest something different since your employment is firmed while your spouse is still looking for work, why not get both of you settle in a neighborhood both of you will enjoy and suitable for your commute, while he can adjust his job search game plan accordingly?

I'd like to suggest that you look for single family residence (SFR) in the city of Chino Hills instead. First, it is a convenient commute to UC Riverside, Second; Chino Hills has become an upscale city with malls and shops but also very well planned communities but still affordable more so than most of the Orange County. Third; as Chinese you will be very pleased with it's close proximity to one of biggest Chinese community in SoCal, Rowland Heights, with best restaurants that put Chinatowns in both SF and NYC to shame. It's a 15 minute drive away on the 60 fwy. Generally look for homes stay west of 71. You can get to the nearby Diamond Bar on local route without battling traffic on the freeway, just take Grand Avenue west and you will reach nice Korean/ Chinese shops such as the Super H-mart supermarket and many fine restaurants.

As to your spouse'a commute, I had coworkers who car-pooled from the nearby Diamond ar to Huntington Beach for over 20 years. It can be done by coming early in the morning and leaves early in the afternoon. Besides, IT jobs are all over LA/OC areas. He maybe able find something closer to home.

Actually I did a job at 215/60 and from HB it used to take me about 40 minute get there. The way back was about 60/80 minutes.

Chino Hills is a good area but to LB it's going to be a killer either way. Especially if they work typical 9-5 jobs. I'm lucky that I'm usually on the road by 2 pm. If thrive IT types they can work long hours start early leave late. Either way Chino Hills is a good middle of the road

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Actually I did a job at 215/60 and from HB it used to take me about 40 minute get there. The way back was about 60/80 minutes.

You could do it, if there is no traffic. What hours in the day was your drive?

Edit to add: just reread that you are on the road by 2pm, assuming driving back, this means you are on the job by 6/7 am. That would make sense as traffic in those hours are much less.

[lhcstl]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

OP,

Trying to find something between UC Riverside and Long Beach will just end up both of you will have no life other than being trapped in the traffic several hours a day. You may think driving toward East in the morning and West in the afternoon is "reversed commute" but it is not. To give you an example, I used to drive from Huntington each to Placentia. It was 28 miles one way but it takes me no shorter than50 minutes in the morning and no less than 1.5 hour for the afternoon commute. On Friday afternoons it takes no less than 3 hours to get home. The 91 freeway traffic jams can choke the life out of you even at 3:00 am. It's congested all the time.

I'd like to suggest something different since your employment is firmed while your spouse is still looking for work, why not get both of you settle in a neighborhood both of you will enjoy and suitable for your commute, while he can adjust his job search game plan accordingly?

I'd like to suggest that you look for single family residence (SFR) in the city of Chino Hills instead. First, it is a convenient commute to UC Riverside, Second; Chino Hills has become an upscale city with malls and shops but also very well planned communities but still affordable more so than most of the Orange County. Third; as Chinese you will be very pleased with it's close proximity to one of biggest Chinese community in SoCal, Rowland Heights, with best restaurants that put Chinatowns in both SF and NYC to shame. It's a 15 minute drive away on the 60 fwy. Generally look for homes stay west of 71. You can get to the nearby Diamond Bar on local route without battling traffic on the freeway, just take Grand Avenue west and you will reach nice Korean/ Chinese shops such as the Super H-mart supermarket and many fine restaurants.

As to your spouse'a commute, I had coworkers who car-pooled from the nearby Diamond ar to Huntington Beach for over 20 years. It can be done by coming early in the morning and leaves early in the afternoon. Besides, IT jobs are all over LA/OC areas. He maybe able find something closer to home.

Thank you, we do like the Chino Hills area; if he could find jobs near there, it will be idea. But if he works at Long Beach, indeed it will be difficult for him. We get headaches whenever you think about the traffic in LA, but that's a price we need to pay for living in a big city with good jobs and good quality of life.

[jimmybirdie]

Cypress is nice and affordable.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by jimmybirdie

Cypress is nice and affordable.

Cypress, Los Alamitos, Cerritos are all good with good school districts (higher resale values). In general, I'd recommend stay west of 605 and south of 91 in those areas. Otherwise Fullerton, La Habra and Yor a Linda are all good neighborhoods.

OP did not state what is affordable. For some $1M is affordable. For others, $300K is unaffordable.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

You could do it, if there is no traffic. What hours in the day was your drive?

Edit to add: just reread that you are on the road by 2pm, assuming driving back, this means you are on the job by 6/7 am. That would make sense as traffic in those hours are much less.

Yeah driving back. My work time varied. Sometimes 6 sometimes 8 am start time. It was different depending on inspections. I tend to work 6-2:30.

IMO it's best to have one person closer. They can do the honey do list shopping etc.

[lhcstl]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Cypress, Los Alamitos, Cerritos are all good with good school districts (higher resale values). In general, I'd recommend stay west of 605 and south of 91 in those areas. Otherwise Fullerton, La Habra and Yor a Linda are all good neighborhoods.

OP did not state what is affordable. For some $1M is affordable. For others, $300K is unaffordable.

For us, I think 700-730k is the ceiling. ideally it will be 600-650k. It's already extremely expensive for us, but what else can we do since we plan to add more members to the family.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by lhcstl

For us, I think 700-730k is the ceiling. ideally it will be 600-650k. It's already extremely expensive for us, but what else can we do since we plan to add more members to the family.

You'll find something in that range in CH for sure.

[lhcstl]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

You'll find something in that range in CH for sure.

Thank you!

Now, do you guys have any names/company I can contact about a mortgage? The rates have gone up a bit, and I am hoping to talk to several lenders to find out the best deal.