Moving to OC - help! (Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo: apartments, rent, house)

[megrev]

I'm a single 26y/o F moving down from Northern Cali. I don't know anything about the cities down there and want to be in a safe and affordable neighborhood. I'd love to be super close to the beach and near an area where it will be easy to meet cool people in my age range. I'll be coming down alone for the first two months then have a friend joining me so I'd like to find a 2bd that is affordable enough for me to cover the first two months alone (instead of having to move twice). My friend suggested Dana Point because her job will be down there, but I've also heard good things about Newport and Huntington Beach. Any advice?

[Charles]

Where's your job?
What is your budget?

[megrev]

I'll be working primarily for myself and getting a part time restaurant job in whichever neighborhood I end up living in. I'm paying $675 for a house share now and would like to stay around or under that. $800 would be my max. I know I'll be paying roughly double that for the first couple of months so I'd like to stay as low as possible without ending up in a bad neighborhood.

[Vinsanity]

Assuming you and your roommate will be splitting rent down the middle, your choices will be limited to the point that you'll be priced out of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Dana Point should be doable, but also consider San Clemente, which is also by the beach, and the inland south county cities like Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo. LN and MV are sleepy suburbs, though, so don't expect to find much action there.

I'm not that familiar with where to live and where not to live in Huntington Beach, so I can't say as to whether the apartments in your price range are livable or not. Huntington Harbor is a cool place to hang out, though.