moving from AZ to Southern CA. Not sure where to go! (Los Angeles: to rent, crime rate)

[mvirtue]

Hello-
I have a family with 5 young kids all under 13. we are looking to rent and possibly buy a home in a few years but we are not sure where to even start looking for a place to live/work. we would like a place that is family friendly and not too far from the ocean. I know the cost of living in CA is high, especially close to the ocean. Schools are very important and so is crime. I have a possiblity to transfer my job to Corona, CA. Any thoughts on Norco or the surrounding areas? I dont want to commute for hours either.
Thanks

[Billy Millennium]

Why not just live in Corona? You say you don't want to commute. A lot of people live in Corona (a bit cheaper) and commute to Orange Country or elsewhere.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by mvirtue

Hello-
I have a family with 5 young kids all under 13. we are looking to rent and possibly buy a home in a few years but we are not sure where to even start looking for a place to live/work. we would like a place that is family friendly and not too far from the ocean. I know the cost of living in CA is high, especially close to the ocean. Schools are very important and so is crime. I have a possiblity to transfer my job to Corona, CA. Any thoughts on Norco or the surrounding areas? I dont want to commute for hours either.
Thanks

What would your purchasing budget be when it is time to buy?

Look at Yorba Linda, Tustin, Irvine, Chino Hills, and Diamond Bar.

[mvirtue]

I have heard that the crime rate in Corona is not good. budget for housing would be les than $450k

[mvirtue]

what about Norco? what's that like?

[gkfoury]

Norco is a good place to live in! By the way how much is your budget? Maybe I could help you with this one.

[SportyandMisty]

I'm thinking San Bernardino, Riverside or maybe Loma Linda.

[kttam186290]

If you're looking for a family-friendly community, try Temecula or Murrieta, which are basically "twin cities" and both within a 20 minute drive to Corona. Both have highly rated schools and neighborhoods and both are safe. Both also lean more toward being conservative/Republican, so if that's a problem, consider yourself warned.

In Temecula/Murrieta you are (with traffic):

20 min. to Corona
30-45 min. to Anaheim Hills
20 min. to Riverside
30 min. to Escondido/Northern San Diego
45 min.-1 hr. to Downtown San Diego
1 hr. to Palm Springs
1 hr.-1 hr./20 min. to Orange County beach cities
1 hr.-1 hr./30 min. to Los Angeles
1 hr.-1 hr./30 min. to Big Bear & Lake Arrowhead
4 hrs. to Las Vegas, NV
5 hrs. to Laughlin, NV
7 hrs. to Bryce Canyon, UT
7 hrs. to Mammoth Lakes, CA
7 hrs. to Grand Canyon/Flagstaff, AZ
7 hrs. to Phoenix, AZ

Very nice location!

[frankrj]

I liked Murrieta mainly the areas north of the 15. The markets, shopping, schools are nice an the people are friendly. Although, some things were a little annoying since I frequented markets they did not have such as Sprouts and if you aren't living in Temecula, Trader Joes is a 6 mile drive and there's one exit that is always jammed. A female friend got rear-ended there upon exiting (hit & run driver). you can acclimate to it very well. Summer and winter are like AZ although "some days" you'll get a nice breeze. Some days, not many.

[Count David]

Moved this to the Inland Empire forum as this thread would be more appropriate there.

Originally Posted by Charles

What would your purchasing budget be when it is time to buy?

Look at Yorba Linda, Tustin, Irvine, Chino Hills, and Diamond Bar.

Something wrong with South Corona? Lake Hills? Eastvale (besides the former smell)? All the newer housing tracts down I-15?

Yes, those are "reverse" commutes, but what about having virtually none? Irvine is simply a ridiculous suggestion IMO (as is Diamond Bar to a lesser extent).

Originally Posted by mvirtue

I have heard that the crime rate in Corona is not good. budget for housing would be les than $450k

//www.city-data.com/city/Corona-California.html

Corona's crime rate is right down there with all of the cities Charles mentioned. $450K is more than enough to get you into one of the safer areas of a very safe city (Corona) or adjacent (to again, a safe area).

Originally Posted by mvirtue

what about Norco? what's that like?

Norco used to be a cow town. There is a new tract on the SE side of town called Norco Hills, which is horse-themed, but basically new suburbia like everywhere else. Unless you really fashion horses, the rest of Norco won't be of much interest to you.

Originally Posted by kttam186290

If you're looking for a family-friendly community, try Temecula or Murrieta, which are basically "twin cities" and both within a 20 minute drive to Corona. Both have highly rated schools and neighborhoods and both are safe. Both also lean more toward being conservative/Republican, so if that's a problem, consider yourself warned.

In Temecula/Murrieta you are (with traffic):

Yeah, but there's that little 91/15 interchange thing that has been out of date since it was built in the late 80's. Google Maps currently shows 42 minutes from "Temecula, CA" to "Corona, CA" in 0630 traffic.