Temecula vs. OC? (Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside: section 8, lease, crime)

[MaisonDeEtre]

Hi City-Data Folks,
How does Temecula compare to "The OC"?

Have spent some time in South OC around Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and such, liked there a lot, but home prices are really in the statosphere for what you get.

At my budget, Say $440K at best, you don't get much... and seems since Covid-19, listings have dropped way off. Just guessing folks are waiting to move... so waiting to sell... until the economy becomes clear.

I realize Temecula is on the other side of the mountains... has to have a climate difference. (Desert vs. coastal).

How is it otherwise different?

Some things that cross my mind.

1. What does being in a viticulture / wine growing region really mean? Is it like living near farm? Lots of fertilizer and pesticides? (Spent time in Iowa and Nebraska at different points in my life... all I can say is... never again... to cold and... too much "fertilizer", LOL!)

2. What are the demographic differences? Have read here, that "Inland Empire" had an influx of Section 8 during the recession, as investors bought and leased out homes there. Any truth that? Is it an "exburb of South Central" as one poster put it?

Or is it the other story I read here? "Rich folks that want vineyards are out there"? (Paraphrased).

3. Any other pros and cons you can think of?

Would really be nice to have the larger home one gets out there, assuming life is good there.

Any commentary good or bad would be appreciated. Buying a home, especially at this moment in time, is likely to be a long term commitment. I'm expecting flat or dipping market for a few years thanks to Covid-19... so keep me from making a mistake! (LOL!)

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by MaisonDeEtre

Hi City-Data Folks,
How does Temecula compare to "The OC"?

Have spent some time in South OC around Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and such, liked there a lot, but home prices are really in the statosphere for what you get.

At my budget, Say $440K at best, you don't get much... and seems since Covid-19, listings have dropped way off. Just guessing folks are waiting to move... so waiting to sell... until the economy becomes clear.

I realize Temecula is on the other side of the mountains... has to have a climate difference. (Desert vs. coastal).

How is it otherwise different?

Some things that cross my mind.

1. What does being in a viticulture / wine growing region really mean? Is it like living near farm? Lots of fertilizer and pesticides? (Spent time in Iowa and Nebraska at different points in my life... all I can say is... never again... to cold and... too much "fertilizer", LOL!)

2. What are the demographic differences? Have read here, that "Inland Empire" had an influx of Section 8 during the recession, as investors bought and leased out homes there. Any truth that? Is it an "exburb of South Central" as one poster put it?

Or is it the other story I read here? "Rich folks that want vineyards are out there"? (Paraphrased).

3. Any other pros and cons you can think of?

Would really be nice to have the larger home one gets out there, assuming life is good there.

Any commentary good or bad would be appreciated. Buying a home, especially at this moment in time, is likely to be a long term commitment. I'm expecting flat or dipping market for a few years thanks to Covid-19... so keep me from making a mistake! (LOL!)

The vineyards are primarily on the east side and not close to the main housing area. Temecula is a nice city, the old downtown is fun to visit and easy access to the I-15 North or south. However it is crowded during rush hour. Murrieta does have housing West of the 15m which Temecula does not and right next door as it were, so worth considering as well.

[forzalugano]

A middle ground might be Oceanside? Some nice communities feels like South OC or Temecula, and still get the coastal weather. A little more than Temecula, but less than South OC.

[AndroidAZ]

Originally Posted by forzalugano

A middle ground might be Oceanside? Some nice communities feels like South OC or Temecula, and still get the coastal weather. A little more than Temecula, but less than South OC.

Isn't Oceanside way more expensive than Temecula?

[mchang43]

Oceanside has gang and crime problems. It’s Hemet with better weather.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by mchang43

Oceanside has gang and crime problems. It’s Hemet with better weather.

This site gives some info on that.


https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/oceanside/crime


Temecula has its problems like any city but not as bad.

[forzalugano]

Originally Posted by mchang43

Oceanside has gang and crime problems. It’s Hemet with better weather.

Depends on the area, many nice neighborhoods, lots of military people too and they have very little crime in many areas.

Such as this house on the market.
https://www.compass.com/listing/1066...9172639179745/

[gopeople]

Suggest take a scouting trip. We found Central Temecula to be clean and manicured - reminded us of Irvine/Ladera Ranch - lots of planned developments; there are also custom homes avail. Checked out a few shops (home improvement, costco, markets, fast food, etc) and found staff to be uniformly, surprisingly, quite polite! (we are familar with norcal, socal coastal/city areas). There was even an asian supermarket.

East Temecula area - that's where many of the vineyards are - we did a quick drive through and did not smell anything overpowering . Perhaps someone else can comment further. More individual, custom homes/lots/vineyards vs planned developments. No shopping/etc, but again, pretty easy access (10min?) to Central Temecula for shopping/hospital/etc.

West Temecula - this is where "Old Town" is (farmers market, bars, theatre, etc) - we did not have time to check it out.

If you like space/privacy - check out the hills west of west temecula - the area is called "De Luz" and it's considered unincorporated Riverside county though the zip code is a Temecula zip code. Go westward on Rancho California Road up the hill. Very pretty - like Los Altos Hills - gentle rolling hills, beautiful gated driveways with houses hidden (usually can't see houses from the road), large lots/acreage with avocados, vineyards, citrus, olives. And as long as you don't go waaay into the hills, you're only maybe 10 minutes to Hwy15 and another 5 minutes to costco, shopping, hospital. We found De Luz very nice.

Temperatures.....Temecula is plant zone 9a, whilst De Luz is 10a (all approx, I'm sure there are micro-climates within each area). More temperature swing than Ladera Ranch/Mission Viejo - Temecula is hotter and colder in general....or think of like a hotter Silicon Valley.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by mchang43

Oceanside has gang and crime problems. It’s Hemet with better weather.

Oceanside is the third largest city in the county after San Diego and Chula Vista. And much like Chula Vista it has some older areas that have a less than stellar reputation in this regard, and plenty of new development out east. In context of this thread I have to believe the poster who suggested it was referring to the latter. There’s tons of new(er) developments along the 76 that have an Oceanside mailing address, but don’t resemble the actual city. Just like Eastlake to Chula Vista.

[forzalugano]

Originally Posted by TacoSoup

Oceanside is the third largest city in the county after San Diego and Chula Vista. And much like Chula Vista it has some older areas that have a less than stellar reputation in this regard, and plenty of new development out east. In context of this thread I have to believe the poster who suggested it was referring to the latter. There’s tons of new(er) developments along the 76 that have an Oceanside mailing address, but don’t resemble the actual city. Just like Eastlake to Chula Vista.

Thank you Taco, that is exactly the area I am talking about, those communities have the very same the OC / Temecula feel.

That poster is comparing the equivalent of taking a Los Angeles address, then comparing Watts to Brentwood. Both have Los Angeles address's, both very different and do not compare in any way.