Moving from South Jersey to Lake Elsinore, CA (Riverside, San Bernardino: crime, house)

[Momma Snider]

I live on Canyon Estates Drive! I lived in the downtown area all my life until six years ago. I LOVE the area where I live now. Nice neighbors, fairly quiet, but with enough kids that it doesn't feel like a retirement community. If you decide to move here, let me know!

[Stormgod]

More to your question, the area you are speaking I have some close friends there and I was looking to move there as well. I have lived in Lake Elsinore since 1986 and also watched this area grow. The area you are looking at is one of three booming areas in lake elsinore that the city is pouring all its money into. They are building all sorts of new shops nearby and that area is very nice. There is very low crime in that housing area and the only real problem that is going on there is people stealing mail by busting up the metal mail boxes that are locked. The only big complaint I hear from people over there is that in the morining when people go to work, everyone heads to the freeway and it can take you 20 minutes to go that one mile you are from the freeway. Its jam packed all the way to Diamond Drive. You are very close to Canyon Lake and the homes throughout that area are very nicely kept up with nice walkways throughout to take evening strolls. Whenever I drive through that area there are always plenty of people out and about walking thier dogs or taking their kids to the schools that are built within that housing community. If you have a child in Elementary school, they built a pretty nice school within the housing community that is easily in walking distance for all. If you are looking for a new up and coming modern location within lake elsinore, this is a good choice and one of the best areas in Lake Elsinore...


I moved two off ramps up the road off of Central (one of the other three locations Lake Elsinore is pouring all of its money into). This area is just as nice and they also built all sorts of shops and stores there (New Target, Cosco, Home Depot, Big 5, many fast food places, Starbucks, etc.). They are building a new school and firestation as well. Many of the same things mentioned above apply here as well, however, traffic is less and there are more big name stores going in, rather than smaller strip mall shops as with the area you are looking into.

The homes range from the mid 400K to 600K in both areas (where I live and where you are looking to move). Either location you cant go wrong.

[grisandole]

Does anyone know about the traffic getting from Lake Elsinore to Ortega Hwy in the AM? Or going south, from Lake Elsinore to San Diego?

[Sage of Sagle]

I know Railroad Canyon and Central both got pretty badly backed up during rush hour....and that was 8 years ago, with fewer people than are living there now....fwiw...

[Momma Snider]

Originally Posted by grisandole

Does anyone know about the traffic getting from Lake Elsinore to Ortega Hwy in the AM? Or going south, from Lake Elsinore to San Diego?

Going from Lake Elsinore to San Diego on the I-15 in the mornings can be pretty bad, just through Escondido. The rest of the trip isn't bad, but just the five or so miles in Escondido can take a half hour or more. I don't know what the times are that it's bad. An option might be the 76, depending on where you're going.
Getting to Ortega Highway isn't bad, and the traffic generally moves pretty well, but Ortega Highway is going to be very hard for the next three years. It is closed completely from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. and one lane the rest of the time while they work on a three-mile stretch.

[Momma Snider]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

I know Railroad Canyon and Central both got pretty badly backed up during rush hour....and that was 8 years ago, with fewer people than are living there now....fwiw...

Railroad Canyon Road is MUCH better now, thanks to a project that was just completed. Offramps in both directions now have four lanes instead of one or two, and a right turn lane was added to go from the northbound offramp to Grape Street. Central had the same kind of work done and is pretty smooth now, too. (If you haven't been there in eight years, you won't even believe Central -- Lowe's, Costco, Home Depot, Target, you name it, it's probably there.)

[whereohwhere]

What can anyone offer about Hemet? It seems to be growing pretty quickly?

[Sage of Sagle]

Wow.....when we lived in Canyon Lake, Central was the "country back way" to CL. I think there was a burger joint and an AM/PM and not much else. Sounds like the place has really exploded...

[Joey Baggadonuts]

Jazia, Moreno Valley and Hesperia would be similar to Cherry Hill. I grew up in San Bernardino and would never move back, I'm in NYC now. Temecula would be your best bet or the new section of Corona. I still have family in SoCal and visit frequently, check into schools too, they do alot of bussing from one area to another in California.

[grisandole]

Thanks, all! My husband would be commuting to San Clemente...it seems that Ortega Hwy would be best, and going down through San Diego would be a backup or alternative.

We are going to try to find a rental in OC, but are considering Lake Elsinore or Temecula as they are so much more affordable