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There are definitely places you can buy in the 200s in San Diego, but they will all be in the condo territory. Some 200-300 homes on the outskirts are possible. Bonita is not a bad alternative to Chula Vista. I'd also look into East County areas.
Getting jobs here is really about follow through. Just be persistent cause HR's here are actually pretty open to contact (this city is more like a midwest) whereas in SF or LA you might have trouble communicating with hiring mgrs.
@ Telemutt: lol! Then you sure do know. It hasn't gotten better. BUT, we do have lots of rain.
It sounds like different districts have different things going on, so I'll investigate that. I got a little taste of SD traffic last time I was out there, and I'm sure it can be bad. THat's another thing that makes Minneapolis look good. The traffic here is bad too, but we really do have a rush HOUR and it's 4:30-5:30. Ugh.
The more I consider SD, the more I think there's no way to pull it off!! The most I could swing a month (if I have full medical for me and my kids) would be $1800 for rent or mortgage. I'm up for an apartment, condo, or townhouse. I could rent and buy at a different time (like retirement??).
I miss California so much. Guess I'll just keep renewing my license out there and continue to save $$...
Also, you might want to look into southern Riverside County, specifically the Temecula and Murietta areas. Home prices are less expensive there than many parts of San Diego County, it's a great family friendly area, they have some terrific schools, and some of the districts in that area are actively recruiting for teachers.
I live in Murrieta so I am somewhat biased but I do agree that Murrieta/Temecula is a great place to live. We have lived here for 14 years now and love it. We moved from Poway ( metro San Diego ) where we lived for 20 years.
Murrieta/Temecula has very low crime, no bad areas, and house prices are less than half of San Diego. The schools are excellent and teachers are paid quite well.
@ Telemutt: lol! Then you sure do know. It hasn't gotten better. BUT, we do have lots of rain.
It sounds like different districts have different things going on, so I'll investigate that. I got a little taste of SD traffic last time I was out there, and I'm sure it can be bad. THat's another thing that makes Minneapolis look good. The traffic here is bad too, but we really do have a rush HOUR and it's 4:30-5:30. Ugh.
The more I consider SD, the more I think there's no way to pull it off!! The most I could swing a month (if I have full medical for me and my kids) would be $1800 for rent or mortgage. I'm up for an apartment, condo, or townhouse. I could rent and buy at a different time (like retirement??).
I miss California so much. Guess I'll just keep renewing my license out there and continue to save $$...
I hope I can make it happen out there someday.
I wouldn't give up so easily. Just cast a wider net. For instance, if you'd consider going inland, the Central Valley, Sacramento, and parts of inland Northern California have much more reasonable housing costs, and some of the districts there are growing fast and actively looking for teachers. Along the coast, parts of the central coast (around Santa Maria and Lompac) are more reasonable than LA or SD. We've already mentioned Temecula and Murietta, but there are other areas in the "inland Empire" that might work for you too. I just did a workshop last weekend with a teacher who has lived and worked in the high desert near Joshua Tree for the last 20 years, and she loves living and teaching out there.
In short, there are many ways to make California happen. Be open-minded about location, do some research into who's hiring on EdJoin, and see what turns up. Good luck!
Hi. First, I'm not here to get slammed. I grew up in Los Angeles. I moved to Minneapolis eight years ago because of a job relocation with my, now, ex husband. I understand CA's crazy cost of living.
Of course, my heart was left in California. I want to come home. I don't want to live in LA; it's way too crowded and smoggy. How is San Diego? Last time I went, it was great. But what's the real deal? Is the air clean? How affordable is it? Out here in MN, if you're willing to drive into work from a first or second ring suburb you can do pretty well.
Here's my situation: WINTER SUCKS!!!!!! Healthcare is NOT COVERED for my kids through the school district I work for as a teacher, so I'm paying an extra $8000 a year (premiums, doctor visits, prescriptions--these are high deductible plans that will not kick in till you pay the full deductible) for their healthcare. They are also both set to get braces so that is yet another, barely covered, expense. I own a home (paid $140k for a 3bdrm/1bath, 1500sqft home) and still have about 120k left to pay on that. If I sold it, I'd come in with about 40k because the property has appreciated. If I rented it, I could get about $600 more that the monthly mortgage. If I moved to San Diego, I'd be making a little more, probably near 69k/year and I'd have FULL medical benefits for me and my kids. My car would be nearly paid off and it's still in good shape.
Where are the nicest, family-friendly, affordable areas? I read Chula Vista was one of the less expensive, but still awesome areas of San Diego- is that true?
Or...am I just dreaming and should stay here...??
You don't know. Leaving for work with a NEGATIVE 45 degree windchill in your face and trying to convince your kids it's all good is wearing me thin. Summer is beautiful, lots of nature, cheap gas, nice people, and affordable housing is what keeps me here.
I just moved from MN. so, I understand where you are coming from especially about the wind chill. I am happy so far. Finding housing is not easy especially if you are picky or have a budget. But San Diego is popular and expensive for a reason. Just be prepared to sacrifice on comfort to save money.
San Diego is great, but IMO I wouldn't move here just for the weather. Middle class folks have to sacrifice a lot to live here- retirements, savings, home ownership, children's college funds, house size, and so on. It takes more than nice weather to justify all of those sacrifices. In the inland areas where you'll likely be looking, it gets very hot half the year and can feel quite uncomfortable, especially given the lack of clouds/trees/rain for cooling off. I'm from Florida, and I find Florida summers to be only moderately more uncomfortable than summers in some parts of SD County, yet housing is astronomically pricier here. It's not an equal trade off, which is why I say you have to be in it for more than the weather (great job opportunity, close to family, etc).
East Chula Vista is nice, family friendly, and affordable by San Diego standards. Good schools, safe, walkable, not as hot as some parts of East County, 20 mins to downtown or the beach. With a budget of $1,800, you would be looking at an apartment or condo. We pay $1700 for a 2 bedroom upgraded condo, and that's considered a good deal for the area. Search 91913, 91914, and 91915 on realtor.com for some of idea of what you can get. West Chula Vista is cheaper, but some parts are a bit sketchy and the schools are hit or miss. Some other areas you might look at would be Bonita, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee.
There's a lot of places out there with much better winter weather than Minnesota that are cheaper to live in than San Diego. Temecula/Murrieta are good ideas. Clovis in the Fresno area is affordable and family friendly. Las Vegas is affordable and within easy driving distance of LA.
Thanks everyone. I only have one cousin left out in CA; most of my family left in early 2000 for the (cheaper) east coast like Virginia and NC. I have ties to CA because so many childhood friends are still there, and it's just...my home state.
I wouldn't want to live too far inland because of smog. I can take it because it's probably part of my DNA now from growing up in LA, but my daughter has asthma and I don't want her to get hit hard with breathing issues. That leaves the coastal areas, or up north somewhere in CA. Some places are so far up north though-you know how CA is, HUGE!!
I'll keep researching and think about TEmecula/Murietta. I have to see what the school districts pay too. Here, they pay pretty well, but like I said, the insurance is really bad if you have children.
As for now though, I'll be enjoying the heatwave that MN is about to get because I know what's coming for me in the winter...
San Diego is great, but IMO I wouldn't move here just for the weather. Middle class folks have to sacrifice a lot to live here- retirements, savings, home ownership, children's college funds, house size, and so on. It takes more than nice weather to justify all of those sacrifices. In the inland areas where you'll likely be looking, it gets very hot half the year and can feel quite uncomfortable, especially given the lack of clouds/trees/rain for cooling off. I'm from Florida, and I find Florida summers to be only moderately more uncomfortable than summers in some parts of SD County, yet housing is astronomically pricier here. It's not an equal trade off, which is why I say you have to be in it for more than the weather (great job opportunity, close to family, etc).
East Chula Vista is nice, family friendly, and affordable by San Diego standards. Good schools, safe, walkable, not as hot as some parts of East County, 20 mins to downtown or the beach. With a budget of $1,800, you would be looking at an apartment or condo. We pay $1700 for a 2 bedroom upgraded condo, and that's considered a good deal for the area. Search 91913, 91914, and 91915 on realtor.com for some of idea of what you can get. West Chula Vista is cheaper, but some parts are a bit sketchy and the schools are hit or miss. Some other areas you might look at would be Bonita, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee.
There's a lot of places out there with much better winter weather than Minnesota that are cheaper to live in than San Diego. Temecula/Murrieta are good ideas. Clovis in the Fresno area is affordable and family friendly. Las Vegas is affordable and within easy driving distance of LA.
We moved from California to Florida where we lived for 8 years in Coral Springs ( Ft. Lauderdale metro area ). We moved back to San Diego which was one of the happiest days of our life. The weather was a major negative for Florida.
Thanks everyone. I only have one cousin left out in CA; most of my family left in early 2000 for the (cheaper) east coast like Virginia and NC. I have ties to CA because so many childhood friends are still there, and it's just...my home state.
I wouldn't want to live too far inland because of smog. I can take it because it's probably part of my DNA now from growing up in LA, but my daughter has asthma and I don't want her to get hit hard with breathing issues. That leaves the coastal areas, or up north somewhere in CA. Some places are so far up north though-you know how CA is, HUGE!!
I'll keep researching and think about TEmecula/Murietta. I have to see what the school districts pay too. Here, they pay pretty well, but like I said, the insurance is really bad if you have children.
As for now though, I'll be enjoying the heatwave that MN is about to get because I know what's coming for me in the winter...
There is no smog in Murrieta or Temecula. In fact there is not much smog in LA anymore. Certainly not like it used to be.
I wouldn't want to live too far inland because of smog.
This isn't LA. There's no "Inland smog". Besides, you aren't affording coastal areas on a teacher's salary outside of a condo and that's no place for 2 kids to live.
You should concentrate on Temecula/Murrieta. Both of these areas are family oriented, safe, and have great school districts. The teachers are paid more significantly than their SD counterparts. Temecula was the highest paying district in Riverside County for years, but Murrieta recently stole the title.
Housing in Temecula/Murrieta is much cheaper (halfsies?) and most of the development is newer. It does get hot for 2-3 months of the year, but there's plenty of pools and A/C. Hot > cold.
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