Going back home....RIP MOM. (Riverside, San Bernardino: rent, house, employment)

[hunnybunn33]

After 10 yrs of being away, my family and myself are going back home to California from Indiana. Since we have been away so long, we need the honest opinions of what's going on currently.

We are a family of 10 (6 of which are children ranging from ages 16yrs to 8months) and we will all be living together until we get established and on our feet. We are looking to relocate to a city/area that is affordable, good schools, within 45-1.5 from OC and LA. We will need at least a 4-5 bedroom house ( no more than 1500.00 monthly). We are self employed professionals so income is not a problem, we are also degreed professionals so if applying and qualifying for employment wouldn't be a problem either.

I am asking for sincere honest opinions from residents who are currently living in California and can attest.

[Charles]

Where are your jobs going to be?
Is that 45 to 90 minutes in traffic or at 3AM?

(Without checking myself) For that budget and those housing requirements, I'd bet you will have to look at the far inland empire, Palmdale, or in neighborhoods that don't have fantastic schools. Again, I didn't check but that's my guess.

[Fontucky]

The only things missing from this are "safe neighborhood" and "near the beach".

Those are impossible requirements, IMHO. 1500 will get you 3BR in the far reaches of the desert hinterlands such as Rosamond or North Edwards. But then you can't cover the good schools part or drive times (at anything other than 3am).

Your requirements are unrealistic.

[ferretkona]

Lake Elsinore.

[eureka1]

Even if you are "degreed professionals" you're going to be operating in a climate of 12% unemployment. Suggest you develop a solid backup plan.

[hunnybunn33]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

The only things missing from this are "safe neighborhood" and "near the beach".

Those are impossible requirements, IMHO. 1500 will get you 3BR in the far reaches of the desert hinterlands such as Rosamond or North Edwards. But then you can't cover the good schools part or drive times (at anything other than 3am).

Your requirements are unrealistic.

With that being said " Fontucky"..what is more realistic for my family and myself? What are yoru suggestions?

[hunnybunn33]

Originally Posted by Charles

Where are your jobs going to be?
Is that 45 to 90 minutes in traffic or at 3AM?

(Without checking myself) For that budget and those housing requirements, I'd bet you will have to look at the far inland empire, Palmdale, or in neighborhoods that don't have fantastic schools. Again, I didn't check but that's my guess.

LOL...I'm positive it will not be at 3am...so I'm assuming that time frame is not doable. That's fine. What area's would you suggest?

[hunnybunn33]

Originally Posted by Charles

Where are your jobs going to be?
Is that 45 to 90 minutes in traffic or at 3AM?

(Without checking myself) For that budget and those housing requirements, I'd bet you will have to look at the far inland empire, Palmdale, or in neighborhoods that don't have fantastic schools. Again, I didn't check but that's my guess.

Are you familiar with the Inland Empire area? Can you suggest a specific city?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by hunnybunn33

Are you familiar with the Inland Empire area? Can you suggest a specific city?

Where are you going to be working?

[MtnSurfer]

I think what people are referring to is the high cost of living in California, especially close to LA & OC. You are aware that housing is much, much more expensive than Indiana right?

$1500/mo for a 4-5 bedroom house is very low. So you will need to be in an outskirt town. That's why thousands of people make hellacious commutes from Riverside, San Bernardino, Temecula, Murrieta, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, etc... into LA & OC. But LA County is the largest county in the nation with literally millions of people on the road at the same time. So traffic is really bad into the major economic hubs from these outlying areas. And even if you can find a place with rent that low it will be hard to do it in a nice neighborhood with 'good' schools. Probably the closest may be Murrieta. But you still may need to readjust your housing allowance. Or pick a different part of the state.

Derek