Where in SoCal should we live? (Long Beach, Irvine: fit in, rent, houses)

[ap619]

My husband and I are trying to figure out what part of SoCal we should move to in summer 2012. We currently live in Seattle, and have had about enough of the weather here. We hope to buy in about 3-4 years from now, and start a family a year after that. A family member has property in Palm Springs so we can at least get a taste of California for now, but we would really like to live in SoCal. Our dream is to live in Santa Barbara. We know that is out of our price range, but we love the small town feel, downtown strip with all the shops (Gap, Nordy's, Anthro) and restaurants. We have been researching several towns but since we are WA natives, we really don't know where to look. Our requirements and preferences are as follows:

requirements:
family friendly (less than 15% can be over 65)
population under 100K
democrat/liberal
temps not lower than 50/60 in winter nor higher than 90/100 in summer (don't think we could live in PSP year round).
minimal smog
minimal traffic
decent public schools (we're both inner city Seattle public school kids)
some diversity (i went to college with 10 black people and 10 Asian people, I HATED IT!!!)
houses between 300 and 500K for a 4BD
if possible a Spanish Villa type house, not the suburban all look-a-like houses
we are a nurse and an accountant, so job-wise we are set, but not rich by any means.
an hour's drive to the beach.
not "suburban"
be near to an airport that flies to Seattle (like an hour's drive)


We looked at Ventura, but kinda run down. San Clemente seemed too expensive. We kinda like Claremont but expensive!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ap619

would really like to live in SoCal.

family friendly (less than 15% can be over 65)
population under 100K
temps not lower than 50/60 in winter nor higher than 90/100 in summer
minimal smog
minimal traffic
decent public schools
some diversity
houses between 300 and 500K for a 4BD
if possible a Spanish Villa type house, not the suburban all look-a-like houses
we are a nurse and an accountant,
an hour's drive to the beach.

Does your housing budget depend on both your incomes?
Kids? Ages? Within 5 years?
One income within 5 years?

Everything depends on where you find jobs.

[Ceece]

The good news is that you don't have to worry about any of this stuff yet. When/if you move here your will rent someplace that allows you to get back and forth from your jobs easily. From there, your choices will be limited so you won't have to stress about your list. You will buy what you can afford if you still want to live there. I sense buying is a looooooooong way off and even your move is 1-2 years away. Everything can and will change, so just think about jobs for now.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Fantasyland would fit perfectly.

[ap619]

Originally Posted by Charles

Does your housing budget depend on both your incomes?
Kids? Ages? Within 5 years?
One income within 5 years?

Everything depends on where you find jobs.

By the time we buy, we can live on 1 income, or 1.5 incomes if I work part-time/per diem. I think we can afford a 500K house on 1 income by then. No kids yet, not for 4-5 years. Eventually I'd prefer to be a SAHM at least until they are in middle school.

[Vanskills]

I thought it was pretty funny you were looking for a democrat/liberal area...

LOL were isnt Cali liberal?...

If you want the ulimate liberal hippie paradise try San Fransico.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ap619

By the time we buy, we can live on 1 income, or 1.5 incomes if I work part-time/per diem. I think we can afford a 500K house on 1 income by then. No kids yet, not for 4-5 years. Eventually I'd prefer to be a SAHM at least until they are in middle school.

I think you could do it but it probably won't conform to the scenario you described. Most likely you'll find job(s) in fairly populated areas - that's just the way it is. $500K for a 4BR is realistic and in decent neighborhoods too. However, it will probably be your standard middle class suburbia with standard middle class amenities, schools, parks, shopping, etc.

[UB50]

"temps not lower than 50/60 in winter nor higher than 90/100 in summer (don't think we could live in PSP year round)."

I assume you are talking daytime temperatures because a lot of places get colder than that at night. And many areas get over 100 in the summer though it may only be for a few days.

Population under 100K. Are you talking about "city limits" or what? About 20 million people live in Southern California and there are lots of "incorporated cities" within metropolitan areas that are under 100K, but the entire metropolitan area (like LA) might be huge!

[Vascodagama]

Originally Posted by ap619

My husband and I are trying to figure out what part of SoCal we should move to in summer 2012. We currently live in Seattle, and have had about enough of the weather here. We hope to buy in about 3-4 years from now, and start a family a year after that. A family member has property in Palm Springs so we can at least get a taste of California for now, but we would really like to live in SoCal. Our dream is to live in Santa Barbara. We know that is out of our price range, but we love the small town feel, downtown strip with all the shops (Gap, Nordy's, Anthro) and restaurants. We have been researching several towns but since we are WA natives, we really don't know where to look. Our requirements and preferences are as follows:

requirements:
family friendly (less than 15% can be over 65)
population under 100K
democrat/liberal
temps not lower than 50/60 in winter nor higher than 90/100 in summer (don't think we could live in PSP year round).
minimal smog
minimal traffic
decent public schools (we're both inner city Seattle public school kids)
some diversity (i went to college with 10 black people and 10 Asian people, I HATED IT!!!)
houses between 300 and 500K for a 4BD
if possible a Spanish Villa type house, not the suburban all look-a-like houses
we are a nurse and an accountant, so job-wise we are set, but not rich by any means.
an hour's drive to the beach.
not "suburban"
be near to an airport that flies to Seattle (like an hour's drive)


We looked at Ventura, but kinda run down. San Clemente seemed too expensive. We kinda like Claremont but expensive!

democrat/liberal? You should fit in

[smokingGun]

may be Fillmore, Santa Paula or even Camarillo (in ventura)? I've got a radiologist friend who lives & works out that way so healthcare jobs should be available. But, accounting/finance gigs are for the most part centered around major metros like LA, Long Beach, Newport/Irvine or SD. And living way out in any bucolic suburb would entail over an hour commute each way. So it's something to consider.