California Central to Southern Coast Retirement question (San Jose, Oxnard: short sales, crime)

[MrTudo]

Is it possible to find a smaller town no more than 30 minutes from the ocean ( 30 minutes max ) anywhere in southern to central california, nice little town similar in feel to a say ( murphys ca ) but where you can buy a house similar in price to murphys? ( Less than $150 sq ft on .25 acre or larger ) ?

Green, lots of trees, a place you would consider for retiring so it's got to have hospitals not too far away etc? Good quality of life and a decent single family one level 3 bedroom house for less than $350,000 ? Is it do able? Where?

We looked in the northern cal region within driving distance of san fransisco and all I can say is whew! Let's look further south.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by MrTudo

Is it possible to find a smaller town no more than 30 minutes from the ocean ( 30 minutes max ) anywhere in southern to central california, nice little town similar in feel to a say ( murphys ca ) but where you can buy a house similar in price to murphys? ( Less than $150 sq ft on .25 acre or larger ) ?

Green, lots of trees, a place you would consider for retiring so it's got to have hospitals not too far away etc? Good quality of life and a decent single family one level 3 bedroom house for less than $350,000 ? Is it do able? Where?

We looked in the northern cal region within driving distance of san fransisco and all I can say is whew! Let's look further south.

I doubt you'll find any 3 bedroom house for less than $350,000 on the southern coast.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by MrTudo

Is it possible to find a smaller town no more than 30 minutes from the ocean ( 30 minutes max ) anywhere in southern to central california, nice little town similar in feel to a say ( murphys ca ) but where you can buy a house similar in price to murphys? ( Less than $150 sq ft on .25 acre or larger ) ?

Green, lots of trees, a place you would consider for retiring so it's got to have hospitals not too far away etc? Good quality of life and a decent single family one level 3 bedroom house for less than $350,000 ? Is it do able? Where?

We looked in the northern cal region within driving distance of san fransisco and all I can say is whew! Let's look further south.

Murphys is all good.

If you want a retirement home at that price coastal look up near Fort Bragg or Mendocino.

[MrTudo]

Thank you, the hunt continues

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Two4damoney

I doubt you'll find any 3 bedroom house for less than $350,000 on the southern coast.

Alabama

Not CA

[5thgenSF]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

If you want a retirement home at that price coastal look up near Fort Bragg or Mendocino.

front row seat for the next tsunami!

Address Not Disclosed - Trulia

[stumble]

San Juan Bautista. 25 Minutes to the Beach, 45 Minutes to San Jose, 35 Minutes to Downtown Monterey & 2 hours & 45 minutes to Yosemite. Price per square foot is doable on a short sale & many nearby areas have larger lots. (1/2 to 5 acres). Since it is about 12 miles from the Pacific, it stays cool in the summer, but the morning "gloom" does not make it that far inland very often. Problem is many of the houses are larger, so 350K might be tough, but some short sales in the last 12 months were under $350K.

[MtnSurfer]

Take a look at Orcutt, Santa Maria, Nipoma, Atascadero and Paso Robles. These are all on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo. My father-in-law who is retired just moved to Santa Maria with his wife on a very limited income.

Derek

[the city]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Take a look at Orcutt, Santa Maria, Nipoma, Atascadero and Paso Robles. These are all on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo. My father-in-law who is retired just moved to Santa Maria with his wife on a very limited income.

Derek

Nipomo is about 10-15 minutes depending on traffic to Grover Beach and 20 min to heart of Pismo Beach. Jocko's (one of the best steakhouses around) and Dana Adobe are in Nipomo and you are not too far from Santa Maria and Pismo Beach for shopping and dining.

Atascadero is 15-20 minutes on the 46 west to Morro Bay. Atascadero has a nice lake park and zoo and brand new movie theater.

Santa Maria is about 10-15 minutes to Guadalupe. Orcutt is about 15-20 minutes from Guadalupe. Santa Maria is in the midst of reviving itself. The mall is hoping to breakdown on a facelift including a 10 screen movie theater with an Imax screen.

Paso Robles is 30-25 minutes from Cayucos, but it's a tricky road at times and it gets very hot in Paso Robles. I do not suggest Paso Robles as crime has risen in the past years and it's pretty boring. Paso is nice to visit for wine, but nothing else.

Seaside may be an option. You are close to the beach and not too far from Monterey for shopping and dining and entertainment.

I think Vandenberg Village could work too, and you would only be 30 minutes to Santa Barbara and 5-10 min from the beach. However, last I heard, they wanted to restrict visitors from the Lompoc beach because of intruders bothering the snowy plover bird nesting ground.

Oxnard is pretty cheap in Ventura County. You could also find some decent priced homes in Ventura too. However, those two are more developed cities.

[italiangirl]

There are homes up the coast about an hour from SF; Cotati, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park. About 40 minutes to Bodaga Bay and an hour to Pt. Reyes...very beautiful, and not too expensive. You can find a house for $350,000.