where should we live?? Southern Cali. Family neighborhood?

[jac1yn2]

Thanks ehcsrop! I do think we can go closer to $500000 than I orginally thought. depending on what taxes are like. I've been looking at maps and listing and a ton on this board. Its just so tough to figure out what areas are safe and have good school. I like areas of OC because of the views of canyons ect. and because of schools. But worry about the "keeping up with the Jones's". We are a very down to earth laid back family... almost hippy-ish in the way we like organic foods... music... arts.. just the whole laid back beach vibe. But we have kids so we also want the best education for our kids and want them to feel safe where they live. The unhippy-ish part of us really likes a new(er) house and to be in a neighborhood the is well kept.

So we don't want to be in the middle of all the action.. just close by! We would love a view but know we can't afford a beach veiw. I also know that the beach will get old but still like to be close enough to not have to do a bunch of planning and packing... don't want it to be a big production to take a last min trip to the beach for 2 hours. so I have no problem being 30 to 45 mins away just don't want to be too far.
We also like neighborhoods that have a community feel since we are new to the area and that will be my way of meeting people.
I also don't think we would have problems with the heat as long as we had a pool.

[bhcompy]

Southeast LA county and western Orange County are you best options imho. Newer housing(ie South Orange County) is going to kill you on taxes, which reduce your buying power. Take a drive around Cypress, western Garden Grove, etc and you'll see some very well kept neighborhoods even if the houses are 20-40 y/o. The schools in the areas I mentioned perform very well and you have your beach town vibe along with the stores and such that fit your organic lifestyle, need for music and art(Long Beach will be your center for this mostly), etc.