Where's my dream California city?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by bobbianco

Forgive me all- I'm new to this really. I guess some of you needed more information?

Temecula seems like the perfect place! As you point out- it's within 1 hrs drive to the ocean, it's near amenities, it has the climate I'm looking for, and it's affordable. Thank you!

To be more specific, so that I might get more suggestions-
My wife is in the same line of work as me, so she can take her job with her as well.
I'd like to keep rent near 1500 for a 3bd 2bth house.

Thank you all so much for trying to help me

hmmm, well except for a few areas in santa cruz county where you may not want to live, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to find a good 3 bedroom house for less than 2K - 2.5K a month.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

My only question is whether rents are that low there.

very low! ... at least relative to santa cruz county.
classifieds - craigslist - Temecula

[enlightenme]

Ventura? I think to get a decent house you would be closer to $2000 for a 3 bedroom, but deals can be found. It is a great area if you don't have to worry about finding a job.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

very low! ... at least relative to santa cruz county.
classifieds - craigslist - Temecula

I would not trust anything on Craigslist. There are other ways, but Craigslist is most scam anymore.

Nita

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I would not trust anything on Craigslist. There are other ways, but Craigslist is most scam anymore.

Nita

Just dismissing Craigslist like that is silly and reactive and fear based imo.
Craigslist is a very good way to get a sense of the price of a rental in any given community.
The majority of the classifieds are legitimate and it's no different from looking at ads in the paper.
And whenever one meets with either a realtor or owner regarding a rental, one needs to be cautious.
You can get a sense of the average price of a rental and if you see something that looks way below the market, then there's a good chance it is a scam.
I can spot them right away because i'm familiar with the area i live in.
Craigslist has gotten a bad name but it's a good service.
I sold Yakima Skybox in a day for example.
I think a lot of people have an attitude about it because of some of the other services advertised and perhaps because of the murder in MA.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

Just dismissing Craigslist like that is silly and reactive and fear based imo.
Craigslist is a very good way to get a sense of the price of a rental in any given community.
The majority of the classifieds are legitimate and it's no different from looking at ads in the paper.
And whenever one meets with either a realtor or owner regarding a rental, one needs to be cautious.
You can get a sense of the average price of a rental and if you see something that looks way below the market, then there's a good chance it is a scam.
I can spot them right away because i'm familiar with the area i live in.
Craigslist has gotten a bad name but it's a good service.
I sold Yakima Skybox in a day for example.
I think a lot of people have an attitude about it because of some of the other services advertised and perhaps because of the murder in MA.

Sense of price, I agree but have you been keeping up with the scams that have appeared on Craigslist? Many have to do with rental property as well as available jobs. I think, at one time, they were wonderful, but something has happened in the past year or so. I would not depend on anything from them. Again, just to get a feel is one thing, the OP is about to answer emails and he has absolutely no clue as to areas. That to me is scary..

Nita

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Sense of price, I agree but have you been keeping up with the scams that have appeared on Craigslist? Many have to do with rental property as well as available jobs. I think, at one time, they were wonderful, but something has happened in the past year or so. I would not depend on anything from them. Again, just to get a feel is one thing, the OP is about to answer emails and he has absolutely no clue as to areas. That to me is scary..

Nita

If you see a classified ad in the paper you respond and then if you're interested you take further action in order to see the rental, meet the owners, etc., etc. and then if you choose to rent you take the further steps necessary.
Same with craigslist.
I know that there is scamming.
And you're right ... in the last couple of years it's dramatically increased.
And no-one should rent a place without first seeing it, meeting the owner or realtor and then going through all the legal protocol.
But craigslist is a good tool ... one just needs to be careful.
And again, you can look at a community and get a general sense of what the going rate is for a rental.
That's why i supply links to craigslist on this forum.
But it's not to suggest that anyone should be so stupid as to do any kind of monetary or document exchange with anyone if it's not in person nor should any personal / financial information be given.
This applies to any rental advertisement found anywhere.

[bigolwoody]

How much does that single wide rent for that Rockford lived in at the beach? If thast $1500 a month,they could`nt call you trailer trash