Moving to California...Where to Go? (San Diego, Sacramento: apartment, lease, condo)

[Pumpkin_82]

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated with my Master's in Elementary Education and will be moving to California within the next few months (after I get a job, of course!).

With that being said, what are some good, but not all that expensive places to live? Santa Monica, LA, North Hollywood, San Diego, Sacramento? I will be renting an apartment somewhere. I am not familiar with any of the areas, but want to be in a safe, yet trendy area. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[BRinSM]

finding for a teaching position anywhere in CA is going to be difficult with the governor's recent education budget cuts. if you are set on moving to CA, i'd be more worried about where to get a job rather than where to live.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_82

I recently graduated with my Master's in Elementary Education and will be moving to California within the next few months (after I get a job, of course!).

With that being said, what are some good, but not all that expensive places to live?

Why are you moving to California?
What do you expect your housing budget to be?

[EscapeCalifornia]

I hope you're bilingual.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_82

Hi everyone,

I recently graduated with my Master's in Elementary Education and will be moving to California within the next few months (after I get a job, of course!).

With that being said, what are some good, but not all that expensive places to live? Santa Monica, LA, North Hollywood, San Diego, Sacramento? I will be renting an apartment somewhere. I am not familiar with any of the areas, but want to be in a safe, yet trendy area. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

come back and ask after you've secured a teaching job. LAUSD is huge and there are dozens of smaller districts scattered throughout the area. you'll want to know where you'll be working before you commit to a neighborhood.

[dreamfollower]

I hate to bust your bubble, but unless you have a great deal of money to spend on even the smallest of condo's in a more expensive enclave or an equal valued leased space, the trendy areas that are additionally "safe" are pretty much out of reach as are just average suburban "safe" areas which are minimal in number. In fact, there is always an element of unsafe here in varying degrees. It never leaves your psyche.

For the average incomed, it is a lifestyle of always "settling" for the sake of good weather. I have never experienced a place so hung-up on weather in lieu of a more even-keeled environment in most other ways which would far better add to one's overall well-being.

This is no longer the land of The Beach Boys and it all is so out of hand that you will arrive here and say, "What happened?" This is especially true of southern California. Your best bet would be to head further north, but the pricing and socio tightrope may not be that much different, but I may be wrong.

After hoping to be able to feel comfortable enough to settle here, I have elected to head out primarily because I do not see it getting better anytime soon; and if it is going to get even a little worse, I do not want to be anywhere near the place.

But in the end, you should follow your instinct whereever that may lead.

Good luck to you.