OC to Temecula (Long Beach, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga: fit in, best city, real estate)

[shadow42]

Just wanting to hear from OC residents that haved moved out to Temecula. Are you happy with your move, or do you regret it?

[Lakewooder]

My sister lived in Rancho Cucamonga, then moved to Atlanta and has moved back to CA to Canyon Lake, just north of Temecula. She grew up with me in Dallas and has also lived in Milwaukee - and she's a world traveler.

She loves Canyon Lake - before she saw it, she didn't think she would like it but when she saw the lake and homes, it was something out of Positano, Italy. Needless to say, I love to visit her at every opportunity. And we go down to your lovely Laguna just about every trip...

[Nanseev]

I'm a stay-at-home mom in Temecula (French Valley area), and I know MANY moms who have moved from the OC to this area....and I can honestly say, only a very small handful regret their decision. Most love it, and will openly say that those moms in the OC can have their "tiny, older" houses. Most of the moms love the community and have fit in very well.

[shadow42]

Are their husband's rarely home because of long commute times for work? That is a big concern of mine as my hubby would have to commute the 91 into Long Beach. Any one have experiences with that they can share? Thanks.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by shadow42

Are their husband's rarely home because of long commute times for work? That is a big concern of mine as my hubby would have to commute the 91 into Long Beach. Any one have experiences with that they can share? Thanks.

Temecula to Long Beach?

[Nanseev]

I won't lie..it's going to be a rough commute. If there's a possibility to work off hours or maybe work from home on occasion, it would make it better. But that commute...you're talking 1.5-2 hrs each way I'd say.

[Tool Shed]

Wow are you sure this would be a good ideal as traffic is getting worse, gas prices are rising and house values have just begun falling????

I'm a stay-at-home mom in Temecula (French Valley area), and I know MANY moms who have moved from the OC to this area....and I can honestly say, only a very small handful regret their decision. Most love it, and will openly say that those moms in the OC can have their "tiny, older" houses. Most of the moms love the community and have fit in very well.

No offense, Nanseev, but to me you summarize Temecula perfectly, usually worried about appearance, and size, and fitting in. Yes Temecula has lately become the new home of Desperate House wifes... each racing around wildly in their large SUVs, to and from schools... stores, Costco, gyms, tanning saloons, plastic surgeons, etc... Only to rush home to the overpriced McMansion stucco box that they paid way too much for. Nice and big, expensive to keep cool or warm, but hey its big.. and it might even have granite counters, a 3 car garage, and pricey patio w/ stamped concrete.... you know, the things that signify success.

It always surprises me when people think that larger and newer = better. I have to say that I subscribe to the location, location, location, and Temecula... hmm well the location isn't ideal.

Anyways.. here is my pro and con list to the area.... basically if you think a larger home will make you happy...and either you or your husband don't mind spending at least 4 hours a day in traffic and you like the keepin' up with the Jones' game, you will like Temecula.

Pros:
-great weather, I mean GREAT weather(sunny, slightly seasonal, cool evenings in summer)
-one of least smoggy cities in socal(afternoon breeze common)
-general topography is attractive(natural rolling hills/trees)
-relatively close to mountains, beaches, deserts, big cities(LA/SD)
-nice wineries(kind of)and old town(kind of)
-pretty clean and safe, but getting worse(home invasions,rapes,and shootings have been more common recently)
-seems to be great for families and kids(tons of
schools/activities/sports, good schools)
-many churches
-mainly really good schools, some exceptions
-decent amount of parks
-best city planning of all local cities(clearly not perfect)
-some nice dinning options(this community prides itself on dinning out)
-still some ranches/equestrian left
-Pechanga Casino?(mostly a big CON for me)
-busy mall with common dept stores
-nearly every retailer and store is here, if not all of them!
-distant areas of can still feel like a small town.
-there are a lot of gyms here


Cons:
-growing way too fast
-city traffic is horrible, drivers are crazy, rude, and dangerous!
-freeway traffic horrible at times(215 is the worst)
-expensive homes, not nearly worth the $500k an average home costs here (by nature this may end soon)
-limited singles activity/nightlife
-most careers in retail/education/Abbott Labs/real estate (this is a bedroom community, and most people who make a decent living commute to SD,LA, OC, or Riverside)
-success of city may depend on gas prices staying reasonable(unlikely) due to the fact that there aren't to many well paying jobs here.
-most people with real jobs commute to SD/OC/LA/Riverside and with BAD
traffic getting worse and pricey gas getting pricier this is a BIG Con
-even though many, many dinning options, waits can still be over an hour
-Pechanga Casino(brings substance abuse, greed, and sin in general)
-rat race is here to stay(people in New York City appear to be more mellow)
-rude/materialistic/overly vain/fake/snobby population growing at an
alarming rate
-keeping up w/ Jones' is priority 1 here (my home and truck is bigger than yours and my trophy wife's boobs are bigger too!)
-not the quiet ranch like town it once was
-mass transit hasn't really arrived yet?
-very inconsiderate drivers and many times dangerous(getting worse)
-busy mall(filled w/ filthy mall rats..ughhhh)
-culturally not that diverse yet(getting better)
-no museums
-medical facilities are sub-par(and ERs are packed and usually have long waits.. mediocre service)
-no local rivers and the few local lakes we have are filthy/crowded or
not suitable for recreation
-closest 4 year college over 35 min away(assuming traffic doesn't get worse)
-closest community college is 20 min away and is mediocre
-DMV, Costco, IN'n'OUT are BERSERK almost all the time (going here may test patience)
-even though the city is growing fast and many people live here, it
seems that your business still becomes everyone's business
-still missing some specialty stores
-housing way too over priced(like many other areas too)... due to zero ..
zero lending standards/rampant speculation/low interest rates/market psychology and emotional buying... logic was thrown out in regards to Real Estate
-We are at the beginning of a large correction(drop) in home values unlit they revert to more logical and historical relationships to incomes and rents... both of which are way out of whack right now.


To learn more about he RE problems check here....
www.piggington.com

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...le_1674087.php (broken link)

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/s...2.3d6632f.html (broken link)

[shadow42]

Well, we really both like Temecula a lot and have thought about moving out there several times over the past two yrs. We are not into the "keepin up with the Jones" game at all!, although I can totally see why you would think that. In fact, one of the reasons I wanted to move out of OC is because of that very attitude! My husband has been applying for jobs out of state because I really want to move out of here but he really likes it here. Temecula was sort of our compromise. But, I think the commute would just kill us. Thanks for all your input.

[done with Temecula]

Wow Tool Shed, although you posted along time ago, your con list is right on! Temecula is not what it used to be The "Jones" have ruined it for all of us that moved here to get out of the city. I can't wait to leave! I feel bad for anyone who gets dupped into moving here now. Of course if you are the stuck up type and your life is more important than anyone else this is the place to come you will fit right in!

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by done with Temecula

Wow Tool Shed, although you posted along time ago, your con list is right on! Temecula is not what it used to be The "Jones" have ruined it for all of us that moved here to get out of the city. I can't wait to leave! I feel bad for anyone who gets dupped into moving here now. Of course if you are the stuck up type and your life is more important than anyone else this is the place to come you will fit right in!

If you dislike the place so much, start a new thread instead of opening a THREE YEAR OLD THREAD.