Looking To Move To Cali Next Year - Need Advice/Opions

[99PunisherSVT]

I'm looking at moving from MA out to CA in about a year or so and I need opinions. I'm not set on any city in particular and I'd like to get opinions about where you live and why you would/wouldn't recommend living there.
A little bit of info:
I've spent plenty of time on the west coast. I have family in Santa Cruz and friends down in Ventura. I've spent some time up in SF and down in SB. I love Santa Cruz but I don't want to rent and housing is really expensive there. I want to be somewhere between SD and SF. Haven't spent too much time inland and I would love to stay somewhat coastal. I was close to transferring in my company to Fullerton 2 years ago and I didn't mind that area but I think I'd like to be further away from LA. No desire to live in any of the big cities (SF, SD or LA). It's just me and my girlfriend; no kids and no plans to ever have one so we're satisfied with a smaller house/condo. I've never been to Oceanside but I see that there's some really affordable housing there. Did a little bit of reading and got mixed reviews. I'd only like to spend around $200k, which I know is a drop in the bucket for California. I know you get what you pay for so save your breath.
I'm heading out for 2 weeks in June to visit family and I'd like to scope out some areas. Feel free to ask questions or give me your opinions.

 

[sxecobra]

I used to live in visalia in Tulare county central California. cost of living is low. Real calm city new houses and apartments. country side has nice ranches for dirt cheap. trees everywhere. no traffic EVER! it's the valley so it's cold in the winter and hot 90 plus from mid May to mid September.

 

[sxecobra]

You got Pismo 2 hours west and sequoia national park like 1 hour east.

 

[sxecobra]

car scene is alot of lifted trucks. and rice. 1 torch red cobra

 

[12gt]

Oxnard or Camarillo are nice coastal
Areas!

 

[fuzzycobra]

200k 'LL get you in the IE.Upland's real nice

 

[Mad_Marc]

For 200k your best bet will be in the valley area.

 

[1hot281]

NorCal valley is nice. A nice suburb like Roseville, Folsom, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills... You're about an hour or so drive from everything, from SF/Bay area, Napa wine country, lake Berryessa, Sonoma and Infineon raceway, Sacramento raceway, Tahoe and numerous ski resorts... A few different Indian casinos... A slightly farther drive from Santa Cruz and Monterey/Pebble beach and Laguna Seca raceway. and most important, you're driving distance to Cameron Park, home of the great AED.

Plus cost of living is much cheaper than big cities like LA, SD, And SF.

 

[whitedevil95]

Oceanside fits your bill pretty good. I love Temecula. Great for raising a family.

 

[99PunisherSVT]

I used to live in visalia in Tulare county central California. cost of living is low. Real calm city new houses and apartments. country side has nice ranches for dirt cheap. trees everywhere. no traffic EVER! it's the valley so it's cold in the winter and hot 90 plus from mid May to mid September.

car scene is alot of lifted trucks. and rice. 1 torch red cobra

I like the sound of all that. I grew up in the woods of New Hampshire with a bunch of rednecks so trees and lifted trucks work well for me!

Oxnard or Camarillo are nice coastal
Areas!

I really do like Oxnard. I have a friend that lives relatively close to the Naval base there and I've stayed with her before. A lot of farm country down there, which is another thing I grew up with.

200k 'LL get you in the IE.Upland's real nice

I'll have to check that out.

NorCal valley is nice. A nice suburb like Roseville, Folsom, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills... You're about an hour or so drive from everything, from SF/Bay area, Napa wine country, lake Berryessa, Sonoma and Infineon raceway, Sacramento raceway, Tahoe and numerous ski resorts... A few different Indian casinos... A slightly farther drive from Santa Cruz and Monterey/Pebble beach and Laguna Seca raceway. and most important, you're driving distance to Cameron Park, home of the great AED.

Plus cost of living is much cheaper than big cities like LA, SD, And SF.

What's the weather like up in that area? I'm assuming a lot like SF?

Oceanside fits your bill pretty good. I love Temecula. Great for raising a family.

Have you spent any time in Oceanside? I did a little reading on citydata last night and a bunch of people posted that it's a rundown "has-been" beach town. Lots of rough parts. It makes sense considering the housing market is so low. All the pictures I've seen there look amazing though.

 

[da5deuce]

From what I "heard" from buddies on here Fontana, upland, rancho Cucamonga, ect are good places to be.

 

[99PunisherSVT]

From what I "heard" from buddies on here Fontana, upland, rancho Cucamonga, ect are good places to be.

Yeah I just did some looking into a few of those places. Looks nice with a decent housing market.

 

[da5deuce]

Yeah I just did some looking into a few of those places. Looks nice with a decent housing market.

Yea I know a few people out there and they're members here also. Good guys, who love the Inland Empire. I'm opposite of you OP I hate the quite area outside of LA lol. I was raised in LA and Compton and couldn't live without the city haha. Hope you find what you're looking for though :beer:

 

[99PunisherSVT]

Yea I know a few people out there and they're members here also. Good guys, who love the Inland Empire. I'm opposite of you OP I hate the quite area outside of LA lol. I was raised in LA and Compton and couldn't live without the city haha. Hope you find what you're looking for though :beer:

Yeah I think a lot of it is how I was raised in the sticks. I don't mind visiting the big cities but it's just not for me. I totally see the draw though. To each his own I guess. And thanks for the tips.

Whoever convinces me to move to near them gets drinks on me when I get there!

 

[whitedevil95]

Oceanside def has some rough areas and is an older part. But it's the only way you get near the beach at an affordable price.

 

[99PunisherSVT]

Oceanside def has some rough areas and is an older part. But it's the only way you get near the beach at an affordable price.

Yeah that's what it's looking like. How rough is rough?

 

[GOTSVT?]

Brush up on your Spanish!

 

[99PunisherSVT]

Brush up on your Spanish!

Que? As long as I can order my burritos I'll be happy.

 

[whitedevil95]

Yeah that's what it's looking like. How rough is rough?

Def not Compton levels or anything. Also the closer you are to the beach in oside the nicer it will be. I grew up in SD and had a few friends that lived there. Houses are a little older but there are good neighborhoods.

 

[miggs.03.term8r]

200k 'll get you in the ie.upland's real nice

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