Wife & I looking at relocating to the area (she's got her final interview in Newport Beach Feb 10) what is a good area to live near there? I'll be flying out at the same time and looking at housing.

One thing to keep in mind in Orange County is the temperature variation as you move away from the coast. One rule of thumb that people here like to use is one degree per mile. It's not perfect, but it's a decent start. In the summer, 5 miles inland can be 5 degrees hotter than the coastline; 10 miles 10 degrees hotter, etc.

With that said, Newport Beach (and Costa Mesa) itself is a very nice place to live but very pricey. Nice but more affordable places nearby are Irvine and Huntington Beach / Fountain Valley. Irvine is mostly newer homes. The area is nice with some hills and revoluves around the UCI campus. John Wayne Airport is nearby so make sure you look into jet noise when looking in the Newport/Irvine area.

Huntington Beach is also nice and more affordable than Newport Beach. The homes are either from the 60s or new developments. You'll know by looking at them. Huntington Beach has more of a blue collar/mainstream feel relative to Newport Beach. Many of the people that bought the original homes in Huntington Beach worked for the defense contractors with facilities nearby (hence the cultural difference vs Newport Beach).

South of Newport and about 10 miles inland is Mission Viejo / Aliso Viejo. Those are newer affordable areas that are mainly young families.

Let me know if you need more.

I should have mentioned that the Irvine hills have occasional brush fires. It's not a serious problem, but you should be aware of it. It's the only area around here that has that problem, but it's the only area that isn't completely developed and full of concrete.

Try a quick Google search for Irvine CA brush fires.

One last thing and I'll shut up lol. The link below is an excellent site for checking out Huntington Beach real estate. The realtor organizes MLS listings for the various neighborhoods in Huntington Beach. Most of the listings include pictures. I pasted the links for main site and the downtown section...


http://www.campbellrealtors.com/
http://www.campbellrealtors.com/downtownhb.htm

Are you looking to rent or buy? The broker my roommate is using has an office in Orange County.

At this point I imagine you've gone to look already. However, definitely look into Cypress if you haven't already made a decision. I actually grew up there and loved it. Small town feel, but very much in the middle of anything and everything. Minutes from Anaheim, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, etc. Easy access to 605 as well. If you need a realtor, I can recommend Jim Van Leuven. Known him most of my life and has been in real estate as long as I've known him (20 plus years). He lives in Los Alamitos and I believe offices out of Long Beach. His website is http://www.ca-real-estate-agents.com/brokers/james-van-leuven--main-street-realtors

Love it here.. moved out here 6 months ago from DFW and pinch myself still. Live in San Clemente area and my office is in Costa Mesa. Lots of good options here to rent and buy right now. I do like living in South County though... just seems more laid back the further south you go and I like that. I think living as close as we do to Pendleton helps.

People have been so friendly here. We miss texas BBQ and family and friends but we were at the beach today in February. That doesnt suck.

Moved out here from that crap hole known as Dallas too. I don't miss a damn thing about Texas.

where you ad Stead? I'm class of 2000. Any decent Former Students clubs here?

I might be taking a job in LA but do have some concerns about cost of living. What do you think is a cost of living adjustment is needed to move? What would you say would be the minimum that a family of four would need to live comfortably and not be stuck at home all the time due to lack of funds? I currently live in Texas.

I definitely want to live in a good and safe area as well. I have been recommended to Cypress, Pasadena, Orange, Irvine, Orange County in general. I have also looked at Rancho Cucamonga.

I started a topic under Job Network that has been helpful.

Any help/advice is appreciated!

[This message has been edited by sdmf (edited 2/20/2012 12:18p).]

L.A. at Olympic and Fairfax.

I don't go to any of the clubs.

Tejas Ag, where do you live? I live in San Clemente as well. Right next to the Dominos on N El Camino Real.

bevan you gotta be kidding me! we'll have to meet up for a beer at pizza port.. i'm right on edge of capo beach / san clemente.. off camino de estrella