Riverside CA Where to live?

[Robert Barker]

Ok gang, well the company I work for made me an offer I couldnt refuse (opportunity and $ wise) so I am heading west from Nashville. I need some local advice as where in the Riverside area to look for an apartment. I am 32 and single so I would like to be close enough to some night life while also minimizing the commute headaches as much as possible. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.



Thanks

Trac N Tennessee

 

[Kevin Palmer]

I hope it was a very good offer. CA is very expensive to live in compared to just about any where in the Continental US....



I live in Ohio. I get 14.3% Cost of living added to my pay. Our guys in CA get 27.1% and they tell me it is not enough....



To put that in perspective.

If i was $80,000 for my pay plus the Cost of living of $11,760 I get a pay check for a total sum of $91,760



In Ca that same $80,000 gets $21,680 for cost of living for total of $101,680.



Pretty big spread in my opinion. And the guys out there are trying to get out of the area because they say they can not afford to live there...



I am told that gas is considerably higher than mid-west and southern states. Rent, leases and loans work out to be double in most cases. I have no idea about power bills, gas bills and what not.



Not trying to be negative, please do not take it that way.



I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your move.

 

[Bob McDonald]

The good news is that Riverside county (and San Bernardino County) are where the folks from L.A. and Orange counties move to so they can afford to buy a home. Given that, the cost will probably still be considerably more than comparable quality digs in Tennessee would be.

 

[Robert Barker]

Coastie,



I appreciate your concern and I have run the numbers, MULTIPLE times and the company made it WELL worth it. As I said it is both opportunity and $'s that made this work.



Trac N Tennessee

 

[Robert Stanton]

Heh... I moved from that area (Ontario/Upland/Chino) to Tennessee (Memphis) a few years ago. Glad you got a good deal from the company... I'd never be able to afford to live out there the way I do here now.



Anyway, enough about me. I'm not sure what you would consider a decent commute. Unless you want to live in Riverside proper and just not deal with too long of a drive, you probably want to look to the west. Generally speaking, people live in the east and commute west, so if you can find a decently-priced place in, say, Corona, you might want to try that. Conversely, you're likely to find less expensive housing the farther east you go.



Now, if nightlife is your primary concern, you might consider going even further west and living somewhere in Orange County. It'll be more expensive, but you'll be much closer to hot spots and you'll be driving against traffic to and from work. You will be looking at a 30-45 minute commute most days (at least), however.



That's about the most I can help. I commuted north/south, and rarely made it out to Riverside for anything.

 

[ReggieMRegalOne05 Legaspi]

TNT, am not much familiar with Riverside itself since I am way down south at San Diego but I agree with Bahb's info regarding traffic especially on 91. Nightlife would be excellent in Orange County and I don't think you'll doing it nightly so at your age I know you can handle once or a couple a week long drives. Corona would be ideal, as well as Moreno Valley area by I-215. Best to do is get an apartment for a short term and familiarize yourself as well as get info from your new co-workers at the same time looking at moderate commute areas that suites your taste. Good Luck on your relocation.

 

[Heather inOC]

Okay here's my little run-down of the area. I'm in Orange County and most of my buddies live or work in the Inland Empire because it is so much cheaper to live there than it is in Orange County. Chino Hills is a fairly nice area, as well as Yorba Linda, but Yorba Linda is more of a family place with few apartments. Halfway between Riverside and the beach is Tustin, which would make your commute to Riverside on the 55/91 against traffic to and from work, which is awesome. Tustin/Santa Ana/Orange are areas that are being rehabilitated because more people want to live here and are willing to pay good money, so you can find an apartment for a decent price, but you're not in a fantastic area as of yet. I don't think I would want to live further inland in San Bernardino County because it is so freakin hot out there, but I wouldn't mind working there and commuting against traffic. My boyfriend lives in Huntington Beach (2 bedroom 1 bath off PCH $1500) and commutes to Chino and his drive is twice as long as mine, but takes half the time. I go from Fullerton (near CSF, 2 bedroom 1 bath $900) to Newport and it is the pitts.

In my opinion, if you're going to pay an incredibly high amount of money to live in CA, you might as well live by one of it's greatest assetts- THE BEACH. Huntington and Newport have an amazing nightlife and the scenery is not half bad. I would highly avoid Westminster because it only reachable by the 22 freeway, which is under construction for Lord knows how much longer and is down to 2 lanes. Or if you're more of a mountain person, something more towards Redlands would put you near the base of the San Bernardino mountains, but the smog is awful there. Avoid Fontana like the plague- it's called "Fontucky" for a reason. I could go on, but I really don't want more people coming here, so I'll quit the quasi-sales pitch. Good luck on your search!!



-Heather in OC

 

[Teddy GreeneII]

Have to agree with Heather. Too far East is hot as all get out, and west is more money and more traffic. I spent 2 months in Tustin recently and liked it. It's kind of old and frankly, a little run down, but while I was there noticed it starting to resurge quite a bit and a lot of people I know that live there were buying for a relatively quick turn around on investment. Being as most homes in Ca. are dangerously overvalued, thats saying something. Im not as familar with the freeways as Heather and others, but the 91 didnt seem to bad, and my friend lives in Yorba Linda, very, very nice but like she said, not exactly the party place. I loved it though, quiet in the mist of chaos. Good luck to you and give a yell. all of us s. cal slackers someday will get a regional together!

 

[Conrad AlbertoJr]

You could also live somewhere in between riverside and LA, and take the metrolink to riverside. That way you live closer to a big city like LA and can find a lot more things to do than out in riverside. My sisters went to college in riverside so i was there every weekend, and unless youre a college kid its not very fun at all.

 

[Robert Barker]

You guys and gals are the bomb, thanks for all the info.



I will keep you posted, I would expect to be living somewhere in the So Cal area by Oct 1 at the latest.



Trac N Tennessee (or is that California? )

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Trac N Tennessee,

Glad to hear you ran the numbers so well.



Best of luck on your move. Being single and having this opportunity is a great thing....



Enjoy..

 

[Chris Petrilla]

A lot depends on where in Riverside you are working and how long you want to spend in traffic. If you are not used to the daily "grind" of traffic it will get old very quickly. My advice would be, if you could, have them put you up in a hotel for a couple of weeks and get a feel for where you are before committing to anything.

And, "cheaper" is a relative term in Southern California. Example: a 1956 built 1200 sq. ft. house in Buena Park (North Orange County) is listing for around $450,000. (used to own one). A 2,200 sq.ft house built in 1994 in Lake Elsinore (south Riverside County) can be had for the same price (used to own one also) but you would have to deal with the commute to Riverside. The 15 freeway has gotten to be just as bad as the 91. My sister commutes in from Redlands to Riverside and it takes her about an hour.

I have no idea about Riverside nightlife. By the time I moved out that way, I was married with kids

South Orange County (Newport, Irvine) used to be blast when I was younger and single:



Chris

 

[Tony Martinez 2]

There is a reason that when you ask anybody in So. Cal. where something is they tell you in hours driving insted of miles. Good luck on the move. Outlaw