Relocate to Southern California.....where?

[kaisen]

My business can exist anywhere....from a beach as easily as a frozen tundra. So that got me thinking.....

If we were to relocate our home and business to Southern California, where would we want to live and work?

We've considered anywhere from Southern Orange County (Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Irvine) to West-ish Los Angeles area (Santa Monica, Culver City, Larchmont Village area, Silverlake area) to the Western Inland Empire (Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Pomona).

We are looking to LEASE a home/townhome/apt (3br+) and a nearby office/warehouse (~2K sf). These costs aren't as disparate as you'd think. The difference is what you're leasing. In the L.A. area, it's older 30's-40's spaces (and the highest costs). In Chino/Chino Hills it's 90's-00's (and the lowest costs). In OC it's 80's-90's. We're looking at residences in the $1500-2500 rents, and commercial space in the $.50-1.00 psf range. We'd pay more for the perfect space. There's plenty available in all areas.

My wife really liked the Laguna Hills / Laguna Niguel area, and she really liked the Chino / Chino Hills area. She's not so enthralled with the older, 'quaint' L.A. areas. She's happier with neat, clean, orderly, newer, big-box, white-bread, upscale. She'd rather go out and find diversity, not have it next door.

We have two little daughters (see my photo) that will be one and two in May. So we've got four years before schools. But our activities are limited, if not directed, by the little ones. A safe neighborhood is key. A place to play, parks, walks, playgrounds, etc.

I will occasionally attend auctions in Riverside, Fontana, and Anaheim. But not too often. I might go to San Diego as well. Love to go to Irvine Cars and Coffee events.

I'm sure there are lots of areas we haven't considered, so if you think we should, please let me know. Van Nuys, Pasadena, Burbank? Encino? Huntington Beach? Orange, Anaheim? Up North by Hugh?

Share your thoughts and advice. I know how these threads go, so I'll take it all with a grain of salt. Thanks!!

[Gogar]

You're gonna have a tough time in here with the idea of moving "to" California!

[Jim Bremner]

Bring us LOTS of $ our state like to spend tons of it.

I've lived in So-Call all but 9 months of my 44 years!

If I could raise my children over again. It wouldn't be here.

I would love to move to San Luis Obispo. My Family on both sides live withen 10 miles. They're the reason that I'm here

[9dreizig]

Lot's of other/better places.. You have a business and want to move to CA ? Are you nuts?
I do alot of business in CA but offically am in Nevada, no income tax! I'd rather burn my money than give it to CA.. Consider Reno,, great place, mountains, sun, business friendly.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

Lot's of other/better places.. You have a business and want to move to CA ? Are you nuts?
I do alot of business in CA but offically am in Nevada, no income tax! I'd rather burn my money than give it to CA.. Consider Reno,, great place, mountains, sun, business friendly.

I had a state employee tell me that it was "my duty as a business owner to create jobs and tax revenue for the state" He was a Assembly mans aid. If he wasn't a friend of a customer of mine I would have tore him up for his ignorance.


I'm putting boltless shelving in a warehouse in Cerritos. I will not get my business permit unless I pay $3,000 to a engineer firm to draw up 3 sets of plans telling me that my 1,000 pound rate shelving is rated at 1,000 pounds.

I will also pay a 20% tax on what I spend to relocate, plans, and cost of building the 40 shevles. This 20% tax is to improve the building for ADA compliance!

Joanna, My wife has MS and can barely walk 20 feet, I hope that they let her chose on what it is that we spaend the 20% on. My guess is that it will be fluff that won't work for Joanna

[Rick Lee]

I was just in Irvine a few days ago for the third time and really like it a lot. Still, it'd a be a cold day in hell before I subjected myself to KA's laws and taxes. But I love to visit. I'll be very curious to see what you can find in your price range. Don't forget the 9.25% sales tax and gas that costs a good $.50 more per gallon than what you're use to. And there's no way around it - you have to drive a LOT when you live in KA.

[Dantilla]

A couple years ago I was about to buy some investment property in California. Before signing, I thought I'd better look at California's tax structure.

WHAT!!

You've got to be kidding!

No way will I ever buy property in California.

Minnesota sure has goofy taxes, but they are a piece of cake compared to CA.

I wish you well....

[Jim Bremner]

I feel like a Subject, not a Citizen

[pete3799]

Wait.......you WANT to move to Ca.?

[9dreizig]

oh I almost forgot first dibs on your guns when you move!

[Noah930]

There are lots of fantastic places to live in SoCal, like the OC and West LA ideas you've got going. (Riverside, Fontucky, and the "Inland Empire" are not places you should be using as reference.) Sounds like your wife might be a candidate for life in Westlake/Agoura/Calabasas, too. But the cost of living will be a shocker for you, you have to accept the driving and traffic that comes with living in a spread out metropolis, and if you're PARFy conservative you're gonna have a stroke if you take things too seriously.

Still, it was 80 degrees here yesterday. There are 80 degree days probably all 12 months of the year (though obviously less common during the "winter"). This is the car capital of the country/world (important for you). And there's a diversity here that can only be rivaled by a couple other places in the world. And did I mention the weather? My in-laws from Massachusetts just spent the month of March here in Palm Springs and loved it.

There are great pockets to live in throughout LA. Generally, the closer you get to the ocean, the nicer and more expensive it gets. The places you'll want to live, crime won't be too bad. Occasional home burglary, car broken into overnight if parked on the street.

But the price of housing is going to be a shocker. An entry level 3 BR house is going to run you close to 3/4 of a million dollars (and up). Maybe the low- to mid-600s if you're a bit lucky and willing to put a little work into a place. Rent for a place like that will be at the upper limit of what you've budgeted. I suppose a condo/apt/townhouse might fit into your budget more comfortably. Related to that, at some point you and your wife are going to have to consider the cost of education. LA Unified has a terrible reputation, in general. That's not true for all schools, obviously, and I'm sending my little one to a public elementary school. But you have to pick and choose where you live to match the local school district. Or you can ante up for private school.

And you'll have to do due diligence to check into how Kalifornia's business climate matches up to MN's.

[JR Indy]

Hitting your residential rent targets may be tough, but Laguna Hills, LN, MV, and AV are all nice areas. Irvine is nice too, but a little sterile. Zillow is a good site to search for rentals. I'm not sure what the commercial space goes for in that area. Most schools in OC are good, Irvine is typically very good.

One key is to live close to your office to avoid any commute on the 5 or 405. That shouldn't be hard to do given your circumstances as I understood them.

There are a lot of things to like about living in OC, and lot's of things to dislike too. It all depends on what you want out of life. I moved here from the midwest 2 years ago but I haven't decided if I'll stay. If the long term business environment improves, I likely will.

I couldn't imagine living in Minneapolis. I'd pick the higher cost of living here over living there.

[look 171]

Many of the places you mention are so different from each other. Like Noah said, stay clear of the Inland empire, but there are cities out not too far should be ok. Diamond bar and such are ok but not Pomona. The West side will be hell will be hell when it comes to traffic. Most of my work is out there and sometimes I just close my windows and scream. its much better after that. Silverlake is great, but you have find something around the lake. That can be $$$. Most of southern Orange County is great. Wide open roads with plenty of great people.

To rent a house in Silverlake will run you around 3k a month. More money if you go out toward the Westside near the beach. Better pockets in those areas means better grade schools so the rent go up. I know Silverlake really, really well. One of the grade school is fantastic. Everyone is trying to get in there. Let me know if you have questions about that place.

There are some fantastic things about this place. You will learn to stay away from the crowded areas and the rat race. We often takes the kids on our stroller for a walk on the beach in January. Where most people in the northern climates stay indoors for those few months. Plus, it really doesn't rain here much.

Why such move? Is the cold getting to you. My cousin just visited So Cal last week. They came out to stay in Palm Springs. They are looking to snowbird here. They live in Calgary. 49 years is enough for them. I used to take them out for bike rides along the ocean. They have been hooked since.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Gogar

You're gonna have a tough time in here with the idea of moving "to" California!

Originally Posted by Noah930

... if you're PARFy conservative you're gonna have a stroke if you take things too seriously.

Guys, I'm not PARFy not one little bit. Taxes are everywhere, MN and WI too. Is the Republic of Kalifornia more? Sure. Pay to play. I don't mind paying taxes when the quality of life is better. There are great things about where I live now. I love it most days. There are bad things as well.

Weather, business, and opportunity are the reasons we are considering such a move. If we'd like opportunity, we need to be where the money is, and where the population is. Of the large cities in the US, where would you rather live?

I've done lots of homework. I know what it takes to do business, the laws, taxes, etc. I've looked at hundreds of commercial spaces to lease and know their costs. I've looked at thousands of residential options (online) so I know their costs.

So my post wasn't about whether to move, or the pros and cons of moving. The question was, WHERE in SoCal to move and why.

P.S., the only parts of the Inland Empire I would consider would be Chino Hills or Walnut, both of which border L.A. county. Otherwise, West of the 5/405, or adjacent. Unless you guys have better advice.

[BRPORSCHE]

Houston?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Houston?

We considered Houston. We have quite a few clients there. But traffic sucks. Lots of unzoned, unplanned sprawl. Bad roads.

Great economy, right now. Real estate is more affordable to buy, but nearly the same to rent.

Stifling humidity. Not quite the same car culture. Doesn't have the natural beauty of California (beaches, mountains, greenscape, hills, trees).

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Houston?

That's one of the few places that would make me consider KA. Sorry. TX is a great state, but Houston blows.

[artplumber]

If u can truly live anyplace Laguna or San Diego. The OC really is too much like the show. Irvine is not bad - very safe actually, just doesnt seem to have an identity

[Embraer]

everything seems like a compromise here. (at least on my income level). i live in the antelope valley....i literally just walked in the door from driving back from downtown LA. i ran down to test drive the new Fiat 500. took me 58 minutes to get back home. not bad time, but everything is so spread out here. i live/work in palmdale, so i don't want to commute from the basin everyday. cost of living is significantly cheaper in the AV, but there's significantly less stuff to do up here.

i've found my hobbies changing. IE: now i go camping, hiking, and just driving around the desert to kill the time. back in Indy (or if i lived in LA, i'd be going to museums, clubs, nice restaurants, etc).

last weekend i just *HAD* to leave the mojave so i drove down to redlands to grab a burger at Eureka Burger (per the recommendation from a fellow Pelican on another thread). It was an hour and 20 minutes to go down there, but the drive was scenic, so i didn't mind.

if i could afford to live in the basin, and i wouldn't find myself having an aneurysm over traffic and idiot drivers, i wouldn't mind it.

that being said...it's nice that the ocean is 45-50 minutes away, the mountains are right next door, and the desert is right here. it's a double-edged sword. everything's not that far away, but it's kind of just far away to be inconvenient.

for me, the biggest positives are weather and natural beauty.

[Rick Lee]

I only ever go to SoCal on my motorcycle. There's no other way to get around there. Tues. I came up on a motorcycle wreck on the 5 at Jamboree in Irvine. All lanes were stopped and I lane-split through it all, took me a few min. to go what took others at least an hour.