I arrived in Temecula kicking and screaming. My husband’s post-USAF-career job offer here took us both by complete surprise. My immediate impression was, “oh no, it’s filled with oversized, pink, cookie cutter tract homes and minivans.”
And, yes, it is. But there is more to Temecula, too.
So, after renting here for a year, I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely a quieter pace and, while I miss some “city” activities, I find that I dont mind the quiet. I’ve met some nice people (through volunteer work), and we dont mind the hot, dry summers.
The people I meet – who have children – rave about it here. They tell me the schools are excellent, that it feels “safer” than down south, and things are a little more affordable. My impression is that there is a LOT for kids to do here, too in terms of golf, tennis, horses, classes, etc.
With your budget, I would take a look at Wine Country. It’s lovely out there with a mix of older custom homes set amidst the wineries, and some areas with new, custom homes.
There is also an area called Meadowview. Most homes are on 1 acre lots, and circle a 300 acre meadow where you can have horses, etc.
I think Fallbrook is nice, too. I’ve heard that it tends to be slightly cooler than Temecula in the summer. We drove through DeLuz over the weekend. It’s definitely more remote and rural, but I liked it.
Fallbrook is probably more “diverse” than Temecula. The downtown is a mix of quaint and run down. Someone was also just stabbed to death at the Shell station on Mission last month(car jacking).
I’ve also heard that Temecula tends to be safer from fires. Just another thought…
TemeculaGuy is a great resource. He’s lived up here for awhile, has kids and knows the market.
Good luck and let me know if I can be of more help.
