We moved from OC to Temecula to pursue the big house dream in 2001, for awhile it was great as the commute for me back to Irvine wasn’t bad as I could time my drive. But as the homes started popping up everywhere, the commute became impossible no matter what time of day.
I’ve posted before that if one could work and live in Temecula that it is a nice community. Family oriented, decent schools, golf everywhere, wineries, not quite as hot, and Pechanga is nice.
On the other hand Pechanga can be a trap for many, the sunny attitudes are changing as the equity line atm is empty, it is too hot in the summer to do anything ($300-500 in the summer for 3500sq ft) schools do not compare to Irvine (there is much more to a school than the api) and the wineries get old.
The lifestyle in Irvine BLOWS away Temecula.
As we played the house moving up game we were planning on buying one of the beauties in Morgan Hill by McMillin, and with a good down and decent loan we were still looking at over $5g’s month, even after the tax break.
Said bye bye, and decided to go decadent in Irvine, renting a 3500 sq ft home, on top of a hill, far better upgrades than any home in Temecula, where neighbors are trying to sell for $2m+, and am paying $5g a month in rent.
Now I realize one may say paying that much in rent is ridiculous, but my employer is paying 60% of it for a year so what the heck.
