This was enough to bring me out, and a fun trip back through memory lane. Paramount is right, the market has strengthened and for good reason. The deals available when you first posted are gone, but I do not believe the current prices do not represent a bubble yet. When I bought my house at the end of 2008, I had no reservations, now that it sells for almost double I guess I’d worry more, but not for long.
Now with toddlers, you need a car for sure. Probably a job too, those kids get expensive. I’m a few months from being an empty nester and can honestly say that that they are just like fine wine, they cost more with age. Mine cost me about 40k a year combined and both have jobs. Even state college will run you 20k a year with tuition, housing, food, cars, gas, car insurance, health insurance, cell phones, etc etc etc. I’m about to transition to two being away at school and am loading for bear as I expect my tab to get closer to 60k. My advice, come here, but do t soon, great place to raise kids, fun town with lots of things for every speed. However, postpone retirement until the last one graduates college, which in your case will be in about 20 years. Put that retirement fantasy to bed now that you decided to procreate (which I fully support as it will add more to your life than sleeping in for the next 30 years will).
As for medical, we have four hospitals now. Inland valley expanded, loma linda added and the crown jewel is the new Temecula Valley Hospital which recently opened. Scripps or sharp owns rancho springs or inland valley, or at least did when I last checked. All in all, health care caught up finally.
Temecula is a wonderful town, keeps getting better as the years go by. I am currently commuting South and I notice when I exit the freeway the line to exit is shorter than the line to enter the Northbound 15 from Temecula Parkway. There are a lot of jobs here now, unfortunately for most people, the prices get lower as you move North and most cannot afford to live in the city proper, thus we have entered the next phase where people commute TO Temecula.
Which makes me think about all the old discussions, paramount, I hope you kept that paloma house as a rental, you are going to make a mint one day. By my calculations, your doubling down will make you a rich man, wish I had done the same.
Also, the South Temecula bias is confirmed, just like a lot of places, being in certain school boundaries has a value, and Great Oak High School is where the current value is. They are changing the boundaries, being South of Temecula Parkway or the Southern part of the wine country will soon have a financial benefit. The district is rezoning and refusing transfers to that school which used to be fairly easy.
I personally think all the schools are good and the differences are slight up here, but the Jones’ have decided that keeping up has a value and unless you live in the proposed boundaries, you can’t send your kids to the school with the highest scores in riverside or san bernadino counties combined. It’s no longer a concern of mine personally, but any student of r/e values knows it makes a difference.
Once the town gets a university i believe the transformation will be complete. In the 46 years I’ve lived in So Cal I’ve seen towns boom and bust. With everything I’ve learned, this is a town I placed my bet on and it looks like I won, go to Old town on a Friday night, it gets cooler, younger and hipper every month. Hit the wineries and realize everyone is from orange county. Even saw an episode of a show on food network called “chopped” where they described the town as affluent, I was taken aback. If I hadn’t bought, I’d probably be priced out of my own hood in just a few short years, that doesn’t happen because of macroeconomics, that happens because people want to be here. Don’t wait another 4 years, this clock is ticking, in a few years you will be looking at Menifee, at best.
I wish CalFord would come back, gloating is amongst my favorite hobbies. Temecula is now the 3rd safest city of 100k population or more in the US.
