Moving to Ventura County (Thousand Oaks area)

[studenteconomist]

Hello all,

As a long time reader and infrequent poster, I have a favor to ask. Who has good knowledge of the Thousand Oaks/Camarillo area of Ventura county? I just accepted a great job offer in Westlake Village, but currently live in San Diego, for the last 6 years completing my PhD. I have recently read a bit about Thousand Oaks, but know nothing about Camarillo, except it seems to be analogous to Chula Vista in San Diego (newer houses, further from jobs, not sure about the schools). Could anyone give me some info? I will have a good salary but would like to pay $2000 per month for rent and have one child in a small house. I am looking to rent for 12-18 months, and hopefully buy after that.

Looking at the housing prices, it appears starter homes (1500 sf) are about 450-500k right now in some areas, which seems awfully high. Is Ventura county trailing San Diego in terms of price reductions right now? How much further behind is it from San Diego in the peak and total decline to date? Is it 1 year behind, or more? Any answers to these questions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matthew H

[studenteconomist]

One more thing, is there much of a difference in the weather between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks? Is either one have similarly mild weather in the summer to SD? I know they get more rain, and that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want to live east of Thousand Oaks because of the heat in the summer and I like San Diego’s moderate summer highs.

[studenteconomist]

One more thing, is there much of a difference in the weather between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks? Is either one have similarly mild weather in the summer to SD? I know they get more rain, and that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want to live east of Thousand Oaks because of the heat in the summer and I like San Diego’s moderate summer highs.

[studenteconomist]

One more thing, is there much of a difference in the weather between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks? Is either one have similarly mild weather in the summer to SD? I know they get more rain, and that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want to live east of Thousand Oaks because of the heat in the summer and I like San Diego’s moderate summer highs.

[studenteconomist]

One more thing, is there much of a difference in the weather between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks? Is either one have similarly mild weather in the summer to SD? I know they get more rain, and that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want to live east of Thousand Oaks because of the heat in the summer and I like San Diego’s moderate summer highs.

[studenteconomist]

One more thing, is there much of a difference in the weather between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks? Is either one have similarly mild weather in the summer to SD? I know they get more rain, and that doesn’t bother me, but I don’t want to live east of Thousand Oaks because of the heat in the summer and I like San Diego’s moderate summer highs.

[Anonymous]

We did the opposite thing a couple years ago – moved from the Westlake area to San Diego (and then out of SD before the crash *whew*).

Westlake Village is expensive – and just that imho.
Take a look at Moorpark or Simi Valley for some decent priced homes, you may also find nice ones in Newbury Park.

I would not recommend going down the hill to Oxnard or Camarillo, simply because
a) they are gang-ridden communities
b) lots of cookie-cutter developments (eg Rose Avenue) plus a)
c) the weather downhill is different – a lot of fog throughout the year, cooler temps than in the uphill cities
d) the 101 grade is a horrible drive – esp for commuting

BTW: Good luck with your job – if it’s at in-phy or similar do yourself a favor and don’t buy !

[Anonymous]

We did the opposite thing a couple years ago – moved from the Westlake area to San Diego (and then out of SD before the crash *whew*).

Westlake Village is expensive – and just that imho.
Take a look at Moorpark or Simi Valley for some decent priced homes, you may also find nice ones in Newbury Park.

I would not recommend going down the hill to Oxnard or Camarillo, simply because
a) they are gang-ridden communities
b) lots of cookie-cutter developments (eg Rose Avenue) plus a)
c) the weather downhill is different – a lot of fog throughout the year, cooler temps than in the uphill cities
d) the 101 grade is a horrible drive – esp for commuting

BTW: Good luck with your job – if it’s at in-phy or similar do yourself a favor and don’t buy !

[Anonymous]

We did the opposite thing a couple years ago – moved from the Westlake area to San Diego (and then out of SD before the crash *whew*).

Westlake Village is expensive – and just that imho.
Take a look at Moorpark or Simi Valley for some decent priced homes, you may also find nice ones in Newbury Park.

I would not recommend going down the hill to Oxnard or Camarillo, simply because
a) they are gang-ridden communities
b) lots of cookie-cutter developments (eg Rose Avenue) plus a)
c) the weather downhill is different – a lot of fog throughout the year, cooler temps than in the uphill cities
d) the 101 grade is a horrible drive – esp for commuting

BTW: Good luck with your job – if it’s at in-phy or similar do yourself a favor and don’t buy !

[Anonymous]

We did the opposite thing a couple years ago – moved from the Westlake area to San Diego (and then out of SD before the crash *whew*).

Westlake Village is expensive – and just that imho.
Take a look at Moorpark or Simi Valley for some decent priced homes, you may also find nice ones in Newbury Park.

I would not recommend going down the hill to Oxnard or Camarillo, simply because
a) they are gang-ridden communities
b) lots of cookie-cutter developments (eg Rose Avenue) plus a)
c) the weather downhill is different – a lot of fog throughout the year, cooler temps than in the uphill cities
d) the 101 grade is a horrible drive – esp for commuting

BTW: Good luck with your job – if it’s at in-phy or similar do yourself a favor and don’t buy !

[Anonymous]

We did the opposite thing a couple years ago – moved from the Westlake area to San Diego (and then out of SD before the crash *whew*).

Westlake Village is expensive – and just that imho.
Take a look at Moorpark or Simi Valley for some decent priced homes, you may also find nice ones in Newbury Park.

I would not recommend going down the hill to Oxnard or Camarillo, simply because
a) they are gang-ridden communities
b) lots of cookie-cutter developments (eg Rose Avenue) plus a)
c) the weather downhill is different – a lot of fog throughout the year, cooler temps than in the uphill cities
d) the 101 grade is a horrible drive – esp for commuting

BTW: Good luck with your job – if it’s at in-phy or similar do yourself a favor and don’t buy !

[meadandale]

Camarillo is just down the hill from Thousand Oaks down on the coastal plains. Camarillo and Oxnard are definitely more Chula Vista-ish than either TO or Ventura. Lots of agriculture in the area.

I used to live in Santa Paula, which is about 10 miles north of Ventura up the 126. Lots of Citrus and Avocado farming in the area with a nice old downtown area and some newer developments (at the time in the early 90’s).

Ventura county prices aren’t as inflated as Santa Barbara to the north but they rival San Diego to a large degree.

Expect to see a similar housing market. Note that a major employer in the area is Amgen. As goes Amgen so goes the TO market. That area is also a bedroom community to LA and the San Fernando Valley.

For housing, you can look in Moorpark (just a short ride up the 118 from TO) as well as southern Ventura, Oxnard and Simi Valley. Note that the nicer areas in Oxnard are down near the beach and are likely to be expensive.

[meadandale]

Camarillo is just down the hill from Thousand Oaks down on the coastal plains. Camarillo and Oxnard are definitely more Chula Vista-ish than either TO or Ventura. Lots of agriculture in the area.

I used to live in Santa Paula, which is about 10 miles north of Ventura up the 126. Lots of Citrus and Avocado farming in the area with a nice old downtown area and some newer developments (at the time in the early 90’s).

Ventura county prices aren’t as inflated as Santa Barbara to the north but they rival San Diego to a large degree.

Expect to see a similar housing market. Note that a major employer in the area is Amgen. As goes Amgen so goes the TO market. That area is also a bedroom community to LA and the San Fernando Valley.

For housing, you can look in Moorpark (just a short ride up the 118 from TO) as well as southern Ventura, Oxnard and Simi Valley. Note that the nicer areas in Oxnard are down near the beach and are likely to be expensive.

[meadandale]

Camarillo is just down the hill from Thousand Oaks down on the coastal plains. Camarillo and Oxnard are definitely more Chula Vista-ish than either TO or Ventura. Lots of agriculture in the area.

I used to live in Santa Paula, which is about 10 miles north of Ventura up the 126. Lots of Citrus and Avocado farming in the area with a nice old downtown area and some newer developments (at the time in the early 90’s).

Ventura county prices aren’t as inflated as Santa Barbara to the north but they rival San Diego to a large degree.

Expect to see a similar housing market. Note that a major employer in the area is Amgen. As goes Amgen so goes the TO market. That area is also a bedroom community to LA and the San Fernando Valley.

For housing, you can look in Moorpark (just a short ride up the 118 from TO) as well as southern Ventura, Oxnard and Simi Valley. Note that the nicer areas in Oxnard are down near the beach and are likely to be expensive.

[meadandale]

Camarillo is just down the hill from Thousand Oaks down on the coastal plains. Camarillo and Oxnard are definitely more Chula Vista-ish than either TO or Ventura. Lots of agriculture in the area.

I used to live in Santa Paula, which is about 10 miles north of Ventura up the 126. Lots of Citrus and Avocado farming in the area with a nice old downtown area and some newer developments (at the time in the early 90’s).

Ventura county prices aren’t as inflated as Santa Barbara to the north but they rival San Diego to a large degree.

Expect to see a similar housing market. Note that a major employer in the area is Amgen. As goes Amgen so goes the TO market. That area is also a bedroom community to LA and the San Fernando Valley.

For housing, you can look in Moorpark (just a short ride up the 118 from TO) as well as southern Ventura, Oxnard and Simi Valley. Note that the nicer areas in Oxnard are down near the beach and are likely to be expensive.

[Author]

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