Looking for information on Riverside County, California??
 

I'm elated to have just received a promotion making me a sales manager for the entire county of Riverside, CA. and will be moving over 2,000 miles....I've never been to Riverside County.<BR>I'd love to hear from folks from Southern California who might recommend some nice cities in So. California. We will be looking for a home in an upper middle class area accessible to shopping and golf. No children in schools anymore, Price wise, we can spend up to $800,000. What are a few of the nicest cities in Riverside County? Thanks very much, Ben

There are some nice areas in RIverside. Moreno Valley is a newer city. Hemet is a nice mtn community. THere are also other cities that are freeway close such as Redlands.

Riverside County is not Southern California. It's in the Inland Empire to be technical about it. You can get a really really big house with your budget as the lots there are really big plus it may very well be new since there are lots of new developments there. I don't live in Riverside but I can only imagine it would be more rural than urban, more industrial definitely too. Some cities are where people off on parole [chronically in and out] live so be extra careful in picking.

I live here. I would first and foremost reccomend the eagle glen area of Corona. It has nice newer homes, if not brand new and its own golf cousre. It is adjacent to the City of Riverside. Other areas to consider are Whitegate, Mockingbird Canyon and Canyon Crest all in Riverside.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it. It sounds like Riverside County is REALLY a hot area....any areas that might be a bit cooler than others or are they all this hot? (been reading about the temps. in the Palm Desert area). Also, from some of the things I've read about Riverside County, there are lots of not too desireable areas, higher crime, lower income, ugly areas, etc. Sounds like there are some areas to avoid....??<BR> Thanks! Ben

Ben,<BR><BR>Bring your gas mask.<BR><BR>Native

I used to live in Orange County, and some of the people I worked with lived in Riverside. Maybe you could do the reverse, live in Orange County and commute to Riverside. Just another thought!<BR>Good luck!

I really really take exception at all the people from OC saying how awful our air is compared to theirs. I crack up. You are looking east. Well I am looking west and see the same haze driving into OC that I see heading east from OC. NO difference. I just moved here from a VERY desirable area of San Diego, Carlsbad a mile and a half from the beach. Anyway yes there are some bad areas here, just as there were in Carlbad, Oceanside, Vista area. I really like SUNSHINE so I like it here. No marine layer that doens't burn off til afternoon everyday. It is all in what you like. I like living here in many ways, prefer the less hectic area and less snobbish people as well. To each his own.<BR><BR>However commuting from OC back to Riverside would be a good option as well. You would be going against traffic.Just get a fast pass and you are all set. And you can see the smog in OC on your way back!!

Moreno Valley is a horrible town and Hemet is basically full of old retired people in mobile home parks and blue collar workers. Redlands is a very nice community, but is in San Bernardino County.<BR><BR>That said, Riverside County does have some nice communities. But it's a large county (Corona to Indio down to Temecula). Ben, we really need to know where your office is before we can give useful advice.

I agree. Scratch Hemet and Moreno Valley. MV is subdivision after subdivision, totally made up of commuters. No community affiliatin, bad schools, etc. There are some beautiful areas in Riverside. Contact a realtor. McIntosh Realty is a good, local one (no, I don't work there, but used to live there and can recommend them.) Yes, Palm Desert and the whole desert areas are VERY hot. Riverside is hot in the summer, very nice weather other times.

I agree with the sentiments on Moreno Valley and Hemet as well. Same with Norco and Ontario too. But there are pockets of great places to live you just have to know where to look. That is what a realtor is for.

Again, thanks for the input. I'm finding this very helpful. I will be working out of my home (or should I say my car) and covering the entire Riverside area. I would prefer to live in an area that is mostly ALL nice, not just an area that has some "nice" pockets thrown in with some lousy ones. I really don't mean to sound like a snob (I'm NOT) but I will admit that I've become a bit spoiled living in a nice family community of about 50,000, excellent schools, very low crime and each home is built on at least 1/2 acre with rolling green grass and large trees. Of course I know I most likely can't duplicate that but I'd like to come as close to possible. Certainly there must be towns where the entire town is nice, not just pockets within....right? I will definitely contact a Realtor but need to start somewhere since Riverside County is huge. I will be making a good income and would like to make the right choice the first go around. Renting first is not an option or I lose out on a "housing differntial".<BR>Thanks again, Ben

Ben, my best suggestion is to rent for 6 - 12 months so you can really see what you're getting into. If you want a place that's mostly all nice, you will need to be in Orange County. Riverside has little spots that are lovely, but one the whole, nothing in the world could make me live there.<BR><BR>And yes, the smog is horrible. The ocean breeze (prevailing) pushes it all out to Riverside/San Bernardino up against the SB mountains. It will be a rare day that you will be able to see the mountains.<BR><BR>Honestly, if you are coming from a community of only 50,000 people. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR!

Where are you moving from? What size of home are you seeking? When you say shopping, do you mean a mall or are you seeking an upscale shopping with boutiques? Is a regular cultural schedule important or are you willing to drive in to LA for an occasional play? Do you need to be centrally located in Riverside County? What are the cities where most of your clients are located? Do you need to be close to an airport?<BR><BR>FYI: Norco has some nice areas and is quite popular with the horse crowd. Ontario is actually in San Bernardino County.

I would choose Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells or La Quinta over any of the Inland Empire west of the San Gorgonio Pass any day. About 15 degrees hotter in the summer than Riverside, but the air and the quality of life infinitely better. <BR><BR>If I had to live in West Riverside County I would look at Canyon Lake, Temecula wine country or the 'upscale' parts of Riverside off Van Buren near the I-215.

Hey that is where I am at. Glad someone likes it too. Love the orange crest area. Great homes, good schools, great people!!! NO snobs. But I forgot about Canyon Lake OMG. You have got to look that up. We had considered moving there but our kids would be in Lake Elsinore schools so we decided no as there were no nearby private schools. But if I had no kids there is NOT a better place to live in SO cal outside of Rancho Santa Fe IMO. Great private gated community with its own lake. I love it.<BR><BR>Also OC people please drive east and then back to you little no smogville. Please!!! My husband drives it everyday. Smog is just as bad going west trust me.

I should also add a couple more things....we really aren't into culture. We only go to a movie twice a year. We enjoy eating out once or twice a week. Our 3 children are now grown so schools aren't important (except for resale). We would like to become more physically active than we have been (don't we all). <BR>I suppose we come across as pretty boring people. We just enjoy being home, bar-b-ques with neighbors, a trip or two each year to a gambling city, a cruise every few years. My wife enjoys a once a week Bridge club and I play poker once a month. I just enjoy coming home, watching a ball game with a nice cool one! I play a 1/2 way decent game of golf once a week. Canyon Lakes sounds interesting. I've never owned a boat but I would enjoy drinking my "cool one" watching a serene setting. Our family now consist of my best friend wife of 32 years, my 2 dogs and a feisty cat.<BR> What about the "active adult communities"? I am 57 so I qualify. A possible option?? Truth: I'd love nothing more to retire in about 5 years, be lazy, work on my golf game and play video poker! Hey, just being honest. Curious about the differneces in areas of Orange County and Canyon Lakes??<BR>Ben

By the way....I really appreciate you all! Ben

Ben you have got to look at Canyon Lake. It is a mix of ages but has it's own club house with great activities and a restaurant. Great walking areas, horse trails if you want them, boating a nice beach area. Safe. Quiet, a variety of houses, most very nice.<BR>http://gate88.com/<BR>http://www.canyonlakerealty.com/<BR>http://www.canyonlake.com/<BR>Pretty Central in Riverside county. Not too far from shopping and a great place. WE have friends who live there that we visit who love it and we can see why.

You need to find the area in Riverside County that is as close as possible to an area in LA County called "Palos Verdes" (I live here). It is EXACTLY like what you're looking for. Of course you won't be able to match the climate or some of the ocean views etc. but the demographics would be perfect for you. I'm sorry I don't know anything about Riverside County so I can't even begin to help you. I've only lived in CA for 8 months myself.<BR>Maybe you could post another message requesting an area in Riverside County that is similar as possible to Palos Verdes. There are probably natives that know both areas and can suggest the "Palos Verdes" of Riverside, County. Good Luck Ben.

There are a number of 55+ active adult communities under development in Riverside County. There's one in Temecula known as Four Seasons - the developer is K. Hovnanian. Sheas Homes is building a community known as Trilogy in the Glen Ivy area which also caters to active adults and includes a clubhouse, golf course etc.<BR><BR>Shea Homes is also in the process of designing a similar project in the desert community of La Quinta. There is also a similar community known as Sun City in the desert, but it's in a wind zone which can be a detriment to some people. <BR><BR>There's also a development known as Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning. Banning is around 30 minutes outside of Palm Springs. While Banning is a small town that doesn't offer much, the Sun Lakes development is a very popular development.<BR><BR>The desert area does offer a lot more in terms of golf courses, restaurants, resort hotels, etc., but it is quite a ways out there if you're going to be traveling to Corona and Temecula on a regular basis. While the heat does get bad during the summer, the weather is generally beautiful for 8 months out of the year.<BR><BR>Temecula is a nice communuty, but tends to be pretty geared to families with young families. It is wine country though, which means that they have attracted some nice restaurants that cater to the wine tourists.<BR><BR>Canyon Lake is a nice development, but resell can be a little tougher due to the school district. But on the flip side, the lake does help with attracting buyers.<BR><BR>Good luck with your decision!

I don't know anything about this, but I've heard there is a nice golfing community called Bear Creek. I believe the homes are in your price range and what I've heard it sounds nice. Not sure which is nicer Bear Creek or Canyon Lake....heard both are nice but really don't know. Not sure about the Palos Verdes of Riverside County but Palos Verdes is a gorgeous area....too bad you're not servicing LA county. Helen

Ben, Congratulations on your promotion!I live in San Diego , my ex used to live in Canyon Lake. It's very nice there. From you description of the things you like to do, I believe you'd like it. There is a lovely golf course for residents use only. I find, when I drive north on 15, that about 15 miles or so north of Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore, you come to a "wall" of smog. Truly, the sky goes from clear and blue to murky and gray in the space of a couple of miles. Temecula is also nice, with ever improving shopping. You will be aghast at the endless new housing developments that are springing up all the time. I agree with Native that it would be a good idea to rent for a while until you find an area you really like.

Congratulations, Ben. I used to cover that territory for the company I was at. I second the suggestion for Sun Lakes in Banning. They were one of my accounts. It is a great community with nice people. You would find things to do and have lots of people to do them with.

Temecula is nice, Redlands is a college town and would be my choice, I wouldn't move over in the Palm Springs area. It's just too hot in the summer. And.....as for smog, we used to live in Pasadena and the smog didn't kill us. The whole basin suffers from a smog problem. San Dimas is another place to consider.

Thanks Again!!<BR>Ben

palm springs is a great place to have a second home but i wouldn't want to HAVE to live there year round...by 9:30 a.m. it's too hot in the summer to do much of anything outside. temecula is in a good area.

I think Kam's been gone from the area too long. San Dimas is in Los Angeles county and would not be at all suitable for your needs in terms of commuting. Redlands is a great town, but is in San Bernardino County. Redlands Country Club is one of the oldest in the state and is a beautiful course. While not in the same county, it's actually a very feasible place to commute the entire Riverside County. Might be worth considering.

Barbara,<BR>I was a little confused...you mention that approximately 15 miles NORTH of Canyon Lake, the smog thickens. Since this is heading towards Orange County, I thought the air quality would be improving there?? Is the air quality pretty bad through out all of Riverside County? Someone suggested finding the Palos Verdes of Riverside County....can anyone relate to this suggestion? By the way, renting first is not really a feaable option for us...I will lose a GREAT relo package including differential housing cost should I rent first. I'd really like to make the correct decision the first go around. Anyone heard of Menifee? <BR>Thanks, Ben

The Rancho Palos Verdes of Riverside County...wow...now that's a stretch. Menifee is...ok. It is on the I-215 between Riv./Moreno Valley and Temecula. Based on what you can afford in housing though, not sure if it would meet your expectations. Canyon Lake is a good suggestion. I will throw another into the mix: Cherry Valley. It is located in the San Gorgonio Pass area between Calimesa and Beaumont off the I-10. You would not have any trouble finding an estate sized property in your budget. Also, it is easy to Ontario Airport and L.A./OC one way, the Palm Springs area the other, and the San Bernardino Mountains, i.e. Oak Glen very close by.<BR><BR>Best of fortunes.<BR>PSL

Ben, yes, about 15 or so miles north of Canyon Lake, as you get closer to Corona. I don't know how close you are to OC at that point, I never think of it as Orange County. South Riverside County is fine. Menifee is adjacent to Murrietta and Temecula and might be OK.

I know San Dimas is in LA county but it's very far out toward Riverside. And, Redlands is in San Bernardino Co. but with the availability of freeways out there I think either might work. I certainly think either is preferable to Palm Springs year round. And Banning?? I think that's just near Cabazon where the Indian reservation is and the big outlet mall. My son used to train guide dogs for the blind on the streets of Banning and hated it in the summer.

I used to live in San Dimas. Nice town, but probably too out of the way to be practical for daily commuting around Riverside County - atleast 30 minutes just to get to Riverside County. Definitely could do better with other choices.<BR><BR>Redlands actually isn't a bad idea. Kind of a midpoint. 45 minutes to Palm Springs, 60 minutes to Temecula, 30 minutes to Corona. <BR><BR>Yes, Riverside County is smoggy, but so is most of Southern California. I was in downtown LA over the weekend and could barely see.

<BR>Ben, <BR><BR>no one seems to have mentioned that Temecula is 40-45 minute drive from Riverside. Are you willing to do that?<BR><BR>Temecula is overrated. I've had to live there for many months at a stretch, on several different occasions (work related). Congested traffic, strip malls and "big box" discount outlets, all separated by 8-lane roads and highways, very pedestrian UN-friendly. Rapid cookie-cutter housing tract growth and all the problems that brings. Overcrowded schools, bursting at the seams. <BR><BR>Even though you have no kids, check the quality of the schools (eg standardized state-wide test scores are readily availaible in Calif) because that is an excellent indication and predictor of a community's long term stability, quality, and housing market appreciation. So many school districts in Calif are crap, that a good school district is a major draw and tends to up-lift most aspects of a community.<BR><BR>Also, the Sunday Los Angeles Times Real Estate section publishes weekly, the median home sale price by zip code. That will help your planning. Every few weeks the listings rotate back to the same zip codes, so if you don't see Riverisde one week, check prior Sunday issues. This info may be at LA Times web site, but I haven't checked.

Canyon Lake sounds quite nice and the photos look lovely. Thanks for the web site.<BR>How has their appreciation been? I know So. Calif. is on a "boom" right now but I want to prepare for the worst incase I need to sell/relocate in 5 years as well. All and all, it sounds nice but I'd love to hear any bad comments as well compared to other areas. Thanks guys! (Bear with me....I'm almost there!) Ben

Canyon Lake is fine from inside. But not much else around the area that is worth much. Pretty boring area and hot in the summer months. School districts leave a lot to be desired in that area. Lake Elsinore is near by and seems to attract a seedy beer drinking jetski type.

California real estate is hugely over-priced. Who will ever be able to predict real estate prices in 5 years? 5 years ago, no one would have predicted the current economy!

I think Ben is just curious if Canyon Lake has fared better or worse than other areas in So. California with regards to increasing in value. Even under the best of markets, some areas will most likely do better than others.<BR> (At least this is how I interpret his posting) right Ben???<BR>Alice

Ray,<BR>Although I don't live in this area, from what I read in the LA Times (O.C. edition), it sounds like there are many new housing tracts going in the Menifee, Murietta, Lake Elsinore areas. With all these housing tracts, don't you imagine they will be building shopping centers, grocery stores etc. that will be close to Canyon Lake?? My husband wants to go take a ride out to look at Canyon Lake to consider buying in there since he's retiring. Do you feel this area will remain so isolated during the next year or two? Barb

3 years ago (before being transferred) my sister lived in Canyon Lake. The air quality always seemed very good there. Yes, I recall driving through some yukky skies to get to her home off the 15 freeway from Yorba Linda, but once we were on the main highway toward the community, the skies cleared up immensly and the entire community of Canyon Lake had very clear, blue sunny skies....I can't believe things could have changed this much in 3 years. Anyone out there familiar with how the air quality in Canyon Lake is now??? I'm quite curious since it's been 3 years. Thanks. Vicki