All California experts-
My husband and I are thinking of moving from Raleigh NC to California. We love the ocean and love to hike and are looking for a place to live where we can do both of these activities and have a moderate winter and seasonable temps year round. (Within an hour to the beach is what we call close) A smaller city would be great. I know it is expensive out there...a 2 bedroom house for under $225,000..does such a place exist in California?

I would say impossible to buy a house for that amount and be within an hour of the beach.

In fact in may be impossible to buy a house for that amount anywhere in CA but if you can it will be well inland where the temps can hover around 100 degrees during the summer.

I think it's unlikely you'd find a house for that anywhere in California, but you may find a condo.

krowe,

of course you can find a house for $225,000-although it may be a stretch in San Francisco.

You do mean $225,000 is the down payment, right?

San Jose? Don't know the prop values there, though.
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Not in San Jose. Condo's go for 425K and up. Emphasis on the "and up".

San Jose? Thanks for the chuckle. Fixer Uppers go for $500K +

So, based on your criteria, why are you leaving Raleigh ? I just sold my 2 bdrm condo in Charlotte for more than that...You can not live in California for that price...

You also need a HEALTHY income to live comfortably here...

You might find such a place in northern CA or southern OR, by the time you get an hour inland from the coast, you are pretty well in the boonies. It would still have relatively moderate winters, though the beach time would be more walking than swimming (Alaska current).

There are also places further south within an hour of the coast where you might find cheap land ... the trick is to find water to go with it. There's a reason that 250,000 acre Zaca fire east of Santa Barbara hasn't burned any houses; there aren't many out there!

$225 is just not going to cut it, unfortunately. Maybe Fresno or Bakersfield or Redding or some place like that, but no place within an hour of the beach...not for less than 6 or 7, and that's for a very small fixer-upper. The Bay Area is one of the few places in the country where real estate is still hot.

And when curmudgeon says Northern California, s/he means NORTHERN California (not what most people refer to as Northern California, as in the Bay ARea, which really isn't that far north at all).

How about San Diego? Its mild climate, close proximity to the beach is why many vacation in this great town. Mountains are a little further away, but maybe you can combine both of your sports and hike on the rocks at the beach! (just kidding)
Seriously, we just bought a 2nd home in San Diego...a nice home near one of the universities. It was much more affordable that we had anticipated, because sadly the housing market there took a big hit with the down-turn in real estate, so the value of homes has declined. However, you won't find a decent home for $225,000.00...at least we didn't find any in that price range. Condo's only and they are small with no yard. You might be able to afford more of a house that you expect here in California...our friends just moved to NC and said the salaries didn't compare to those in the So. California area. I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about San Diego, I'm no expert, but would be willing to help!

Maybe way north, like Crescent City???
You'd be on the coast and not far from hiking areas in Oregon.

You have a winner in Crescent City. Homes for under $200K. Would I live there? Nope. But check it out.

Don't give up, some friends of mine bought a 2 bedroom condo in North Hollywood for 300,000, that isn't too far off your price ... It's a nice place, nothing fancy, but in a good neighborhood, and safe.

F&B- I said Condo's, not Single Family Homes. Which are over 500K for fixer uppers.

tripping, i was referring to maureen not you.

Sorry, but you are not going to find a single family home in San Diego for the price you can pay. Even condos for that price are almost impossible to find. House prices haven't dropped a lot here-yet.

Prices are dropping in the central valley. You probably can get a single family in your price range - but you will be 2.5 - 3 hours from the pacific. And it won't be in an upscale or even mid-scale neighborhood.

You might find something near the far north coast - and probably not as far north as Crescent city. Places like Garberville. Or inland in NE California there are LOTS of inexpensive places. But you'd be 5 or 6 hours from the coast and in 12 feet of snow in theh winter.