Considering renting a single family home in SJC - near the mission - bad idea?

NewToOC_IHB

NewToOC_IHB

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So the hubby and I are considering leaving the new but poorly laid out townhouse/condo in Woodbury we have rented for the last couple years for a single family walled house near the mission in San Juan Capistrano. The house is a hacienda style charmer with water features, more room, and a pool. Downsides are no central a/c (but lots of fans), 30 year old appliances, and no tub. Also it will double my commute to Lake Forest but shorten my husband's as he works in San Diego. We don't have kids and wouldn't stay here long enough for that to be an issue. I speak Spanish and like the SJC scene. We could get a puppy at the new place. And I'd have room for a treadmill again which I haven't had since moving to SoCal.



Living in Woodbury is very easy. Having a Trader Joes within walking distance is fabulous. But it is kind of boring. Living in SJC would be a much more uniquely CA experience in my opinion. Curious to what the IHBers think? I know there is a pro-Irvine bias but I'm curious as to your opinions on SJC as well. Thoughts?
 
Sounds like a great change to me. more interesting area, better commute for him, not much worse for you. I really like the vibe of SJC too.



my only concern in that particular area would be property crime as unemployment amongst the less well off workers in that area continues upwards. but I think that depends on the few blocks right around the house. all SFRs? or intermix of apartments and low rent places?
 
[quote author="freedomCM" date=1239667520]Sounds like a great change to me. more interesting area, better commute for him, not much worse for you. I really like the vibe of SJC too.



my only concern in that particular area would be property crime as unemployment amongst the less well off workers in that area continues upwards. but I think that depends on the few blocks right around the house. all SFRs? or intermix of apartments and low rent places?</blockquote>


Thanks for the response Freedom.



Well the house is right off Camino Capistrano (along with Ortega Hwy the main roads of the down town) so its all SFRs on our side of the road. Right across Camino Capistrano is the railroad track (insert wrong side of the tracks joke of choice here) and what appears to be condos looking at Zillow vs apartments. Not as nice as the SFR certainly but walking around during the day these complexes appeared well cared for generally speaking. Because the hubby owns too many cars we'd have to keep two cars in our driveway which would be the only thing outside the walled gate. Although our friend who knows tai chi assured us he could jump over the wall in about 30 seconds. I think some of the schlubbier neighborhoods are on the other side of Calle del Obispo which is on the other side of the downtown.
 
That is a good idea SOCowner... I'm just wondering how that would play out though. How honest can the local officers really be there? I miss Troop's insights on all police matters such as this.



I googled SJC gang after your post and found that one of the areas that the gang injunction specifically targets is across the mission on the other side of the railroad tracks. Any gang activity within a stone's throw of the place would be deal breaker. Sigh... the place is fabulous. Pool, courtyard with a fountain, living room has wood beam ceiling.
 
If the area is questionable as far as crime or gang problems, I would also enter the address on <a href="http://www4.familywatchdog.us/">Family Watchdog</a> to see how many registered sex offenders live and work near there. If the map lights up like a Christmas tree, you may want to avoid it. Hope this helps.
 
If you can drive around at 9pm and not be freaked out, you're likely OK.



Good luck with the move. Irvine to San Diego every day? YOWZA. Your husband is one tough SOB.
 
[quote author="NewToOC" date=1239682808]That is a good idea SOCowner... I'm just wondering how that would play out though. How honest can the local officers really be there? I miss Troop's insights on all police matters such as this.



I googled SJC gang after your post and found that one of the areas that the gang injunction specifically targets is across the mission on the other side of the railroad tracks. Any gang activity within a stone's throw of the place would be deal breaker. Sigh... the place is fabulous. Pool, courtyard with a fountain, living room has wood beam ceiling.</blockquote>


That may be why you sometimes see these homes for sale at a very reasonable price, as beautiful as they are. Also, if you have kids, you may want to check out the schools. My bro lives nearby and has to send his kids to a private school.
 
Hahahah yeah. He used to work in Irvine but switched companies voluntarily a few months ago. He often travels out of town and/or works from home so he probably is averaging going in 2-3 times a week currently. And that is trending down. The couple of times he's gone in to the office M-F he isn't really happy about it though.
 
No kids at the moment... just looking to rent the place for a year or two. The prices are reasonable compared to Irvine I guess. But the asking rent for this place still indicates the recent sales prices in this neighborhood are still inflated by about 50% using 170 GRM.
 
[quote author="NewToOC" date=1239688490]No kids at the moment... just looking to rent the place for a year or two. The prices are reasonable compared to Irvine I guess. But the asking rent for this place still indicates the recent sales prices in this neighborhood are still inflated by about 50% using 170 GRM.</blockquote>
Why not go a little further down South to Dana Point? No worries of gangs/thugs out there. There is always San Clemente, but that does increase your drive.
 
[quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1239688646][quote author="NewToOC" date=1239688490]No kids at the moment... just looking to rent the place for a year or two. The prices are reasonable compared to Irvine I guess. But the asking rent for this place still indicates the recent sales prices in this neighborhood are still inflated by about 50% using 170 GRM.</blockquote>
Why not go a little further down South to Dana Point? No worries of gangs/thugs out there. There is always San Clemente, but that does increase your drive.</blockquote>


We aren't fans of Dana Point. I can't put my finger on what I don't like about it. It just feels off to me. Maybe its a feng shui thing. We do like San Clemente - but not as much as SJC - and that would make my drive pretty hideous. And I thought the gang dealio was worse in San Clemente than in SJC.
 
I realize I'm a bit like a teenager looking for validation of what I want to do regardless of what anyone says. Or some first time posters that "need" to buy now now NOW. But in my case its renting an impractical house b/c its got some awesome features.



Like the entrance and courtyard that I heart below:

<img src="http://p.rdcpix.com/v02/l44d30342-m1o.jpg" alt="" />



It's like the Mousetrap Seminar SNL sketch.

Instructor: "Before you get the cheese you need to disable the trap."

Student 1: "But what if I really want the cheese?"

Instructor: "You still need to disable the trap first."

Student 2: "What if its gouda?"

Instructor: "It doesn't matter - you still need to disable the trap first."

Student 3: "But what if I'm a rat and not a mouse."

Instructor: "IT DOESN'T MATTER!"
 
personally, i think the whole "gang" thing in SJC is over=rated. its not like LA or even santa ana, with drive-bys and such.



the only thing that I would worry about is property crime, so if the house you are interested in is well protected while you are away at work, it looks great.
 
Even the rough part of SJC looks pretty innocuous.



<a href="http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/san-juan-capistrano/crime/">SJC Crime stats: 0 murders, 3 rapes, 13 robberies and 45 assualts for the year...</a>
 
I also like SJC - one of my friends lives near the mission and she and her husband love it. If you like the area and feel comfortable/safe as others have said, I say go for it. What high school is it near - Capo or the new one? Capo is certainly showing its age, but all in all it's not so bad. Don't know anything about the new high school except they had some traffic issues because of construction.
 
Hi there,



We manage many properties in SJC and our tenants seem to really like the area.



Hope that helps:)



OC Prop



[quote author="NewToOC" date=1239665842]So the hubby and I are considering leaving the new but poorly laid out townhouse/condo in Woodbury we have rented for the last couple years for a single family walled house near the mission in San Juan Capistrano. The house is a hacienda style charmer with water features, more room, and a pool. Downsides are no central a/c (but lots of fans), 30 year old appliances, and no tub. Also it will double my commute to Lake Forest but shorten my husband's as he works in San Diego. We don't have kids and wouldn't stay here long enough for that to be an issue. I speak Spanish and like the SJC scene. We could get a puppy at the new place. And I'd have room for a treadmill again which I haven't had since moving to SoCal.



Living in Woodbury is very easy. Having a Trader Joes within walking distance is fabulous. But it is kind of boring. Living in SJC would be a much more uniquely CA experience in my opinion. Curious to what the IHBers think? I know there is a pro-Irvine bias but I'm curious as to your opinions on SJC as well. Thoughts?</blockquote>
 
[quote author="NewToOC" date=1239665842]And I'd have room for a treadmill again which I haven't had since moving to SoCal.</blockquote>


Just go outside, no need for a treadmill in CA.
 
[quote author="Roo" date=1239714786][quote author="NewToOC" date=1239665842]And I'd have room for a treadmill again which I haven't had since moving to SoCal.</blockquote>


Just go outside, no need for a treadmill in CA.</blockquote>


I don't like running outside. It's great if you do but it doesn't work as well for me. I like my treadmill, flatscreen playing my netflix movie of choice and a bathroom a few feet away. I could run 10 miles a night with that set-up. No fear of skin cancer or getting hit by cars.
 
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