22 Benefits and Drawbacks of Living in Temecula, California
The pros of living in Temecula, California
Schools
Schools in Temecula California best are found throughout the state, not just in Southern California. When it comes to overall ratings and test scores, Temecula is going to rank 8 or above out of 10 in most schools in these areas. One of the most common questions I get from people wanting to relocate to Temecula is about schools and the school district specifically.
Weather
Most people understand that the weather plays a significant role in deciding whether or not to relocate to Southern California. When comparing Temecula to the beach, it is going to be warmer in the summer, especially from June to September. The fact that Temecula has sunshine all day on most days distinguishes it from other coastal communities. We don’t get the gloomy days that the beach does, which is definitely a plus for many people.
Wineries
Wine Country in Temecula is growing rapidly. As of this article, Temecula has over 40 wineries. with beautiful views, hotels, restaurants, and great wine. We can see Temecula rivaling Napa in the coming years. Another advantage of the Temecula wine region is that there is still available land for people who want to build a new custom home.
Land for sale
Although Temecula has grown over 100% in the last 20 years, there is still a great deal of opportunity for vacant land. Just west of the 15 freeway is a beautiful area called De Luz, which offers opportunities for agriculture like avocados, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes. It is an unincorporated area with parcels well over five acres. Some of the best views in all Temecula come from the De Luz Community.
Horses and Agricultural Land
There are also great opportunities for horse lovers. Meadowview, Los Ranchitos, and Wine Country offer options for homeowners to purchase pre-existing homes or to build their dream home that allows horses. One of the best things about both Meadowview and Los Ranchitos is their proximity to many of the amenities Temecula has to offer in the way of grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and golf. You feel like you’re living in a rural area, but everything is only 5–10 minutes away.
Safety
Overall, Temecula is very safe. We have lived all over Southern California and feel very comfortable here; we don’t worry too much about violent crime. Of course, like in any city, there are car break-ins and petty theft, but it seems pretty rare. We felt that there was more chance of something bad happening by the beach end here in Temecula.
Community Activities
One of the things we talked about a great deal is the unique opportunity many of the Temecula communities offer their residents. Around 70% of Temecula communities have HOAs that do not exceed $150 per month. With that, you get pools, hot tubs, walking trails, volleyball courts, and basketball courts. We even have a community called Harveston that has a man-made lake that is great for walking, fishing, and wildlife. In Southern California, HOA fees can get pretty high, and they often only pay for general grounds maintenance and a sign at the entrance to the neighborhood. This is not the case in Temecula; you actually get something for your HOA fee every month.
ConvenienceÂ
The city of Temecula is unique in the fact that when living in your community, it’s very quiet, but just a short distance away, you will have everything you need. You will never be in your car for more than 10 minutes to get to your school, grocery stores, and restaurants. This is especially important in Southern California, where traffic can be awful. There is nothing worse than not spending an hour and a half in your car one way to get to work and having to do it just to get eggs and milk.
Proximity to Beaches and Cities
We have many beaches within an hour’s drive of Temecula. Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Clemente are all just a short drive from your doorstep. The restaurants are one of our favorite aspects of Southern California beach towns. So many options and the food is always top-notch. San Clemente even has a fisherman’s restaurant that is built on top of the pier. This is great for Sunday brunch and happy hours, with $1 oysters and many other great deals.
Quality of life
The overall quality of life in Temecula is awesome. for all of the reasons mentioned above: weather, affordability (compared to other Southern California cities), In our opinion, living in this particular city in Southern California provides an overall sense of well-being and happiness.
Old Town
Old Town Temecula is the most popular spot for bars and going to dinner. It’s a great area for walking, shopping, and eating. There are olive oil stores, steak houses, live music bars, and rooftop bars. It’s a great spot to go out on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. Football Sundays, or “Sunday fundays,” are also very popular.
Golfing
The Temecula area is great for golfing. During the week, you can play over 20 courses within a 30-minute drive for under $50. That is one of the things that we love about living in Temecula: playing golf and not killing your bank account. Some of the local courses in Temecula include Temecula Creek, Redhawk Temecula, Legends Golf Course, Cross Creek Golf Course, and Journey at the Pechanga Casino. The Best Course in Temecula
Restaurants
To be totally honest, restaurants at the beach have better food quality, in our opinion. That being said, Temecula does have some great restaurants, and there is a great deal of variety. You can get any type of food you desire. Japanese, pizza, steakhouses, Thai, fast food, American, and Mexican There are also some great options for sports bars, happy hours, and Sunday fundays. A couple of our favorites include The Cove for Sunday mornings and Yard House for happy hour.
Distance from Multiple Airports
If you travel frequently, Temecula’s proximity to five airports is one of its best features. Temecula is about an hour’s drive from San Diego Airport, Los Angeles Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport, which is in Orange County, and Ontario Airport. We also have an international airport in Palm Springs, but we have not personally flown out of there or done much research. Having so many airports close by is not only convenient for finding a flight but also for comparing flight costs.
The cons of living in Temecula, California
Growing Too Quickly
If you are not familiar with the southern area of Riverside County, it’s growing or has grown at a rapid pace over the last 20 years. to the tune of over 120%. There are many people that live in these communities that are totally against how fast the area has grown, for obvious reasons. Temecula used to be a sleepy rural horse town. Although Temecula has kept areas with larger lot sizes and a more rural feel, the growth in homes and population has been tremendous.
Traffic
With rapid population growth comes increased traffic. During rush hour in both the mornings and nights Monday to Friday, it can get pretty bad in and around the city of Temecula. A great deal of Temecula commutes to San Diego for work, so the drive along the 15 freeway going south in the morning and north in the evening is nightmarish. Before you plan your move to Temecula, make sure that you do your research and figure out the best area to live in, as opposed to where your employment is.
Employment
Teachers, police officers, bartenders, and servers are among the most common jobs in Temecula. There are also a few hospitals for nurses and doctors. As mentioned above, many Temecula residents work in other cities and have to commute every day to work. The main hub for employment in regard to people living in Temecula would be San Diego. There are no public transportation options, either trains or buses. We suggest that if you are working in San Diego, find somebody to carpool with. At the very least, it can pass the time with a conversation.
Housing Cost
Housing costs, when compared to other areas of the United States, are very high. Temecula home prices have risen by 20 to 30 percent in the last two years. When compared to other areas of Southern California, Temecula is still relatively inexpensive in terms of housing. That’s why it is still a huge draw for many people. The average 2000-square-foot home at this point in time is going to cost anywhere from $550,000 to $700,000.
Lack of Infrastructure
Many people in the southern area of Riverside County complain a great deal about the lack of infrastructure for the number of people or growth that this area has had over the last 20 years. Off-ramps become absolutely crazy during peak rush-hour times. From Menifee, California, all the way down to Temecula, it’s hard to find an exit that isn’t backed up tremendously during these times.
Gasoline Costs
It’s no secret that California has some of the highest gas prices in all of the United States. If you intend to start a business or drive a lot, make sure you are prepared for $5 gallon gas prices. This can be a huge expense for many people who drive a lot.
Electricity Costs
Electricity costs, like most areas in the United States, have gone through the roof. Your bill will be even higher if you have a pool and spa. One of the things that people have been doing a great deal of over the last 10 years in Southern California is adding solar panels. I wrote a blog post explaining my reasoning and the pros and cons of having solar panels here. If you have a 2000-square-foot home in Temecula with a pool, expect to have your electricity bill be around $400 to $500 a month for the warmer months of the summer, which include May through September.
Air Quality
Air quality is much better in Temecula than in many other large cities in southern California, but there is still a great deal of traffic in and around this area. If you’re looking for perfect air quality, Temecula might not be the best area for you. It will be hard to find an area in Southern California that has very good air quality.
Thank you for reading our blog. If you have any interest in moving to Temecula or the surrounding area, please read the Google reviews here for Greenleaf Real Estate & Appraisal.
We are licensed as both real estate brokers and certified residential appraisers. We love what we do and will bring a great deal of passion, experience, and expertise to the table for you.
