5 Things You Wish You Knew Before Moving to Temecula
Although this website and our YouTube channel talk a lot about how great Temecula is, there are some things that people might regret or wish they knew before moving there. Hopefully, this blog and video are honest enough to get a few of these points across before people to make the leap to this wonderful city. These are in no particular order; I’m just trying to take my experience and pass it along to the best of my ability.
If you live in the area and have come across this blog, please feel free to click on the picture to the right and get a free home value. In Temecula, we are licensed to do both real estate sales and real estate appraisals. We have been working in this area for many years. We know specific communities very well and will make sure that the value we give you is accurate.
DRIVING TO WORK
If you come from another part of the country, the traffic in southern California can be draining, to say the least. You can spend hours in your car every week getting to and from work. Yes, Southern California is an amazing place, with lots of sun, great food, and beautiful beaches, but if you are spending 10 hours a week in your car, this will get old quickly for many people.
I would not live in Southern California if I was not able to schedule my hours and work around traffic. I hate traffic but am lucky enough to work around it. The worst times are going to be from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the week. On Fridays, traffic starts picking up around 1 p.m. Everybody is leaving work early and getting ready for the weekend. Routes going to places like Las Vegas or some of the beach communities are especially bad during this time.
How can you reduce the amount of time you spend driving in Temecula? If you’re working in the Riverside area, live in North Temecula. If you’re working south or in the San Diego vicinity, live in South Temecula. This will cut off at least 30 minutes a day from your drive. The traffic gets really bad going south in the morning and coming back up north in the evening. Temecula is a commuter town, and many people are either going north or south to get to work. Understand the stress that living in traffic every day can cause before making a big move.
HOUSING COSTS
Southern California has higher housing costs than the rest of the country. It is very common in Southern California for people to live together. Example? Three or four friends will rent out a four-bedroom apartment, which allows them to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,000 a month. This monthly housing cost is very attainable. Even with a minimum-wage job, you could figure out ways to make this payment.
As of right now in Temecula in 2021, if you want to rent, an average home in Temecula that is 2200–2500 square feet will be $2,500–$3,000 a month. You also have to understand that the rental market is very competitive. Every rental property in Temecula is receiving multiple applications. You will need things like credit scores, pay stubs, and proof of employment, and many landlords want to see three times the income compared to your monthly rental cost. The nicer the area, the more strict the owners are going to be.
My suggestion? If you don’t have job security or a very high monthly income, move to a place that might be a little less desirable. The application process will be a little easier, and you will significantly cut monthly rental costs.
5 THINGS YOU WISHED YOU KNEW BEFORE MOVING TO TEMECULA
Temecula Is No Longer All Country
Both Temecula and Murrieta have changed drastically over the last 25 years. Population growth has been over 100% in both cities. Were you thinking of moving here and living the quiet country life? Temecula used to be a straight country, with horses and tons of land, but not anymore. Temecula has been built up, and communities that were once on the outskirts of Temecula are now smack dab in the middle.
I actually get people angry with me when I promote Temecula to the rest of the country. Many native Temeculans DO NOT WANT MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE.
You see this trend all over California. All the original owners at the beach are angry because of how much it has been built up. You really can’t do anything about it; just change with the times and enjoy the things that come along with development.
The zoning for many of these communities is something I talk about all the time as something that really saves Temecula and will always keep some sort of country feel.Meadowview Community, Los Ranchitos Community, De Luz Community, and Temecula Wine Country are never going to be built up to the point where you will have thousands of homes built by developers. These properties are zoned anywhere from half an acre all the way up to 30 or 40 acres. This will always keep the population in Temecula down to some degree, depending on how far east developers want to build.
Be Prepared if you despise HOAs.
This is your warning: most Temecula communities will have an HOA. Over the years, especially in real estate, you will meet people who despise HOAs.This might be a big shock to people, but around 90% of Temecula communities are going to have some type of HOA.
The one positive about all the HOAs in Temecula is that they are relatively inexpensive for what you receive as a homeowner in the way of amenities. Pools, tennis courts, hot tubs, walking trails, volleyball, community events, and basketball courts are all common in many of the communities throughout Temecula. Generally speaking, HOA costs are going to be $100 a month, give or take 20 bucks.
I talk about this a lot in other blog posts and videos, but Temecula is probably one of the best cities in Southern California when it comes to the cost of the HOA in comparison to what you get. There are many communities in Southern California where you’re paying anywhere from $70 to $200 a month for nothing more than some landscaping. Many of these Temecula communities, especially the pool areas, are resort-like. They really come in handy on hot summer days or when you want to have family over during the nice weather for barbecues or a fun afternoon at the pool.
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In closing, yes, Temecula is an absolutely wonderful place to live. There are things, just like anywhere else, that you have to get past and deal with, but all in all, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Temecula has something for everybody, and if you can get past a few of the negatives, you will definitely enjoy your time here. If you have any more questions, please reach out. We not only have a great deal of information on the local real estate market, but we are very active in the community and can help out with pretty much anything.
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.
