If you are thinking about moving to Temecula, we thought it would be a great idea to point out the “Pros and Cons of Living in Temecula.” We absolutely love this city, and hopefully, this list will give you an idea of why Temecula, California, is such a great place to live.
Pros
The People
Between the two of us, we have lived in over 10 cities in Southern California over the past 20 years. From the beach to inland, we have it covered. We were pleasantly surprised by the people of Temecula and how helpful, friendly, and all-around nice they are. We frequently walk around the lake in the Harveston Community, and there’s never a time when we aren’t greeted with good mornings, a great day, and smiles. I have this as the first pro in the blog post for a reason. I really do love the sense of community I feel here. You never get the feeling that somebody has an ulterior motive for being nice—plain and simple, good people, just the way we like it.
Wineries
You can’t mention Temecula, California, without talking about the wineries. The one great thing that many people don’t realize is that you don’t have to be a drinker to enjoy a day touring wineries. They’re relaxing with beautiful views, rolling hills, and some good music and food. It’s truly a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy the day. If you do enjoy wine tasting, make sure you check out Groupon; they often have many deals for tastings, which usually include 2-for-1 tastings and meat and cheese plates. Exploring Temecula has the specific goal of documenting every single winery in Temecula over the next year. Make sure you check out our winery blog posts and videos. We highlight our favorites throughout Wine Country and Temecula.
Safety
Of course, safety will be very high on everyone’s list when deciding whether or not to live somewhere. We have had the luxury of living all over Southern California over the past 10 years. We’ve lived both at the beach and in different cities inland. Without a doubt, Temecula has to be one of the safest places we have lived. You don’t see the high homeless population or petty crimes that are prevalent and growing in frequency in many other parts of Southern California. I would have no reservations about walking around Temecula at night.Of course, you always have to be cautious, but it really is a city you feel safe in.
Weather
I look at the weather as a pro, but there are a few months of the year that Temecula gets very hot. Besides the three or four months of heat, Temecula has wonderful weather. Generally speaking, you’re going to have nice, sunny days with some cool mornings. Comfortable afternoons with some sprinkles of rain in December are also common. Sometimes it’s a little more than sprinkles, but we always seem to need it. In the dead of summer, from June to the end of September, you’re going to get days with 100+ temperatures. On these days, hang out by the pool, stay inside in your air conditioning, and leave the BBQ alone.
Horse Lovers: Equestrian and Horse Property
I’ll be honest; I don’t know much about horses, but as a real estate broker, I need to at least understand the amenities given to horse lovers in Temecula. It truly is a wonderful place for horse lovers, with many trails and a plethora of actual horse property. We produced a video and wrote a whole blog on two separate areas in Temecula that have horse properties. One is Meadowview, and the other is Los Ranchitos.
Convenience and amenities
The traffic can get congested and very busy at times. The great thing? Most communities in Temecula have amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping close by. You don’t have to worry about driving 15 miles to get to a grocery store or restaurant. Again, most communities have grocery stores within three to four miles of their doorsteps. Where we personally live in Harveston Community, there is a WinCo, Stater Brothers, Trader Joe’s, the mall, and tons of restaurants all within a 5-minute drive. Even if the traffic is bad, it doesn’t matter. We are also close to the 15 freeway, which is very convenient if you are a working stiff like us.
Golf
Because I am a golfer, I had to add this to the list. You will be hard-pressed to find another place in America with more golf courses and better pricing than the Temecula Valley. Not only are there multiple golf courses in the city of Temecula, but the surrounding cities have many as well. The best part? You can go on GolfNow and find a course on any given day for under $40. One of my favorite times to play golf in the Inland Empire is during the summer months. Many people think it’s too hot, but when you start your round at 4 or 5 p.m., you get beautiful sunsets, perfect conditions, and great temperatures. Another great thing about golfing later in the day is that you can find some really good deals. Playing 18 holes at a nice golf course for $25 in the summer is definitely doable.
Weekend Getaways
We have grown to love our weekend getaways, and Temecula is one of the best places to live for this type of travel. We are basically in the middle of everything. We can get to the beach in 45 minutes, San Diego in a little over an hour, Los Angeles in an hour (depending on when you leave), and the mountains in a couple hours. You also have Julian, which is a really fun place to go in the fall for apples and apple pie. It’s a very relaxing day trip with some nice views.
Cons
Again, because we love the city of Temecula so much, we don’t have many cons, but there are a couple that I need to point out.
Cost of living
If you compare Temecula to many other areas in Southern California, home prices are very affordable, but when you compare the home prices to the rest of the United States, they are expensive. Another thing you’re going to pay more for is gasoline. I’m not going to give exact prices, but everybody in the United States pretty much knows California has some of the highest gas prices in the country. Taxes are also high, and simple things like car registration will make your jaw drop, depending on your vehicle.
Traffic
Yes, traffic can get pretty bad on the 215 and 15 freeways; even side streets get crowded during rush hours. If you are a teacher, fireman, or city worker, you will not have this commute, but many do. Driving to San Diego, Orange County, or even Los Angeles is not fun. Be aware that if you move here and have to commute, it can get difficult and frustrating. Get used to spending hours on the freeway.
Hopefully, you will enjoy the blog post. We are a licensed real estate brokerage here in Temecula called Greenleaf Real Estate. I am a broker and owner of Greenleaf real estate, along with my wife, who is a licensed certified appraiser. If you have any aspirations of buying or selling real estate in the Temecula area, please give us a call; we would love to help you!
