Recommendations for Orange County/Santa Ana area (Anaheim, Garden Grove: apartments, rentals)

[3packabs]

Good afternoon;

I work for the Immigration in Baltimore, we are opening a new court in Santa Ana, CA, I was thinking of putting in a transfer request. Been in MD my whole life (except for a 1 yr in TX), looking for a change. Any recommendations on decent housing, ie apts, or locations to live? Totally new to this. I have to submit request by Fri 4/22. I'm a GS-11, so roughly 72.8K salary. Not a beach person, I prefer to stay home or eat out, but that's about it. Appreciate any advice!! Thanks!

[FrankNSense]

A 72K/year Salary can be done in Orange County, but it does make it a bit harder.

What is your monthly budget for your apartment? Would you be okay with just a Studio or do you want at least a 1 Bedroom? This is going to be the biggest factor in the areas you should start to look at.

Figuring that the new court will be in the Government Complexes in Downtown Santa Ana. That area is going through a revitalization. What that means is that they are building a lot of new apartments, and have restaurants, more culture, etc.
But they are also higher-end apartments that are going to be well over $2000/month even for just a Studio. You can find cheaper apartments in the area but those will also be older apartments in areas that are a bit more sketchy.

Are you willing to commute? If so how far? Do you have a car or are you going to need to rely on Public Transportation?

By the way 4/22 is Thursday, not Friday. If you can cancel your request, perhaps you should at least put it in to see what happens.

[TimTheEnchanter]

I would try to contact peers in Santa Ana and see where they live.

Santa Ana itself has good areas and bad ones; then there is Orange, Garden Grove, Westminster, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley & Tustin, to start.

I think it is a great idea to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

[3packabs]

Hi Frank - I don't mind sketchier areas - born and raised in Baltimore! I'll probably buy a used car. I'll check out apts, thanks Frank!
Looking forward to it!! It's going to be on Dyer Ave, if that means anything. I'll be GS-12 next year (82k)

[3packabs]

Oh, PS: I'll be GS-12 next year ($82K)

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by 3packabs

Hi Frank - I don't mind sketchier areas - born and raised in Baltimore! I'll probably buy a used car. I'll check out apts, thanks Frank!
Looking forward to it!! It's going to be on Dyer Ave, if that means anything. I'll be GS-12 next year (82k)

Have you checked the income tax in CA and apt costs? Then realize gas prices and auto registration is high also. At your pay if you have no significant debt and don't mind a commute to work, there will be OK areas fairly close and some nicer ones further out. I have no idea of your costs now, so cannot make any specific recommendations as to where to rent.

[FrankNSense]

I am actually familiar with Dyer, and apparently a bit off as to where you may be working at. The area you will be at is a few miles away from the Downtown area and is overall a decent area. Mostly commercial or commercial/residential mix depending on what end of Dyer you are on.

So in addition to Santa Ana, you are within a few miles of the cities of Tustin and Irvine. A bit farther, but still within 5-10 miles you have places such as Orange, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by 3packabs

Hi Frank - I don't mind sketchier areas - born and raised in Baltimore! I'll probably buy a used car. I'll check out apts, thanks Frank!
Looking forward to it!! It's going to be on Dyer Ave, if that means anything. I'll be GS-12 next year (82k)

Dyer Road is a relatively short street (turns to Segerstrom on west end, Barranca on east end) in way south Santa Ana. That is even more reason to look in Tustin, especially the Tustin Legacy area and north Costa Mesa.

LOTS of people in OC are living on less than $82k and doing just fine.

PS If you have not used it before, Zillow.com is a great resource for finding apartments and home. Westside Rentals is too.

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by 3packabs

Oh, PS: I'll be GS-12 next year ($82K)

13% bump? Wow, I should've worked for the government.

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

13% bump? Wow, I should've worked for the government.

First, you don't know how long they spent at GS11, second, the same work in the private sector would pay about 25% more.