What can you tell me about Ventura, CA?

[gumbypee]

I did well on a Skype interview and I will be out there for a day and a half for an in person interview but won't have much time to explore.

Is it a small town? But close enough to big towns to have things like flag football, swing dance classes, college alumni groups?

Or is it like an extension of LA?

Is traffic bad there?

What are bad areas to avoid?

What is typical cost of a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment?

Any apartment recommendations?

how is the weather?

Humid?

Desert?

Lush green?

Any other tidbits about the place? (I am originally from Florida, lived in Houston 8 years - liked both places - live in Albuquerque now and hate it)

Thank you to anyone who can help out!

 

[StageTek]

It's a town of appx. 100,000 people. It's about 35 miles from Santa Barbara (a city of appx. 88,000) and has basketball, dodgeball, flag football, kickball, paintball, soccer, softball and vollyball leagues. I know Santa Barbara has a swing dance class.

At about 65 miles from Los Angeles it really isn't like an extension of LA.

The traffic can be bad there.

The typical cost is $1,500 closer to the beach and $1,000 farther away from the beach.

The weather is mild being right on the ocean. 40's/50's in winter, 70's/80's in summer.

It can get humid.

It is on the coast not in the desert.

Some areas a lush green.

Ventura has some great surfing, the fairgrounds host many events, there is a nice film festival once a year.

 

[gumbypee]

It's a town of appx. 100,000 people. It's about 35 miles from Santa Barbara (a city of appx. 88,000) and has basketball, dodgeball, flag football, kickball, paintball, soccer, softball and vollyball leagues. I know Santa Barbara has a swing dance class.

At about 65 miles from Los Angeles it really isn't like an extension of LA.

The traffic can be bad there.

The typical cost is $1,500 closer to the beach and $1,000 farther away from the beach.

The weather is mild being right on the ocean. 40's/50's in winter, 70's/80's in summer.

It can get humid.

It is on the coast not in the desert.

Some areas a lush green.

Ventura has some great surfing, the fairgrounds host many events, there is a nice film festival once a year.

Wow, thank you for the great info - weather sounds awesome! I am surprised for the size that they seem to have so many activities!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

They have a nice little downtown area - quaint. One of California's 21 missions is there - Buenaventura. I sometimes stop there on my way home from Goleta (northern Santa Barbara to Los Angeles) and have dinner at Yolanda's Mexican Restaurant, with a DISer friend of mine. http://www.yolandasmexicancafe.com/

 

[gumbypee]

They have a nice little downtown area - quaint. One of California's 21 missions is there - Buenaventura. I sometimes stop there on my way home from Goleta (northern Santa Barbara to Los Angeles) and have dinner at Yolanda's Mexican Restaurant, with a DISer friend of mine. http://www.yolandasmexicancafe.com/

Thank you! That restaurant looks delicious!!!

 

[kathy884]

I don't know where you are from, but I would strongly suggest looking at one of those city cost comparison programs. There can be plenty of reasons other than economics to make a job move, though: A great opportunity to learn / something you'd just love to do / wanting to move to the area, etc.

Here is a link to one of these.
http://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/

For DH, though, he decided against doing a transfer to Ventura and took a position in the Midwest instead (offer for similar money there). Housing costs were 33% less in a great suburb in the St. Louis metro area and overall costs were about 25% less. As with anything, though, cost is just one factor.

 

[gumbypee]

I don't know where you are from, but I would strongly suggest looking at one of those city cost comparison programs. There can be plenty of reasons other than economics to make a job move, though: A great opportunity to learn / something you'd just love to do / wanting to move to the area, etc.

Here is a link to one of these.
http://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/

For DH, though, he decided against doing a transfer to Ventura and took a position in the Midwest instead (offer for similar money there). Housing costs were 33% less in a great suburb in the St. Louis metro area and overall costs were about 25% less. As with anything, though, cost is just one factor.

Thank you, I have looked at several cost of living sites and they all vary greatly!! I am originally from Florida but now live in New Mexico and I hate not being near the water. All my family (except one cousin in LA) is in East coast so the time zone would be difficult. I gotta think on this some more. Thanks everyone

 

[leahlefler]

We're from Oxnard originally (living in Western NY now) - the city next to Ventura. We used to work in Ventura, and I love the city. Yolanda's is fantastic as a restaurant. We also love Marshall's BBQ and walking around the harbor. We miss the west coast!

 

[gumbypee]

one more question - is it difficult to afford a house in Ventura or Oxnard? I would just need small house for 2 people and a dog LOL

 

[kathy884]

one more question - is it difficult to afford a house in Ventura or Oxnard? I would just need small house for 2 people and a dog LOL

You might want to look at zillow.com to get an idea of what prices are in Ventura. Is it difficult to afford a house is a loaded question. But this will let you see what houses are listed for and an approximation of home values in areas where you are interested.

California is definately more expensive that the midwest. This was years ago (1989) and a boom time for Ventura, but for a transfer to Ventura we were offered $20,000 toward a down payment, and $400 a month for three years toward mortage payments to take a transfer there, but DH turned it down and took a position in the St. Louis, MO area instead. Way back then Ventura homes were about double what a comparable home was in the St. Louis suburb area. And for us with salaries similar nationwide in our professions, living in the west or midwest was going to be better for us in terms of standard of living.

 

[leahlefler]

Cost of living is the reason we left the area. We were young professionals and our corporation transferred to Ireland. We moved with the company and then relocated to Western NY to afford a house - our house here costs less than our apartment rent in Oxnard. We truly love the area, though, and miss it greatly. The weather is amazing in Oxnard/Ventura and the beaches are gorgeous. The housing cost (depending on your income level) can be quite difficult to afford.

 

[gumbypee]

thanks guys - definitely gave me a lot to think about.

I like that Zillow website!

I am leaning towards no bc they pay enough for me to survive but probably not enough to afford a home.

Thanks again for all great input