Costa Mesa, CA skydivers

[pyke 0]

Hi all CM skydivers...

I'm going through the motions of interviewing for a job in CM and before they talk to me about salary, I would like to know the "real" story with a couple questions below:

1) what is a good "range" salary for 1-3 years experience?
2) what is "typical" rent? (either 1br/1ba, or to share)
3) what is gas going for in So. Cal these days?
4) what are the good suburbs to live in, if not in "town"? Where to definately stay away from?

and lastly, 5) how long to Perris/Elsinore from town?

PM me if you can - the sooner the better. I believe I'll be on the phone with them very soon this morning.

Thank you all, in advance!!

Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic

[themitchyone 0]

Hey Pyke,

I've lived in So. Cal all of my life and in the Huntington Beach area for most of my life.

I've been a full-time student for a while, so I'm not sure about salaries. I do know the last company I worked for, for a 4-yr degree a customer service position was starting at like $34K in Newport Beach.

The whole area around Costa Mesa is mostly high rent. Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, and Irvine are the highest, although you can find cheaper apts if you look hard. They all have pricy/more reasonable areas. If you are looking for a 1br/1br type place with balcony and pool, you are looking at no less than $950. Cheaper communities in the area are Westminster, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. The former two are better, Garden Grove probably being the best, but all have neighborhoods to avoid, although nothing too bad, nothing like some communities in L.A.

Also, the drive from where I am in HB to Perris is 70 miles. It's slightly closer to Elsinore. The 91 freeway is crowded, but I have FasTrack which helps tremendously. If you are willing to commute you might consider communities out towards the drop zones, such as Corona, where the rents are better.

Finally, the gas rates here are now about $2.12 for the cheap stuff. If you have any other questions, let me know.

-Michele

"If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson

[Nightingale 0]

salary depends on experience, education, and what kind of job you want.

Rent for a nice place, 1 bd, you're looking at 800-900 a month.

Gas is about two bucks a gallon.

You're about an hour away from Perris.

[Michele 1]

They answered it all...with good info.

Good luck!

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[pyke 0]

Thanks All!!

Mitchy - just PM'ed you again...hope that isn't too much to ask for.

Pre-lim interview went well - so who knows....Pyke could be "goin' back to Cali!!"

Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic

[GiaKrembs 0]

Hey Pyke,

As Michelle noted the Orange County beach communities are pretty pricy for housing... another alternative is to look into Long Beach, Lakewood, or Seal Beach area. I currently live in Long Beach (3 blocks from the beach) and rent a 2 bd, 2 ba, apartment for 1150 a month (rent goes down the further inland you move). If you know of someone to share the rent with you it's a great cost savings. The drive from Long Beach to Elsinore is about an hour (of course this depends on the time of day).

Depending on the type of work you are into, I'd push for a salary range of 35-40 k with 3 years experience.

Good luck with the interview!!! PM me if you'd like to talk further about the area.

ciao for now, g

Raddest ho this side of Jersey #1 - rest in peace brother
Beth lost her cherry and I missed it
.... you want access to it, but you don't want to break it.

[Bigwallmaster 0]

Pyke,

I live in Newport Beach. Truth be told, you can rent in Newport Beach from anywhere between $800-$1000/month. Newport Beach, Huntington Beach (near the water), and Corona Del Mar are all nice places to live, within 10-15 minute drive of Costa Mesa. You can find some nice places to rent in Corona Del Mar; I would look there first.

cheers,

J.P.

PM me if you have any addtional questions.

[rjackson 0]

Quote

Hey Pyke,

As Michelle noted the Orange County beach communities are pretty pricy for housing... another alternative is to look into Long Beach, Lakewood, or Seal Beach area. I currently live in Long Beach (3 blocks from the beach) and rent a 2 bd, 2 ba, apartment for 1150 a month (rent goes down the further inland you move). If you know of someone to share the rent with you it's a great cost savings. The drive from Long Beach to Elsinore is about an hour (of course this depends on the time of day).

Depending on the type of work you are into, I'd push for a salary range of 35-40 k with 3 years experience.

Good luck with the interview!!! PM me if you'd like to talk further about the area.

ciao for now, g

There are a couple of issues with living in that area and driving to Costa Mesa. One the drive is going to be terrible going south on the 405 at the normal drive time. Car insurance goes up as soon as you get a "90" zip code (LA County).

It really depends on what kind of life style you want and where your coming from. There are a number of the job search websites that have cost of living calculators. Make sure that you get familiar with the differences and housing costs before you accept the job.

(former Orange County resident (38 years))

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Randy