Many people have a dream of moving to the American West Coast, enjoying a high standard of living and endless possibilities. It stretches geographically from Canada in the north to Mexico in the south, but it is mainly California we think of when hearing the term “the West Coast”.

California is the state that has long been seen as the most relaxed part of the United States with extensive beaches and a climate that invites sunbathing and swimming all year round. 

In recent years, there has been an increase of people who have decided to buy property in California. Real estate sales in Southern California are on the rise as it has many thriving cities to live in. A piece of good advice before moving to this area is to track down reputable mortgage lenders in Southern California who will help you find the best loan program that will fit your budget and help you kick off the search for your dream home. Before making any step further, let us see what are some of the best places there for your new beginnings.

San Diego

California’s southernmost city, located right next to the Mexican border, is called San Diego and is the eighth-largest city in the United States. The most interesting thing about San Diego is that the city offers great contrasts as it is inspired by both Mexico and the United States.

As if the beautiful weather were not enough, San Diego also has a 120 km long and beautiful coastline, where you will find some of California’s most popular beaches. Not only does it have one of the best coastal landscapes, but San Diego is also known for its renowned universities, being environmentally friendly all while offering its residents a relaxed way of life which is refreshing as it is still a big city. The city is home to people of many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. To know where you should look for housing in San Diego, a tip is to see rent trends in San Diego and also check the following neighborhoods: Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, East Village, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, among others.

There is a calm that is felt in San Diego that the other larger cities lack. Life in San Diego is about the beach, good food, and a generally comfortable lifestyle.

Irvine

Irvine is the perfect blend of city life and nature found in southern California. Irvine might be a smaller city but its size will not leave you unimpressed. The city can boast of being one of the richest and safest places to live in the United States. It is less than half an hour from Orange County’s best beaches: from Laguna Beach in the south to Huntington Beach in the north and everything in between. Here you can swim, surf, sail and visit picturesque coastal towns!

The educational system is top-notch and there are plenty of job opportunities with nearly 200 Fortune 50-companies based in the city. The city is also a paradise if you like hiking and biking. Irvine Regional Park offers many biking and hiking trails, as well as the Quail Hill Reserve, Mason Regional Park, and Bommer Canyon.

If you love sunny days and mild nights, world-class shopping, and outdoor activities, Irvine is a great option to live in in this part of Cali. All of these positive characteristics of the city therefore make Irvine one of the most expensive cities to live in.

Santa Barbara

The city is located along the coast towards the Pacific Ocean and is a popular destination for people from all around the world. It only takes a little over an hour to drive to LA and the city has become famous for the many celebrities who exchanged LA’s dynamic lifestyle and settled here in a scenic setting. 

The stunning harbor and coastal plains, and the world-famous mountain range, which includes the Santa Ynez Mountains, Sierra Madre Mountains, and San Rafael Mountains, are located here.

Considering all this, it is not surprising that this area is full of beautiful but costly mansions and homes. But no worries, there are also affordable living options that one can find if deciding to live here. 

Palm Springs

In the green desert city of Palm Springs, the sun almost always shines. Palm Springs is also known for its beautiful architecture and here you will find unique houses, fantastic golf courses, hot springs, and impressive spa facilities.

Shopping is one of the things that you will surely enjoy if moving to Palm Springs and the best place to visit is Palm Canyon Drive. This is where many shops, galleries, and restaurants are located, as well as top museums and attractions.

If you like to move around, you will be able to head to the Coachella Valley where you can hike, bike, and take part in really wonderful horseback riding in the beautiful surroundings.

Newport Beach

Located in Orange County, at about 60 km south of Los Angeles at the outflow of the Santa Ana River in the Pacific Ocean, lies Newport Beach with about 85,000 inhabitants.

The climate is Mediterranean-like with relatively small variations compared to cities just a few miles inland. This is due to the Pacific breeze which warms the temperature in winter and cools down the sizzling heat in summer, thereby evening out the extreme temperature variations that can occur inland.

If you love the water, you will love living in Newport Beach as it is the largest recreational boat port on the west coast of the United States. There is a large harbor, Newport Harbor, and Newport Bay with several islands, Balboa Island, Collins Island, Bay Island, Harbor Island, and Linda and Lido Isle.

Various types of boating and leisure activities are popular, such as sailing, fishing, rowing, and kayaking. Life on the beach is well known for various activities such as surfing, bodyboarding, and body surfing, especially at The Wedge on the Balboa Peninsula which is considered to be world-class. 

Final thoughts

California is often referred to as “the Golden State”. The lifestyle is very relaxed and the people who live there are very open and hospitable which makes it easy to like this state.

Cities in southern California offer wonderful beaches, deserts, cliffs, vineyards, old historic gold-digging villages, amusement parks, rich wildlife, beautiful nature, culinary experiences influenced by many different food cultures, and an active lifestyle. We focused and described some of them in the text, while the right mortgage lenders will help you and guide you if you’re planning to make one of them your home.