Ventura Real Estate
The city of Ventura is located just one hour north of Los Angeles and only 30 minutes south of Santa Barbara, making it an attractive option for first time home buyers who work in Santa Barbara, but are looking for less expensive real estate options. Ventura County is currently the 12th largest county in California with a population just over 742,000. Citizens of Ventura enjoy easy access to beautiful beaches, national parks, and mountains, as well as an incredible year-round Mediterranean climate (average coastal temperature is slightly above 74 degrees).
The County of Ventura is proud of its cities that consistently rank as the top one and two safest cities in the nation (populations over 100,000) by the FBI’s annual rankings. Additionally, given the area’s temperate coastal climate, countless recreational activities are offered year-round. These activities include hiking, camping, fishing, golfing, biking, jogging, and horseback riding throughout Ventura County’s six micro-climates (more than any other county in the United States). Ventura also boasts some great spots for surfing, including Surfer’s Point and the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Schools in Ventura
Ventura enjoys an excellent schooling system from Kindergarten to college levels. Ventura’s students have consistently surpassed all State and National averages for more than 10 years. The county features three separate community colleges, a new California State University (Channel Islands), a private university (California Lutheran), as well as a branch of University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
Ventura Real Estate
If you cannot afford, or simply cannot get excited about any of the homes for sale in your price range in Santa Barbara, then consider real estate in Ventura. While the community and area does have a different look and feel from Santa Barbara and is not quite the same “vacation lifestyle,” Ventura real estate prices do tend to be less expensive than south Santa Barbara County. As such, before ruling out home ownership in the central coast, be sure to contact a qualified Ventura Realtor.