What's the truth about Santa Maria - Orcutt? (Fresno, Bakersfield: cheap home, rental)

[Greenchili]

Housing prices are dropping. And I dont think they are as bad as LA/OC

[SoCalif]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

My question is how do you make $100k up there? I've been through that area many times and I don't see a whole lot of industry other than picking vegetables or fast food/retail. And yet housing prices are almost as high as LA/OC.

That's a good question, a college degree is almost mandatory, as is dual income. There is still a couple of high paying industries such as oil, although that's declining. There is Vandenberg A.F.B to the south, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant to the north. But you're right, it is hard to find employment that pays that kind of money.

[Greenchili]

I saw yesterday that Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/Lompoc were listed as
one of the Top 10 places to live. Cant be all bad now, can it!


Greenchili

[SoCalif]

Originally Posted by Greenchili

I saw yesterday that Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/Lompoc were listed as
one of the Top 10 places to live. Cant be all bad now, can it!


Greenchili

Not bad at all!!! :-)

[CalBerkeley2002]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

My question is how do you make $100k up there? I've been through that area many times and I don't see a whole lot of industry other than picking vegetables or fast food/retail. And yet housing prices are almost as high as LA/OC.

Good question, in my case I'm a consulting to the oil/gas industry so I'll be bringing my job with me. I've noticed the same thing - not a lot of high paying jobs with a costly housing market usually equals a low standard of living. But, it looks like people manage somehow.

[suegee]

location location location as far as housing costs go.
In this case, near beaches and wide open spaces, lakes, outdoor recreation of all kinds, clean air, etc.

Lots of ag land surrounding the Santa Maria Valley, but pressure is building (pun intended) for lots of high density, small-lot housing tracts. The population is going to rise quickly, with it will come more crime and gang problems, which for now seem to be limited to tagging and knife fights, etc.

These problems seem to keep pretty much to the hispanic population. There are not neighborhoods that are unsafe during the day, but that is so after dark. The northwest area and older neighborhoods on the west side are where any problems are.

yet I enjoy shopping in the local bodegas and feel very safe daytime in all areas of hte city. I enjoy interfacing with the hispanic business community and people are very friendly.

I think if you're from the city, you'll like Santa Maria. It is conservative and pro-business and pro-growth. and very windy here in spring! It's inland from a huge sand-dune complex that allows ORV's so it is also very dusty. (hard on folks with breathing issues)

Orcutt is at the south end of the SMV, next to pretty coastal range of hills. Windy, too but more of a neighborhood felling in Orcutt than in Santa Maria.

There was an article in today's Santa Maria Times about a huge (HUGE) planned developement on the east siide of 101, now ag land. It will take 30 years to buildout, but will really change the small-town feeling of Santa Maria.
I'd rec a visit or three to get the lay of the land. Santa Maria airport serices several commuter airlines, and it's a 2 1/2 hour trip by car from LA or 4 from SF.

summer temps range from 55 (foggy) to 95 (extreme heat wave with an offshore flow--once or twice a summer)
winter 55 (foggy) to 70 sunny and windy.

[SoCalif]

I find it funny how Basinguide says that he has not expressed a dislike for Santa Maria, nor Mexicans. I just happened to come across this post from basinguide himself. I guess you can interpret it for yourself on how he feels. Here is his post.

"Santa Maria is not called Fresno on the Pacific for nuttin. It is, at best a hicktown,, at worst a racist Mexican gang ridden town."


[quote=greatbasinguide;1418360]Poor Guy, must be very young. I do not hate nor have I expressed a dislike for Santa Maria. Nor for Mexicans. It must be sad to see the world in terms of black and white.

Santa Maria is flat, boring, and full of gangs. There is culture in Santa Maria, PCPA and that is about it.

[Westward]

[quote=suegee;1486671]IThere was an article in today's Santa Maria Times about a huge (HUGE) planned developement on the east siide of 101, now ag land. It will take 30 years to buildout, but will really change the small-town feeling of Santa Maria.
QUOTE]

Aside from the loss of ag "opportunity," this should be a plus for SM. After seeing what a little new growth has done for Bakersfield, a very similar town, it would definitely make SM more attractive to me.

But what's with the "oil contaminated property" discussed in that article?

[CalBerkeley2002]

[quote=Westward;1500031]

Originally Posted by suegee

IThere was an article in today's Santa Maria Times about a huge (HUGE) planned developement on the east siide of 101, now ag land. It will take 30 years to buildout, but will really change the small-town feeling of Santa Maria.
QUOTE]

Aside from the loss of ag "opportunity," this should be a plus for SM. After seeing what a little new growth has done for Bakersfield, a very similar town, it would definitely make SM more attractive to me.

But what's with the "oil contaminated property" discussed in that article?

Sometimes subdivisions are built on oil-contaminated land that has essentially been landfarmed and covered with a few feet of clean fill dirt - happens all the time in towns where there is or once was oil production. Trust me, I live in Houston, it happens all the time. Most of the oil is heavy-end hydrocarbons so there is little risk and the exposure pathways are mitigated by the fill dirt and deed restrictions. The area in the article happens to be one of these areas that was developed even though oil had once been mixed with soil and covered. Residents usually discover this when they are excavating for pool construction or when pockets of less viscous oil is drawn to the surface by the overlaying pressure. You sound surprised that there is oil contamination in Santa Maria??

[CalBerkeley2002]

[quote=SoCalif;1498763]I find it funny how Basinguide says that he has not expressed a dislike for Santa Maria, nor Mexicans. I just happened to come across this post from basinguide himself. I guess you can interpret it for yourself on how he feels. Here is his post.

"Santa Maria is not called Fresno on the Pacific for nuttin. It is, at best a hicktown,, at worst a racist Mexican gang ridden town."

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

Poor Guy, must be very young. I do not hate nor have I expressed a dislike for Santa Maria. Nor for Mexicans. It must be sad to see the world in terms of black and white.

Santa Maria is flat, boring, and full of gangs. There is culture in Santa Maria, PCPA and that is about it.

I see we're on the same page SoCal - basinguide is very hypocritical in his posts. I wonder if by "gangs" he means kids with baggy pants - hate to tell you, that's how kids dress now, it is like that EVERYWHERE! I won't let his obviously biased view of Santa Maria factor in my decision to move there at all. Good stuff!