Bakersfield

[tickyul]

Originally Posted by TimC2462

Roaddog is right... There are gangbangers, but I hardly see them around the Northwest or Southwest area. As long as you stay out of the areas where there are likely to roam about, you're safe. For the record, I hardly go over the east side. Almost everything I need to do is in the west area of Highway 99.

Why don't you come over to Bakersfield during the summer to see what it's like?

Yeah, it is about a 5 hours car drive or I could take the train from Union Station in LA. I think you are samrt, checking out the place when the heat is at its worst...that would be a real taste of what I dread.....broilingosity.

So Timc (anyone), if you are living in one of the GHETTO areas, is the whole area unsafe and crappy.......or is it mainly spotty....here and there problems in the GHETTO parts. The reason I ask is because I do not think initially I could afford the higher cost, nice areas.

[TimC2462]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Yeah, it is about a 5 hours car drive or I could take the train from Union Station in LA. I think you are samrt, checking out the place when the heat is at its worst...that would be a real taste of what I dread.....broilingosity.

So Timc (anyone), if you are living in one of the GHETTO areas, is the whole area unsafe and crappy.......or is it mainly spotty....here and there problems in the GHETTO parts. The reason I ask is because I do not think initially I could afford the higher cost, nice areas.

Why choose to live in a ghetto area due to cost of living when you can buy a new construction home starting in the 170K range. See here: New Homes in Bakersfield, New Home Builder Bakersfield, Bakersfiled Home Builders - Towery Homes

McMillin Homes were starting in the 215K range with zero closing costs: Bakersfield | McMillin Homes

The above were for new homes. You can expect older homes to be had for much cheaper if you search around. My suggestion is to rent first to get a feel of where the prime areas are before settling on a house. The average rent in Bakersfield for a 1 bed apt is 800-900 dollars in the northwest and southwest areas.

WIth the exception of the Rio Bravo area, I myself would never purchase a house in the east Bakersfield area due to the crime and low curb appeal.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by tickyul

The reason I ask is because I do not think initially I could afford the higher cost, nice areas.

How much can you afford? rent in a decent apartment in a decent area can be $600.00 per month, I think in the worst areas it would be the same.