Can anyone tell me about Green Valley, CA? (Los Angeles, Glendale: for sale, renting)

[kristuphir]

Hi there. I've just discovered these forums in the last few days and have been having a good and educational time exploring what people have to say about where I live and where I've lived in the past, so I wanted to extend a "thank you" for that.

I'm currently renting and working in Glendale, CA and am one of those many people who are considering a move out to the Antelope Valley because I could afford to buy there, versus renting here in the Down Below. I used to think, like most people seem to here, that the AV was basically an armpit. I still think it has some armpit places, but have been spending an awful lot of time there lately and have come to really like parts of it, notably the more rural areas on the outskirts of Palmdale/Lancaster. I love the fact that you can drive for 10 minutes out of Palmdale and be in wide open country spaces with lots to see and do for the adventurous.

I've taken a real interest in the smaller, somewhat remote communities of Green Valley, Lake Elizabeth/Lake Hughes, and Juniper Hills. Does anyone have insight as to what it's like to live there? I would have to figure out a work situation that was conducive to living out there, so let's leave that out of the equation for now. But I'm interested in being able to live in one of those beautiful areas that still has reasonable access to all that LA has to offer. What are the people like? The prices out there are low enough to be intriguing to an LA resident, so I'd really like to know.

Also, as an aside, does anyone who lives in the AV commute into LA via Angeles Forest/Angeles Crest highways in lieu of the awful 14-5 crawl? I know I can make it from Glendale to Palmdale in an hour easily on those roads on an average weekend day, and if weather permitted, it seems like it would help me keep my sanity, should I need to commute Down Below, to spend two hours a day on some of the most beautiful winding mountain roads I know instead of locked in crazy SoCal freeway traffic. Am I dreaming here?

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Commuting on the 2 through the mountains? Yikes. You'd be one accident/foggy day/snowstorm from a two-hour slog. Living in Lake Elizabeth and working in Los Angeles would seem to be at cross purposes for a stress-free life.

[kristuphir]

That would be the "weather permitting" part, I suppose...I'm really thinking I would just need to find a job somewhere closer...

[fairweathergolfer]

Sorry I can't give any specifics regarding the area, but honestly if you can buy a home there and have a two hour slog into work, why not? If you are willing to accept the worst case scenario, then an easy commute in will be a surprise. As you said over time, the job situation will work itself out.

There were days when I was going to school at USC from the west side and it was a 2 hour commute,(one time 4, yes, 4 hours! It was the day it hailed and snowed on the east side and had massive lightening!) so as you know it is not always the distance that makes us suffer these long commutes, Thus I say if you prepare yourself to live a life of worst case scenario commutes and find the benefit of owning a home, go for it. You could have the same issue now matter where you live and work in this town, so why the heck not?

By the way I think you mentioned that you had lived in Seattle in another post. I used to commute from Madison Park to Bellevue for awhile and I found that horrendous. Then I went shopping one day in the Udistict and drove home to MP and it took 2 hours! The point is, I think we just start freakin' a bit more here when we start contemplating a large distance between work and home, but the truth is no matter where you are it can be a SOB (unless you literally work from home, as I do, or unless you work in the same neighborhood), so why not get your larger needs met. Something wonderful will present itself in time if the commute gets to be too much. Best of luck. I say GO FOR IT!

[kristuphir]

Hey, thanks for the insight there, you may be right. When I was in Seattle, I commuted from Queen Anne to Bellevue, and like you, thought that was quite enough. Here in LA, I have the unheard-of luxury of walking to work, at least for the moment, but I've done enough long-hours commuting to know what it's like.

The benefits of being able to own a home anywhere in this vicinity present some tempting balance for all that (potential) driving...

[brian_2]

"Here in LA, I have the unheard-of luxury of walking to work."

..wow! exercise and the luxury of breathing LA's air too!

[kristuphir]

Back to the actual subject at hand, has anyone lived in Green Valley or Lake Elizabeth?

[mjs141]

I have a place up in Green Valley Lake but unfortunately only visit it part of the year and have never had to live there fulltime. They do however have some tough winters but the summers are beautiful... I've owned property up there since the late 1990's and from what everyone tells me, they have no problems living their all year round and love the community. Hope this helps. On a side not, if you are interested in moving their let me know. I had to put my place up for sale due to a recent divorce

[kristuphir]

I am interested in moving there, but sadly I think you're talking about Green Valley Lake over near Big Bear, while I am talking about just plain Green Valley over near Santa Clarita. Thanks though, and best of luck selling the place!

[robocdata]

It's nice in the summer, easy (and pretty) drive to Santa Clarita. Cooler than valley. May be driving problems in winter, as it's about 3,500 feet. Not much available housing, closest real shopping is in Santa Clarita or Palmdale.