Paradise ca (Chico, Red Bluff, Corning: real estate, home, maintenance)

[tootska]

Thanks I will check it out !

[series]

Someone please tell me about Paradise Ca. I am thinking about moving there.
Thanks.........

[magaliamommy]

Paradise is a beautiful place to live and raise a family or "start fresh". The small town adds to the wonderment of "hometown living". Come up some time and check it out and "May you find Paradise to be all that it's name implies."

Lori (magaliamommy)

[digdug]

I attended college at CSU Chico. For several years I worked at a company up the hill in Paradise.

I always felt that Paradise was a nice town. It was definately not as hot as Chico in the summer and would sometimes get snow in the winter. During the winter and early spring, the valley where Chico is located can become socked in with very thick fog which sometimes lasts for days or weeks. Luckily, Paradise is above the fog line and was nice to visit on those foggy days.

As earlier posters have noted, Paradise does not have much in the way of shopping. I am basing this on my last trip there in the early 90's. Most shops are in small strip mall type locations. I don't remember there being anything notable in the way of restaurants either. Just your typical Chinese and Mexican places sprinkled with Pizza and deli joints. However this may have all changed.

I'm not sure what there is to do there for teens. I seem to remember a lot of the Paradise teens coming down the Skyway (the main road between Paradise and Chico) to the mall, movies, etc. in Chico.

[series]

I was also wondering what the utilites run there since I am sure everyone runs a airconditioner in the summer and the heat in the winter. What about wildlife there ? Deer, squirrels....anything else ? Do most of the people there work in Chico and what is the commute like ?Gosh, I know I will have more questions so bear with me.

[sd2ca]

Originally Posted by series

I was also wondering what the utilities run there since I am sure everyone runs a air conditioner in the summer and the heat in the winter. What about wildlife there ? Deer, squirrels....anything else ? Do most of the people there work in Chico and what is the commute like ?Gosh, I know I will have more questions so bear with me.

Utilities will vary from person to person & house to house. I have a 1850 sq ft house that was built in 1988. We don't use the A/C all that much. But then our home is hidden in the trees and doesn't get much summer sun. I've lived here for 12 years and my electric bill has never hit the $100 mark yet. Frequently it is in the 45-60 dollar a month range. As for heat, I only use propane. I gave up on the wood heat and wood pellets a few years ago. Yeah wood is nice, but I got tired of the ashes, smoke, splitting wood, carrying bags of pellets.....now I just move the thermostat up or down. In 2004 we spent $1229 on propane for the entire year (heat and hot water). So far that has been the our highest year.

If you like wildlife, Paradise/Magalia is full of it. I have a herd of deer that hangs around my place. There are 6-10 here everyday. Grey squirrels...thousands of the little tree rats!!! I have a resident bear that raids the trash can a few times a month. A couple of years ago there was one lone turkey and a lost peacock that strolled through the yard. There are folks a bit farther up the road that have seen a mt lion or two.

Your commute to Chico....maybe 20 minutes depending on where you start from and where your are going.

[recycled]

Many people in Paradise don't have or use A/C in summer. The air is very dry, and even if it gets to 100 F during the day, it can drop to 50s or low 60s at night and you need to sleep with a blanket. This is assuming you are in a home that has some afternoon shade from the massive Pondorosa pines that are all over town, especially common above elevation 2000'.

[series]

Thanks to all of you that responded to my many questions, you have been a big help. I am so glad I found this site because I wanted to talk to someone from Paradise. I will be checking back to see if anyone has anymore to add. It sounds like a beautiful place. I was looking for a place to retire and now I think I have found it.

[lainie]

Originally Posted by glowznthedark

We first came here to Paradise when I was interviewing for a job several years ago. It was cold, rainy, but oh so green. After my interview we drove around. We don't get lost, we take senic detours. Anyway, we fell in love with the area, and knew we wanted to retire here.

It took us 4 1/2 years, but we did it, and have NEVER regretted it. My husband was born and raised in the bay area, and I was born and raised in So Cal. We both hate anything resemebling a big city. Of course we get frustrated with the grannies and grandpas tha drive 15 mph, but, and this is the big but, it is a much nicer slow drive here, then the stop and go moving parking lot of the big cities. Do I recommend it here....you bet cha. We get snow, rain, heat, cool, and trees, greenery, wild animals, peace and quiet. And in comparison, the crime here is not like the big cities.

I love the friendliness of the people. All in all I wish I could have raised my children here...a much nicer, slower pace.

My husband and I live in the Bay Area, have recently retired, and are are considering a move to Paradise. We know that Paradise does not have a city sewer system, so we are concerned about septic tanks and drainage fields.
We are also aware that there are occasional water shortages. Any information concerning these issues would be appreciated. Thanks.

[sd2ca]

Originally Posted by lainie

My husband and I live in the Bay Area, have recently retired, and are are considering a move to Paradise. We know that Paradise does not have a city sewer system, so we are concerned about septic tanks and drainage fields.
We are also aware that there are occasional water shortages. Any information concerning these issues would be appreciated. Thanks.

If you are used to flushing "everything" and using your garbage disposal to extremes, running your washing machine & dishwasher constantly, then you may possibly run into a problem with your septic system sooner or later. Schedule your clothes washing for once every few days and that way you'll give your system a chance recoup. Watch what sort of soaps you use.

If you live within the town limits, they have a fairly strict septic inspection & pumping requirements. ( I think it is every 2 years)

If you live in Magalia or Paradise Pines & other parts of the county, there is no inspection requirements ( unless you are installing a new or replacement system). Septic pumping is a big business up here, but if you are careful, once every 5-7 years is a reasonable amount of time between visits from the honey wagon.

As far as the water supply goes. It looks like it will get better. PID is looking at raising the level of Paradise Lake, and when they finally fix the road over the Magalia Reservoir, they will be able to let it fill up again. Del Oro Water Co. is getting ready to install a water line to Lake Oroville to bring water up to the Ridge. I believe that will be inter-tied with the PID water system.