RELOCATING PLEASE HELP (last thread had the wrong city name) (Los Angeles: houses, neighborhood)

[california5]

It really depends on what you like. I personally do not like Bakersfield. It's too big and too hot for my liking. But then, I prefer small town life. That's why I live in Tehachapi. Others don't like small towns and would be perfectly happy in Bakersfield.
I've never lived in Bakersfield, so I don't know a lot about it. I do know that I've gotten lost in some pretty bad areas. All big towns are going to have their problems though. I'm sure there are places in Bakersfield that are nice too.
Are your children going to attend public or private school? If they are going to public school you want to make sure you live in a good district.....Bakersfield schools – California (CA) school district, public and private school reports
This website might also have some information that would be helpful....Bakersfield Neighborhood Profile on Yahoo! Real Estate - Demographics, Cost of Living & more!
Have you visited the area yet? I would try to make a visit before deciding on a location to live. You can listen to everyone's opinions, but ultimately you need to see the area for yourself.
If you like smaller towns and four seasons, I would take a serious look at Tehachapi. It's a small town, great for raising children, clean air. We love it here.
My strongest recommendation is to avoid living in Arvin at all costs....

In 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed Arvin as having the highest levels of smog of any community in the United States. The city's ozone level, smog's primary component, exceeded the EPA's acceptable limits an average of 73 days per year between 2004 and 2006.[1]

[Franklyn]

Originally Posted by Shaft

Wow that is all the advice I can get from this site?

You need to develop a little patience, gal. Chill a few days. This site gets a lot of reads over time, but folks do live a little, too. If your husband needs to make a decision RIGHT NOW it's just gonna be a coin toss.

Arvin is an interesting small town. I've been there lot's of times and know folks who've lived there. They generally liked it.

Bakersfield has a bunch of scattered subdivisions that you'd need to check out to find a couple that might suit you. There are other communities scattered around, but Bakersfield is the big patootie in that neck of the woods and most things there revolve around it. Go to realtor.com and look for stuff within a 25 mile radius and you would find quite a few interesting locations.

But this area is not built up, so that means more scattered homes, more farms and ranches, more oil fields, more brushland, etc. Ergo, fewer folks there who post on this forum. So your information here will mostly be coming from folks like me who live elsewhere but have had some exposure to that area.

The advice about Tehachapi was well-meaning but the commute up and down 58 could get troublesome during parts of the year. So check it out.

Unless you change your attitude I expect you'll receive not many more responses.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by Shaft

Wow that is all the advice I can get from this site?

I really need your help here. Even the cost of living in the area. Does anyone know about Ontario Canada? What the comparison to cost of living ect.. Or atleast a site I can go on. I thought for sure I would get so many replies.

Have you used the city info pages here at city-data.com yet? They contain lots of info on things like nearest cities, housing costs, crime, demographics, etc. It might answer some questions also.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Arvin-California.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Bakers...alifornia.html

[CA central coast]

I did wonder about the commute down to Arvin during the winter when I mentioned Tehachapi. I honestly have no clue about that, so I'd be curious myself. And maybe california5 can answer this. Does Tehachapi have have all the stores? Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Costco etc. , a few chain grocery stores? What's the hospital like? just thinking. I may want to look into Tehachapi as possible retirement spot? are many retirees going up there?

[Franklyn]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

I may want to look into Tehachapi as possible retirement spot? are many retirees going up there?

It is a great retirement home location, imo. Especially out-of-town a ways. And there are some newer small subs in close, too. But last I heard no Costco, etc. It's a great area and the weather - even with a little snow - is great. Check it out, by all means. Gov't services used to be a little spotty, but that might have improved recently.

[california5]

Highway 58 does close on occasion in the winter due to snow/ice, usually not too often though.
Tehachapi weather is great, not too hot in the summer and a bit of snow in the winter. We have Home Depot, K-mart and a Super Wal-mart is supposed to be coming soon. Walgreen's, Rite Aide, Starbucks and Coldstone, as well as Albertsons and Save-mart.
There are a good amount of retirees moving up, both of my neighbors moved up here from the LA area to retire.
As for the hospital, I have no idea.

[SLOnative]

Don't believe what anyone from rival cities in the central valley tell you about Bakersfield. Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield are all very livable cities. Most of the coastal properties in San Luis Obispo County have been owned by residents of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties since horse and buggies first travelled to the coast to escape the summer heat.

I am a native of the central coast and have many friends who live in those three counties to the east. I suggest you drive in from Hwy 5 to the southwest section of Bakersfield where new housing has sprung up west of the Stockdale County Club. Across the street is a new outdoor shopping center anchored by a large movie theater complex and surrounded by shopping a nice restaurants.

I know of a NFL Pro from Stanford who is raising three young boys in this west Bakersfield area. Both he and his wife are natives, but they could live anywhere.

The old part of downtown has lost some businesses, but California (St. Blvd.?) seems to be busy. East of downtown, in an old neighborhood is a legendary lunch/dinner spot—Luigi's operated by the daughter (grand daughter) of the original founder of next door Lemucchi's Italian Deli. The walls of Luigi's are decorated with photos of many Bakersfield sports legends, including Frank Gifford, former USC Trojan, NY Giants and ABC Monday Night Football broadcaster.

I'd suggest you stop into Lemucchi's for lunch and ask for the name of a good real estate broker, or just some good neighborhoods and schools. But you better call ahead for reservations or you might have to wait a while for a table.

Beware of stereotypes.

[CA central coast]

Thanks for the info.

[Shaft]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSmiling

Shaft..this forum is fantastic, but you need to do some research on your own as well. Keep in mind that you get more flies with honey...
I wouldn't put the people down that you want the advice from.
That being said, just google Arvin, Ca and a lot of different sites will come up. You can google cost of living, and compare Arvin to where you live now.
Go the old fashioned route and go to the library. You can check out books on California and really learn a lot that way.
Good luck.

What do you mean I didn't put anyone down. If it was taken that way I am sorry. I was just surprised no one esle replied. I appreciate the advice of the ones who did reply. Again sorry.

[Shaft]

Originally Posted by Adriatica

The internet is your friend. You just need to do more exploring. Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Also, this site: Organizations for Visitors & Newcomers - KernLife.com - Living in Kern County (http://www.kernlife.com/home/ViewPost/24441 - broken link) has names, emails, and phone numbers of people you can contact for relocation/newcomer info. You could also contact realtors or perhaps speak to someone at your husband's potential employer.

The search function right here on this site is also extremely helpful.

Thankyou for the sites.