Lease/Purchase homes in the Vandenberg AFB area (Santa Barbara, Lompoc: credit, loan)

[Oceanaddict]

I was wondering about all of the lease/purchase and rent to own houses that are listed in the local papers there ( NEAR VANDENBERG AFB).. Are these homes in a bad area or are they in a decent area and this is the way Californians sell houses there.. I know from looking at that areas it is near impossiable to find any 3-4 beds with any land to speak of for under $300,000
I cant even say that I have except for the lease/ purchase and rent/own homes listed in the papers.
How do people in the area that make an average wage do it..There are million $ homes there.. and the houses that arent that high are still high enough. Does everyone in Central Cali have GREAT credit so they can get that type of loan even without the salary to commense with it? We really dont want to turn down a transfer to that area. We have loved everything we have seen online about it. We have really enjoyed seeing how many people are so eager to tell us about the area. That sends a good sign about any location. I just am not certain about the cost of living right now. If you could tell me what the secrets are to those who make a average salary and still are able to have thier own little vineyard so to speak.. then pleaseeee let me know.

We will be making no less then $110K+ ... is this going to be enough for that area?
Thank you

[tedsol00]

Any particular reason for wanting to move to Lompoke? Other than cheaper housing? Has Vandenburg and state prison and AG as main employment. Beach closed for portions of the year for bird protection. High immigrant population and crime/gangs. Frequently foggy with cool breezes. It's not the worst place to live, its got a Walmart and Home Depoit, but far fram the best. I would rent before any purchase.

Semi depressed area with Vandenberg contimually losing employment. Lots of empty newer houses going at discounted prices. Good value now if this is where you want to settle. Obviously you won't be able to get out (sell) easily, for the near future anyway.

[Oceanaddict]

Actually work wise it is with a DOD company on base. I absulutely love the scenic value of the surrounding areas. I have been doing a lot of research on the Lompoc area however and have choosen to go with other little towns outside the base. Now I just have to make a choice as to which one. Los Alomos looks nice,but so does Buellton, California .

As far as the beach is concerned it would be my kids that would want the swimming half of that more then I. I think that with that they can drive themselves to a swimmable beach area.

My largest concern I suppose would be more along the line of being able to find something suitable for my family housing wise.
We would like a 3-4 bed house with some land or at the very least a X-lg back yard as we do have pets as well.
I am not sure we are going to get what we want that way right off the bat. We also are coming from the best of credit, which is why we are inquiring about the lease/purchase options that are in that area. This would allow us to put our money toward something we could own. We just dont want to get swinddeled that way. Do you know why they have some many of these lease/purchase options open? Is it because of the crime rate and gang issues in that area?
Would it be cheaper to buy land and then build while living out of a mobile home on site?
I grew up on the outskirt of Detroit so the crime and gang related issues arent a majoir concern to me.. all though I would prefer them not to be there at all. I have been there done that so to say... I just would like to be in a better neighborhood for my kids to be able to ride thier bikes down the sidewalk and walk down it safely without the threat of being kidnapped or vandelized somehow. From what some of the other surrounding towns look like, that should be something they could do in one of those...
I hope.

[CentralCoastAdvisor]

Originally Posted by Rightpath

Actually work wise it is with a DOD company on base. I absulutely love the scenic value of the surrounding areas. I have been doing a lot of research on the Lompoc area however and have choosen to go with other little towns outside the base. Now I just have to make a choice as to which one. Los Alomos looks nice,but so does Buellton, California .

As far as the beach is concerned it would be my kids that would want the swimming half of that more then I. I think that with that they can drive themselves to a swimmable beach area.

My largest concern I suppose would be more along the line of being able to find something suitable for my family housing wise.
We would like a 3-4 bed house with some land or at the very least a X-lg back yard as we do have pets as well.
I am not sure we are going to get what we want that way right off the bat. We also are coming from the best of credit, which is why we are inquiring about the lease/purchase options that are in that area. This would allow us to put our money toward something we could own. We just dont want to get swinddeled that way. Do you know why they have some many of these lease/purchase options open? Is it because of the crime rate and gang issues in that area?
Would it be cheaper to buy land and then build while living out of a mobile home on site?
I grew up on the outskirt of Detroit so the crime and gang related issues arent a majoir concern to me.. all though I would prefer them not to be there at all. I have been there done that so to say... I just would like to be in a better neighborhood for my kids to be able to ride thier bikes down the sidewalk and walk down it safely without the threat of being kidnapped or vandelized somehow. From what some of the other surrounding towns look like, that should be something they could do in one of those...
I hope.

Hello Again Rightpath,
I still believe Orcutt is going to be better than Los Alamos or Buelton. If you talk to most of the Base employees the large majority ofthem live in Orcutt/SM. There are not a whole lot of Admenities in Los Alamos/Buelton and the beaches are so much nicer in the 5 cities, 17 mi north of Orcutt than they are off the 101 down by Gaviota and Surf beach is not good for a nice little swim unless your kids really like being caught in really large rip tides. I'm super familiar with te Orcutt homes for sale and know that with your salary and credit a nice 3-4 bedroom home will be a cinch to find on a good sized lot in a nice upper class, safe area. The gangs do not run rampet here no more than they do anywhere, and this part of the coast is very safe for the most part. I see women jogging alone or walking thier dogs all over the place. Lots of nice trails and tons of things to do. You won't be able to buy land here and build on it for less than 1 mil and that is a pretty conservative estimate. Lease options? I'm not aware of this place being over inflated with those. Of course it's an option if you search it out but if you have a nice home and it's in a great area, and there are still many buyers looking to obtain those types of homes, then a lease option doesnt really make a whole lot of sense. Anyways like with any town, you need to know the right grids in which to look, so if your interested I can help you with that.

[greatbasinguide]

Rightpath. No one has mentioned Casmalia, yet. It is a small community just on the north boundary of the base. The homes would be older, one of the greatest steakhouses in the world is located there. Also, there is a new subdivision, well sorta new, on West Main just west of Guadalupe. The homes there may be more affordable. The Nipomo Mesa used to be hillbilly heaven and sadly has been upscaled, but, there are cheesy mobile home dealers in Nipomo and those homes would only go on cheap (relatively) land. You might find affordable land there. If you want to spend some money, but have a great ranchette in a beautiful canyon, let me know and I will PM you with the location.

[Greenchili]

Is NOT that bad. Its a pretty safe town to live in. We just sold our
house yesterday! Not because we hate Lompoc, but because we
miss the southwest(New Mexico) and plan to move back that way.
Lompoc is ok, its not paradise but ok. Actually Vandenberg Villiage
is a bit warmer even tho its only 10 min down the road. Check out
the area there. Dont go on what others say, check it out yourself. And
dont always take someone from Santa Barbaras opinion on the area.

Deb

[CentralCoastAdvisor]

Originally Posted by Greenchili

Dont go on what others say, check it out yourself. And dont always take someone from Santa Barbaras opinion on the area.

Deb

Wow Greenchili...Who is from Santa Barbara? Not anyone who has posted in this thread...
Oh, and FYI, this entire sight is about finding out as much info as possible on an area your considering from people who actually live/work there...No, I don't live in Lompoc but work and live near there and know for a family loking for a better life, Lompoc is one of the lowest towns on the list around here to make that dream come true. Are you really going to disagree with that?
And by the way, I live in Nipomo. You know, the town that is now sadly upscale? That doesnt really make sense in my opinion Great Basin Guide. I live here and I don't quite understand why I'm I supposed to be sad about the area getting nicer and appreciating? Anywho GBG, you can't buy land here in Nipomo less than $250k for 1/4 of an acre. Even with a little cheesy mobile on it, it wouldnt really pan out for a family.
Which does'nt really sound like what Rightpath is looking for anyway. Believe it or not, there is a lot more here than land with mobiles. Anyway it is quite a bit farther to Lompoc from Nipomo.

Casmalia has the Hitching Post (not the best steak on the coast but quite the press from Sideways) and that is all. There is one home for sale there in the tiny almost non existant town and a postoffice. The home is a modular and like the town, does not suit a lot of poeple's interests and convienences...

Hope this helps...

[CentralCoastAdvisor]

My Bad Green Chili, I guess Tedso100 is from SB. Friends?

[greatbasinguide]

Second the Casmalia Hitching Post is not in Sideways, that is the brother's place out in Buelton, which reports state, is not as good. You will notice that your statement said it was not the best, but my statement said only that it was one of the best.

Third, where are the cheesy Fleetwoods sold in Nipomo being placed if not on inexpensive land? I should think one would not put a $10 dollar saddle on a $100 horse.

[CentralCoastAdvisor]

Originally Posted by greatbasinguide

The Casmalia Hitching Post is not in Sideways, that is the brother's place out in Buelton, which reports state, is not as good. You will notice that your statement said it was not the best, but my statement said only that it was one of the best.

Third, where are the cheesy Fleetwoods sold in Nipomo being placed if not on inexpensive land? I should think one would not put a $10 dollar saddle on a $100 horse.

And as far as the Hitching Post, the two are very intertwined and both did get quite a bit busier from being in the movie, at least that was what the local press was recording about sales going up at both locations. And again, most everyone I've talked to the last few years about Casmalia who are already living in surrounding areas would'nt consider living there.

And how should I know where all the mobile consumers are buying and placing their mobiles? I'm simply telling you that Nipomo has more to offer people than cheap land (depends on your definition of cheap $250k or more for a track sized lot) and cheesy mobiles. Last time I checked mobile home parks are in practically every town in this great state of Cali.

And Lastly, I'm not pretending to know a great amount of wisdom about all the hundreds of towns and cities here in California. I just chime in on posts that fit the criteria of the central coast because that is what I know. Just a little food for thought. Have a good day.