Anyone know about Bella Vista or rural communities outside Redding? (Sacramento: real estate market, new home)

[peony]

I'm looking into areas north or near Redding which are rural or semi-rural but have access to the city year round within about an hour? (My first choice, Siskiyou, is out.) Wouldn't mind being in a community that leans Democratic. I'm a massage therapist, definitely "green." Mt. Shasta would be great except I'm not into much snow. Any suggestions?

[ironmountainranch]

Originally Posted by peony

I'm looking into areas north or near Redding which are rural or semi-rural but have access to the city year round within about an hour? (My first choice, Siskiyou, is out.) Wouldn't mind being in a community that leans Democratic. I'm a massage therapist, definitely "green." Mt. Shasta would be great except I'm not into much snow. Any suggestions?

Hi,

Siskiyou is VERY Republican (our family owns a 700 acre beef/hay operation there in Fort Jones.) And it is extremely poor....not much work for someone in your field, I wouldn't think. Same will largely be true of all the small towns off the 5 between Redding and Yreka.

We live on 125 acres, surrounded by 5,000 acres of BLM and we are only 7 miles from downtown Redding. Bella Vista/Palo Cedro/Anderson and the east side of I-5 are charming rural....and pretty conservative.

We are on the west side of I-5, just off 299 west which is a scenic highway that will take you out to Eureka. You're not likely to find a democratic leaning town north of Sacramento that isn't on the coast. BUT moving here from the Bay area a year ago (and having gotten my education at Berkeley) I still feel very comfortable here. People are more conservative, BUT this area has a strong art community and is environmentally conscious.

I know this is not within the geographic parameters you stated, but Grass Valley/Nevada City is really charming and more liberal, from what I understand. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend (in their late 20's) are just now moving there from Santa Cruz and they love it.

Though more conservative than other places in the state, I find Redding to be very tolerant (has a gay bar downtown even That is what was most important to me....I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs or lifestyle choices, I just want them to also respect mine (I am a democrat and I run an organic ranch, by the way.)

Hope this helps....good luck!

[peony]

Originally Posted by ironmountainranch

Hi,

You're not likely to find a democratic leaning town north of Sacramento that isn't on the coast.

I know this is not within the geographic parameters you stated, but Grass Valley/Nevada City is really charming and more liberal, from what I understand. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend (in their late 20's) are just now moving there from Santa Cruz and they love it.

Hi ironmountainranch, I admire your live and let live way of mind. I read somewhere that a majority in Yreka voted for Kerry in '04. Maybe that was not accurate info, but it was one of the things that got me excited about the area.

As for Grass Valley/Nevada City, I lived in the area for five years until last year. It's true these towns as well as North San Juan are more liberal, but Nevada County as a whole is predominantly Republican. Rep. Doolittle is under investigation. Also, people are flocking there from Southern CA and the Bay area. Siskiyou has one person per seven miles, lots of space, scenic beauty, Mt. Shasta, but not practical unless as holycowgirl says you're cashing out from a place like Santa Barbara and buying in a real estate market that isn't inflated like in Siskiyou. Hope it stays wild and pristine! I'll admire from afar.

[hoddys2]

I know a little late but thought I'd chime in anyway...even though Grass Valley and Nevada City may be a little more Republican it is still in California and is more of a mild republican vibe rather than the Texan definition of Republican. I would imagine Nevada City to be more left thinking than GV in that it has a real creative feel to the city. I grew up there and loved it! If there were jobs there I would move back.

Have you considered Chico (not Chino, notice the "c" ) it's a great little college town and has a really nice small town feel to it.

[peony]

Originally Posted by hoddys2

I know a little late but thought I'd chime in anyway...even though Grass Valley and Nevada City may be a little more Republican it is still in California and is more of a mild republican vibe rather than the Texan definition of Republican. I would imagine Nevada City to be more left thinking than GV in that it has a real creative feel to the city. I grew up there and loved it! If there were jobs there I would move back.

Have you considered Chico (not Chino, notice the "c" ) it's a great little college town and has a really nice small town feel to it.

hoddys2, Nevada City is more progressive. I was talking about the County as a whole as being more Republican. As for Chico, your read on this is right on the money. I just got back from the area looking for housing and look forward to moving up in June!

[SallySue]

Check out Williams a small town off of hwy 5. Affordable new homes close to everything!!

[notmeofficer]

Look at Shingletown..30 miles east of redding on 44.. snow country higher up.. or Weaverville 30 miles west of redding.. snow country higher up

You can still access Redding most of the year easily.. Weaverville would also allow a day trip to the ocean and Eureka... It has a small town feel and some alternative thinking.. way cooler in the summer.. some snow in the winter but not bad unless you go out far and up higher

Water will be your defining issue in both places.. as it would be in any rural area up here... water is gold.. politics is transitory

Bella Vita used to be oakie.. still is to my taste.. but now its expensive and oakie... deals can still be had but they are getting harder to find.. there are currently 2000 homes listed in the mls... it used to be that averaged about 1200 so its still a buyers market... BUT some stuff is still expensive...

my place.. 27 very nice acres,, next to the lake,, killer shop(s).. small modular,, nice but still a modular..end of the road protected privacy.. 15 minutes to town.. 8 inch water line and fire hydrant( realistically up here its worth 50k just for this).. 1/2 miles driveway.. 6 years old.. clean condition.. 500k... so that is an example of the range.. if it splits one day it will be worth over a mil or more... but getting there is difficult.. its hard to split land up here because of regs.. proceed cautiously

cam