Moving to Fresno? (Military Family) (Los Angeles, Sacramento: real estate, 2009, condo)

[asyong]

I'm in the Navy and contemplating on moving from WA state to Fresno and maybe retire there. Housing costs and the general atmosphere attracted me and my family (Figgarden & Clovis areas). I'm interested in hearing any other feedback as to post-military employment in the local area and also raising a 9-yr old beautiful daughter . Thanks in advance!!

[FresnoFacts]

There are several threads with some good info already, so I'll just hit a few general points.

Both Clovis and Fig Garden are nice neighborhoods. Also north Fresno (north of Herndon and east of Blackstone) would give you some good schools also.

There are indicators that housing in Fresno/Clovis has neared the bottom of the cycle and may start seeing prices rise. Hopefully that is true.

Although unemployment rates are high right now, much of that is among low skill jobs or construction. If you have a specific skill set, I can let let you know how jobs are in that field.

Lemoore NAS is only about 1 hour south, so you could take advantage of that. Maybe even look into employment with companies with military contracts there. Some like ex-military personnel since they know the system.

I'm sure you've heard that Fresno does not have good air quality. But it has been improving dramatically. It now is better than many of the northern and eastern Los Angeles suburbs.

Fresno crime hit a 45 year low last year while Clovis ranks as one of the safest cities in California.

[rkb0305]

If any of you have asthma or other breathing issues, you won't want to move to Fresno. FresnoFacts is always quick to say that the air quality is improving. Even so it is still one of the worst in the nation. check airnow.gov for the actual numbers. Summers are HOT and dry. winters are mild but foggy and damp. spring and fall are pleasant but short. Depending on your budget, and if you want an older or newer house, the Old Fig, Old Fresno High, Van Ness Extension/Bullard High, and NE Fresno (Clovis Unified) are all nice areas. Clovis schools are generally thought to be better than Fresno. A lot of new growth is in Central Unified. I'm not sure how their schools compare.

[Majin]

Originally Posted by asyong

Moving to Fresno

My Condolences.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Clovis is a pleasant place. Probably a good time to get a foot in the door, real estate wise.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Majin

My Condolences.

lol

[FresnoFacts]

Still not great air quality but it is drastically improving. Nothing incorrect with what I say.

Yes there are places with both better and worse air quality in California. I'll post the air quality numbers here for Fresno and some other cities.

My source is the California Air Resources Board numbers for individual air quality monitors, the link shows historical info (Fresno shows 20 years of data some cities show fewer years if the monitors are newer).

These are the number of days that ozone levels exceeded the federal 8 hour standard over the last 5 years (Same standard as the EPA at airnow.gov):
Fresno (measured at Sierra Sky Park) - 5 year annual average = 35 days over federal standard (2008 - 39 days; 2007 - 18; 2006 - 54; 2005 - 37; 2004 - 30).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display.php?param=OZONE_ppm&year=2009&report=SITEM YR&site=2844&db=aqd
FYI, Fresno averaged over 120 days of bad air annually from 2000 to 2002 and averaged over 60 days per year from 1995 to 1999 (as I said dramatic improvement in the past decade).

Santa Clarita (Magic Mountain area north of Los Angeles) - 5 year average = 61 days annually over standard (2008 - 60 days; 2007 - 44; 2006 - 60; 2005 - 69; 2004 - 75).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display...te=3502&db=aqd
Simi Valley (east of Ventura) - 5 year average = 29 days annually over standard (2008 - 27 days; 2007 - 19 days; 2006 - 30 days; 2005 - 35 days; 2004 - 35 days).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display...te=2880&db=aqd
Palm Springs - 5 year average = 57 days annually over standard (2008 - 51 days; 2007 - 58; 2006 - 61; 2005 - 61; 2004 - 53).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display...te=2199&db=aqd
Folsom (east of Sacramento) - 5 year average = 33 days annually over standard (2008 - 50 days; 2007 - 21; 2006 - 42; 2005 - 30; 2004 - 23).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display...te=3187&db=aqd
Grass Valley (northeast of Sacramento) - 5 year average = 41 days annually over standard (2008 - 24 days; 2007 - 36; 2006 - 60; 2005 - 42; 2004 - 42).
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqmis2/display...te=3126&db=aqd

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation ranks the 100 largest metro areas from worse to best for Asthma sufferers, on the 2009 list Fresno ranks #35. Their info can be reviewed at:
http://www.asthmacapitals.com/

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Still not great air quality but it is drastically improving. Nothing incorrect with what I say.

Didn't say you were incorrect. I just said, even if it is improving, it is still bad. Nothing incorrect about that, either.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

Didn't say you were incorrect. I just said, even if it is improving, it is still bad. Nothing incorrect about that, either.

And I also said that the air quality is not good, so I didn't understand the personal criticism of my post. If we agree that both things are true, there should have been no need for a dig at me.

I just feel that it is important to include trends not just past history or a single year. Places change, up and down.

As you can see I also have no problem posting the actual numbers for Fresno along with actual data on other cities to compare it with for context. And I also would have no problem posting other city's info where available also.

I prefer the ARB data by monitor, or individual monitor info from other states. The problem with airnow.gov is that it looks at an entire county, and counties like Fresno are bigger than some eastern states.

So the air can be good in the city on a day but if a monitor in the county miles away has a violation, airnow counts it against the entire county AND the city.

Same problem with areas like LA County. In the eyes of airnow.gov beach areas like Malibu get tainted by air violations elsewhere in that county in some place like Burbank.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

If any of you have asthma or other breathing issues, you won't want to move to Fresno. FresnoFacts is always quick to say that the air quality is improving. Even so it is still one of the worst in the nation. check airnow.gov for the actual numbers.

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

And I also said that the air quality is not good, so I didn't understand the personal criticism of my post. If we agree that both things are true, there should have been no need for a dig at me.

My quote above is a fact. You ARE always quick to point out that Fresno's air is improving. You didn't need to take it personally.