Buying in Hyde Park? Safety, getting better, etc.? (Highland: crime rates, house)

[woodsart]

Hi, All-

My partner and I are looking at buying our first home in LA. We have been living on the east side for the last two years. We were already priced out of Highland Park and are on the verge of being priced out of any area that is appreciating in NELA. We noticed that we could get a super amazing Craftsman in Hyde Park, in South LA. We can afford about twice the house in Hyde Park as we can in the NELA hills.

I've researched a bit, but I'm getting mixed information and wondering if anyone who lives there or has recently spent time there (beyond sort of driving through) has opinions. Additionally, if you have experience with property values and trends in areas that are improving, any information on that would be helpful as well.

I looked up crime rates, and it seems bad... but mostly property crime and crime along the main arterial streets, not in the neighborhood itself. Still, I'd like some assurance. I do not equate people of color with crime, so I don't care if my neighbors are black or Hispanic. I've noticed some people on the forums seem to think that, and I don't. We are planning to eventually foster-to-adopt and it is likely we will be parents to children of color, so to me it is a good thing if there is diversity. I'm more concerned with real experiences of people who live there than presuming that there are problems simply due to demographics.

We also grew up working class (I grew up working poor), and so I'm looking for a neighborhood where people take pride in their homes, but I don't care if my neighbors are working class. I do care if there is a lot of tagging, trash everywhere, and boarded up buildings... that sort of thing is depressing to live with. But comments on a number of sites from residents indicate that people are proud of their neighborhood and take care of it. Street views look good. There aren't many bars on windows, and I don't see a lot of trash or unkempt yards.

So... thoughts? Experiences? (No stereotypes, please, I know what those are already...)

Thanks!

[Moreau36]

The only things that are issues include the local street gangs around the Crenshaw Bl. area and a few beat up properties, but the neighborhood is conveient to LAX and number of shopping areas within driving distance.

[woodsart]

Anyone know why the burglary rate in Hyde Park is so high? People obviously maintain their homes. We looked at several homes today and they are gorgeous, and people's yards and such are very nice, manicured, and clean.

But the crime maps show a ton of burglaries. Like 5-10 a week. Not totally understanding if there simply isn't enough police patrolling or ???

At any rate, we're heaving a big sigh and probably sticking with the Eastside. It's depressing. The housing stock is excellent, and the people there obviously care about their neighborhood. But we can't deal with the rate of home invasion there. Bummer.