Looking at Compton (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland: high crime, houses, to buy)

[nmnita]

one thing we are all overlooking the op isn't even planning to think about re-locating for at least a couple of years, alot, including the housing market might be very different by then. I would bet it will be..

Nita

[MtnSurfer]

Yes,

The market will change that is for sure - most likely down and possibly more stable.

However if he asks the same question again in two years he will probably get a similar response about the area. But a lot can happen in two years especially if he does more research on the varous options available.

Either way Renting in Compton before buying there will still be a better way to go, especially for those coming from out of the area.

[Sassberto]

Isn't Hawthorne, Lynwood or other areas around Compton better and basically about the same in terms of cost?

[Burbankhotty]

Originally Posted by Slig

Hmm, yeah my ignorance about how other cities are arranged would stem from living the vast majority of my life in the Twin Cities. My current neighborhood is approximately 35% white, 30% black, 30% Hispanic and the other 5% is Asian and Native American. All of Minneapolis is mixed like this. We don't have all black or all Hispanic neighborhoods like other cities so it is difficult for me to imagine. We are an interracial couple and I'm fluent in Spanish and diversity is important to us. I guess it might be a little strange to be one of the only white guys in city of 100,000 people, although I've done it before (spent a year in Mexico).

Crime in Minneapolis is rarely random, it's almost always domestic or gang on gang violence. Really the only thing I have to worry about here is getting the windows bashed in on my car or leaving something out in my yard to get snatched, etc. My part of town is full of sex offenders too, they're everywhere, not much you can do about it, too stressful to spend all day worrying about it. Bottom line is as long as I stay out of other people's business and take basic precautions, people are going to stay out of mine. That being said, from what I understand Compton and some of the rougher areas in Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles may have a little bit higher crime than my south Minneapolis neighborhood, but from my estimate it isn't anything that I should be terribly worried about, would this be a fair evaluation?

no, not a fair assumption. It used to be in LA that you could avoid trouble, you can't anymore....these kids are so full of themselves and with no parental guidance...you make eye contact they think you're looking for a fight...no, honey, people are different here. THey are weak, no respect for life, they'll pop you for farting. Watch our news sometime. Read our papers, when ever I go out of state, I cant believe how boring the news is. Fine if you want a "transitional neighborhood" make it Echo Park, or Atwater, some dump in the valley....atleast be with other families who care about the neighborhood....the old folks cared about Comptom, they're gone now....there is serious race relations at the high schools...the cops are breaking riots a couple times a year at the high schools.
Drive by shootings..if you love your wife, go somewhere else.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by CaliDude1

Slig,

Compton was probably at its worst in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the Compton of "N.W.A." no longer exists. The demographics have changed and the attitudes of the people have changed a great deal. To be clear there are still many spotty areas of the city. There are still gangs in certain parts of the city. There are parts of the city that are more run down than others. However, there are parts that very clean and neat looking. The western side of the city seems to be a little nicer than the eastern side.

If you are looking for affordable housing you will surely find it in Compton. Check out the southwestern portion of the city that borders the city of Carson. There are some decent neighborhoods hidden away over there. Also, the "Farms" section is decent. Years back Compton was home to many small family run farms. Many of those properties still exist on the southern side of the city. It is common to see people riding horses down Greenleaf Avenue from time to time.

You seem to have the intelligence to understand there is more to a city than its hype (be it positive or negative). When you come to L.A. check it out for yourself.

Isn't Aaron Afflalo, former UCLA and current Detroit Pistons Basketball player from the "Farms" area? Also, where are Centennial and Compton High schools located in the city?

Like someone said, Inglewood was a mostly White city until the late 60's like Compton. Then, from the late 60's to up until recently, it was mostly Black. Now, the Hispanic population is about the same, if not slightly more in both Compton and Inglewood. Heck, Inglewood was a KKK hotbed at one time.

I'm sure there are good and bad parts of both cities, which both get a generalized bad rep. I think Lynwood is another similar city, as is Gardena. What about Bellflower too?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Isn't Hawthorne, Lynwood or other areas around Compton better and basically about the same in terms of cost?

may be a little higher in cost, but I would take them anyday over Compton.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Isn't Aaron Afflalo, former UCLA and current Detroit Pistons Basketball player from the "Farms" area? Also, where are Centennial and Compton High schools located in the city?

Like someone said, Inglewood was a mostly White city until the late 60's like Compton. Then, from the late 60's to up until recently, it was mostly Black. Now, the Hispanic population is about the same, if not slightly more in both Compton and Inglewood. Heck, Inglewood was a KKK hotbed at one time.

I'm sure there are good and bad parts of both cities, which both get a generalized bad rep. I think Lynwood is another similar city, as is Gardena. What about Bellflower too?

you are right about Inglewood, blacks were not allowed to walk on the streets after dark unitl the mid to late 60s, eventually it became very black.

As for Centennial High, I had forgotten Centennial high was in Compton, but both schools are almost completely Black. This doesn't mean they are bad or filled with gangs. But I still would not move to Compton. Gardena is a little different. Lynwood and Bellflowr are probably boarderline between the others.

Nita

[2Easy]

Originally Posted by Mike121

One negative of Compton is that the property taxes are comparatively high.

Can't be. Prop 13 limits property tax to 1% everywhere in the state. Higher than that would require a Mello-Roos.

[Slig]

Maybe I should ask this question then, what are the cheapest places to live in the Los Angeles area? I'm not talking about the outskirts either, it hasn't to be a convenient location.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by 2Easy

Can't be. Prop 13 limits property tax to 1% everywhere in the state. Higher than that would require a Mello-Roos.

that's true, but remember you have other taxes even on property.

Nita