San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, Burbank, Woodland: low income, for sale, real estate)

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by Oceanaddict

Thank you so much for this information.
I really appreciate it. I still have yet to find some good photos of the surrounding areas.. If you have the opportunity and can paste some photos of the surrounding areas, more of the country setting areas with neighborhoods that would be well appreciated.

Some parts of Sylmar are still somewhat rural, or at least as rural as they can be while being so close to the city. There are also other rural areas nearby, such as parts of Lakeview Terrace and Shadow Hills. I'm not sure if this is what you meant by a country setting, but it is horse country, and the homes are on larger lots in some of these areas. You really have to look around at the areas you are considering, because they can vary greatly just from one block to another. As a general rule, if you are above Foothill Blvd., the homes and neighborhoods are nicer, but this isn't always the case.

Some areas that you might want to consider are along Foothill Blvd., within one or two blocks, and north of Roxford St. There are some nice homes in this area, but also a few run down areas, so you have to be careful where you end up. Another nice area is along Osborne St., north of Foothill Blvd. This is pretty much all horse property, and there are several ranches in the area. Again, there are some parts that aren't too great, so you've got to look at the places you're considering.

If I were going to move into that area, one place I would consider is the Stetson Ranch mobile home community. It is just north of the 210 freeway, where Glenoaks Blvd. ends at Foothill. It is a very well kept park, and backs up against the mountains. It is gate guarded, too, so I would think it to be somewhat safer than the surrounding areas.

Anyway, there's a few things to think about. Ask away with any other questions you may have.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Here you go..

Sylmar HS (From my personal collection of photographs!) A school sign with graffiti does not lie about the quality of people in this area.
p.s. Don't live in Sylmar! Go live west of 405 and north of the 118.

[Hungry For Cheese]

yea pretty accurate with the pic. graffitti everywhere. People that live here are real sad. They trash their 'hoods.

[MG1]

Anywhere south of the 101 is the nicer areas, and mostly without the heavy crime and graffiti. Anything north of the 101 can be the 'hood and it doesn't end being the 'hood until the 118 or so.

[susie66n]

I have lived in Woodland Hills all of my life. It is in the west end of the valley. It is getting so crowded here. The freeway going east to L.A is bumper to bumper almost any time of day. It gets very HOT here during the summer. The San Fernando Valley is getting very expensive to live in. Sylmar is going to be cheaper but mostly Hispanic. The gangs are not in just one area, they are in the west end too. I raised my daughter here and she is currently living in the Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks and she will never move back to the valley. I am considering moving when I retire it seem that from L.A to the San Fernando Valley is just one big city. I am looking for cheaper and more rural.

[vlance1]

Have lived in the SFV for forty years and Woodland Hills for the last ten years. You are correct, the area is so crowded. Even worse with the expansion of the Topanga Mall, snd there is rumors a convention center may be built in the area.

Originally Posted by susie66n

I have lived in Woodland Hills all of my life. It is in the west end of the valley. It is getting so crowded here. The freeway going east to L.A is bumper to bumper almost any time of day. It gets very HOT here during the summer. The San Fernando Valley is getting very expensive to live in. Sylmar is going to be cheaper but mostly Hispanic. The gangs are not in just one area, they are in the west end too. I raised my daughter here and she is currently living in the Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks and she will never move back to the valley. I am considering moving when I retire it seem that from L.A to the San Fernando Valley is just one big city. I am looking for cheaper and more rural.

[saimamom]

My husband, kids and I may also be moving to the SF Valley area. He has a possible job at Olive View County Hospital in Sylmar. We're currently in Santa Monica and I've never been past Glendale/Burbank. We're looking for a good school area. We've heard La Crescenta and La Canada as well as South Pasadena are good for schools and safety. I don't think the drive should be horrible from Olive View for these areas. Our plan is to rent for a year and save up for a house. Does anyone know if these areas have rental properties or mostly just homes? I've checked craigslist but found very few rentals.

[Keithns]

Originally Posted by susie66n

I have lived in Woodland Hills all of my life. It is in the west end of the valley. It is getting so crowded here. The freeway going east to L.A is bumper to bumper almost any time of day. It gets very HOT here during the summer. The San Fernando Valley is getting very expensive to live in. Sylmar is going to be cheaper but mostly Hispanic. The gangs are not in just one area, they are in the west end too. I raised my daughter here and she is currently living in the Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks and she will never move back to the valley. I am considering moving when I retire it seem that from L.A to the San Fernando Valley is just one big city. I am looking for cheaper and more rural.

I grew up in N.E. Los Angeles and South Pasadena in the 1950s & 1960s. It was always common knowledge among all of us that the San Fernando Valley wasn't even a place we wanted to visit much less live in. Too damn hot there.
Once I was driving up the 405 to visit a friend in Mission Hills in the valley. Back home in Redondo close to the beach that day it was in the mid 70s. When I reached the top of the Sepulveda Pass, it was 95 degrees. By the time I reached Mission Hills (N.E. of the 405 & 118), it was 114 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. Didn't visit her again. Later on, she moved to Phoenix and got married. Had neighbors in Redondo who had just moved from Phoenix. They said that in their last month in Phoenix was 130 everyday. Hard to believe but I know it gets really hot there. Might as well live on the Moon if you need that much life support.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/weather/a/averagetemps.htm

[trichards777]

One way to think about the valley is that it's a big bowl, and sh** rolls down hill. The areas west of sylmar starting with Granada Hills and going over to Chatsworth are still pretty nice (Porter Ranch as a whole new community.) Homes in these areas will start at $600 ($800 in new Porter Ranch.) North of Sylmar you'll get the Santa Clarita Valley. The West end (Valencia/ Stevenson Ranch) is better than the east (Canyon Country/ Newhall). you can also consider going east to La Canada and the areas surrounding. The 210 fwy is quite fast in the morning, so your communte from those areas will be quite good even though they are farther. Sylmar, Arleta, Pacoima, Lake View Terrace, etc are quite run down for the most part. However, if you are into "country" or want horse property, look to the area up Little Tujunga Canyon.

[SandyCo]

Generally speaking, the "bowl" comment was correct. Communities in the hills are usually better than the ones below. There are exceptions, though - Woodland Hills, Chatsworth, just to name a couple. I haven't spent a lot of time in Sylmar, but it seems that the area north of the freeway is much better than anything south. But if you're looking for good schools, etc., then please look in La Crescenta or La Canada.