Tell me about Duarte please (Pasadena, Arcadia: for sale, rent, houses)

[Kandy]

We are considering a job related move to the region (Duarte area) and are wondering about the area. I appreciate any info you guys can share.

1) How safe is Duarte?
2) Is this a nice place to live or should another nearby city be considered?
3) Where are the best schools in the area?
4) What is the traffic like?
5) Is there a good variety of shopping and restaurant?
6) Is this a family friendly area?
7) How would the commute be to Duarte from somewhere like Glendora?

Thank you,
~K~

[ZenMaster2008]

Originally Posted by Kandy

We are considering a job related move to the region (Duarte area) and are wondering about the area. I appreciate any info you guys can share.

1) How safe is Duarte?
2) Is this a nice place to live or should another nearby city be considered?
3) Where are the best schools in the area?
4) What is the traffic like?
5) Is there a good variety of shopping and restaurant?
6) Is this a family friendly area?
7) How would the commute be to Duarte from somewhere like Glendora?

Thank you,
~K~

I really don't know too much about Duarte but northern Duarte looks nice. In the towns of Monrovia, Azusa, Glendora, Duarte, I've found that North is better.

It's about a 5 minute drive on the freeway to Glendora with no traffic.
Traffic on the 210 is bad going west in the morning and bad going east in the afternoon so if you lived west in Pasadena or something you'd have a reverse commute.

If I worked in Duarte, I'd choose Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Glendora or Monrovia. All towns and have good and bad parts though.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ZenMaster2008

I really don't know too much about Duarte but northern Duarte looks nice. In the towns of Monrovia, Azusa, Glendora, Duarte, I've found that North is better.

It's about a 5 minute drive on the freeway to Glendora with no traffic.
Traffic on the 210 is bad going west in the morning and bad going east in the afternoon so if you lived west in Pasadena or something you'd have a reverse commute.

If I worked in Duarte, I'd choose Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Glendora or Monrovia. All towns and have good and bad parts though.

You probably would not want to live in Duarte, but the surrounding cities and communities are quite nice. Depending on your income and housing budget you would want to live in ARcadia, for schools, followed by Glendora as long as you are certain the home you buy or rent is truely in Glendora Schools. Monrovia isn't bad. I don't know much anymore about AZUSA. Like Zen said, regardless of what city, stay as far north as possible. All the surrounding towns are very family friendly, mostly good schools, good shopping and lots of kids sports programs.

Nita

[Kandy]

What is a reasonable budget for a nice 4 bed, 3 bath home in a good neighborhood 2400-3200 sf in Arcadia or Glendora? Give it to me straight. (I am half through a bottle of wine so I can take it).

I currently live in a newer beautiful golf course community home that is nearly 5000 sf. (Texas) So I know we would need to take a step back...but just how big of a step?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Kandy

What is a reasonable budget for a nice 4 bed, 3 bath home in a good neighborhood 2400-3200 sf in Arcadia or Glendora? Give it to me straight. (I am half through a bottle of wine so I can take it).

I currently live in a newer beautiful golf course community home that is nearly 5000 sf. (Texas) So I know we would need to take a step back...but just how big of a step?

Well, look at it this way, you will get your wine cheap in CA, you can go to Trader Joes. Either buy Two buck Chuck or we like Raymond Hill. There are lots of others to choose from I am surprised Trader Joes doesn't have it in a box yet. I don't know where you live in Texas, but your biggest problem is going to be sq ft. Ca houses are not big like Texas...

Now, go finish the wine botter before someone gives you the bad news.

Nita

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Well, look at it this way, you will get your wine cheap in CA, you can go to Trader Joes. Either buy Two buck Chuck or we like Raymond Hill....

LOL, nmnita. Since you mentioned Duarte, what about Bradbury? It's north of there and much nicer (and safer) than Duarte. Avoid Azusa; it's just not that safe anymore and its schools rank poorly. It also has a gang problem. Arcadia's home prices will be higher than Glendora's; the further you are from downtown L.A. and/or the west side, the less expensive the housing is. I'm afraid that no matter where you buy, you're correct that you'll be in for a shock, having come from Texas. But at least you're being realistic.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

LOL, nmnita. Since you mentioned Duarte, what about Bradbury? It's north of there and much nicer (and safer) than Duarte. Avoid Azusa; it's just not that safe anymore and its schools rank poorly. It also has a gang problem. Arcadia's home prices will be higher than Glendora's; the further you are from downtown L.A. and/or the west side, the less expensive the housing is. I'm afraid that no matter where you buy, you're correct that you'll be in for a shock, having come from Texas. But at least you're being realistic.

Actually Azusa really has never been all that great, but many years ago (50s) it shared the schoold district with Glendora. Boy am I dating myself. Yes, I thought about Brandbury, but it is really, really pricey and pron to fires.

Nita

[Kandy]

I saw a lovely home for sale in Bradbury. It is currently owned by a prince. Only $17 million. The prince is the owner of the race horse "War Emblem", winner of the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Wow. Just a touch out of our price range (as is every home in Bradbury) yikes!

However, I do like Glendora and Monrovia. I just don't get how "regular" people can afford to live in much of CA. Seriously. How?? Maybe the wages are so high that it's a non-issue. But I have to think that home ownership in a decent neighborhood is out of reach for a good chunk of the population.

Thanks for the feedback!
~K~

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Kandy

I saw a lovely home for sale in Bradbury. It is currently owned by a prince. Only $17 million. The prince is the owner of the race horse "War Emblem", winner of the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Wow. Just a touch out of our price range (as is every home in Bradbury) yikes!

However, I do like Glendora and Monrovia. I just don't get how "regular" people can afford to live in much of CA. Seriously. How?? Maybe the wages are so high that it's a non-issue. But I have to think that home ownership in a decent neighborhood is out of reach for a good chunk of the population.

Thanks for the feedback!
~K~

Kandy, you are right, unless people have purchased many years ago or have sold something in Ca it is tough to buy there. This is one of the problems with Ca, but rents are out of sight as well. People living in Ca, that have been there more than 10 years do not understand this.

One of the reasons so many leave Ca when they reach retirement age: they can take the profits from their property, buy elsewhere and live quite comfortably for many years.

Nita

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Kandy

Wow. Just a touch out of our price range (as is every home in Bradbury) yikes!

I didn't realize Bradbury had become so expensive. There's also a non-gated part of the city. I just looked up this link and it appears that there's not much available under $750,000. Welcome to the City of Bradbury

I just don't get how "regular" people can afford to live in much of CA. Seriously. How?? Maybe the wages are so high that it's a non-issue.

The wages are definitely not that high, but nita is right in that most of us bought a long time ago when prices were not only much lower, but more in proportion to one's salary.