Relocating from Saint Paul, MN---where should we live? (Sacramento, Concord: crime, houses)

[krtup]

We are a family of 4 just relocated from Saint Paul, MN where we lived in a beautiful old Victorian in a very walkable neighborhood. We would love to find a similar neighborhood in/around Sacramento. Would you give us some relocation advice based on the following criteria?

1. price range = 200-250K
2. no more than 20-30 minute commute to job (working in Land Park/Curtis Park neighborhood)
3. decent schools (kids ages 1 & 3) so we still have a few years
4. would like 1500 sq ft or more, but would settle for less if the house has character
4. would love to be able to walk to parks, library, grocery store, bank, etc.
5. older homes with mature trees and/or houses with character would be ideal!

[rgb123]

from what I can recall, that can be hard to find in Sacramento -- and in California in general. Everything is a lot newer in California in general, except in a few places.

I'd look into Auburn if I were you. Some of the old mining towns might fit what you want.

[Mossy]

MN is so wonderful. You will be hard pressed to find what you are looking for here in the Valley. Auburn is a great choice and Placerville is lovely. But these are a bit further away from Land Park esp. in traffic.

[krtup]

you are both depressing me! was hoping for some better news What, on my list, would I have to give up in order to live closer to work?

[wburg]

Schools.

[rgb123]

the sort of Victorian type house with mature trees and walkable areas with a vareity of housing is what I'm thinking you will miss. In California a lot of the housing areas all are sort of beige / stucco with red roofs (or something like that, looked red to me) but you can find those older homes just not quite in the neighborhoods like we are used to in the midwest. There might be some in Sacramento but I'm thinking more like Auburn (which is a nice place in my opinion -- what you give up in cozy neighborhood you get back in natural beauty) and there is a quaintness in a lot of those older towns.

[Mossy]

I don't mean to be depressing but we are just telling you what is out here. Have you visited the area? Maybe you should visit if you haven't already and take a look at some of the areas before you move or make a decision to move. I know a few people that have moved from MN and the complaints they have are types of housing (like you described-you want the victorian home. Those types of homes are here but they are very expensive, people mentality and cost of living plus education.

If you want to live closer to Land Park you have to give up the schools and victorian home. 200K-250K you will be lucky to even find a nice fixer up type of home. I am sorry that I can't give you better news.

Auburn is a very nice town with nice people and nice little homes but you still won't find a victorian for 200-250K.

[krtup]

thanks...very interesting...lots to think about. i don't necessarily have my heart set on a victorian, just can't stand the feel of the cookie cutter suburb houses.

So if we didn't worry about schools, would there be a neighborhood more urban & walkable in our price range near Land Park? For instance, in Saint Paul, we couldn't afford to live in the most affluent neighborhoods with the huge Victorians or Tudors, but we found an up & coming neighborhood (Selby/Dale) that was walkable & near everything that suited us well. Is there anything like that? We've heard that Pocket is nice (maybe too expensive for us) as well as Arden/Arcade.

I'm familiar with Roseville/Rocklin which has great schools & larger homes in our price range. But it doesn't appeal to me (too suburban & too far from work). Is there anything in between (not necessarily geographically) Roseville & Land Park that might be a better fit for us?

[Mossy]

Pocket is nice but crime can be iffy....it is close to south sac. Land Park is nice but again expensive. I am familiar with Selby/Dale area of MN and I can tell you with certain you aren't going to find an area like that in Sacramento. I don't know much about Arden/Arcade so I can't comment on that area.

Roseville is nice but again you are going into the suburbs unless you live in old town Roseville which is nice.

WHen are you moving and have you been to the area?

[krtup]

we're moving to Sac late summer/early fall...been in Concord, CA for a year now waiting to transfer up to Sac. we have family out here (Chico), hence the reason for the move, as well as a better job.

we haven't started looking yet...kind of overwhelming, but we have been to Sac on multiple occasions. i actually lived in citrus heights when I was a little girl, but was too young to really remember much. we own investment property in Saint Paul (4-plex) so we're keeping our price range kind of low so as not to overextend ourselves.

i'm sure we'll have to give up something...just not sure what yet