Help a Newbie. Why Are Homes in College Greens Rosemont So Cheap? (Sacramento: rentals, car insurance)

[inpd]

Okay,

I'm looking to buy somewhere near down-town
but down-town is too expensive/gritty and the schools
aren't great.

Everyone recommended Natomas but hardly
anyone recommended College-Greens/Rosemont.

But a quick check on line shows large 2000 sq ft
homes near the American river parkway in good school
districts for about $350K on CG/Rosement area.

So what gives?

I understand the homes are old (1960's) is that it?
Relative to the rest of the market, this area seems underpriced.

Is flooding an issue?
Are the schools not as good as the ranking says they are?
Is it surrounded by bad areas?

I'm kind of stumped. Seems like a great place.
Close to water activities/parks/light-rail.

Thanks!

[NewToCA]

I can give you a limited answer, others will need to expand.

Sacramento has a bit of a problem. The city lacks connecting roads over the American River, nothing exist between Watt and Sunrise, a distance of over 5 miles. Rosemont is south of the river, between the areas of South Sacramento and the old part of Rancho Cordova. Neither is exceptionally pleasant, and the Rosemont area is isolated from access to areas north of the river, Watt and Sunrise are frequently quite congested during the rush hours. Commercial and retail services south of the river are very limited.

[inpd]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

I can give you a limited answer, others will need to expand.

Sacramento has a bit of a problem. The city lacks connecting roads over the American River, nothing exist between Watt and Sunrise, a distance of over 5 miles. Rosemont is south of the river, between the areas of South Sacramento and the old part of Rancho Cordova. Neither is exceptionally pleasant, and the Rosemont area is isolated from access to areas north of the river, Watt and Sunrise are frequently quite congested during the rush hours. Commercial and retail services south of the river are very limited.

Thanks! I drove out there today and your right. I had high hopes for the American
river park but its kind of a slum. Oh well. Keep on looking.

[KidBlue]

I used to live in the Rosemont area. It was nice about 25 years ago but now has lots of rentals, some gang activity, and a lot of property crime. Both of our neighbors had their vehicles stolen from their driveway, we had a bike stolen by just leaving the garage door open long enough to go in the house to get our car keys, and had plants stolen off the front porch (even milk was stolen off the front porch!).

[pba]

Having lived in the Rosemont area I can tell you that the car theft rate is about 100 times that of other areas. My car insurance rate literally dropped by 40% when I moved out of the area. Homeowner's or renter's insurance is more expensive and the police are there ALL the time. It's too bad because it's one of those neighborhoods that are between the downtown and Folsom so it's too bad it just isn't a nice place to live...it would be a great commute for those who work downtown though.

[NewToCA]

I was in Rancho until recently, similar problems.

Life is much better north of the American River, you have better access to services and retail. The main motivation for us was difficulty and distance to all medical services.

[Two_Jacks]

If you are going to pick one of the two please go with College Greens. I am from Da' Mont little nickname aka Rosemont and would never buy a house there. College Greens is way nicer, parks and more access to public transportation if you need it. I don't livein CA anymore and reason being we would had been very limited in buying just in Rosemont or somewhere worse than that. I grew up there and lived there forever it has changed so much from when I was a kid. Of course every area has crime issues but from my own experience and my parent's neighbors we have all had issues with our cars being stolen, windows broken and homes being broken into during the day! My parents home is in one of the nicer areas too. I just think you will have better areas to choose from in College Greens well taken care of homes and as I mentioned more parks and access to the river! Good Luck!
just a note remember that light rail over by CG on Folsom tends to have not the greatest crowd hanging around that area during the day because of the area right there.

[inpd]

Thanks you guys are great. Buying a home in CA is tough because its such a large
investment.

One other question. College Greens sound and looks nice. Are there other parts around
Sac State that are also nice.

I wouldn't mind living in McKinneley park but its damn expensive!

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by inpd

Okay,

I'm looking to buy somewhere near down-town
but down-town is too expensive/gritty and the schools
aren't great.

Everyone recommended Natomas but hardly
anyone recommended College-Greens/Rosemont.


Thanks!

Natomas? I say no thanks.

Id rather live along Arden Wy as it makes it way from Arden Fair Mall to say Fair Oaks Bl. Along Eastern Av somewhere would be ideal.

[mikefarinha]

You can look into Tahoe Park, it's not the greatest neighborhood but it isn't that bad either. Its an older neighborhood where the houses are generally small and the majority of residents are either retired or young couples. It has lots of mature trees that line the streets which give it a very comfortable feeling. My wife and I have lived in West Tahoe Park (9th ave & 50th st) for three years and it has been relatively quite with a few things stolen from our cars.

The biggest problem is its proximity to Oak Park. However most of the problems in Oak Park stay in Oak Park, Sacramento is weired like that, of pockets of nice areas and bad areas intermixed. The most obvious problem that you see are the 'treasure hunters' that show up on trash day.

But it is an improving neighborhood, in summer during the weekends you can usually hear people working on their house.

We are both recent graduates from Sac State and have started on new jobs. I work in near Sac State but my wife works up in Loomis so we are buying a house in Roseville to help even out our commutes... good for her bad for me! :-)