Suggestions on where to live, traffic, etc. (Bakersfield, Lancaster: transfer, military)

[xeney]

I grew up north of Lincoln and we did our shopping at Beale. (My dad was retired Air Force.) Most of the drive is not on Highway 65, and it's pretty pleasant on clear days (but yeah, can be really foggy in the winter). If you are looking for horse property you might expand your search to include Sheridan and Wheatland addresses, since those are closer to Beale, but far more rural and you lose the suburban amenities that Lincoln offers.

(It is weird for me to type that last bit since when I lived there, Lincoln had 1,800 people and our only "suburban amenity" was a Round Table, which opened when I was in high school.)

Edited to add: the commute to Sacramento from rural areas on the west side of Lincoln is not too bad because you can avoid Highway 65/I-80 and take rural roads to Highway 99/70. It's longer as the crow flies but less traffic and a really nice country drive. I still drive that way when I go to Lincoln.

[caligirlz]

Wow, prices have really exploded on Lincoln again. The nicer (newer) stuff is 300K minimum.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by caligirlz

Wow, prices have really exploded on Lincoln again. The nicer (newer) stuff is 300K minimum.

yep, and most of what we looked in Lincoln also has HOA dues or special assessments.

[newtocalifornia]

Thanks for all the great information. Agreed. Lincoln seems just as expensive as Rocklin or Roseville once you figure in all the HOA dues, Mello Roos, etc. It sounds like we will be stationed at Beale AFB for about four years. Is Rocklin and Roseville THAT much further from Beale AFB? There just seems to be a tighter real estate market in Rocklin and Roseville which is better for resale ... which is ultimately what I'm concerned about. But, I also don't want my husband having to drive an hour each direction. I'd like to find a middle ground for he and I with me driving (most likely) to Sacramento for work every day. I hate to throw away money in rent every month but also don't want to get stuck with a property especially with how stupid expensive it seems to live out there. I just cannot get past a decent home costing $400k. Makes me worry that real estate bubble will pop again. Anyone else have opinions on where is a good place to live in regards to having to commute every day to Beale AFB and potentially having the other spouse commute to Sacramento area with good resale potential? The more I look, the most lost I think I become.

Edited to add: I've also heard that Mello Roos are uncapped and can change. Even if they're low when we buy, is there the potential that they can go up an unlimited amount? If so, that's quite unsettling.

[xeney]

Is Rocklin and Roseville THAT much further from Beale AFB?

It's about a 15-20 minute difference in low traffic, probably about half an hour longer in heavy traffic.

Even when the bubble burst, houses in California were expensive compared to other places.

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by newtocalifornia

I just cannot get past a decent home costing $400k.

Nor could I when I first moved here. Houses in the central san joaquin valley (Modesto to Bakersfield cost less than the Sacramento region. There's even a naval air base in Lemoore, but it is much nicer for job opportunities and weather here.

Originally Posted by newtocalifornia

I've also heard that Mello Roos are uncapped and can change. Even if they're low when we buy, is there the potential that they can go up an unlimited amount? If so, that's quite unsettling.

I've never heard that.

Just found this..good info


How to find Placer County property taxes and Mello Roos - YouTube

[newtocalifornia]

WOW! Great to know! Thanks for sharing how to find all that out! I just don't quite understand why you pay Mello Roos when you pay taxes. Sounds like a ploy for the government to collect more money ... that they will just mismanage

Also, thanks for the info on travel time between Rocklin and Roseville. That's more of a difference than I was thinking.

I think Lincoln would probably be the best area for us in so far as commute to base and commute to Sacramento but I just am not sure about how badly the town's bubble burst, their saturated real estate market, not that great of schools, etc. All stuff that will play into when we sell in about four years. Lots to think about.

[newtocalifornia]

Mello Roos, BTW, can increase by up to 2% each year. It's a way politicians (Mello and Roos) found to work around Prop13. Sounds like California can't manage their funds and that's why they had to come up with a new way to charge homeowners, on top of their taxes, for things taxes are supposed to pay for ... can't say California is making a great impression on me thus far I've read that Lincoln Crossing is one of the worst neighborhoods for Mello Roos. NOT something I'd like to deal with when I sell a few years down the line.

[wburg]

California can manage our funds just fine, some people just think that maintaining things like highways and schools can be done without money. That, and a big chunk of our federal tax dollars get diverted to pay for things in flyover states that don't have the tax base to pay for their own infrastructure...

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by newtocalifornia

Mello Roos, BTW, can increase by up to 2% each year. I've read that Lincoln Crossing is one of the worst neighborhoods for Mello Roos. NOT something I'd like to deal with when I sell a few years down the line.

But it's a desirable neighborhood too. You should be fine unless the economy crashes again in 4 years.

Originally Posted by wburg

California can manage our funds just fine,

ha haha ha ha ha....you're kidding, right?