Places in Sacramento - Pro & Cons please? (Orange, Citrus Heights: real estate, foreclosures)

[lorredasmith]

My husband and I want to start a new family away from LA, away from the Valley, the bumper to bumper traffic, the rude people, the spoiled kids expensive everything, crime on every block and the endless search for parking. And mainly to stay away from "my family".
We have lived here all our lives and would like something that is a little bit less of everything here.
We've travelled Sactown several times and saw that it might be something we like. We like that it wasn't that bad compared to here.

I've heard that we should stay away from West Sac, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. Is there anywhere that you would recommend? HELP!

[CityGirl72]

Why stay away from Elk Grove - it's family friendly suburbia

What do you want exactly - sac has it all - you tell us what you like - we'll tell you where it is

[Cayce29]

Originally Posted by lorredasmith

My husband and I want to start a new family away from LA, away from the Valley, the bumper to bumper traffic, the rude people, the spoiled kids expensive everything, crime on every block and the endless search for parking. And mainly to stay away from "my family".
We have lived here all our lives and would like something that is a little bit less of everything here.
We've travelled Sactown several times and saw that it might be something we like. We like that it wasn't that bad compared to here.

I've heard that we should stay away from West Sac, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. Is there anywhere that you would recommend? HELP!

Depending on your specific needs/desires, along the Hwy 50 corridor it'd be worthwhile to look at American River, Gold River, Folsom, and El Dorado Hills.

[Kingsnkali]

I don't know why you would stay away from Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove or West Sac. It's not as simple as writing off whole suburbs because much of those areas are actually pretty nice.

East Rancho is mainly newer homes and there will eventually be lots of new homes, commerial and schools there. I think Rancho will be going up in quality during the next 5 to 10 years. Elk Grove is pretty nice, just lots of foreclosures etc. giving the place a somewhat undeserved tag. West Sacramento is mostly newer homes etc. The older parts (Broderick) have some issues, but that area will eventually turn out to be prime real estate because of the attractive location close to downtown Sac.

This market is VERY complicated due to potential flooding and other issues. You can't just make quick yes/no calls on the communities. Takes time to figure things out.

[robertpolyglot]

Hi...your observations are partly true. Each one of those neighborhoods you mentioned has good and bad areas.

Elk Grove - the western edge along I-5 can be nice while the parts immediately south of Florin and east of 99 are not so nice. Basically, all of it is kind of vanilla and the lack of tree cover makes it bland.

Rancho Cordova. Is poised to show promise. The west and the old parts are yech. That in Gold River can be kind of Stepford Wivey in appearance. The south of it is seeing some sprucing up.

West Sac. Don't know much about it except that what is seen from the freeway is gross.

The good areas tend to be east: Folsom, Fair Oaks, parts of Carmichael, Roseville, Granite Bay and select parts of Citrus Heights and Orangevale. Further out are even nicer, and more expensive, foothill communities.

I liked living there, more so for the easy-going and friendly people that live there than for the neighborhoods. And sorry, but I don't care for any of the old neighborhoods such as Curtis Park, Oak Park and Tahoe Park as the housing stock is too old and too dumpy, sometimes with a hodge podge look.

It's not bad, but it will pale in sophisticated next to LA (which is where I was born and raised myself).

[inpd]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

next to LA (which is where I was born and raised myself).

Wow you raised yourself. Well done

Robert's comments are right on the money with respect to age of
housing stock. Much of the housing stock close to downtown is
rather old and small.

[angelbug]

The Southport area of West Sac is all newer developments and reasonably priced. People who dis WS are thinking of the Broderick area and other older parts, where there's some gang activity and crime. Problem is, it takes awhile to get up to the freeway from Southport. But I have two sets of friends who live there, and they like it very much. I don't like new housing developments much so it wouldn't suit me, but it has a lot to recommend it in terms of what you can get for your money.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by inpd

Wow you raised yourself. Well done

Yep, babe, I raised myself (practically). I had to undo a lot of the values and things my parents drilled into my head, or I wouldn't be the person that I am today and basically like.

Back to Sac...it's an all right place to put down roots. Coming inland from the coastal metropolitan areas, it takes some getting used to.

[lorredasmith]

Okay, let me be more explicit with what I am looking for. I apologize for that.

Well we want to move into a nice area, not too far away from downtown. I place that won't go bad in the next 5-10 years. Near a place that has a little bit of a "Big City" feel to it, (cut in half). Where theres no need to lock doors and neighbors are friendly and possibly outgoing. Quiet is nice too but not out in fields or where all the homes look the same like. A place far from crime but near the best shopping places, the freeway and bars.

Home could be valued anywhere from 300k to 400k for a 3-4 bd home.

About me:
I have a son and husband(School and jobs would ideally be close as well as parks). I'll be living with my traditional Asian father,(so a community that has more asians is good for him.) I love coming home where the streets aren't too loud or too quiet but lively. But once in a while, I'd love to go out to where there's people to get some human contact without driving too far out.

And I have one more question.....what areas would flooding be a major concern?

[inpd]

Originally Posted by lorredasmith

1. not too far away from downtown.
2. Where theres no need to lock doors
3. A place far from crime but near the best shopping places, the freeway and bars.
4. Home could be valued anywhere from 300k to 400k for a 3-4 bd home.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your asking for a lot and not willing to pay much!
Also, much of what you ask for is mutually exclusive. i.e. 1 and 3. Downtown is
where much crime happens, but you want to be close to it but far from crime.
Also, homes near downtown are expensive (so 1 and 4 are mutually exclusive)

Sacramento is a patchwork quilt of good and bad neighborhoods
so not looking doors is not such a good idea!