Thinking of coming back to Cali /Roseville thoughts??? (San Diego, San Francisco: mortgage, relocate)

[msruby66]

Two and a hlaf years ago we were forced to move to Texas( Katy near Houston) from the Central Coast of California ( near Pismo Beach) ...yeah we got a great home here, and paid off our debts and have agood life...but not great and we sooo miss California !!!

Recently myself and my family ( DH , and three DD's 20, 18, 15) have decided that when we can manager it ( hopefully in a year or 18 months at most...paving way with his job for a transfer) ......we were concentrating on the Seattle area and had even kind of picked a town and were pretty excited...but the more research we did , the more I did not like the crime rates, the weather , and traffic in that order . It had all the rest of the stuff we wanted...houses we could swing (yah a mortgage again, but worth it ....) and the shopping and restraunts ......but as I said the research was raising some red flags.

So I searched the web site for my husbands work ( automotive sales ) and found dealerships owned by the same company there in Roseville ....so just for laughs pulled up homes and shopping and such , and found out that all were very similar to what we have or want to have ....and the weather is better , commute would be better , plus we have an old friend there and my Aunt lives to the north and all our other friends live from SF down ! We would have about the same property taxes , we would be adding back in state income tax again and pay more for sales tax and gasoline ...but so worth it if we can swing it to be back in CA and close enough to the Pacific .....closest we get to water here is the rain and humidity and our pool ( when the pool is not infested with flying ants!) Do not ever go there about the Gulf! It does not compare!!!!

Ok now that I have written a book, can yall tell me about Roseville , from a "I live here " view.


I like to walk for exercise....missing side walks here! Plus too damn hot and humid! Or cold and wet!
I already saw that there is Carls Jr...Yeah! Taco Bell????????
I saw there is a Trader Joes ohhhh how we have missed that!
and the mall has great shops
I am sure there is coffee houses....

Just spill on the town and all the pros and cons......

[KidBlue]

You may want to search other threads on this site for more information on Roseville.

I have been doing lots of research too to retire in WA, but closer to Olympia than Seattle. From the research I've done the traffic does really bite in Seattle.

The Sacramento area is very similar in size and cost of living to Seattle. Since you are used to hot and humid, hot and dry should be better. The spring and fall are great, but short. Winter is mild so you can get out and do things in the winter too. There are actually several large auto malls in and around Sacramento. Roseville is probably the largest, but there is a large auto mall in Elk Grove, Sacramento and one in Folsom.

Roseville has grown extremely quickly during the last few years. It's huge. You will find several of everything. There's Carl's Jr., Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, etc. The Taco Bell I go to is on Douglas Blvd. But I think there are more than one. The Galeria Mall has everything including a Nordstrom's. All of the large stores are there (Target, Wal Mart, etc.) and all of the chain restaurants. Also, the Sacramento area is home to the Fat family restaurants, so as soon as you get here to check things out, go to Fat's Asian Bistro in Roseville (one in Folsom too)--wonderful. But there are tons of great restaurants, theatres, coffee shops, and other stuff in Roseville.

Roseville is close to Folsom Lake if you need water plus the American River is close by. I think just about all neighborhoods have parks close by and sidewalks. Some of the rural areas outside Roseville don't, but within Roseville, you won't have any problem finding areas to walk. The biggest downside to Roseville is that it's grown so much, it's pretty crowded and has lots of traffic. The main freeway is Highway 80 which gets crowded at rush hour but nothing like Seattle. Sacramento has 4 major highways instead of just 1 like Seattle. The cost of housing is high but very similar to Seattle. There are lots of new homes to choose from as well as apartments and older homes. Not sure if you have Kaiser hospitals in Texas, but there is a large newer one in Roseville.

Maybe some Roseville residents will respond too. I used to live in Loomis and did my shopping in Roseville, so I'm familiar with the area but don't actually live there.

[Mumof3]

I like to walk for exercise....missing side walks here! Plus too damn hot and humid! Or cold and wet!

There is a nice trail system in Roseville that I think you would appreciate!!
Apparently Roseville has the honour of having the slimest people in the US because of all that walking -

I already saw that there is Carls Jr...Yeah! Taco Bell????????

WOW!!! - Can't believe that you are missing fast food joints!!! I find that amazing!!! In 'N' Out Burger is better than either of those put together IMO!!

I saw there is a Trader Joes ohhhh how we have missed that!

Yeah, it's funny how everyone who goes to Texas misses TJ's!!! Why don't they get the hint and put afew in???

and the mall has great shops

Yep, the Galleria is ok - nothing to write home about though really.

I am sure there is coffee houses....

Yep, there are some coffee chains the usual Starbucks and there is a Peets I believe too - that has great coffee!!

Roseville is nice generally - good well-laid out parks and recreational activities to go with them - very strip mally though - lots of tract housing - very cookie-cutter but still there is something for everyone because there is the downtown area which is ok and of course has older properties.

[JenniferLynn]

Roseville has expanded greatly since you've been here. I just saw a population sign today that said it's 102,000+.

Along with the expansion came traffic congestion. The surface streets are congested much of the time and very badly during certain times (rushhours).

Crime has gone up. In 2006 it was up 38% over 2005. We are seeing grafitti in a town that once had none.

Some neighborhoods that were marginal years ago have become places that I wouldn't venture into in broad daylight.

There are certain parks that I will no longer go to because transients hang out there.

That being said, if you are still "dying" to come back to Roseville, then come back. There are still good aspects of life in Roseville. It is very family-oriented with many parks and family recreational facilities and activities. Life can still be good here as long as you can afford to live in a safe neighborhood.

[msruby66]

Hey Thanks loads for replys...all help

Kid Blue ...
That whole area sounds like here in Katy Texas ...traffic is bad...even the 5 minutes that I drive to go to the local mall and take my daughters to work , if I hit it at the wrong time it will take me 2x longer! Forget the commute on I10! The worst ! I have driven all over the state of California ..including Sacramento and San Francisco and such at rush hour and still find Houston worse! So traffic anymore will not deture me( did once cause I came from a small town and only worried over 101) .
The prices being the same for homes , from what I have seen is the one plus as though it will be tight we think we can swing it, yeah we will have a mortgage again , but to get out of Texas will be wonderful!
All the other things you mentioned sounded great!...thanks again!

Momof 3....
Heheheheh Yeah In and Out is much better I agree too....it is my DH's fav! My kids love the other two ....they miss Carls Jr. ...Oldest is visiting San Diego this weekend and that was first place she headed...we are simple folk LOL
Katy TX is all about the strip mall...in fact it is a running joke here...and truthfully the area we are all from originally was becomming that way, so that part does not bother me too much.
As far as the mall not being anything special, I do beg to differ ...looked at the stores there, blows our mall out of the water!!!!! LOL With 3 daughters in the house it is all about the shopping and the fast food for them LOL ...they live at the mall ! LOL

JL.....
I hear you on the crime and graffiti...we are lucky here in Katy...well the historic part of Katy as we have a load of cops and they are bored ...so little to no crime...but it is creeping in to the larger part of Katy and there are areas and neighborhoods here too that at night or even day we we ill not venture ...graffitti has hit even our bubble .....no where is immune, it seems to go with growth . I guess like any big city there is places you go to and places you do not...take the bad with the good .

I have never lived in Roseville, have a friend there. I also have an Aunt in Wheatland . I have been through the area, but has been years....I am sure it has grown....seems you can not stop it now a days...Katy is growing so fast that what was once open land is now strip malls and houses ....so if we have to live in the same enviroment, BUt we have awful weather most of the year!

Oh and transiets and gangs have set in as well ! As Houston takes over Katy ...the news we see now that is horrific to us will be a reality! Scarry but reality...I try to be aware , but not let it rule my world.

I appreciate the imput...good or bad, ugly or pretty ..it really helps shape what we want to do......

Thanks all!

[CityGirl72]

We moved from Sacramento to Seattle

AND IT SUCKS HERE!!! I want to move back - but the job market is so amazing I don't know if we can afford going back

I miss Carl's Jr Too

And Del Taco (which is way better then Taco Bell)

[msruby66]

OH I love Del Taco...I am with you, when I lived in Cali that was where I always went inseatd of TB.

Thank Goodness about the job market ...even if my hubby did not transfer within the corporation that he works for, he can basically get hired at any car dealership and with is experience and reputation in California and here in Texas either enter at management level or be back to that in six months .

So What part of Seattle are you in??? We had considered Renton ...seemed like our kind of place, but then the crime level there is the highest in Washington state!

Keep in touch and let me know what you do ....just curious.

[wanttoteach]

Right now I am trying to relocate to San Diego, but I live in Roseville. I do have to say that it is a very good town. The person who said that they wouldn't go into certain neighborhoods even in the daylight has obviously never lived in a real gang infested place. Roseville is so safe and family oriented. That is a big reason that I might consider staying. It is the perfect place to have a family. I am a teacher in the schools, and the schools are the best. I am from Southern California, so the winters here seem horrible to me...but I know that my views are completely tainted as I have never lived in any other state. It does get very hot here. It is a great time to buy here as people seem very desperate to sell, as prices got very high here and have quickly come down.
I would say that the best thing for you to do is visit, look at the neighborhoods where you would be living, and find out if it feels right for you. The only reason I want to move is to be closer to family, be by the beach (I am a scuba diver) and have more sun. I have lived here for 7 years and if I cannot sell my home than I will be just fine staying here.

[missyj]

My husband and I moved to Bakersfield, Ca from Tacoma, Wa (20 miles south of Seattle) 2 yrs. ago.http://pics3.city-data.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif I miss really miss it! I've been thinking of moving to Sacramento hoping that its a little more diverse less dirty and a little more of everything and a lot less drugs and crime. Citygirl I was hoping you could tell me how Sacramento compares to Seattle. I've lived in Renton, Kent and Tacoma and know all the areas from Seattle down to Olympia. Yeah traffic is bad! There are other ways to get to seattle besides I(5) Like old highway 99, I (90), and theirs always the back-roads or the train from Tacoma to Seattle. As far as crime goes. I've never had any problems like the ones I do here. No dumpsterdivers, people steeling things out of my garage, drug dealers all over and drug addicts. I thought this kind of graffiti was only in the movies until I moved here...lolhttp://pics3.city-data.com/forum/images/smilies/redface.gif. I also have a problem renting a house because it seems like the landlords are afraid of getting screwed (Dont blame them) The one thing that might keep me away from Washington is all the gloomy gray days. Other then that I love it and would move back if my husbands job would allow him to transfer there. But thats not the case for us right now. Instead we have a chance to get out of Bakersfield and go to Sacramento.

[msruby66]

Wanttoteach...hehehehe...Where we lived on the Central Coast there is a couple towns, Nipomo, Oceano, Santa Maria and we delt with the Crypts and the Bloods as well as many other bad news gangs ....all were pretty small towns , but I tell you it was scary! yet I would still go there in a heart beat, cause with the bad is some really great places! So yeah I am with you on that about the gang areas......heck I remember being in HS 22 years ago and there would be school wide gang wars and I would skip school to not get hurt....our area had a load of druggies and crooked cops too and it was as I said a small tourist town ! Right after we moved there was a shooting at a local dennys that we always went to....yep growing pains in the worst way.

As for schools that is not a worry, but great to know for if I ever get to have grandbabies ....I have two girls graduated and one that is homeschooled...that is why the mall is a biggy as her reward for great grades she gets to go hang at the mall LOL The one here she has made friends with the security guards and workers at her favorite shops and food places and they all watch out for her.

I wish we could move now as we would look at your house LOL
Do you see the prices dropping even a bit more in the next year, or do you think it will turn around and go back up?

I saw the cutest house on Main Street, is that a bad area? ....but know it will be gone in the time period it takes us to get there ... a few months for sure as Dh has to lay ground work with his job, and that for sure will be a few months in the process...he wants to be a corporate trainer for Auto Nation , the people he works for , so that when he transfers he will be at a level we can swing the house payments and cost of living increase.

As for the weather, right now I think anything would be better ...this week starts hurricane season , and then also our rainy season , along with the heat and humidity ..we have two seasons here Winter and Summer ...neither are much fun...At first it was great as back home we had fog all year and cool temps too, but we soon tired of it .

Good Luck with your quest to get to San Diego !

OHHH and we will make a visit, go see my Aunt in Wheatland and visit Roseville ...most likely this fall.



MissyJ...can not blame you for wanting to get out of Bakersfield! use to go there often to see friends and they hate it and are stuck and we hated it so much we did not even use it as a way to stay in California in the first place!

Good luck to you!