Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley? (San Diego, Chino: rentals, crimes, house)

[roxiemack]

I'm planning on relocating to Yucca Valley or Joshua Tree. I am a single , straight woman kissin 50 on the lips. Does anyone here have unbiased information about these locations? I don't mean for anyone to refer me to sperlings or other sites, I would like both good and bad about the areas, not just bad! Employment experiences, renting experiences, etc....Thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated

[DesertRich]

I live down the road in Twentynine Palms. The area is not for everyone, If you don't mind the oppressive heat in the summer, and appreciate the desert views, you might like it. Employment is tight unless your in the medical field, or are willing to commute to the low desert. There are plenty of rentals in the area, and prices are generally fair.

[PeggyB]

I live in Morongo Valley, 5 miles from Yucca Valley. We have lived here 5+ yrs. and love the rural livestyle, good neighbors, quiet, coyotes and yet close to the city things in Palm Springs. July and August are tough and yet not nearly as bad as the low desert. There are lots of artists type people who have relocated to the various small cities; Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, etc. I am retired so I can't speak to employment possibilities.

Yucca Valley gets some flash flooding during the rainy season and Morongo Valley gets high winds during the winter. Overall the weather is wonderful.
Property prices are coming down as they are everywhere. I think renting is reasonable.

Good Luck. Try the Water Canyon Coffee House next time you come to YV at the corner of #62 and Pioneer Town Road. Neat place, good conversation and wireless hookup if you are a computer person.

PeggyB

[roxiemack]

Thank you!! I appreciate it. My only concern, is that I don't know anyone down there. I have possibilities of going to Chino Valley/Prescott where I have friends that I can land with for awhile, but when I go down to JT, it feels so good. So, I'm applying for jobs, rent seems to be reasonable. I have a home in Big Bear, but don't want to sell it right now, so I am renting it out for a year to see where I land. Thank you again
Pam

[sandy05]

Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree are diamonds in the rough. Everyone here seems to dream that they would live in a better place, when, really it's right beneath them. Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree are idyllic future towns to live in with the clean air, wide open spaces, and a definite local community. Bring your vision. The housing is and will continue to be affordable. There are miles of hiking trails. The sunsets, sunrises, and night sky are amazing. We share our space with roadrunners, coyotes, cottontails, and woodpeckers. The hummingbirds never fail to make their rounds. Did I mention the wildflowers that pop up in the Spring? When I need to go to Trader Joes or The Cheesecake Factory, I go down to Palm Springs/Palm Desert. Down there, there are a multitude of restaurants and retail shops to frequent. So living in Joshua Tree, I can have my cake (quiet, simple living) and eat my cake too--by going down the hill. Within 1 hour, we are fortunate to have Big Bear Lake for boating and fishing, Mt. San Jacinto for fun snow play in an alpine setting, and Palm Springs for the resort lifestyle. Within 3 hours, we have San Diego and Las Vegas. Within 5 hours, we have Zion, The Grand Canyon, Phoenix and The whole Eastern Sierra. Like I said, we have our cake and get to eat it.

The other side of living in Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley. We live among the poor and uneducated. You must be selective with the people you choose to associate with. There are artistic, civic, self-determined people, yet, the other half seem to be trolls with bad drug habits, or feigned disability. I used to worry about this, but the like-minded trolls seem to keep to themselves and inflict crimes on each others, so thus far, by the grace of god or statistics, I've managed to live a peaceful existence in the Morongo Basin. People complain about the heat, I love it, yes...it really is a dry heat. We also get snow, flooding and any other kind of weather you could imagine. We have scorpions, although not poisonous, and ants, and other scary creatures. Earthquakes and fires are also problematic.

So there are the pros and cons. If you happen to experience the pros and cons, you've lived life.

[runnergrl]

what's the family presence like in Yucca or Morongo Valley? I love the desert, but dont care for the inland empire. Do people have families there...is there a decent enough presence? Sounds like it would be alittle remote...however the beauty and peacefulness of the area is very alluring.

We used to live in AZ (loved it)and cant go back there of that's not where the job is...it is in southern CA...I hate the greater LA areas...and I want normal people, yet I have school aged children that need a wholesome environment and decent schools.

[roxiemack]

i haven't lived in joshua tree/yucca valley, but i have a friend who raised his family there, and he didn't complain about the schools. most of his kids still live in the area and like it. i agree, the peacefulness of the area is what draws me to it. unfortunately, it looks like i'll be going to arizona myself. i have a friend in prescott valley who will put me up til i can get on my feet and rent a place. good luck to you. it, to me, is a great area to raise kids...of course you know how it is these days, you gotta keep up on who they're hangin with

[luke the drifter]

I'm planning on spending a couple months in Joshua Tree this summer. I visited the village last summer and was blown away. I'll probably end up camping in the park for the first week or so as to give me some time to find an affordable shelter. Has anyone here ever volunteered in the national park?

[Tom Lane]

Originally Posted by sandy05

"....The other side of living in Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley. We live among the poor and uneducated. You must be selective with the people you choose to associate with. There are artistic, civic, self-determined people, yet, the other half seem to be trolls with bad drug habits, or feigned disability. I used to worry about this, but the like-minded trolls seem to keep to themselves and inflict crimes on each others......."

Interesting that you would say this - since it's the opposite in your sister art communities of Flagstaff, Sedona, Boulder, and Santa Fe. In these places, we live among the rich and over-educated folk.

They've passed so many anti-growth provisions that they've made it absolutely impossible for new people to find a job or purchase property.

Here in the "People's Republic of Flagstaff," you must be selective of who you associate with, or else, you'll soon be part of the Socialist conspiracy to keep all new people out.

I'd prefer Yucca Valley where I can buy a home on 5 acres for $100,000 than Flagstaff where it's $500,000 for a quarter acre in the Ponderosa Trails neighborhood.

In these days of the recession and rising rents, count your blessings that your neighbors aren't PhD's in Sustainability Studies from Northern Arizona University.

[Tom Lane]

Originally Posted by sandy05

We also get snow, flooding and any other kind of weather you could imagine. We have scorpions, although not poisonous, and ants, and other scary creatures. Earthquakes and fires are also problematic....

Indeed - with the proximity to several faults in the San Andreas Fault system, much of which runs right through Joshua Tree State Park itself.

How bad is the Earthquake problem in Joshua Tree / Yucca Valley / 29 Palms?

Are there any building codes for quakes?

I think your area may be the last frontier for entrepreneurs given that cities like Flagstaff have such anti-growth initiatives.

Any thoughts on how friendly your market is to entrepreneurs?