Victorville (Santa Ana, Ontario, Fontana: crime rate, new home, safe area)

[cgmaetc]

Ok, I'm from LA and buying my first house, my budget is between $300K - $400k. So my options are to either leave CA or head to Victorville or further north. I have a friend that lives in Apple Valley and her home is small but it sits on a 1/2 acre. I'm single, no kids, so lots of land isn't what appeals to me now. Really wanted a new home, because I'm not that handy. I have a home business so a commute is not an issue. I'm really just looking for something in a nice, safe area, close to shopping and and fun things to do.

Can anyone tell me a little about Victorvillle, the city, the people, the nightlife, the weather? What is life like there?

[Sorcerer68]

Have you checked into "up-and-coming" parts of LB? Check out the Wilmore area 90802 and the East Arts District and Craftsman Village in 90813. You'll be surprised what you can buy. You'll sometimes find sub-400k houses in 90042, 90065 and 90026 (Mt. Washington/Highland Park/Echo Park). These areas are rapidly improving and appreciating as well. Regarding Victorville, I can't help you.

[da jammer]

Victorville is a booming area but you can still buy a nice house for a decent price. Traffic can get real hairy especially on Bear Valley Rd. There is every kind of restaurant you can pretty much think of. They have a good size mall up there too. Just about anything you need is in town. The weather gets pretty darn cold in the winter and it does get over 100 in the summer. There are a couple of nice lakes up there for fishing if you are into that. If you like baseball there is a minor league club up there near Adelanto...nice stadium. Skiing in Wrightwood is fairly close by. Not too sure about the nightlife as I never really got into that when visiting friends up there. One bummer is that there is pretty much only one way up and down the hill, I-15 and if some yeah-hoo wrecks out, a passing train catches the hillside on fire or there is a freak snowstorm you can be stuck for quite some time. In fact I believe there is some sort of road construction going on that is causing some headaches. I know you said you won't be commuting but I'm sure there will be times when you have to do some traveling. I have friends up there and they all seem to be pretty happy.

[Sorcerer68]

One more thing: search CNN Money...they had something about Victorville re: future indistry, it was one of their recommended areas for investment.

[rgb123]

I've been there a few times and my friend lives there. were both from illinois....she doesn't like it. I like it, but I dont live there. As for nightlife...not much. I've been to a dive bar (Which my friend loves) and some other club type place...but....its really not much for nightlife. I think apple valley is nicer than victorville too...and the crime rate is pretty high (but I guess it is in most places in california). I like the outlet mall in barstow which is just up the road from there and the proximity to vegas and cool desert views and the beach of course.

but....I thought traffic was a bit crazy. It is in the desert after all and one starts to think -- how can so many people live here? and visibility was terrible the day I was there (last week).

just observations from an out of towner. Like I said though, I like it better than my friend does....she wants out.

[PCGURU]

Well there are many things to say about VV but in response to the other comments prior, the only way up and down is the Cajon Pass.

That in itself should have been enough to deter me from moving out of OC but then economics had a big part to play for me. The drive is not fun, I would liken it to an LA commute for anyone who has to go from South OC to LA anywhere, the 405 sucks. And yes Bear Valley Rd is the or one of the worst Fwy overpass streets and mostly the only one to cross over from E to W of the city. There are stores and restaurants but if all you want to do or need to do is shop then that's what there is here.

No nightlife that I know of, one club on the E side of I-15 off of Bear Valley but what age groups hang there I could not say. Dive bars I imagine there are more than I know about but then I stay home with a daughter and wife so I don't go out really. That is what my 20-30's were for. And the occasion that I would go out, down the hill are many choices, if you want to drive that far and for that long.

OK , besides the drive and traffic issues.... well the weather is accurately stated. Last summer it was a good 110 on some days and it was scorching. I have lived in Santa Ana and surrounding cities my whole life and the coastal breeze is very refreshing even if the humidity is sometimes unbearable. It was very cold during Nov , Dec and then it was frosty in the AM. this is inner city climate, not even on the hills that was down to freezing. It is something you can adjust to, I have visited here for over 10 yrs and it is ok most of the time. Not much rain, YEAH but then there is a lot of static... dry air and it so bugs me. I really don't understand the comment on visibility but whatever, it is clear and sunny with no SMOG layer .. yet , just give it enough time and cars driving around up here.

I have been living here myself now for 8 months and it is somewhat quiet and semi rural but then you can have different experiences all within the same 10 miles just depends on where you are. Oh yeah , Fun things to do ?? well it all depends on what you consider fun and if there are any places to do it without driving 45 min ONE WAY to get there. Although fishing or camping is all over, close by.

Good luck in your search, there are plenty of houses New and Old up here and they are definitely in your price range. The question I constantly ask myself is why anyone would pay that much money for a house out here in the middle of fricken no where, the desert... but what do I know.

[lookingfortheperfectplace]

Just an FYI- There are other ways up to the desert, but they are a little longer.
thur san bernardino, devore, old cajon road, to hwy 138, to phelan, to victorville.

Thru hwy 18 (san berdo mtns), hwy 138, and don't remember the cut off road name for Hesperia.

Thru Big Bear (san berdo mtns), then thru Lucerne Valley. (I have never gone that way though)

There is also a dirt road (fire road I think) that I took all the way from Hesperia down to Cleghorn road but it was long ago and couldn't tell you where it was now. It could actually be called Cleghorn, or there could be 2 dirt roads, because I know there is one that goes from Silverwood Lake down the hill but I don't remember if that is the one I took that day.

[rgb123]

I was there last week, and I am telling the truth, the air was not clear, you could hardly see the mountains. I have been there before when it was very clear and this time was noticably different. I dont know if it was smog, dust, moisture whatever. I have no reason to care or state what it was, all I know is my partner and I both noticed it was very dirty looking air compared to the last time we were there....and yes traffic was terrible and it was rush hour so maybe it was smog, but I dont know, or care. We drove in from Ridgcrest and the air quality changed considerably from place to place.

[MotleyCrew]

My husband and I lived there for 10 years and liked it at first but after the smog and crime crept up over the pass, we bailed for N. Ca. Have you considered looking around N. Ca? Oroville is changing and it has some beautiful new homes on rolling hills with Black Oaks. Paradise is right above Oroville and it is a very quaint little mountain town and you could buy a nice home there too. Chico is down at the bottom of the Buttes and it is a great college community and very affordable compared to S. Ca. You might want to check it out before leaving CA if that is where you would like to stay. If you leave CA, come over to AZ and look around Peoria, AZ. It is a really nice city. Good luck.

[lookingfortheperfectplace]

There is a new community/housing developements, whatever you call it, off the 15 fwy & Summit & the new 210 fwy they are calling North Fontana. You might be able to get into one of those houses for $400k. You are real close to the new Mall Victoria Gardens and also near Ontario Mills. Lots to do in those areas (Rancho Cucamonga/Ontario). Rancho Cucamonga is worth checking into also but the houses might be out of your price range.