High Desert & Hemet (Moreno Valley, Victorville: low income, foreclosure, HOA fees)

[dreamfollower]

I have driven around Hemet, Victorville and Apple Valley and I really cannot see the difference between Hemet & Victorville, yet Victorville seems to get the worst opinion. What am I missing?

And what is the truth about Spring Valley Lake area in light of Victorville's bad rap? Will Apple Valley be the next to go?

[sophiagd]

Hemet is ok. I've lived here for a while and I've never had problems. It's a quiet town, not much to do, but it's not too far from Temecula or Moreno Valley (about half an hour away for both cities). They are building and opening new stuff in the Hemet/San Jacinto area. I know by Florida/Warren Rd, I believe they're building some shopping complex called Garret Ranch (?) and it appears they are building it. Overall it's not as bad as people may say. I've driven through Victorville before, but I can't judge since I've never actually lived there. Good luck to you!

[Donn2390]

I have lived in Apple Valley for five years, and I love it..! It is a nice town with a lot of upscale housing. The town will not go downhill, because they have a 1/2 acre minimum lot size, just for the purpose of keeping out the bad element.
The Town is very proactive in keeping the bad guys out, and the Town looking nice. The town motto is "A better way of Life", and they do all they can to make that true.
Apple Valley doesn't seem to be effected by the down turn in the economy. The Town just purchased the previously private owned golf course, they just purchased a housing project that the builder went BK and defaulted on it. The Town purchased it and finished it so it wouldn't be a blithe on the community. The Town also has available low interest loans for first time home buyers, and for low income people wishing to upgrade their homes.
They are also in the middle of constructing a new building at Town Hall costing about 8 million dollars, plus are under construction for a huge new Animal Shelter. All that tells me the Town is rolling in dough, compared to most Cities who are broke and laying off people like crazy... Good Town Counsel, good planning.
There are some older, questionable areas, but the Town is going to great lengths to clean it up. There is one area lovingly referred to as Felony Flats, but that area has gone through some major housekeeping by the Sheriff Dept over the last few months.
In the years I've been here, I have seen NO crime, and I visit VV and surrounding areas daily. If you're not looking for trouble, you won't find any...

[sophiagd]

Originally Posted by Donn2390

I have lived in Apple Valley for five years, and I love it..! It is a nice town with a lot of upscale housing. The town will not go downhill, because they have a 1/2 acre minimum lot size, just for the purpose of keeping out the bad element.
The Town is very proactive in keeping the bad guys out, and the Town looking nice. The town motto is "A better way of Life", and they do all they can to make that true.
Apple Valley doesn't seem to be effected by the down turn in the economy. The Town just purchased the previously private owned golf course, they just purchased a housing project that the builder went BK and defaulted on it. The Town purchased it and finished it so it wouldn't be a blithe on the community. The Town also has available low interest loans for first time home buyers, and for low income people wishing to upgrade their homes.
They are also in the middle of constructing a new building at Town Hall costing about 8 million dollars, plus are under construction for a huge new Animal Shelter. All that tells me the Town is rolling in dough, compared to most Cities who are broke and laying off people like crazy... Good Town Counsel, good planning.
There are some older, questionable areas, but the Town is going to great lengths to clean it up. There is one area lovingly referred to as Felony Flats, but that area has gone through some major housekeeping by the Sheriff Dept over the last few months.
In the years I've been here, I have seen NO crime, and I visit VV and surrounding areas daily. If you're not looking for trouble, you won't find any...

I totally agree with you on the last sentence, "If you're not looking for trouble, you won't find any," That's very true!

[LQQKOUT]

Originally Posted by dreamfollower

I have driven around Hemet, Victorville and Apple Valley and I really cannot see the difference between Hemet & Victorville, yet Victorville seems to get the worst opinion. What am I missing?

And what is the truth about Spring Valley Lake area in light of Victorville's bad rap? Will Apple Valley be the next to go?

Hemet, Victorville and Apple Valley consist of the same dry desert scene. Not much to compare to. Each of these places has their good and bad.
Victoville has had a influx of people from "down the hill" moving up to the Victor Valley area and sometimes bring their rift-raft with them. True you can look and easily find trouble anywhere! Or unless your at the wrong place at the wrong time....which can happen anywhere.


SVL (in Victorville) is known for expensive homes and wealthy people (ie doctors, lawyer etc.) same for parts of Apple Valley. Although the high rate of foreclosure homes makes owning in SVL very desirable right now.
SVL has a country club and a "beach" and small man made lake for resident use. They also have hefty HOA fees and have very strict bylaws.

Each of these cities you mention have bad and good areas. IMHO Victor Valley has lost it's sweet nature and nice people. And NO I am all against change and progress. Just not the "change" and "progress" the Victor Valley has seen the pass 9 years. Not only by the changes of building and such but by the population it attracted for some time now.

However - home it what you make it.

You can't go wrong with growing roots somewhere, just do your homework before you plant.

[fiercemom]

Originally Posted by LQQKOUT

Hemet, Victorville and Apple Valley consist of the same dry desert scene. Not much to compare to. Each of these places has their good and bad.
Victoville has had a influx of people from "down the hill" moving up to the Victor Valley area and sometimes bring their rift-raft with them. True you can look and easily find trouble anywhere! Or unless your at the wrong place at the wrong time....which can happen anywhere.


SVL (in Victorville) is known for expensive homes and wealthy people (ie doctors, lawyer etc.) same for parts of Apple Valley. Although the high rate of foreclosure homes makes owning in SVL very desirable right now.
SVL has a country club and a "beach" and small man made lake for resident use. They also have hefty HOA fees and have very strict bylaws.

Each of these cities you mention have bad and good areas. IMHO Victor Valley has lost it's sweet nature and nice people. And NO I am all against change and progress. Just not the "change" and "progress" the Victor Valley has seen the pass 9 years. Not only by the changes of building and such but by the population it attracted for some time now.

However - home it what you make it.

You can't go wrong with growing roots somewhere, just do your homework before you plant.

Actually, Spring Valley Lake is one of the best communities in the desert since it does have the higher class living there. I do want you to know that the association fees are 850 a year - not bad as mentioned above when you think about the 24 hour security, private lakes and parks, and the low crime rates.

Good luck