Home buyers beware! (West Valley City, South Salt Lake: crime, safest area, buying)

[FromCaliToUtah]

I wouldn't suggest buying property in West Valley or South Salt Lake. It was just announced on the news a couple of weeks ago that West Valley City was the murder capital of Utah in 2005 with 10 homicides(I've seen alot bigger numbers in Cali cities I've lived in). It is the 2nd largest city in the beehive state, with around 115,000 residents. Everyone I know who has bought in those 2 cities has seen little or no home appreciation over the years. Just a heads up to potential residents of the Salt Lake Valley

[gbail]

Anyone wanting to know more about the crime problem with living in West Valley might want to read the 2005 article in High Country News about the problem with gangs in that area. I can't remember what issue it was, but I do think it was a 2005 edition. It was a sobering read!

[CaliGuy]

This is probably the article...

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Arti...ticle_id=15680

[Elder_Shawn]

I would never buy a home west of I-15..even West of 20th East for that matter.

[setlngdwn]

Originally Posted by Elder_Shawn

I would never buy a home west of I-15..even West of 20th East for that matter.

Even south of the point of the mountain?

[Elder_Shawn]

Originally Posted by setlngdwn

Even south of the point of the mountain?

LOL! I'd rather live on the Salt Flats than live in Utah County. I'm LDS, but the "Bubble" is so restrictive and confining. They'd probably see my black hair and kick me out!

[coolcats]

Just to update this rather old post, West Valley City has only had one murder this year as far as I could find. That's out of a city of 125,000. So the question is, was last year with 10 the anomoly, or is it this year?

But even the "ghetto" areas of Utah really aren't that bad compared to a lot of places. Of course that's not to say I would choose to live in those neighborhoods.

[Fresno_Ken]

Fresno, CA has about 50 murders a year.... so with a population of 400,000 that would be 12.5 per every 100,000. I would think just about anywhere in Utah would be safer! LOL And with the medical care available in Fresno, a lot of people get shot who don't die. But I guess if I had a choice I would want to live in the safest areas of any town or state. I would love a city that has never had a murder or one back in 1902. And little car theft and rape. I have daughters, a wife, and a few decent cars.

[coolcats]

Certainly some areas are safer than others. I am surprised at the amount of theft and property crime, which does not seem to be particularly confined to the "bad" neighborhoods.

There are also a disturbing number of gas station robberies etc. However, I meant to point out that the worst here is still not as bad as many places.