Rural areas around Fresno (Orange, Visalia: low income, real estate, homes)

[Boer]

Looking at a job in Fresno, I have about 200k in CASH to buy a 2 plus acre ranch type home in one of the surrounding areas. [fought in mma for years, retired but would love to start a new gym for exercise]

My questions are:

weather?

Well water?

property tax?

Crime?

strong workers unions?

I speak Spanish, I'm a big strong white male who has lived in the 3rd world and the big city, no kids but have a girlfriend and a bunch of animals[she dosent speak spanish]

I love my guns but know Cali may force me to sell my beloved rifles, I feel I need them if I live near coyote, grizzly and have farm animals.

Found some really curious towns, Madera, Coarsegold, Hanford, visalea.

I want privacy, places to ride dirtbikes, shooting cans, Areas to hike, mountains.

I love rural country living and never go shopping, restaurants, clubbing or give a damn about partys or hip social scenes.

I'm sick of humid bug ridden old time politics southern usa.

I also believe that when the whole drug war ends [prob in 3-5 years] California's financial problems are going to alleviate.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Boer

I love my guns but know Cali may force me to sell my beloved rifles, I feel I need them if I live near coyote, grizzly and have farm animals.

Why do you think you will have to sell your beloved rifles?

And one need not fear grizzlies. The ones near Fresno are quite tame and pose no danger to humans or farm animals.

[BeauCharles]

Head for the hills north and east of Fresno (Oakhurst, Coaresgold, Bass Lake, Auberry, Yosemite Lakes, North Fork, Tollhouse, Shaver Lake). Much more scenic than the valley and overwhelmingly of your race/ethnicity (if that's important to you or your girlfriend). They're all an hour or less from Fresno/Clovis. Also, as Mr5150 said no one is going to make you sell your guns. Hunting and fishing are very popular activities in the Sierra. Get tired of those thinking California is some sort of communist police state.

[Boer]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Why do you think you will have to sell your beloved rifles?

And one need not fear grizzlies. The ones near Fresno are quite tame and pose no danger to humans or farm animals.

Tame bears? ....or are you talking about the gang?

hmmm, so your saying I can keep my "assault rifles"

.....I need to be within 30 min of south west Fresno.

will check those areas, thanks for the reply. Thanks Beau!

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Boer

Tame bears? ....or are you talking about the gang?

hmmm, so your saying I can keep my "assault rifles"

.....I need to be within 30 min of south west Fresno.

will check those areas, thanks for the reply. Thanks Beau!

I was joking about the bears. The grizzly bear was wiped out in CA by 1900.

[eccotecc]

You may find Mariposa County to be exactly what you're looking for. It's a gun friendly county with a population of 18,000 residents. The town of Mariposa has 2 gun shops. Depending where a person lives in the county, you can comfortably drive to Fresno within an hour. Real estate prices are very reasonable by California standards, and homes with acreage are available in your price range.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by eccotecc

You may find Mariposa County to be exactly what you're looking for. It's a gun friendly county with a population of 18,000 residents. The town of Mariposa has 2 gun shops. Depending where a person lives in the county, you can comfortably drive to Fresno within an hour. Real estate prices are very reasonable by California standards, and homes with acreage are available in your price range.

Its 90 minutes (give or take) from Fresno, but I agree with your recommendation. Went to high school there. Folks lived there from 1974 to 1992.

[eccotecc]

Beau,

I live in Mariposa County, not the town, and it takes me 50 min. to drive to River Park. Granted, it all depends where a person lives in the county and where they are going in Fresno. What is nice about Hwy 41 is once in Fresno you can stay on the hwy and get to most places rather quickly.

[Boer]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

I was joking about the bears. The grizzly bear was wiped out in CA by 1900.

thats a shame, i was looking forward to shooting some....[JOKE]

OK, what about coyote and wild dogs?

looks like the ground water can be an issue?

what about cold wet winters?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I have a good friend who grew up in Visalia. Her family is still there, including her mother who loves it there and will never leave. Her family is a mix of Portugese and Mexican. They speak both and English. Visalia is about 45 minutes or more to Fresno.

About 6 months ago I looked at a senior low income apt complex in Orange Cove. Nice complex, very small Mexican town in the middle of orange groves. It is also about 45 minutes to Fresno. It felt too isolated for me. I lived in Mexico for a year, so the fact that it would have been like living in Mexico didn't bother me. It was just too far out there. Orange Cove also was run by a corrupt mayor for many, many years and he supposedly catered to the gangs, who pretty much ran the town, according to articles I read. There is a new police chief who is cleaning up the town.

Cold wet winters? Nah. Compared to where? Not right in the valley anyway.