Got a job in Modesto, looking for advice on a place to live! (Sacramento: best towns, real estate)

[Marknewman89]

Hey everyone,

I recently just accepted a job offer from Gallo in Modesto. I am looking for a safe area to live. I would like to either be in a suburban or country setting. I originally grew up in Sacramento but these days I live in Philadelphia which doesn't allow me to regularly visit around the Modesto area to find a safe area. My main priority is a safe area as my wife and I walk our dogs frequently and want to feel safe on our walks. I will pay more in rent for a nice community or country house. I am willing to commute as much as 45 minutes to get to work. Any advice on places people have enjoyed living, or communities that are worth while would really be appreciated.

[Hawk J]

Years ago, we always liked Oakdale. It was a nice, friendly town. I think it's still nice there, but i'm not positive.

My son used to live in Jamestown/Sonora. We used to camp/fish at Don Pedro, New Melones, Camanche Lake, Pardee, Strawberry, Dardanelles......fished The Stanislaus River, etc.

Best of Luck finding your place.

[BeauCharles]

OAKDALE. /thread

Seriously, I lived there seven years as a kid and have returned frequently over the years. Its one of the best towns in the Central Valley (if not the best). The home prices are higher than anywhere else in the area for a reason. Very easy and quick commute to Modesto.

[Darrett]

If you want somewhere a bit more central than Oakdale, look at Turlock. It's more expensive than Oakdale, but it's also nicer. It's also closer to Gallo (either the Crows Landing or the Yosemite locations) than Oakdale.

Edit- To add some specifics, look at the Northeast side of Turlock. 20-25 minute commute to either location, safe area, well maintained. You'll be looking at high 200s-low 300s for a decent house there, and rents somewhere around $1200-$2000 depending on the size of place you want.

[Bulldogdad]

Congrats welcome to the tax pool.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by Darrett

If you want somewhere a bit more central than Oakdale, look at Turlock. It's more expensive than Oakdale, but it's also nicer. It's also closer to Gallo (either the Crows Landing or the Yosemite locations) than Oakdale.

Edit- To add some specifics, look at the Northeast side of Turlock. 20-25 minute commute to either location, safe area, well maintained. You'll be looking at high 200s-low 300s for a decent house there, and rents somewhere around $1200-$2000 depending on the size of place you want.

Turlock is not nicer than Oakdale and its real estate is not more expensive by a long shot. Oakdale is like the premium spot in Stanislaus County and acceptable homes run about 350K to 400K. While Turlock may be a slightly shorter commute to those wineries than Oakdale the extra few minutes would be worth it. The Yosemite Blvd location is about 30 minutes from Oakdale - not exactly onerous.

[JGC97]

In case the OP ever returns to read the comments ...


Check out Ripon (pretty safe because it's got a huge population of law enforcement living there. Manteca isn't bad but it's pretty pricey now. If you're looking for quiet and peaceful, Escalon is another option. Stay away from Patterson, though. Bad, very bad.

[sacreole]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

In case the OP ever returns to read the comments ...


Check out Ripon (pretty safe because it's got a huge population of law enforcement living there. Manteca isn't bad but it's pretty pricey now. If you're looking for quiet and peaceful, Escalon is another option. Stay away from Patterson, though. Bad, very bad.

I'd second Ripon. Nice small town; clean, safe and 10 minutes north of Modesto.

[Marknewman89]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! Currently looking in both Ripon and Oakdale. Are there any sections in Modesto worth looking at?

[JGC97]

Here is a tool you can use to help you with Modesto.

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Use the tool above and click on a particular area. It will show you an overview of schools, crime, and home valuation data. It's a jumping off point for you. I can't or rather won't recommend any specific neighborhood because crime is sporadic over the entire city. You'll find one or two blocks that are okay and then a third block with problems. It's not just Modesto, though. You're going to find that, no matter where you look.

It's been ten years but I used to live on Princeton, by the junior college and it was a decent area. I liked it because it was quieter. Stay away from the mall. Too much traffic and a lot of problems in that area. I read some time ago that north Modesto wasn't too bad but, again, crime is sporadic. There are some newer subdivisions north of Briggsmore and east of Roselle that look nice. I can't vouch for them since I've been gone for a while.

I assume you are wanting to rent before buying and if that's the case, here's a company owned by PMZ, one of the largest real estate companies in the area. They cover a lot of territory and have a multitude of homes for rent. Scroll to the bottom of the page for office numbers in various cities.

Find Rental Properties - Liberty Property Management - San Joaquin, Stanislaus County, Central Valley, Property Management, Homeowners Association, Find a Rental

Call them. They'll know the best areas and maybe have something that will work for you.