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I am tired of living in California, the cost of living here, and the increasing rent payments, it has become unbearable for me. So I am looking to relocate, and I've been looking into El Paso, Texas. However, I am concerned about hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, regular flooding, and the crime rate. I have been on Google for the last 3 hours trying to find more information and I can't get a straight answer. Some websites say El Paso, TX it's pretty safe, and other websites say it floods often, and it has tornadoes. I would love to know which are the safest areas (I'm a single mom of two small children). Northeast? Northwest? Lower Valley? I am not familiar with the areas there, I am just looking for a home online (Trulia, Redfin, and Realtor) and those are some of the areas mentioned. I guess any information would be very helpful in regards to my concern (mentioned above) from anyone familiar with El Paso. Thank you so much for any help you can give me!
In a few words, can someone please share with me which are the safest neighborhoods? Thanks!
I think El Paso is pretty safe from tornadoes and crime.the tornadoes in Texas tend to stay out of the Trans-Pecos area which El Paso is in so i think you will be alright.I thnk you would be spared from catastrophic hurricane damage.
You really are way too concerned about flooding. When it happens you won’t likely know it until you go out driving and see sand all over the roads. It is a drainage issue and not the Rio Grande overflowing. I’ve lived here 3 of the last 4 years. Low crime was one of the attractions. I walk all over the areas your listed houses are without a thought to crime. I don’t understand why crime is so low here compared to many other places but it is. I don’t really think it is a destination city for many of those fleeing California yet. It can have a gritty feel to it so it is a diamond in the rough. Being from other places, one thing I had to learn was that there are two kinds of a/c systems. All 3 of your listed houses had refrigerated air. There is another type which isn’t nearly as effective which many houses have so make sure to learn about that. It sounds like you are bringing your job with you? That would be good because housing is so cheap here because high paying jobs are few and far between. Good luck if you come.
I hope it's OK to tag along to this thread, but I too am planning a move to Texas in retirement in the relative near future. I also have been concerned about crime given the proximity to Cuidad Juarez, as I've understood it to be high-crime. Am I missing something? EP looks to be walking distance from CJ.
I've been looking at Hill Country since I would like rolling terrain, and I understand EP is flat, however, you have a view of mountains that may offset my desire for terrain. (I don't like flat terrain without a view). Also want several acres - not interested in living with houses next door. (I have 3 acres now, and need my privacy space) Looking at Google Earth, I do't see such properties in EP, however, I could be missing them... are there such properties here?
I love it hot, but not hot with high humidity, and I've read EP fits the bill in that regards.
Hope I didn't get too far off track from the OP's needs, but the more info on El Paso, the better, I hope.
Thanks in advance.
Lots of acreage in upper valley, canutillo, la union, anthony and vinton. All 5-15 min from el paso.
Crime is a non issue. Very safe here.
No real natural disasters. No hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, fires or earthquakes. Occasionally get flooding on some roads but its not a big deal. In the 29 yrs I've lived here, i can only remember one death due to roadway flooding...they missed a turn and drove into a drainage canal.
West side, upper valley, east side, ne are all pretty safe areas. We tend to get things like car thefts, more than rapes or murders. The murders we do get are usually drug or gang related, or family arguments. Not stranger murders.
Thank you all for your responses. So what you are all saying is that any area in El Paso is safe from tornadoes, floods, etc. and low on crime?
For example I am using trulia to look at houses and this website also shows a map of where the houses are located in the particular city. So, I like these 3 houses (I am looking to buy), and would like to know what these areas are like if anyone is familiar with them.. flash floods? regular flooding? crime? etc Also, I am a single mother of 2 and our safety is a main concern.
1st house: 1724 Firehouse Dr, El Paso, TX 79936 East Side
2nd house: 14613 Spanish Point Dr, El Paso, TX 79938
3rd house: 1508 Bellview Ct, Northwest, El Paso, TX
Any input, opinions or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Belview, on westside is a great area. I've seen the house (i'm a realtor), and its pretty nice. Great school area.
Spanish point is on the far east. More traffic, but safe area. Firehouse is on east side but not as far east as spanish point. Homes arentvas new as spanish point. Still lots of traffic.
Look at 79911, 79912, 79922, 79932, 79934, 79936, and 79938 zips for decent areas. But they are all a little different areas. 79911, 79912 areas will have homes on view lots (of mountains and of valley with sunset views. ). Less traffic. More upscale. Considered to be more affluent.
79922 is el paso country club area. Some very expensive homes close to cc, and some less expensive ones not too far away. Very green and lush.
79932 is upper valley. Lots of newer homes built there and vary widely in price.
79934 is ne. Closer to ft bliss. Not as much to do there. Many military people there. Some grocery stores, parks, strip malls.
79936 and 79938 are east side. 79936 is older than 79938. Lots of stores but lots of traffic. Wide range of prices in homes.
$300K will get you a nice house here, that's for sure. You can get a really nice one for way less than that, even on the westside 79912, etc. In terms of safety, I understand EP is safer than Albuquerque. Heck, we have an armored division, DEA, FBI, Border Patrol and lots of other law enforcement running around here. That is not even counting local and county. I heard that Park Hills, a nicer neighborhood on the westside, is called Fed Hills because of all the federal law enforcement that lives up there.
While EP is not Southern CA, not everyone has Disneyland and beaches in their backyard. But we also do not have 405/60/5/91/22/10, etc traffic. Costs are reasonable...cost of gas in EP right now? About $2.23-$2.39/gal. CA...around $4.00 plus at this moment? National touring companies of Broadway productions come here every year. Popular acts/musicians come here often...Khalid is from EP, Sean Mendes was here recently, Cardi B (though after two postponements), Ariana Grande, Elton John, Cirque de Soleil, TransSiberian Orchestra, James Taylor, Kiss (this spring), Britney Spears, Michael Buble…..and many more.
If you have kids, what I like is that music programs flourish here....orchestra and band programs are popular at all of the public schools. I don't think that is especially true at CA public schools after Prop 13.
Having a university (UTEP) at the center of the EP universe helps also. The University is community focused, so much of what is offered there is public friendly in terms of cost and access.
Upper Valley may be the place for you....though there has been development happening more there recently. Some of the suggestions of Anthony (TX, not NM which is next door), Clint, Fabens may have more of the acreage you are looking for. On the whole, El Paso has been expanding greatly to the west and east in recent years. The only thing saving the westside from being completely developed is Franklin Mtns State Park.
I will tell you, one of my favorite views ever is the Franklin Mtns at late afternoon/dusk as the sun sets on a sunny day and the west slopes are lit up with a very pretty natural light.
EP is spitting distance to Juarez. We are very connected to Juarez....the vehicle and foot traffic is busy between both over the bridges. This does not necessarily mean we share the violence. Even at the height of cartel violence, I would say EP was minimally affected. Of course we heard about it all the time, but as a normal everyday resident, you would probably not observe anything related to the violence. Most folks affected by the violence had friends/families who live in Juarez and may have been affected that way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sogno
I hope it's OK to tag along to this thread, but I too am planning a move to Texas in retirement in the relative near future. I also have been concerned about crime given the proximity to Cuidad Juarez, as I've understood it to be high-crime. Am I missing something? EP looks to be walking distance from CJ.
I've been looking at Hill Country since I would like rolling terrain, and I understand EP is flat, however, you have a view of mountains that may offset my desire for terrain. (I don't like flat terrain without a view). Also want several acres - not interested in living with houses next door. (I have 3 acres now, and need my privacy space) Looking at Google Earth, I do't see such properties in EP, however, I could be missing them... are there such properties here?
I love it hot, but not hot with high humidity, and I've read EP fits the bill in that regards.
Hope I didn't get too far off track from the OP's needs, but the more info on El Paso, the better, I hope.
It is a very safe place and I found it a cool place to live. El Paso is not Juarez..... that is movie crap.
I liked the hiking as it was convenient and also the weather allows for many days to do so.
The housing is very inexpensive and you can find a lot of new houses.
The AAA baseball stadium is great. The downtown is a nice walk for sure...... The have a cool holiday deal downtown....
The Plaza is a great place to see a play.
So, what did I not like? Limited diversity. The restaurants are almost all mexican. It is very good Mexican, but how much mexican do I need? You do not get a lot of different types of restaurant varieties at a high quality.
It is FAR from any other city...... Flying means a connection for almost anywhere......
Limited entertainment. Most major acts skip ELP......
The farmer's markets in Cruces are great....but a lot of chili peppers and not many vegetables.... it is a desert....
Property tax is stupid. So, you can live in Santa Teresa. Yes, I know about NM income taxes.....
I wish the casino had real table games......
The government is terrible. The garbage company finds any reason NOT to take your garbage. Ascarate Lake is gross and that is a huge shame. Shame on the city for this. What a wasted asset.
the hospitals are scary...... like people go to Dallas and PHX if they are getting anything significant done......
They speak a lot of Spanish. This does not bother me living in S Florida and El Paso, but if you aren't used to it, it does bother some people.
Would I go back for a promotion??? Yes..... Would I retire there? No...
It is a very safe place and I found it a cool place to live. El Paso is not Juarez..... that is movie crap.
I liked the hiking as it was convenient and also the weather allows for many days to do so.
The housing is very inexpensive and you can find a lot of new houses.
The AAA baseball stadium is great. The downtown is a nice walk for sure...... The have a cool holiday deal downtown....
The Plaza is a great place to see a play.
So, what did I not like? Limited diversity. The restaurants are almost all mexican. It is very good Mexican, but how much mexican do I need? You do not get a lot of different types of restaurant varieties at a high quality.
It is FAR from any other city...... Flying means a connection for almost anywhere......
Limited entertainment. Most major acts skip ELP......
The farmer's markets in Cruces are great....but a lot of chili peppers and not many vegetables.... it is a desert....
Property tax is stupid. So, you can live in Santa Teresa. Yes, I know about NM income taxes.....
I wish the casino had real table games......
The government is terrible. The garbage company finds any reason NOT to take your garbage. Ascarate Lake is gross and that is a huge shame. Shame on the city for this. What a wasted asset.
the hospitals are scary...... like people go to Dallas and PHX if they are getting anything significant done......
They speak a lot of Spanish. This does not bother me living in S Florida and El Paso, but if you aren't used to it, it does bother some people.
Would I go back for a promotion??? Yes..... Would I retire there? No...
An off the cuff response. The type of response I'm looking for. Good, bad, and in bewtween, without any PC BS, or ambiguity.
You're welcome. I enjoyed living there. I miss things about it.... but it is not the #1 place i would live.....
Cal tep is right about the law enforcement. Add Bureau of prisons officers to the list. FCI La tuna has 2 prisons in Anthony and another location on Fort Bliss. Their officers live all over El Paso both east and west and in La Cruces.
Now my concern comes because my family lives in Washington and Oregon, so if I was to move to Texas and it flooded for days or some other regular natural disaster happened... where am I suppose to go with my 2 kids? Here in California, I have friends at least (no family, but good friends) that I can reach out to in case an emergency happens. But in El Paso, TX I wouldn't have friends or family (no friends at the beginning, but eventually I hope I make some). I hope you understand my concern now.
I think you're over thinking this. El Paso doesn't get hit by hurricanes. It might get rainfall from hurricane remnants (most of the lower desert area in TX, NM and AZ do) but it's no worse than a heavy summer rain storm where you are. Tornadoes are rare, but be aware that tornadoes can hit ANYWHERE in the country. South TX, NM and AZ are rarely hit. No flooding, other than street flooding from heavy rains, and the potential for flash flooding due to heavy monsoons, sometimes in town and sometimes up in the mountains. Flash floods usually affect flood plains and drainage ditches/canals, not whole neighborhoods. Can there be some neighborhood flooding? Sure, if the rain is heavy enough or long enough, but it's very rare. You won't be facing any worse disasters than you face now in CA. Possibly less, depending on where you are in CA since CA seems to have more wildfires than AZ, NM or TX (in heavily populated areas that is).
Is your fear legit, or is it because you think you should move but part of you doesn't want to leave the safety net you've created where you are?
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