10-things I learned 7-months after relocating to Sacramento (San Francisco, Stockton: rental, crime)

[NickB1967]

Even without the Ozone and other smog, the Sacramento / San Joaquin area is just allergy territory, with every kind of pollinating plant growing here, native and exotic.

My Depression era father put it this way, "In my day, there were no allergies--but a lot of us had puffy faces and running noses...."

[johnnyz]

I used to live near Sac in Woodland...I read a lot of negative things about that place now, which I don't get. It was great when I lived there.....but of course that was 18 years ago...

[MichaelDante]

I'm glad this helped some. If anyone has additional questions PM me and I will try my best to answer any questions you have that might be helpful in your decision/ move. This was offered to me before I moved and proved invaluable.

[mellisamorgan]

Originally Posted by MichaelDante

I'm glad this helped some. If anyone has additional questions PM me and I will try my best to answer any questions you have that might be helpful in your decision/ move. This was offered to me before I moved and proved invaluable.

I read your post at the top, but I am still unclear precisely where in Sacramento you ended up.

[FamilyDocDataDriven]

Originally Posted by Eric1026

If anyone can share any opinion on the air quality I am all ears. We have visited Sacramento a few times (Summer and Spring) and have never noticed anything but clear skies. No one in our family has asthma and one of us has allergies that are controlled with liquid allergy drops.

************************QUOTE FROM POST:
I learned the air quality problem mentioned on this forum is real and not a joke. I have asthma and since I've lived here the air quality has given me issues breathing and will keep trying to cope. Most are not affected but I have so far.

Some areas better, some worse. Look at Air Compare | AIRNow | US EPA and compare counties- Bakersfield, Riverside, and LA are all ~ similar for asthma, (100+ bad days) while Sac is better (40's) and areas around it better yet (<15) .
Even Bakersfield is better than the air when I was a kid in NY.

[ryuns]

Fun data point. We're having a "moderate" air quality day here, with a PM 2.5 concentration about <20 micrograms/cubic meter. Beijing, China just topped out about 671. That about made me spit out my coffee this morning.

[Chimérique]

AAFA 2013 Allergy Capitals


Here is the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s list of the 100 worst cities for Allegeries,

Sacramento is alot better than many other cities. Sacramento is 99th - BETTER than 98 other cities. I checked other allergy ranking lists and they are consistent with this list.

I condensed the list, skipping many cities, but the ranking is still there.

AAFA 2013 Allergy Capitals

1. Wichita, Kan (100.00)
10.Oklahoma City (85.65)
15. Tulsa, OK (77.50)
18. Dallas (76.63)
20. Toledo, Ohio (75.59)
23. San Antonio (73.53)
29. St. Louis (70.08)
32. Houston (68.96)
38. Kansas City, MO (66.80)
40. Columbus, OH (65.52)
45. Austin, TX (64.45)
50. Indianapolis (61.80)
55. Cincinnati (57.73)
56. New York (58.71)
58. Chicago (58.25)
64. Fresno, CA (56.40)
70. Las Vegas (55.22)
75. Boston (52.88)
76. Los Angeles (52.28)
78. Bakersfield (51.89)
84. Seattle (47.05)
87. Modesto (46.28)
88. San Francisco (45.74)
91. San Diego (44.36)
94. Denver (42.97)
95. San Jose (42.78)
99. Sacramento (37.96)
100. Portland, Or (37.87)

[Cornhusker_CA]

Some of frequent advisers here are thinking ghetto everywhere in greater Sacramento except Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Roseville where they live or they want to promote their property value. I am glad to hear MichaelDante's honest opinions.

[MichaelDante]

Originally Posted by mellisamorgan

I read your post at the top, but I am still unclear precisely where in Sacramento you ended up.

Sorry I was not more detailed in my exact location.

First I stayed with friends in Roseville, around Foothills Blvd at Pleasant Grove Blvd. I stayed temp so I could really search out areas/ housing before committing to a long term lease. It was VERY HARD since driving back and forth to Sacramento close to Greenhaven/ South Sac to search was no joke but I saved $900 or more on housing during that duration. People love Roseville and I can see why, to a certain extent, since it's easier on the eyes than mine and other areas, lots of good shopping options, eateries, etc. But in my opinion I felt it lacked a warmness I've got in other areas. I also had to do quite a bit of driving to do/ go to the places I liked and traffic, commuting and just overall driving there no bueno. My friends' sister lives in Roseville since that's her personal comfort level and hardly ever leaves that pocket but then complains there's nothing to do and it's bland.

I found a place I liked (close to Freeport and Fruitridge) that I loved but it would not be available until 2 months. The owner said I would be approved so my options were to commute from Roseville (not going to happen), find a expensive MTM close to my job or take a 6-month lease at another house the owner agreed he would allow me to break it if I needed if I agreed he could finish work while I was there. The house was a nice house rental for only $995/month but... close to Mack Rd at Franklin area. I will be honest this area was not my first choice since I admit I bought into the horror stories about this area and South Sac in general but in my visits day, nights and weekends and talking with neighbors in and around that court convinced me to take this option. The guy in SLP ended up raising the rent $150 more per month so I just stayed here and now 6-months later my lease expires this month and while I will move in February/ March I'm not RUSHING to move if that makes sense. Although this area definitely has it's warts the worse issues I've had here was a constant barking dog (resolved very peacefully), litter problem close to my court and new neighbors playing music too loud (which that was also resolved very nicely to our surprise) all that can happen anywhere. We've never heard gunshots, no helicopters hovering looking for someone every weekend, no drive bys, and to be honest.. as much as people want to use the code word "ghetto" this area seems to be 60% Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern with so much variety of ethnic groceries, shops, stores, and restaurants. So after this experience, visiting friends in South Sac all over and driving around most if not all the areas my opinion for the area OVERALL is different than say some who hasn't been here in over 10 years, already scared of certain elements, want to judge an entire area based off stats alone or people or just heard about it second hand.

Lets be real... I'm not saying at all this is a "prime area" nor are certain parts of Oak Park but there are so many pockets in these areas or in South Sac in general that are good living options and some areas that may not look as pretty as say cities more East but some might just enjoy living there as well. Two examples, one there is an older white lady who lives on a court close to my street with 99% black and latinos but while she told me she has seen the area change since she bought the house she would not move since she like her street, neighbors are quiet, clean and they check in on her. Second, my friends sister from Roseville came with us looking at house rentals in South Land Park, Tahoe Park, Colonial Heights, Hollywood Park and Elk Grove and she was shocked how much she liked those areas and houses. She had always heard from friends, and we see it on here, anything south of downtown is "ghetto" even Elk Grove. Now she's hooked on a Chinese restaurant in Oak Park and said if it wasn't for her job she love to be in one of those areas. That's something she would have NEVER said before, but... it started with her being open minded and actually experiencing something new.

[MichaelDante]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

AAFA 2013 Allergy Capitals


Here is the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s list of the 100 worst cities for Allegeries,

Sacramento is alot better than many other cities. Sacramento is 99th - BETTER than 98 other cities. I checked other allergy ranking lists and they are consistent with this list.

I condensed the list, skipping many cities, but the ranking is still there.

AAFA 2013 Allergy Capitals

1. Wichita, Kan (100.00)
10.Oklahoma City (85.65)
15. Tulsa, OK (77.50)
18. Dallas (76.63)
20. Toledo, Ohio (75.59)
23. San Antonio (73.53)
29. St. Louis (70.08)
32. Houston (68.96)
38. Kansas City, MO (66.80)
40. Columbus, OH (65.52)
45. Austin, TX (64.45)
50. Indianapolis (61.80)
55. Cincinnati (57.73)
56. New York (58.71)
58. Chicago (58.25)
64. Fresno, CA (56.40)
70. Las Vegas (55.22)
75. Boston (52.88)
76. Los Angeles (52.28)
78. Bakersfield (51.89)
84. Seattle (47.05)
87. Modesto (46.28)
88. San Francisco (45.74)
91. San Diego (44.36)
94. Denver (42.97)
95. San Jose (42.78)
99. Sacramento (37.96)
100. Portland, Or (37.87)

Thanks for that list, it will definitely help me out!