Where to buy if work downtown (Sacramento, Granite Bay: low income, real estate, house)

[mixxalot]

So I work downtown Sacramento and want easy commute to/from work. Looking to buy a 3 bedroom home as I need more space. What places would you recommend and why? I would love a home with an inground pool but those are hard to find for under 400k so does not require a pool.

[MyNewsLogin]

Check out College Greens, Glenbrook, and Tahoe Park. These are all older, established neighborhoods with nice yards where you can install a pool later when you can afford one. The commute is 10-20 minutes down Highway 50.

[JohnS_15]

I'm not sure you are going to get any different answers than when you last asked this question. At under 400k you are limited as you know. In addition to the ones that were mentioned on your last thread - go take a look around South Natomas and Northgate area. It's hit or miss in there but there's actually some pretty nicely re-done homes in that area within your budget. You gotta start somewhere.

[mixxalot]

Yeah it stinks making a low income as a state worker. If I was making 200k then I would buy in Granite Bay and be happy.

[Adriatica]

Hollywood Park

[shelato]

If I had your budget I would be looking at Del Paso Manor. Its the neighborhood behind Emigh Hardware and I would also look at Woodlake, but not if I have kids nor teen daughters.

That said if it were me, I just wouldn't be buying right now, I think we are pretty close to peak on this version of the real estate cycle.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by shelato

If I had your budget I would be looking at Del Paso Manor. Its the neighborhood behind Emigh Hardware and I would also look at Woodlake, but not if I have kids nor teen daughters.

That said if it were me, I just wouldn't be buying right now, I think we are pretty close to peak on this version of the real estate cycle.

Woodlake is weird. We looked at a house there and were sitting outside in our car waiting to meet the realtor. In 15 minutes 3 or 4 people walked up to our car asking what we were doing there. And we aren't really scary, we are older white people driving a BMW lol

[2sleepy]

You might like College-Glen and Greenhaven

[JohnS_15]

Originally Posted by mixxalot

Yeah it stinks making a low income as a state worker. If I was making 200k then I would buy in Granite Bay and be happy.

Would you be happy though?

Being a state worker has it's pros and cons. If you want to make a lot of money it's time to start looking at a career change. You can only change things within your control -- you cannot do anything about the cost of housing -- you can do something about making more money or you can make a move to an area of the country with lower housing costs. Your choices if you stay in your same job making the same money are... buy something crappy in a nicer neighborhood and fix it up to how you want it, buy something already fixed up in a crappier neighborhood, or just wait and see where the housing market goes in the next 5-years.

You sound young -- try not to pin your happiness on owning the perfect home.

[shelato]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Woodlake is weird. We looked at a house there and were sitting outside in our car waiting to meet the realtor. In 15 minutes 3 or 4 people walked up to our car asking what we were doing there. And we aren't really scary, we are older white people driving a BMW lol

Its close to downtown and its next to light rail. Its also fairly cheap for what it offers. The housing is well taken care of. I also think that as downtown densifies, this neighborhood because its fairly close will benefit.

I like Del Paso Manor (the neighborhood behind Emigh Hardware for a different reason. The local are much better, you are further away from problem neighborhoods like Dixieanne and its just safer, but its still reasonably priced and you aren't that far from downtown.