best affordable areas near capital area (Sacramento, Richmond: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[psipsa]

I am wondering which areas are good to live if you commute to midtown area near capital (around O street). Thought about Natomas but having lived there in an apt find it not my scene. Roseville looks nice but traffic is an issue. Folsom looks a good option but expensive. Also Carmichael and Fair Oaks. Don't mind an older home but do want a safe, secure and good value area where home prices would hopefully stay steady. Where is good for up to 400K max? Alto schools not an issue at present may possibly be in the future and from reading all the blogs I see Sac has lots of pockets of crime which is worrying. Many thanks

[handiquack]

Natomas is a boring suburb (you pretty much have to go everywhere else just to do something), but it's the best bet in what you're looking for in terms of a commute. I don't think Carmichael and Fair Oaks are really good options since the commute would be an issue just like it would be with Roseville and Folsom. Sac has crime just like any other major metro area, but it's nothing like compared to other larger cities in the state. Just stay way from most of the South Area and parts of North Highlands if you'd prefer something a bit more comfortable.

East Sac is nice, and it's close to downtown. I'd give that area a shot.

[NewToCA]

Disagree with you a little here, I don't think Carmichael is a bad commute at all. I would think it would be a half hour or less, with rush hour traffic.

[handiquack]

When I worked close to downtown of of 15th, a co-worker of mine lived in Carmichael and it took her 45 minutes with rush hour traffic to get there. The only times she made it in less than a half hour was on those Fridays where the state workers had off.

[wburg]

If you don't have to worry about schools, look for someplace in Southside Park or Richmond Grove, the neighborhoods just south of where you'll be working on O Street. Or look a bit farther east at Poverty Ridge or Newton Booth, you can hop light rail at 23rd or 29th Street and be at work in ten minutes. Plus, after work you can walk to a lot of dining and entertainment or the grocery store.

[quickfingerz]

I still think the best affordable areas near downtown are South Natomas and West Sacramento. There are pockets of good areas on both places. I would use the regional police department's website to look at crime. Both areas are a cheap and are minutes from the entertainment of downtown/midtown.

As background, I live off Northgate Blvd (Gardenland). We couldn't be any happier with our area. My street and adjacent neighborhood streets have had little to no crime. We love the short/quick drive to downtown.

[Damnitjanet]

The commute from Carmichael to downtown is 45 minutes if you try to take mass transit. Drive over to light rail at Watt and Manlove and then take the train in. But you can easily make it from Carmichael to downtown in under half hour if you drive down Fair Oaks Blvd to J st, H st. or Elvas.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by Damnitjanet

The commute from Carmichael to downtown is 45 minutes if you try to take mass transit. Drive over to light rail at Watt and Manlove and then take the train in. But you can easily make it from Carmichael to downtown in under half hour if you drive down Fair Oaks Blvd to J st, H st. or Elvas.

Right, I was thinking about the Fair Oaks Blvd drive when I made my posting.

[Mr. Ozo]

Why not just live in Midtown? You can get a house for less than 400k and then you don't have a commute, which saves a couple thousand a year.

[nmnita]

If you think eventually schools may be a consideration I would consentrate on Carmichael or very East Sac as well as Fair Oaks. So it might be a commute, but not all that bad...

Nita