Don't move to Hemet!!! (Temecula, San Jacinto: motel, house, neighborhoods)

[bouncethelight]

One thing to keep in mind is that the western end of town - where both of the two previous posters live - is the area with the newest houses - which were mostly bought by people from Orange County, at the height of the housing market. So when the housing market went bad, a lot of those people left their nearly new houses and went back to Orange County. And who could blame them? They had huge mortgages, and were underwater, and they had a super long commute. Not a good combination.

But all those foreclosures in that area led to a lot of investors stepping in, and so many of the homes in those newer "upscale communities" are actually rentals now.

The eastern side of town has mostly older homes, but the neighborhoods are established, and there are more homeowners, and the schools are better.

The Hemet/San Jacinto Valley has 100,000 people and is almost ten miles from the western edge to the eastern edge, so it's very possible to have a completely different experience, just by living on the opposite end.

[caligirlz]

Was there a period of time in which crime decreased in Hemet? I'm thinking in the 1990's....at least that was what was reported by Bob Beckett from The Dwelling Place. Just wondering if that really happened.

[bouncethelight]

Originally Posted by caligirlz

Was there a period of time in which crime decreased in Hemet? I'm thinking in the 1990's....at least that was what was reported by Bob Beckett from The Dwelling Place. Just wondering if that really happened.

Prior to the 1960's Hemet was a small town, almost all families, and surrounded by agriculture. Then the developers moved in and began to market Hemet as a retirement community to snowbirds in other states, and in Canada. We still have a lot of snowbirds to this day - and a lot of retirees.

In the 1980's there was some development targeted to families - but it wasn't much.

The late 1990's were hard on Hemet, and most of Riverside County - I remember looking at cute little houses in Hemet and Riverside that sold for under $25,000. Whenever a recession hits, it hits this area hard.

By early-2000's there was a LOT of new development - all targeted to families. Then in the 2007 the latest recession hit, and once again Hemet has been hit hard.

So in answer to your question, crime was low in Hemet for years, and really only escalated in the 1990's. And in fact, according to City-Data, the crime index in Hemet was 440.9 in 1990, was down to 368.6 by 2000, and hit a high of 482.8 in 2006. It has gone down every year since then, and now sits at 376.1 (as of 2010). For comparison, the U.S. average is 319.1, so we're still above the average, but we're at least headed in the right direction.

[Broadcaster]

Yea Hemet sucks! Hate this place!!!

Nothing but a bunch of low life criminals here! Go get a job instead of stealing other peoples stuff... it's ridiculous.

[kttam186290]

The problem with Hemet is likely the same problem that other Southern California communities are dealing with, namely the proliferation of Section 8 renters out of the urban core of Los Angeles relocating to exurban communities like Hemet, Moreno Valley, Victorville, Adelanto and the Antelope Valley.

All of these areas have a glut of empty homes bought by investors who live elsewhere. These investors bought their investment homes at the peak of the market. Those who can still afford to hang on to them are renting them and a guaranteed rent check every month from the goverment is something Section 8 voucher holders can provide. But with this set of people comes crime. This is the case time and time again, it seems.

Here is an article from the Chicago Sun-Times regarding the rise in crime in Chicago's suburban areas after Section 8 vouchers were given to people who lived in the former projects there:

Neighborhoods of CHA relocations experienced higher crime rates - Chicago Sun-Times

[EricJess]

Drove through Hemet the other day, I never want to do that again.

[Midnight Train]

Originally Posted by bouncethelight

It's funny, but most people would say that kids out riding their bikes at night is a sign of a safe neighborhood. When did that turn into something bad?

As for the prostitutes, I saw more on El Cajon Boulevard, when I lived in San Diego. It's all relative!

"Kids (10-12 yrs old) out riding bikes or walking the streets at 11pm at night on school nights."

These kids should be home sleeping on a school night at 11 pm. Their parents probably don't even know where their kids are/or care. That's possibly what the poster was implying.

[ready to roll]

Most of the areas on the outer borders of Hemet are nice. The city center has some problems.

[wombat88]

Originally Posted by lizaj419

We currently reside in Hemet - Willowalk Community. We just had our house burglarized this past weekend and there was a shooting down the street from us last night.

Hemet is not safe and not a place to raise a family!!!

We need good folks here, do NOT let those scum get you. HEMET is a great place to be, not dense, and we live in one of the most beautiful valleys! Blame it on politics as of now there is a great group of TAKE BACK HEMET, of which We re involved! We re working to get our HEMET back! There are a lot more positives here!

[mattieog]

I stayed in Hemet and San Jacinto a few times a decade ago. I felt safe enough walking back from Chappies, other bars, and from a friend's house back then. Has it got less safe since? Planning to visit again this year and stay like I did before in a cheapish Motel on Florida. I'm from London. Any advice would be appreciated