Looking at moving to the High Desert (Los Angeles, Hesperia: for rent, homes)

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

I hope someone who is really familiar with Victorville speaks up here, as I am not anymore. At one time, Victorville was the size & demographic of Barstow...at that time, Barstow was not as awful as it is now. Then the building bubble happened (the house you're looking at is one of that era), & a lot of people who couldn't afford LA or OC bought houses there & Victorville grew fast. Then, the housing crash happened, & many of those houses were foreclosed on (like the one you're looking at). Many Section 8 people moved to VV, so that meant crime, gangs, drugs.

I'm guessing some areas of VV are OK...generally, Apple Valley, which is close by, is considered to be better, except for the "felony flats" area.

I wish I could help more, hopefully someone else will speak up. If not, you could try doing an advanced search that will bring up other, earlier postings on VV. Also, maybe consider renting before buying to get a feel for the area.

[CrazyManCrazy]

If I were looking around to settle down in the Barstow/VV area nowadaze, , I believe I would choose maybe Hodge, Helendale,or Silver Lakes area on old 66. You are half way, centrally located between Barstow and Victorville, out of the "city" and more rural.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by CrazyManCrazy

If I were looking around to settle down in the Barstow/VV area nowadaze, , I believe I would choose maybe Hodge, Helendale,or Silver Lakes area on old 66. You are half way, centrally located between Barstow and Victorville, out of the "city" and more rural.

Yes to Helendale, Silver Lakes.

[kttam186290]

Phelan, Wrightwood, Pinon Hills and Oak Hills are also pretty nice, as is the south side of Hesperia. Just went out there about a week ago.

Those areas are right between Victorville and Rancho Cucamonga. North Fontana is supposed to be a good area too.

[jesse977]

I like Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, and Joshua Tree

[Spritanium]

Joshua Tree is nice, I've been there before and there are some cool antique shops, restaurants, murals. Not a lot going on but the people seemed happy. I think Yucca Valley is similar, and it's a little closer to the I-10 which is pretty much how you'll get anywhere.

[kttam186290]

I've always thought of Joshua Tree as being more a part of the "low desert" because it is much more connected to the Coachella Valley.

[AFtrEFkt]

The [Coachella Valley] floor is the low desert. Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, 29 Palms, Landers (and even Morongo Valley) are referred to as the high desert — hence the name of this newspaper: http://www.hidesertstar.com/

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

I've always thought of Joshua Tree as being more a part of the "low desert" because it is much more connected to the Coachella Valley.

Good grief, consult a map & U.S. Weather Service! Joshua Tree is def HD! It gets cold as hell in winter, CV never does, due to low/no elevation! Not all deserts are the same! Did you grow up in CA? Did you ever take a geography class? Do you know what geography is? Geezus!

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by MarciaMarshaMarcia

Good grief, consult a map & U.S. Weather Service! Joshua Tree is def HD! It gets cold as hell in winter, CV never does, due to low/no elevation! Not all deserts are the same! Did you grow up in CA? Did you ever take a geography class? Do you know what geography is? Geezus!

Yes, I did. By the way, there's no such entity as the "U.S. Weather Service", since you want to get snippy...

It's called the National Weather Service!