|  | Topic : What is Santa Rosa like? |  |
| | | daz | | Zeus |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,731 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Oct 2015 - 21:11 Post title : What is Santa Rosa like? | | | I know some of you live in nor cal so i thought i'd ask if it's a nice city to live in and are there any areas to stay away from when looking for a house?
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| | | mag10 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 05/02/2010 | | Posts | : | 485 | | Location | : | Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 05 Oct 2015 - 12:34 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: daz) | | | I don't know what its like to live there but there are plenty of great roads to ride in the area.
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| | | blansky | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/08/2015 | | Posts | : | 119 | | Location | : | LA area California., United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 00:08 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: daz) | | | I live there and have for 15 years.
Absolutely perfect weather with a bit of a rainy season in the winter, although not much lately.
In the summer the weather is pretty much perfect with no rain. We have a marine layer that floats in during the late afternoon that cools things down a bit.
We have some of the best winding roads through the vineyards and paved back roads and its extreme motorcycle friendly.
Let me know if you need more info.
As for real estate, the quality of the areas is pretty evident but real estate is quite expensive. There are also small towns bordering the city that you can also explore the options.
| | Post edited by blansky on 09 Oct 2015 - 00:32 |
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| | | daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,731 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 00:44 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: blansky) | | | Actually i was more interested in the quality of the neighborhoods rather than weather and riding. I can't afford much but i HAVE seen some reasonable looking deals on zillow. I got the impression the RE varies a lot from expensive to pretty cheap. I have family in st helena so i want to move up there to be near them in a few years and was thinking of buying now and renting it out till i'm ready to retire and move in. Are there any other areas up there as close to st helena that have good neighborhoods and some good buys on occasion?
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| | | blansky | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/08/2015 | | Posts | : | 119 | | Location | : | LA area California., United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 03:01 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: daz) | | | Well as you know, like anywhere there are good neighborhoods and not so good. And not knowing what kind of money you're talking, I can't say.
As I'm sure you're aware, St Helena is over the hill along the Napa corridor, and being there is probably more expensive.
What I will say that the recession hit here pretty good, and housing prices dropped a lot and they are now heading back up. So everything will be cheaper now than in a few years.
But if you don't need to commute or work here, there are lots of small towns along 101 where houses will be cheaper that Santa Rosa probably. From Windsor up to Cloverdale area, and places heading towards the coast. To give you an idea, I live in Windsor and can cut over the hill and be in St Helena in less than an hour.
I live in a 4 bedroom suburban house that sells for around $550.
There isn't a lot of crime here, but some gang stuff in some areas but that impacts most people very little. This area is wine country, has a wine and food vibe to it, and is somewhat touristy. The population is older to some extent than say down near SF. It just has a more mature wine culture to the place. A fair amount of traffic during rush hour, but a laid back weekend touristy feel to it on weekends.
Like everywhere the cheaper real estate areas will have the most crime. If you want to be more specific on what you're seeing in your research, I'll be happy to scope it out for you.
| | Post edited by blansky on 09 Oct 2015 - 03:20 |
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| | | daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,731 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 03:45 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: blansky) | | | An hour? I was thinking that general area would be much closer to St Helena. If i use MS "streets" to look at the area there are roads that when i measure would take me to St Helena in 15 miles. Thats why i thought SR might be a good area. I'm looking to spend no more than $300k, and while i know thats cheap i have seen houses in that range there now and then even tho thats certainly on the very low side. Not condos or ay sort of HOA places either, but normal single family homes. I see those prices and less quite often in fairfield, but I get the feeling thats not a good area plus it's 30+ miles from St H.
I suppose i won't end up there but i just can't stand the thought of living so far from them. The last family member down here, my sister, just moved up there to be with her daughter and great granddaughter. I feel very isolated and alone and miss them. But it's going to take some luck to pull this off and i likely won't be able to. Oh well....thats life i guess...
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| | | blansky | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 07/08/2015 | | Posts | : | 119 | | Location | : | LA area California., United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 14:23 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: daz) | | | Time wise, it depends. SR to Calistoga is a 2 lane paved road with a 45-55 mile speed limit. Great fun twisty road. Depends on time of day and traffic. I was just estimating for you. Calistoga to St Helena is also touristy and can be slow.
Like I said, areas all have different price ranges and I'm sure you could find something in the $300 range. And areas all have different temperatures and characteristics. My choice would never be the Fairfield or Vallejo area but someone else might like it. A place like Benicia is a newly gentrified type of area that used to be a military base. There are tons of options but you mentioned Santa Rosa, and I was telling you about it.
My area is Sonoma County, wine country. Fairfield is sprawl, windy, tons of traffic on the corridor from SF to Sacramento.
It's a big area, and none of these places are that hard to get to St Helena from. You'd have to come up and explore and check it out and see where you'd want to live.
Bottom line is you could probably do it with $300 you'd just have to explore it. I'm sure there a decent 2-3 bedroom houses in these areas.
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| | | daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,731 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 09 Oct 2015 - 17:25 Post title : Re: What is Santa Rosa like? (Re: blansky) | | | Yeah, i suppose thats the way to do it. I just never have the time to travel. But i guess looking for myself is the only way. Thanks.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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