I have to relocate for work to Sacramento from SDiego. Although I haven't been up that way in ages, I like the idea of being in the foothills (Placerville?) and can handle up to an hour commute. How is property (325,000 median here). Any 411 would be great. And I apologize in advance for being from SoCal - but hey, I'm a native San Diegan and hate LA, too!

As long as you hate the Lakers, come on up.

Compared to most metropolitan areas in California, Sacramento is still a pretty good deal as far as housing goes. Your best bet is to figure out what amenities you're looking for and I'm sure a realtor could put together a long list of properties for you to look at in the greater Sacramento area.

Too bad you have to leave San Diego--one of my favorite places--but Sac really has a lot to offer, too.

Sacramento and the surrounding area has grown a LOT in the last few years. Commutes along both Hwy 50 (from Placerville) and Hwy 80 (from Auburn/Grass Valley) have gotten really bad. Not like in LA but still pretty conjested.

But there are light rail lines on both corridors so if you end up in Placer or El Dorado counties you could drive part way, park for free and take light rail into town (IF you are actually working in central Scaramento.)

I agree w/ ezwriter - any foothill realtor will be able to find you a LOT of places for 325K or less.

(and ez was also right about hating the Lakers and loving the Kings - absolute MUSTS. Just got home from game 6. We live to fight another day -- AND the Lakers DON'T!!!!!!!)

Thanks for the input. Like I mentioned, it's been ages since I've been through Sac and I just recall a flat, hot valley. I like the idea of being in the hills (maybe it's a San Diego thing where we have lots of hills and canyons. Something in a smaller community with character (no tract homes, please) and reasonable distances to culture and nature. Thanks in advance. And by the way, never liked the Lakers. they only get coverage here because we don't have a team (not since the Clippers left).

Janis is right. Commuting along the major freeways is bad and getting worse.
It is not LA or San Francisco or Seattle but its not great if you live in the hills or Roseville. Cost of houses is lower than most places in San Diego, say Del Mar or La Jolla but not cheap. Commuting times will depend on where you are going and when you are going. Where you want to live will depend on what you can spend, where you want to be close to, possible need for schools, and what kind of house/land you want. etc.

Hi there....I live in the Grass Valley/ Nevada City area and my husband commutes to Rocklin every day. He doesnt find the drive too much, its about an hour. Email me at [email protected] if you have any questions. $325,000 is a good price range for a nice house w/acreage.

Patty...Shsssssssh about So. Placer and Nevada Counties!!
Let 'em all go to ElDoCo or YoloCo! ;-)

"Nothing here to see-Move along".

uh oh. what's wrong with el dorado or yolo?

malvodo: Nothing is wrong with Yolo or El Dorado. Kal lives in Placer or Nevada County and doesn't want any more people (like him) moving in. You can't really blame him though. All the nice areas have just exploded in population in the last five+ years.

But before you take anyone's suggestions - you really should tell us where you will be working. That will make a HUGE difference in the commutes. I would never advise someone working in Laguna (So Sac - not the one in So Cal) to live in Nevada County, or someone working in South Placer to live in Yolo County.

Where is your firm located?

thanks janis for the background. i can understand the population boom resentment. as a native sdiegan, i'm bitter about the "los angelization" of my hometown. I'll be working in Roseville, and as I mentioned earlier, I can tolerate an hour commute (as long as it's not an hour in gridlock). thanks in advance.

Well you are in luck. Working in Roseville (S. Placer County) would let you live anywhere in the general I-80 corridor (Roseville, Auburn, Grass Valley, Loomis, Rocklin, Lincols, Penryn and others) and not have to cross Sacramento at all in your commute. The Traffic can sometimes be bad but the worst is between Roseville and Sacramento and you would miss all that.

Roseville is not in the foothills but everything east of it is. Parts of Roseville - especially Granite Bay near Folsom Lake - have really boomed and housing is pretty expensive. But heading east, you should be able to find really nice places and still be within 30 minutes (or a lot less) of your work.

janis, OUCH!
I've been here since '62 and Mrs Kal '54 so we've earned our stripes when it comes to griping!

Not really...Other than being lucky enuff for not have to drive I-80 or Sunrise Blvd. every morning to work, this area is still a nice place to live.

malvado, If you work in Roseville and don't mind a commute and like open spaces, the Placer Co/Sutter Co. border(out Baseline until it turns into Riego Rd.) a lot of undeveloped property with some large houses on them.
I take that route to the Sac Intl Airport.
Baseline/Riego in/secs w/ Hwy 99 then to I-5.

If you live in ElDoCo and commute to Roseville, I hear it's been pretty hairy since they closed the Folsom Dam Road and you have to go thru the Town of Folsom. Shouldn't be closed forever tho.

I have some friends who work in Auburn and tell us traffic horror stories about Hwy49 so Penryn, Newcastle might be nice for you too.
If you do come to Roseville, lemme know.
I'm good for the first lunch.
Kal

Kal - I DID say I didn't blame you

I have been in Sacramento longer than either of you (but I'm not saying exactly how long). Just the other day I was in "Old" Granite Bay and was really comiserating with my friend how the Bay Area newcomers have turned it into a branch of the SF Peninsula. Houses that are too big, too flashy, TOO MUCH. Granite bay used to be this wonderful encleave of winding roads, no sidewalks, walk to the lake - now Douglas Blvd is a freeway.

janis, I'd hate to tell the people in "Gra-nawht" Bay what we used to do in those fields years ago!

Having said that, I'd still kill for a house in Los Lagos! That may require working hard, tho!

You're right about going down Douglas (used to be Rocky Ridge-remember?) during rush hour.

Gridlock on Douglas? It took me almost an hour to get to Folsom one afternoon.

Time to move to Kauai...where they can dislike me for moving there ???
Kal

Hi--thought I'd throw my two cents in again. Some good info from everyone. I know you keep mentioning the hour commute to Roseville is OK, but I don't think it's necessary for what you want. I would definitely stay on the HWY 80 side as opposed to HWY 50. Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Penryn, Lincoln, Auburn, etc. are all nice places to live and are fairly close to each other. Good luck with the move.