California High Desert Living.

[aka619er]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

 

[RDP Retail]

We lived in Oak Hills, it was beautiful, quiet and our neighbors may have been about 2 acres away but helpful and always kept a look out for eachother.

 

[DLC]

I worked up there for a year in victor ville this was 10 years ago

My Experience -

Winter gets cold - night time temps drop, water on side walks freeze / ice over leaf blowers become ice blowers
Windy
Summer is hot

A lot of dirt bags - had to go to the DMV renew my DL on my birthday in July - I think I was the only person in there w/ a full set of teeth

People are nice and there are some great areas to live, nice BIG property / lots & homes

People talk about up the hill / down the hill - Cajon pass !

Traffic kinda sucked it’s either one side of the 15 or the other

Johnson Valley off roading is really close

 

[Done-it-again]

Like what part of the high desert?

I'm sure there are nice places, but I wouldn't... I'm at the bottom of the hill in Fontana off the 15 and north of the 210 and what's moving in pretty ghetto, looks like East LA, so I can only imagine what is moving in up the hill.

 

[DaBank]

I have lived in Spring Valley Lake since 1979 and so has my wife. She has been a realtor here since 2000. There are definitely areas you want to live in like Spring Valley Lake, Stone Brook Estates, Jess Ranch,Del Web, Sun City that are all HOA's. Then there is (Non HOA) in all part's of Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville and Oak Hills.
Overall it has it good and bad like anywhere but the right neighborhood makes all the difference. Where are you going to be moving from? Send me a message and I am more than happy to let you know what areas are nice.
It also depends if you want land or a community neighborhood. If you like boating and living on a lake Spring Valley Lake is great.
The drive up and down the hill is not bad at all unless it is Friday or a hoilday or you are commuting 9 to 5 on the weekdays.
I just sold my house in Lakewood and the High Desert to me has way less dirt bags at least where I go. The same can be said about my house in Las Vegas and in downtown SD where I kept my boat.
Frank

 

[Wizard29]

I used to live in Oak Hills and was there for about five years. Never again.

Dirtbags are multiplying exponentially up there.

Windy and hot in the summer. Cold in the winter. Dusty pretty much year round.

Getting up and down the Cajon Pass to visit family or whatever was always a bitch. Commuting for work up and down wasn't too terrible many years ago but I don't know how anybody does it now. Pass is sometimes closed due to fires or ice/snow, so if you'd work down the hill, be prepared for that also.

I moved there for the larger house and larger property, but it all lost its luster in a very short period of time. Everything else ended up not being my cup of tea and I was happy as hell to leave on the day we moved.

 

[Javajoe]

It start off nice back in the 80’s / 90’s then became like Moreno Valley with cheap affordable houses and turned into a Meth problem. I’m sure there are nice parts but for me…Never

 

[rivermobster]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

And an hour down the hill, even though it's 5min away.

 

[DaBank]

This is ture at the wrong time of day. I go to Santa Monica a lot on the weekends and when I go it takes an hour and forty minutes but sometimes it can take that long to Victoria Gardens!!

 

[DaBank]

It start off nice back in the 80’s / 90’s then became like Moreno Valley with cheap affordable houses and turned into a Meth problem. I’m sure there are nice parts but for me…Never

I am sure there is a meth problem up here like everywhere else but I will say that there is only 3 streets up here I see them walking around and only a handful. But no Zombies walking around like everywhere else I go down the hill especially in high rent areas it has become crazy.

 

[Bobby V]

Preety sure @CLdrinker lives up there.

 

[DaBank]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

The location is great for the above reasons. If you are coming from a area that $800k buys you a house built in 1955 and is 1200 sqft you can buy a new/newer custom 3500 sqft house on 1 to 5 acres in the right neighborhood or a custom 3k sqft plus waterfront house on a private lake.

 

[Badchoices03]

I have friends that live in Oak Hills and can roll their UTV's from their garage up to Wrightwood, nice newer home on about 1.5acre...

 

[CLdrinker]

Preety sure @CLdrinker lives up there.

Been here since 1987

OP send me a text and I will call you when I get home from vacation.
760 912-3547 Mike.

 

[yz450mm]

Apple Valley here, lots of pluses and lots of minuses to living up here. If you know the areas to look in, you can get a great place for very affordable prices. It's a very fine line though, you can go from great area to shit area in one street.

I'd say the biggest plus is the central location. Apple Valley and Oak Hills are the only two places that I would buy, or maybe a couple areas of Hesperia. If you don't mind being further from shopping and amenities, there are probably some areas of Phelan or Pinion Hills that I would consider.

Looks can be deceiving, definitely hit up one of us that lives up here before you go digging into anything.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I coached a person in real estate in Wrightwood real estate for a couple years and learned about the area including the high desert a lot. He was trying to get me to move up there and I know a few others that did. I'm going to mention one big thing that came up over and over....always go to the shopping center and grocery stores where you intend to move. Most likely, you'll make up your mind very quickly when you see your new neighbors. The people I know up there commonly spoke about the people wearing pajamas everywhere....they are on social assistance/welfare. Lots and I mean lots of meth. With that said, you can get a lot of bang for the buck, have land, huge garages, etc. Summers and brutal, winters are really nice, traffic down the hill is ridiculous, the 40 is a nicer route to Havasu.

Personally, if I was going to move to that area, I would move to Wrightwood or Acton. Oak Hills if you don't want to mess with the fires or hate trees.

Stay away from Palmdale not matter what. That place is so bad I could talk for hours about it.

Acton is really nice and the people are friendly and like minded.

Good luck!

 

[mesquito_creek]

My mother in law and brother in law both live in the oak hills area so we visit a few times a year. I have hunted all over for a decent brewery/sports bar. The only one I have found is the republic at spring valley lake. After that, the Texas Roadhouse (which isn’t my thing as a chain)…

I find it a bit of a resturant dessert… what am I missing? The gators and what not just are too dive style for me and I enjoy a good dive bar…

Weather is better there than Az in the summer. More cold and windy in the winter.

Wife and I are flying into apply valley airport next month for my nieces 16th birthday.

 

[CLdrinker]

Oak Hills is number 1 by a long shot.
Apple Valley is a second. But has specific spots.
Hesperia is 3rd with a few specific spots.
If you look at Victorville, Adelento or Barstow you are going to regret it quickly.
Victorville is right there with San Bernardino and Compton. No Cap as the kids would say.

 

[Done-it-again]

Oak Hills is number 1 by a long shot.
Apple Valley is a second. But has specific spots.
Hesperia is 3rd with a few specific spots.
If you look at Victorville, Adelento or Barstow you are going to regret it quickly.
Victorville is right there with San Bernardino and Compton. No Cap as the kids would say.

Doesn't all these locations shop and eat in main area off the 15?

 

[DBMX]

I worked up there for a year in victor ville this was 10 years ago

My Experience -

Winter gets cold - night time temps drop, water on side walks freeze / ice over leaf blowers become ice blowers
Windy
Summer is hot

A lot of dirt bags - had to go to the DMV renew my DL on my birthday in July - I think I was the only person in there w/ a full set of teeth

People are nice and there are some great areas to live, nice BIG property / lots & homes

People talk about up the hill / down the hill - Cajon pass !

Traffic kinda sucked it’s either one side of the 15 or the other

Johnson Valley off roading is really close

Ditto for me.

 

[svlperry]

My mother in law and brother in law both live in the oak hills area so we visit a few times a year. I have hunted all over for a decent brewery/sports bar. The only one I have found is the republic at spring valley lake. After that, the Texas Roadhouse (which isn’t my thing as a chain)…

I find it a bit of a resturant dessert… what am I missing? The gators and what not just are too dive style for me and I enjoy a good dive bar…

Weather is better there than Az in the summer. More cold and windy in the winter.

Wife and I are flying into apply valley airport next month for my nieces 16th birthday.

Look up oak hills brewing company next time your in town

 

[svlperry]

Moved up here in 1983 into Spring Valley Lake really love it here there’s no need if you don’t want to go to Havasu

 

[svlperry]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

If you’re ever up in the area, I’ll PM you my phone number. Call me. I’ll take you for a ride around the lake in Spring Valley lake.

 

[CLdrinker]

Doesn't all these locations shop and eat in main area off the 15?

No. My wife might go hit that Target once a year. Apple valley has 2 Targets. The good restaurants are not in restaurant row.
My family don’t leave AV unless we are going on a trip lol.

 

[CLdrinker]

Moved up here in 1983 into Spring Valley Lake really love it here there’s no need if you don’t want to go to Havasu

Spring Valley lake isn’t as nice as it used to be. Back in the 80’s or 90’s that was the place to be.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Look up oak hills brewing company next time your in town

Been there twice, it’s ok but more of a tasting room in an industrial complex. No food but maybe a food truck randomly. We are a bit spoiled in Tempe/chandler with a dozen full service brewery/resturants.

 

[69hondo]

Been here since 86.
Hesperia the whole time. Like everywhere the high desert has grown and not the same place it was when I was a kid but still nice.
Looks like you already have plenty of opinions. All I will say is if you have to commute up/down the 15 for work it will change your whole perspective on living up here.

 

[aka619er]

This is all great info and I thank you all for it. We were there over the weekend and liked the Apple Valley and the Phelan area. I guess thats Oak Hills as well. Drove around the lake and definetly see the appeal. Drove upto Silver Lakes and thats just to far away. Drove the main roads from the 15 over to like the Lucerne Valley road and thats a ton of stop and go so I wasn't a fan. Stopped by the shopping centers and talked to the people who worked there. Wasn't as bad as I expected and stuff wasn't all locked up. We don't need to go over the hill as they call it for anything other than we may want to but that traffic sucked both times I have ever been over it on a Sunday I will def reach out to those that offered.

 

[DaBank]

This is all great info and I thank you all for it. We were there over the weekend and liked the Apple Valley and the Phelan area. I guess thats Oak Hills as well. Drove around the lake and define see the appeal. Drove upto Silver Lakes and thats just to far away. Drove the main roads from the 15 ovet to like the lucent valley road and thats a ton of stop and go so I wasn't a fan. Stopped by the shopping centers and talked to the people who worked there. Wasn't as bad as I expected and stuff wasn't all locked up. I will def reach out to those that offered.

Silver Lakes is to far. It is great if you are retired and want to golf every day since the HOA includes golf. It is 5 mph lake just for cruising and fishing. Spring Valley Lake is 35 mph and all watersports are allowed. The golf course is not included in the HOA.

 

[ChumpChange]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

Three hours to Vegas? Why drive so slow?

 

[shintoooo]

You'll have a train to Vegas soon in that area too.

 

[77charger]

I’ve worked up there a few times on new homes or remodels. Oak hills seems to be pretty cool and remote feel. Also done some in apple valley a ways off the fwy and that too seemed calm. There were a couple other spots that seems good.

But what I see too if it’s a housing tract and off a Main Street run lol.

 

[lbhsbz]

Do you have a kite?

 

[HocusPocus]

I have lived in Phelan for 46 years, graduated from Serrano High School in 1980 and my wife in 1985, lots of family in the area including Wrightwood. Raised 4 kids here, 1 in Washington state, 1 currently deployed and 2 who live close by. I would be happy to show you around or answer any questions. 760-981-9613

 

[DLC]

RDP inmates are Great Peeps….


Ask a question and inmates answer ! Good or Bad answers …. honest answers


Love It !!

 

[Kachina26]

It ain't what it used to be. There's some nice places, but at the end of the day, you gotta get gas and groceries somewhere. The zombies are everywhere. I don't know, maybe compared to down the hill it's still nice. If you don't commute a regular job, the drive isn't bad. The same drive that took me 40 minutes working swings took my wife 1.5 to 2 hours every day. She went from going through the mountains on rare occasions to having to go that way every day. Add to that, Victorville just earned recognition as the 2nd most dangerous place to drive in the country.

Victorville and San Bernardino Drivers Rank Among Worst in U.S.

A Consumer Affairs study ranked Victorville's drivers as second-worst in the U.S., with high crash and alcohol-related fatality rates. San Bernardino was fourth, leading in DUI fatalities. The study underscores risky behaviors like speeding and DUI as major risks. Read more at vvng.com #vvng...

www.vvng.com

 

[Orange Juice]

Very loaded question, if you live there or use to live there. How do you like it?

Wife and I just got great job offers to move to the area. We visited it over the weekend and found areas we like and areas we didn't. Seems there was a lot of off road areas in fact we saw the California 300 taking place. Prices were more leveled off than I thought they would be. 1 hour to Big Bear, 3 to Vegas, 3 to the river. Etc.

It’s always windy.

Other than that, a fun place to explore.

 

[yz450mm]

It’s always windy.

Other than that, a fun place to explore.

Oddly enough, it hasn't been windy very much at all lately. Kind of weird, makes you stop and wonder why it's so calm in the evenings. Wish it was like this more often.

 

[Wizard29]

Do you have a kite?

He'll be able to fly it every damn day.

 

[TPC]

If we were to move to the desert we'd move to where there is no State Income tax.
We did check out areas at one time.

My parents moved to Tehachapi once and the winds drove them nuts. Relentless.
They had to wait years for the real Estate market to rebound before they could sell the place and move to Cool Ca.

 

[Chili Palmer]

I’m currently working in Lancaster and take the 210 to the 14 in the morning to work and the 138 to the 15 to the 210 to get home. There are times nav has taken me on some roundabout ways to the 15 from Lancaster. Yesterday morning my nav showed the 138 route to be 45 minutes faster than taking the 14 - probably an accident on the 210, but the 15 going south from the 215 split up to the 138 was a parking lot, then when I got on the 138 traffic to get onto 15 was backed up about 3 miles on the west side of the 15. In the afternoon the 15 north is backed up as far as the eye can see getting in at the 138, and on Fridays it starts getting backed up at Sierra Ave. just north of the 210.
If you don’t have to commute it may be a nice place to live, but there’s a lot of crappy places too. During the fires I was routed up through Oak Hills, that seemed like a nice place, but everything around it seemed low budget.

What seems to be a an upper desert thing is streets and curbs just end, some roads aren’t paved and some are. Even in built up Lancaster and Palmdale you can turn off a main street and it’s a dirt road with an established neighborhood. Very different from the suburbs down the hill.

 

[Dunerking]

I coached a person in real estate in Wrightwood real estate for a couple years and learned about the area including the high desert a lot. He was trying to get me to move up there and I know a few others that did. I'm going to mention one big thing that came up over and over....always go to the shopping center and grocery stores where you intend to move. Most likely, you'll make up your mind very quickly when you see your new neighbors. The people I know up there commonly spoke about the people wearing pajamas everywhere....they are on social assistance/welfare. Lots and I mean lots of meth. With that said, you can get a lot of bang for the buck, have land, huge garages, etc. Summers and brutal, winters are really nice, traffic down the hill is ridiculous, the 40 is a nicer route to Havasu.

Personally, if I was going to move to that area, I would move to Wrightwood or Acton. Oak Hills if you don't want to mess with the fires or hate trees.

Stay away from Palmdale not matter what. That place is so bad I could talk for hours about it.

Acton is really nice and the people are friendly and like minded.

Good luck!

X-2 for Acton..we’re in Agua Dulce and it’s a small community feel. Also our last ditch place to live until we blow out of Kommifornia.

 

[LAVEYNICK]

Lived in oak hills right at the top of the pass for 9 years and loved it. Moved back to Rancho. My wife and myself both commute the pass and the kids went to school in rancho so the drive was getting old.

 

[Emac]

Lived in Acton for 10 years and absolutely loved the place, moved for work unfortunately. Zero stop lights in town, can use golf cart, side x side whatever to roll around and never really get bothered. Laid back people that want to be away from the hustle and bustle but close enough you can get to pretty much anything. All four seasons with minimal snow. Mainly police, fire, and movie folks. Only crappy deal was its LA County.

 

[YeahYeah01]

Lived in the HD my hole life. In Apple valley for last 20 years. I like it. Like any place it's what you make it. We have family and great friends and there is always something to do within our groups. Yes is hot in the summer and cold in the winter and gets windy most afternoons. Mornings and evenings can be perfect. It's affordable and most places we go are clean and safe. It has everything we need. like most said, stick to AV, Oak hills area.. select Hesperia or spring valley. Spring valley used to be great. Got kinda bad but over the last several years has gotten pretty good again. They celebrate most Hollidays block style and a good community with some cool amenities.

If you have to commute down the hill then it would suck, that traffic is just stupid these days. Weekends depending on times can be an easy drive though.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Here is my .02

Leave Cali it’s a shithole. Way more nicer places in the country!!!

 

[Bpracing1127]

You guys are talking about oak hills as if it’s Newport Beach. Lmao it’s the high desert.

And talking about down the hill? Like Fontana or Rancho Cucamonga give me a break those are just as bad

 

[BHC Vic]

You guys are talking about oak hills as if it’s Newport Beach. Lmao it’s the high desert.

And talking about down the hill? Like Fontana or Rancho Cucamonga give me a break those are just as bad

It’s what you want out of life. I love Norco. I travel the west coast of the country quite often for work. I like Norco more than West Jordan Utah. I don’t really care for Washington the dry or wet side. Won’t do Arizona, don’t like Colorado, I do Portland next week. Then tangent DuPont Burlington. I still like living in Norco, but I don’t leave Norco much I still need to check out Wyoming, montana, and Alaska. That will be next year

 

[Bigbore500r]

Been here since 86.
Hesperia the whole time. Like everywhere the high desert has grown and not the same place it was when I was a kid but still nice.
Looks like you already have plenty of opinions. All I will say is if you have to commute up/down the 15 for work it will change your whole perspective on living up here.

Helicopter ...... that would be a game changer! Lol

 

[Badchoices03]

You guys are talking about oak hills as if it’s Newport Beach. Lmao it’s the high desert.

And talking about down the hill? Like Fontana or Rancho Cucamonga give me a break those are just as bad

Personally I would take Oak Hills over Newport all day, even if money wasn't an issue.....that being said, OP asked about upper desert locations nobody is comparing Oak Hills to NB, they are comparing Oak Hills to other high desert areas...