Hey everyone! My husband and I are planning to move from Asheville, NC to California. I lived in San Francisco and in Laytonville (in Mendocino County) many years ago, but have not visited much since and am not sure how things may have changed. I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion about great places to live north of San Francisco- anywhere between the city limits and northern Mendocino County, although closer proximity to the city is definitely a plus. We're a couple of hippies looking for a town in which to buy a home and possibly raise a family. We need affordability, nature, community, excitement now and then, and a very liberal, laid-back environment. Any suggestions?
Many places in northern Mendo or southern Humboldt could meet you requirements with the exception of affordability, and that depends on you definition of being affordable. I lived in SoHum for over a decade and can recommend the communities of Salmon Creek, Ettersburg, Crooked Prairie, or Honey Dew or other communities that hub around Garberville/Redway in SoHum that put you about four hours to the city. I do admit I left there due to high land prices and property taxes as well as the change from a mom and pop pot growing environment to large scale, indoor, generator powered scenes.
Thank you, freeinalaska. We have a pretty low income, but as long as a home has four wall, a roof, and some heat we don't have many needs! I will check out your suggestions online. The only town I am already somewhat familiar with is Garberville. Do you find Alaska more to your liking?
Yes, in a lot of ways I do find Alaska more to my liking. I do miss my close proximity to the coast, I live in the interior, and it's bitter cold in the winter, but right now it's warm and sunny. I like the land here and the price that I was able to purchase 10 acres for. Funny you posted about the area because I am going there next week for a visit for the first time in ten years and will be hanging with some friends in SoHum. Good luck with your endeavours. I have heard that land prices are pretty high. 60 acres I rented in the 80s in Salmon Creek, that had been purchased for $60K, went for almost $400K five or six years ago, and all that was on the land was an uninsulated hippie shack with no phone or power. I am quite curious what you will find. And the statement I made in my previous post regarding why I left wasn't entirely true. While we had dreamed of moving to AK for years it was work/money that really sent us here. And btw I am from NC and my brother lives in Asheville.
Ya got me curious so I searched property a bit and OUCH. http://www.humboldtlandman.com Honeydew Single Family Home - $ 550,000 45255 Mattole Road 1 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom 1000 Sq Ft 26.00 acres Ettersburg Land/Property - $ 295,000 3000 Fox Spring Rd Road 90.00 acres Laytonville Single Family Home - $ 2,575,000 000000 Private Road 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3840 Sq Ft 161.00 acres Redway Single Family Home - $ 395,000 549 Redway Drive 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom 1100 Sq Ft .75 acres
We very much love Asheville, but I'm growing weary of living on a cultural island. We are going to have to look for property well under $200,000 to start, and not expect any sort of land at all. That'll be hard, because we have some lovely land here. I have found just a few cheaper homes on MLS, mostly around Willits and Ukiah. Once we get out there, there may come a time when we can afford some land. I haven't lived in Northern California since around 1994! I'm envious that you get to visit! Have a good time!
check out Chico...it is awesome, ignore all the party town things you read about it, it is way mellow and laid back so long as you avoid downtown on the weekends while school is in session.....and you can still buy land here in the foothills pretty cheap...and houses in town are going for $120K or so easy if you're looking to buy, rentals for 3 or 4 bedrooms in town go for $800 - $1000 monthly anyway, look up chico, california and if you have any questions I have been in this area for 5 years now. Be well
I have been stuck in the Sacramento area since I got out here six months ago, but I've been exploring a lot on my off time. Chico was really cool, its a good long drive from SF though. I really liked Humboldt County, I had a job for a couple of weeks in Fortuna and fell in love with the area. I love hills and Pine trees so I felt at home. Eureka seemed cool, but I've heard bad things about it. I liked some of the towns on the 101 North of the bay, Ukiah was pretty cool and everytime I'me there I meet cool people. Another place that rocked was Clear Lake. That whole are was awesome. Sadly I think anything remotely near the bay that is going to be anywhere near affordable is going to end up being in the Central Valley. You can still find some deals in the little farm towns North of Sacramento. You may be able to score some deals in the delta as well, I haven't looked too much there.
You might want to try Arcata or other places nearby in Humboldt. Eureka is a little, er, "mixed" and I hear some iffy things about it...but the towns surrounding it are great. It's a shame Bolinas is so...closed off. You'd love it!
The further north you come the happier a hippie will be. I live in Rio Dell tween Eureka and Garberville. It never gets hot here. Lot's of giant Redwoods. Plenty of hippies. Land and housing are above average but the depression has lowered costs lately. Up in the hills around here bargains can be found. TuT
Rio Dell- My first Humboldt cabin was one I rented on Stafford Road just a bit south of you. I sure got alot of shit in Rio Dell and Scotia for being a VW driving hippie in the late 80s.
If you go to the coast or close to it, you gotta have $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Just how it is. Clearlake - now that's a great idea!
I've heard bad things about Eureka too. Bad bad bad bad bad bad bad. Mmm mmmm. BAD! Bad things! Real bad things. About Eureka!
