Redding California

ok cool.. I know I will be asking. U live in portland, you know where the 500/205 interchange is? I live right by there, I hate it. You cant get anywhere during rush hour. UGH

How is HAppy VAlley? Like Peachtree lane? Is it far from town? kina looks like it is away from town but wondering just how far it is form conveniences.

Nope, not me, I grew up in modesto... LOL Still looking at houses... EVERY DAY... trying to find something just right ta the right timing... LOL..

IDK, I might be on the "picky" side of this discussion.  Sorry in advance if I offend anyone and diss their neighborhood.  I am very particular about neighborhoods and schools so this may not be of importance to you (schools anyway, depends if you have kids or not.  I am going to not pull any punches here.  I would NOT move to Shasta Lake City, Gateway School district has a lot of problems and low state standard scores.  The crime levels are up and if you pull up Megan's law for Shasta County you will find more sex offenders in that part of town.  They have a few nicer areas but they school districts are kind of combined, good with bad.  Not worth it if you ask me.  This includes anywhere passed the Shopko center up Lake Blvd.  The rent runs lower in both of these areas.

If you go up Placer, downtown, they have some rather nice neighborhoods, although I prefer the East side of Redding because it is closer to stores and the mall.  The only grocery stores that are really close up Placer are Sunset and Holiday (I think) and they run a lot more expensive than your Winco, Food Maxx stores.  I don't know about rent prices up here, I think they are a little higher.

There is a really old neighborhood with decent rent prices around Park Marina, often referred to the "Garden Tract" (sp?).  They are just a hop away from conveniences but you will find a LOT of sex offenders staying near this area.  With kids, I would stay away. 

Moving along to the South side of Redding, there is an area around Bonnyview.  There are some nice homes but again, far from the main part of town that I shop in (Target, Mt Shasta Mall, Best Buy).  I mean with gas prices, it is good to take this stuff into account.  I don't know about schools in this area but have noticed that rent is a little less.

Anderson depends on where you live.  I would strictly stay EAST of 273 or you will hit some really nasty neighborhoods, lots of super cheap apartments and what comes along with really cheap apartments.  I would say East of I5 as well but I know of at least one pretty new subdivision that borders a lake that is pretty nice.  It is in between I5 and 273.  They have that new super Wal Mart that has pretty much everything you would need for basics and the outlet mall for clothing.  Lets just say you wouldn't be running into Redding all of the time.  Rent is quite a bit less in Anderson too but I have not checked out the Megan's listers for that area. 

I don't know much about Cottonwood except that they have an awesome school system.  East and West Cottonwood schools do very well.  Their rent can be a lot less in some areas but keep in mind that Cottonwood is pretty rural.  They are not city lots and some roads seem to go on forever.  Plus, you may be closer to Red Bluff than Redding in instances. 

I like most places in Redding that are East of I5.  For me, the most desirable places in Redding are the side of Shasta View, north of 44, Edgewood, Ravenwood.  There is also a neighborhood that surrounds Boulder Creek School.  I can't remember what this subdivision is called but it is right off of Churn Creek just passed Home Depot.  It has some nice houses and is right in town.  The Enterprise area is all right if you want some lower rentals but they do have their less desirable parts so I would check around first.  The same goes for Alta Mesa. 

When we were looking to buy, I researched a lot of areas but obviously there are a lot more that I know nothing about.  I drove around the whole city like 100 times and checked out many places.  If you have a chance to just drive around you can get a good sense for yourself what you like and what you don't. 

Get on the Shasta County sherrif web site and check out the Megan's Law maps and the Shasta County schools to see standardized testing results for all local schools if this is applicable. 

HTH!