Apple Valley

I am considering moving to the Del Webb community in Apple Valley. I'd love some info from those of you who live there. What is the weather like in the summer? Can you grow roses there? Are there any trees? What is shopping like? I have never lived in the desert,and don't like heat for long periods of time, but love the terrain. Any advice or info will be much appreciated. I plan on visiting soon to see what it is like, but would love to hear if those who live there really like the place. I do love wildlife!

Thanks,
Patty

Hi there,,I no longer live in apple valley,,but I grew up there.The shopping is great,,,it is booming there!As for the summers,,they do get very hot,,but it is dry.Roses,,I grew roses just fine.If I were you,,I would contact the local law enforcement nearest to where you plan on buying & ask them about crime in that area.I do know crime & gangs have gotten pretty bad in some areas,,my dad retired out of the apple valley sheriff's station.Hope that helped a little.

I live in Apple Valley--its pretty if you like the desert. Lots of really nice rock formations to. Good shopping---in fact, there's more shopping areas than anywhere I've seen but most of the stores aren't as big as the ones going towards L.A. Summers are quite honestly, very, very hot. I would say an average of 110 but does go higher. Winters are cold we get a little snow and a little rain and lots and lots of wind. Seems like the wind blows all the time although I'm sure it doesn't. The people are nice just like the people everywhere. One word of caution--don't drive Bear Valley---its like the L.A. freeways. We have lots of rose bushes and there are trees here but not an abundance of them. If your planning on moving outside of town--the rabbits will love everything you plant. Hope this was helpful.

Hi Betty!

Hi Patty,

I haven't toured the Del Web homes or know where they are, but I heard it was an extremely nice complex. We moved to Apple Valley only recently, at the end of August, so I don't have that much experience to relate. We are in the Desert Knolls area. Roses appear to be in every single yard, so I would say definitely yes to the roses. The bunny rabbits are adorable, and I was told they were the cause of our lawn's brown spots. But we already planned to nix the lawn anyway (stupid in the desert), so that matters not to us.

The shopping is a joy to me, comparing to both Big Bear and Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley where we lived prior to the mountains. As Betty said, try to avoid Bear Valley Rd. On the 18, there is a brand new Super Target that is totally stocked, uncrowded, and staffed well with smiling employees. In the same center there is a brand new Lowes going up. Crossing the 18 from the Target center, you can go to Albertsons/SavOn, which is also marvelously stocked and staffed with smiling employees. In that same center there is a WalMart if you are so inclined. There are all multitudes of medical and veterinarian services. As Betty said, people are overall very pleasant, and from my experience so far in our neighborhood and at the places I shop, it is a diverse population of all ages and all "everything else," with polite behavior in common.

Heat: You have to be willing to pay for a/c. Late last summer when we moved in, our house stayed pretty comfortable until afternoon, with windows closed so the heat didn't make an entry. We are upgrading to a more efficient a/c system and a new roof this spring, to further enhance cost-free cooling and reduce electricity use. (I think the DelWeb homes are brand new and already upgraded?) But, it was hot outside. I am not an outdoors person so it didn't really matter to me. I don't think it gets extremely hot until later in the summer season, but that probably varies and Betty would know better. When it is windy, it is very windy, but it is not constant or even "typical" as I had feared before we moved here.

Hi Marianne--how's everything going? Tired of winter yet?

Actually,,the wind is pretty typical for the desert,,,I lived there for 15 years,,i am now in Running Springs.I enjoyed the desert,,,even the winds!I am sure it is much different than L.A..however,,I will say it has changed ALOT in 15 years!I graduated from A.V High School in 1990,,,I hear its changed alot too!

My grandparents homesteaded in Apple Valley in the late 20s or early 30s. My mom still lives on the same piece of property that was finally paved last year with a new mega housing development going in across the street. At least there WAS going to be one. They have not sold a single lot or house since their first open house in April of 2007. Does not look good.

Anyway, I went to high school in AV also, though I graduated over 33 years ago! I still am there every week at my mom's. The population "back in the day" was 8,600 and it was a fun place to live, play and go to school....even with the winds! (and there is a LOT of wind) SO much has changed now and it is truly a sprawling metropolis with many shopping and industrial centers and a gazillion people (Actually I believe the population now is around 75 to 80,000?) Anyway, Yes it does get hot in the summer, though the weather is changing along with the rest of the world. It is not as clear as it used to be with smog rolling up the Cajon pass now. Spring and fall are the best times of year and it is often beautiful then. Yes, you can grow wonderful roses, along with Apple, Cherry, Peach, and most other hard pit fruit trees. There are still areas that are more "remote" than others, but in my own opinion, not so much safe as they used to be; but isn't that true anywhere? The place is just booming with people from "down below", but unfortunately, they have often brought the very problems with them that they left the city to escape from. I believe that for retirement it could be economically advantages, but if you are still in the working class and work "down below", the commute can be a killer. I did that one to Irvine for a while in the late 80s and it was not too much fun then. I can only imagine what it is like now. Avoid Bear Vally Road whenever you can at all costs, especially at rush hour. It is a nightmare. All in all, my mom still loves living there (though she is housebound now) and as any other place, there is the good and the bad! Good luck!
Dak

Dak, that was very interesting.

I understand the attraction for living in AV even if there is a brutal commute, because the home value vs price is astonishing, compared to other areas. Beautiful large homes, huge lots, along with all the conveniences (and more) of the expensive and congested urban areas. But personally, I couldn't do a long daily commute. For retirement, I can't think of a better place if you want to stay local SoCal for various reasons.

I guess I've acclimated to the wind already, because I'm not noticing it unless large items fly by the windows, heh.