Are you thinking of living in Valencia and want to know more about this neighborhood? In this video, I’m going to give you the pros and cons of living in Valencia, California. We’ll explore everything from safety and schools to HOAs so you can decide if this community is right for you.
A Safe City
Valencia is one of the areas within the city of Santa Clarita, which is ranked the 17th safest city in the nation and the 5th safest city in the state of California per size of the city. This is why a lot of people want to live here, as you're in a really safe area.
Of course, Santa Clarita is not perfect, and we do have some crime in this area. However, when you compare it to other areas that are similar in size, you know we are definitely a safe area to be in.
Schools And Location
The second reason why people love living in Valencia is the schools. We have some of the best schools, not only in the state but also in the nation. So if you have kids and you're considering making a move here, we have great K-12 schools and even some really good preschools.
The third reason why a lot of people want to move here to Valencia is the proximity to the freeways. If you're moving to the Santa Clarita Valley area, Valencia is pretty much located right off the freeway. This is helpful, especially if you are commuting.
Job Options
The good thing about moving to Valencia now versus 15 years ago is that back then, we were pretty much just a bedroom community. There weren't very many businesses out here. Now, however, we do have some large companies like Sunkist, Scorpion, Princess Cruises, and Boston Scientific—just to name a few.
We also have a huge aerospace industry that includes some of the smaller companies in aerospace. These make parts and different things for some of the bigger companies like Lockheed and Boeing. They’re located out in Antelope Valley, which some do commute to when living in the SCV.
Paseo Systems
Another reason why people love living in Valencia is the very robust paseo system. In most of Santa Clarita, we have bike paths that go throughout the city. Valencia, however, also has the paseo system. These go throughout the neighborhoods and allow you to ride bikes, rollerblade, roller skate, or simply just walk.
The paseos also include walking bridges that go over the streets. This means that, for the most part, you're not going to cross any streets. You can enjoy traveling on the paseos surrounded by green space—and away from the exhaust of people's vehicles driving by.
Shopping Centers And Magic Mountain
The next pro of living in Valencia is our shopping options. We have a large mall and a few different large shopping areas located in Valencia. The mall is the Westfield Town Center Mall, which is quite large. It has a lot of different stores, restaurants, bars, and even places to go dancing in the evenings.
Having the Westfield Town Center Mall in Valencia provides you with another attraction. You’re close to a lot of restaurants, movie theaters, and more, all right in the vicinity of the mall. You also have shopping at the Bridgeport Shopping Center, which also has some nice restaurants. There’s a little pond where kids can play as well, making it a nice place to spend the day.
The last pro is, of course, Magic Mountain. It’s located right in Valencia and is part of the Santa Clarita Valley. It’s the perfect spot to ride some rollercoasters and have some fun.
Home Prices
Now that you know about some of the great reasons to move to Valencia, let’s look at a couple of cons. The first one is that for the most part, Valencia is the most expensive area in Santa Clarita. There are a couple of pockets in Sand Canyon and other areas that have some ranch-style or larger homes that are a little bit more inexpensive. However, for the most part, Valencia is our most expensive area in Santa Clarita.
Despite the price, living in Valencia offers proximity to freeways, the paseo system, and great schools. You’re also close to the mall and all the activities that are going on in the area, which is within walking distance from a lot of homes via the paseo system. Just remember that you're going to pay for a little bit more of your home.
HOA And Lot Size
The other con of living in Valencia is that 95% of the community have an association. For some people, that's a really good thing. Others, though, don't like having associations. They don't want to have rules and regulations that tell them what colors they can paint their house or what they can do with landscaping.
HOAs can be positive or negative. Additionally, homes with HOAs tend to have smaller lots, meaning the houses are set a little closer to each other. Most HOAs also don't allow RV or boat parking on your side yard, even if you have room for it.
So if you are considering moving to Valencia and you're looking at an area that has an HOA, make sure that the HOA rules are not going to be something that conflicts with what you want to do with your home.
Is Valencia Right For You?
I hope this gave you a good idea of the pros and cons of living in Valencia. If you're thinking about moving to the Santa Clarita area and want more information about Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, or any of the areas within Santa Clarita, feel free to reach out and give us a call.
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