Bakersfield Homes For Sale | Bakersfield Real Estate
Welcome to the premiere destination for real estate in the Bakersfield, California area! Whether you're selling your home at Liberty Village Condos and looking to buy a family house or need an apartment near the oil company headquarters, this website contains all you need to know about Bakersfield, CA's real estate market.
The City of Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield, California is located in Kern County at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. It is about 100 miles from the larger cities of Fresno to the north and Los Angeles to the south. With a population of around 329,000, Bakersfield is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.
Bakersfield, CA has a long history. The swamp that would later become the city of Bakersfield was originally settled by the Yorkuts Indians more than 8,000 years ago. It wasn't until 1776 that Spanish missionary Father Francisco Garces arrived in the area, and with him the first European settlers. The area grew in size and popularity after the discovery of oil in the valley and gold in the Kern River in the mid-1800s. The city itself was founded in 1869 and named for Colonel Thomas Baker.
Modern Bakersfield, California does still rely on petroleum for part of its economy (the other major contributor being agriculture) but unfortunately many of Bakersfield's historic structures were lost during the infamous earthquakes of 1952 though what history is left can be glimpsed through the town's Kern County Museum. The main quake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale, spared Bakersfield almost entirely, but a 6.5 magnitude aftershock struck directly underneath the town a month later, killing four people.
Bakersfield, California is considered a semi-arid dry steppe, which means that it is one of the sunniest cities in the United States, and is considered nearly a desert. For the nature lover this weather is perfect for touring the nearby Sequoia National Forest, Kern Canyon, Greenhorn Mountain Range, Tehachapi Mountains, the Carrizo Plain National Monument and of course the San Andreas fault, all of which are near the city limits.
Entertainment in Bakersfield, CA isn't confined to natural wonders, however. The city is famous for its musicians, including Buck Owens and Merle Haggard who were instrumental in developing a subset of country music known as "Bakersfield Sound" in the 1950s and 60s. This sound is showcased in the Buck Owens Crystal Palace museum and night club. The palace also features one of the area's most famous restaurants, although Bakersfield cuisine is dominated by historic Basque establishments like Pyrenee's and Benji's in Old Town Kern.
My New Bakersfield Neighborhood
There are many different areas of the city with real estate available. Each has its own unique flavor and budgetary requirements, so be sure to research them all before making your choice. Generally, though, the cost of living in Bakersfield, CA is below the national average. Average housing prices range from mobile homes at $40,000 to a single-family home at $335,000. Renters can expect to pay in the vicinity of $850 a month.
Downtown Bakersfield, California is quite unlike the downtown area of any other city of comparable size in that it has very few tall buildings. The tallest building in downtown Bakersfield is only 9 stories tall. The area is mostly known for its nightlife and offices but does offer some opportunities for apartment-seekers.
If you're looking for a neighborhood with strong cultural roots, East Bakersfield has a large Hispanic and African American population and is one of Bakersfield's oldest developed areas. The Buck Owens Boulevard area is a country music hotspot and features night clubs and restaurants. Westchester is where the shady, historic homes are located.
Suburban dream homes are popular in Bakersfield as well, with dozens of planned neighborhoods in Stockdale, Southwest Bakersfield and Northeast Bakersfield characterized by cul-de-sacs, single-family homes, and high school football rivalries.
Or, if you're looking to get in on the ground floor of real estate development, Old Town Kern is currently undergoing redevelopment and the city is expanding into the foothills in the largely rural Rio Bravo neighborhoods.
Ready to Move Forward?
If you've done all your research and have decided you want to go forward with the exciting step of buying real estate in Bakersfield, California, then allow us to congratulate you on this momentous occasion. For help with listings, prices and properties, contact us. One of our real estate agents will devote themselves to your search and is sure to find you the perfect new home.
