Guided by what we thought was a real estate rule—a force as invariable as, say, gravity—we figured we'd find cheap homes in Orange County's lousiest neighborhoods. We were wrong. Guided by the FBI's Crime in the United States 2004 report, we found the highest crime-rate areas in Orange County, searched real estate listings on Realtor.com and selected lower-priced single-family homes in each city. Then we examined specific FBI crime numbers for each—and realized next week, we'll still be living with our parents. Even if it kills us.
WESTMINSTER $485,000
1 bed/1 bath built in 1941
14185 Hammon Place
527 sf
5,400 sf lot
The sun-bleached tar roof and faded, peeling paint scream “rustic” or “mature” or “antediluvian.” It arouses your inner Ty Pennington—through a megaphone, of course. This very unpolished gem is a once-proud reminder of the era when stucco-covered, mass-produced tract homes were the wave of the future/the wave of the future/the wave of the future (sorry) and when murder happened to other people. Fewest killings we found! Overhead, you also get a high concentration of power lines, which is great for, um, well, yeah . . . gotta go!
