Nicknamed the “Sunshine Capital of America,” Inyokern, California featuresover 300 sunny days per year. The town’s population of approximately 900 lives amidst a desert at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Given its panoramic vistas of snow-capped peaks and wide stretches of sand, Inyokern has been the backdrop for western movies and car commercials. Residents enjoy the town’s natural beauty and a remote location without shopping centers, big events and tourist attractions. “I had a buyer who was looking for more land in Inyokern because they lived in the city, in LA. They wanted a place with a lot of land and to live in a small town,” says real estate agent Kha Hoang, who works with Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices California Realty and has over five years of experience. Those searching for a calm rural lifestyle can find it Inyokern, located 90 miles east of the closest big city of Bakersfield, California.
Homes on spacious lots
Around downtown Inyokern are grid-style blocks of single-family houses and manufactured homes on small lots often protected by fences. The residential blocks become more spread out in the southern part of the community, where properties can include more than an acre of land. To the north, Inyokern is also sparse, with plenty of empty land and ranch-style homes on multi-acre lots. These less habited areas have an appeal: “Looking towards the future, the buyer wanted to grow something and didn’t want to be near a lot of people anymore,” Hoang says. Homes in Inyokern stay on the market for longer than the national average, with a median list price of around $300,000.
Hiking trails and more recreation
To explore the desert landscapes of the area, locals can go to Indian Wells Canyon for hiking and off-roading on the western outskirts of town. The trails overlook the Indian Wells Valley, mountain scenery and old mining sites. Inyokern County Park is the only municipal park in town. Centrally located, the green space has a picnic pavilion, a basketball court and a shaded playground that protects kids from the sun.
Modest retail
Inyokern doesn’t have big malls or shopping centers, which keeps the tranquil community free from crowds. To find some retail options, residents can head to West Inyokern Road, the main thoroughfare known as downtown Inyokern. It has a handful of stores and a couple of restaurants. Locals head to Ridgecrest, about 10 miles east, for the nearest supermarket.
Minimal events
Embracing the peace and quiet of its secluded location, Inyokern has only a couple of low-key events. There is regular bingo and bunco, where residents can win prizes at Inyokern Town Hall. For museums and larger community events, residents can drive to nearby Ridgecrest.
Education in Inyokern
Students in the area are served by Sierra Sands Unified School District, which earns a B grade and is the fourth-best district in Kern County, according to Niche. The district serves approximately 5,100 children and has a student-teacher ratio of 21-to-1. Nearby higher education options are Cerro Coso Community College, Bakersfield College and Antelope Valley College.
Inyokern crime rates
According to FBI data, Kern County has property and violent crime rates higher than state and national figures.
Commute to Bakersfield and further travel
Inyokern is about 10 miles from Ridgecrest, and residents can get there via Ridgecrest Boulevard, which takes around 15 minutes or longer during rush hour. Residents can drive for around 90 miles via California 178 for weekend travel to Bakersfield. Ridgecrest Transit serves the town for bus services. Ridgecrest Regional Hospital is the nearest medical center. The closest regional airport is Inyokern Airport, and the closest major airport is the Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California.
Clint is a veteran real estate broker in the Ridgecrest area since 2003.
He has consistently been a top-producing list and sales agent. Clint is a Certified Residential Specialist and a Certified Negotiation Expert. He has received recognition as a member of the International President's Circle and has received other Excellence Awards during his career.
His signature phrase "On Time and On Top Of It" is lived out daily in his work. Clint seeks to fulfill the needs of sellers and buyers, and he is determined to be proactive with any issues that arise.
Along with residential resale homes, Clint has become increasingly involved with new home development, and commercial sales.
In the '80s and '90s, Clint lived in Tokyo, Japan where he assisted in producing some of the greatest living legends of contemporary jazz and popular music for stage, television, and radio. The techniques used to successfully promote top recording artists and concert events are interestingly some of the same ones that sell houses.
While in Japan, Clint earned two bachelor's degrees: one in Human Behavior from Newport University Tokyo, and another from Nichibei Japanese Language School. He also holds a Master of Ministry degree from Simpson University in Redding, California, and has ministered in Japan and Iowa.
Clint grew up in Ridgecrest, played with the Burroughs Jazz Band in 1973-74, and graduated from BHS in 1974. He returned to Ridgecrest in 2002 and lives with his wife Joanne.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
