San Diego Housing Bubble News and Analysis

You could buy a very nice house in Temecula's wine country on that budget - it wouldn't be a cookie-cutter tract home.

It's not San Diego but, if I had kids and a commute to Pendleton, it might be worth considering.

JMR
Thanks for the input. We had not considered Temecula… you are right, after viewing a few of the MLS listings several great homes are noted. I will research the commute, average temp, community infrastructure, and as much as we can take in from this region. Anyone living in Temecula with strong opinions one way or the other? Is Temecula more like Riverside compared to San Marcos... to Fallbrook? What about home owner fees in this area … school district? We are in the early process of gathering information and do not want to limit anything. We will spend a week in N. San Diego region this fall to get a feel for things and changes since we departed & will spend a month next fall doing the same before our summer transition in 2010. I read this site daily - feedback like yours is priceless… Thanks!

Hi JMR -

I saw this post but I didn't respond to it because it is hard to try to answer these kinds of posts. I say that because it is so much of a matter of personal preference you know what I am saying?

I mean, all I can really say is that if it were me and I worked at Camp P, I think I would go for a Carlsbad/Encinitas home. Why? Well for one thing I grew up on the coast and have been along the coast most of my life. The past few years living in PQ, Mira Mesa, and now Scripps have been the furthest east I have ever been and am none to thrilled about it... Yet once you have kids I have found that pretty much everything I do is to help promote a thier development. So a decent size house but with a big lot in decent school districts is my goal. Not being happy with MR fees and homes that are close together has all but eliminated Carmel Valley... 4S is to far out for me and again, MR fees are a nogo for me. Ideally Solana Beach and some of the older properties near Del Mar Heights would work for me but I don't have the coin. University City is okay but the lots are to small for me. Poway works for my wife but I am not thrilled about it... Encinitas or Carlsbad may work for me but I work in Sorrento Valley for engineering and service the entire county for real estate so I need to kind of be somewhat central... So there ya go... Yet what I need and want has nothing to do with you right? If I did work in Camp P though I think I would be partial to Encinitas and Carlsbad like I said before. Could your money stretch like 2-3 times as far being out in Temecula? Yepp... for sure. Even Fallbrook is kind of cool. I have a listing up there right now... Very nice comunity but again, not for me... a little to far out there. I REALLY like Cardiff, specially the west of 5 part but again... cannot afford it... There is just SO much for you to choose from up in north county. Maybe when you transfer down here you can rent for a year and feel it out?

Anyways there are alot of Temecula posters here and everyone seems to speak well of it so it may work for ya...not for me though. Like you the next purchase I make will be for the kids so I will be there for about 18 years.... then it will be wifey and I heading west...

SD Realtor

JMR

Good stuff & thanks! I understand an answer can vary widely from each perspective - the main reason I am here - to take it all in. I noted in one topic that the family-type of community/utopia no longer exist in S. Calf... anywhere. Another indicated a diverse mix of culture on their street but they had not talked to their neighbors in four years.

I think anywhere you are one attempts to maximize the positive and minimize the downsides. An ocean front 4-5 bdrm home with a perfect school district (for all grades), next to a community program for the kids, in my price range, without traffic may be a stretch these days but if most of this (even 3/4) could be found in a "particular" region of N. San Diego, maybe within commute to the Ocean then this is our desire. Fallbrook & Carlsbad are high on our initial survey but the area has changed so much - I am sure it no longer resembles what we knew. I like Carlsbad for the location but Fallbrook for the type of house we would get for our $. We value input like yours and hope for the insider’s perspective. I am starting this search from a remote spot - Micronesia and my trips to San Diego before our transfer in 2010 are limited to two ... we will rent for a few months during the summer of our move but want to maximize the "inside knowledge" from others - and this website is the best tool we could find.
Thanks again.

Hi there,

I arrived in Temecula kicking and screaming. My husband's post-USAF-career job offer here took us both by complete surprise. My immediate impression was, "oh no, it's filled with oversized, pink, cookie cutter tract homes and minivans."

And, yes, it is. But there is more to Temecula, too.

So, after renting here for a year, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's definitely a quieter pace and, while I miss some "city" activities, I find that I dont mind the quiet. I've met some nice people (through volunteer work), and we dont mind the hot, dry summers.

The people I meet - who have children - rave about it here. They tell me the schools are excellent, that it feels "safer" than down south, and things are a little more affordable. My impression is that there is a LOT for kids to do here, too in terms of golf, tennis, horses, classes, etc.

With your budget, I would take a look at Wine Country. It's lovely out there with a mix of older custom homes set amidst the wineries, and some areas with new, custom homes.

There is also an area called Meadowview. Most homes are on 1 acre lots, and circle a 300 acre meadow where you can have horses, etc.

Finally, this community is called The Reserve. The new homes are around $1 mil: http://www.craftsmenhomes.com/reserve.html

I think Fallbrook is nice, too. I've heard that it tends to be slightly cooler than Temecula in the summer. We drove through DeLuz over the weekend. It's definitely more remote and rural, but I liked it.

Fallbrook is probably more "diverse" than Temecula. The downtown is a mix of quaint and run down. Someone was also just stabbed to death at the Shell station on Mission last month(car jacking).

I've also heard that Temecula tends to be safer from fires. Just another thought...

TemeculaGuy is a great resource. He's lived up here for awhile, has kids and knows the market.

Good luck and let me know if I can be of more help.

SD R,
I didnt know you lived on the North County Coast most of your life. What towns did you live in?

sdr

JMR
Again – good stuff & thanks for the insight. Looking at the homes in “The Reserve” … they are more than our price range – not that these will drop by 2010 to our upper limit but the size is bigger than what we need too... 6000sq ft is mansion type in our minds. Our next house is our final house and we are looking for a “home” & community more than a house, in would be great to have this big of a house - but we clean our own home and anything over 4750 sq ft starts to be more home & effort than we need or want. The lot sizes for these homes are ideal. What of this quarry to be mined in Temecula – are big trucks part of the picture?

reserve.http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/22/news/top_stories/20_47_112_21_08.txt

“Granite Construction Company is proposing to mine 155 acres on a 414-acre site just north of the San Diego County line between Interstate 15 and the eastern border of the…”

Is this your local paper for Temecula?
http://www.myvalleynews.com/story.php?st...

Could not believe as I pulled up the MLS listings for Temecula the number of homes currently listed and those listed greater than $1M … 186 properties listed over $1M! Did not realize Temecula was this big … or had this kind of money base. As I follow this site it is obvious the housing market is taking a major hit but really did not understand the extent.

Any other comparisons between Fallbrook, Temecula, and San Marcos (San Elijo Hills) would be appreciated … what is the commute like from Temecula these days to the back gate of Pendleton?

Thanks!

JMR

I pulled up the website for the Meadowview too -http://www.imeadowview.com/ First item on the top of the page was a "Free foreclosure Workshop" ... sad statement to the current environment.

greetings from the dentists chair...

im not sure what the current status is re granite mining...there was a big protest recently and the city is trying to annex the land.

there seem to be a few short sales in meadowview. personally I would prefer wine country. its lovely out there and seems very desirable. another is los ranchitos and further north check out la cresta

there is money in this area. lot od horse people too. I was surprised by that.

uh oh...I hear the whirrrr of the drill...

jmrobbie,

I've pretty much converged on a couple area to settle down when I'm ready to buy a house again. I've been bubblesitting for 3 years after selling my last house.

For me, South Carlsbad seems to be in the short-list. Here's the reasons Carlsbad bubbled up high on my list.

1. The city seems reasonably well run, in good financial shape. I do have some beefs against the planning commission on growth issues though.
2. Generally great schools, looks like a new Carlsbad high school being planned. My personal rule #1 is to ONLY buy in good school districts. I would even suggest buying only in good school districts even if you don't have kids.
3. No need air conditioning, except for perhaps 2 weeks of year.
4. Attractions such as flower fields, Legoland, Beaches. Great for out-of-town visitors
5. Lower Wildfire risk (although not immune)than other areas of SD county
6. Downtown old-town Carlsbad seems to getting much nicer, more shops, restaurants, nightlife. Still some work to go.
7. New Alga Norte swim complex, plans look great for swimmers, although I hear they have scaled back and delayed the project.
8. The desalinization plant has a conditional approval. We'll see if and when it gets built. If it does, Carlsbad and surrounding areas will have a reliable water source if there is a water crisis.
9. I've been doing the commute on the Coaster. It is great way to commute to work; reading the newspaper, clearing my emails out prior to work, watching the sunset on the way home, saving gas and hedging against gas price spikes, saving the environment, etc. etc. Lower overall stress level.

The downside are..
1. Getting well built out, planning commission is probably too pro development. There is already a budding slow growth movement in Cbad. Recent good news for the slow-growthers.....looks like the proposed Walmart in NE Carlsbad is a no-go.
2. Marine layer in mornings...May Gray/June Gloom
3. Traffic on 5 during rush hour
4. Summer Beach congestion.

A commute to to Camp P would be very easy for you.

I'm prepping to pull the trigger on a house purchase quickly this fall/next spring if I find the right house. I hope to be in good position to negotiate with no contingencies, large downpayment, etc. There is large stock of great housing in your $750K to $1M.

I suggest try renting in the area you may want to live for a while, scope out surrounding areas. But first do some research on the prospective landlord. Are they candidates for foreclosure? Are their taxes delinquent? Did they buy at the peak of the bubble in 2005? Check out rental listings on craiglist.

Anyhow, just some of my thoughts. Good Luck,
Bubblesitter

With regard to Temecula, I can provide a bit of help. I have two kids (7 & 5 now), and we bought our first starter house in Temecula in 2000. We moved to Charlotte, NC a year or so ago for work (insert redneck jokes here). And yes, we're trying to move back to SoCal.

Temecula is a great community. When we moved there we really missed a lot of the infrastructure from San Diego, but it has grown greatly since that time. Below are my thoughts on a few things:

Schools. Vary, like any city, but overall not bad. We personally had our son in a private Christian school. There are actually several fairly reasonable private schools in Temecula if that is a consideration.

Family Friendly. Very. Lots of stuff to do as a family, and a lot of activities. We actually thought there to do as a family than there was when we lived in Scripps Ranch. It seems like the vast majority of people in Temecula / Murrieta have families, so there are a ton of sports and other things to do together. Side note: Lake Elsinore Storm minor league baseball is about the best sports value for families in SoCal.

Weather. I found the charts for "averages" kind of deceiving. Make no mistake, it gets HOT here in the summer. Maybe not Phoenix hot, but definitely "crap, I hate my black leather interior" hot.

Commute. It's changed - for the worse - over the last few years. As SD got higher, everyone that couldn't afford housing there bought in the IE. If you have to regularly commute down the 15 to Pendleton you will definitely spend some time in the car every day. And other than the Ortega Hwy, there's really only one way in and out (okay, two if you count the 215, but who wants to go out there?).

Desert. Okay, so most of SoCal is a desert, but this area is definitely more arid than most of SD.

So if you are okay with hot summers (dry heat!), and traveling on the 15 when necessary, it's a great community. My wife, kids and I loved it there, and would totally consider moving back to Temecula. More likely, though, we would look for a deal in the Rancho Bernardo area. Did I mention it was hot?

Oh, and I may be out of touch, but didn't Fallbrook used to be a concentration for the klan? Maybe it has changed, but it used to be about as diverse as a bag of marshmallows.

Hope this helps.

I've lived in Fallbrook for the past 25 years and own a business in Old Town Temecula. If you're looking for a newer tract house, great schools, family friendly neighborhoods, close proximity to shopping, or more afforable housing, Temecula is great. It also has horrible traffic problems (plan on at least a 45 minute commute to Camp Pendleton from the Wine Country). It's also incredibly hot and dry - about 10-15 degrees hotter than the Fallbrook area.

Instead of the wine country, I'd recommend looking at the west side of Temecula in the Deluz area. Deluz borders the north end of Fallbrook, and the west side of Temecula. I have quite a few clients that live in that area and it's absolutely beautiful. It's in the hills overlooking Temecula, so the elevation is higher and the climate is more like Fallbrook. Plus, you're on the opposite side of the traffic nightmare in Temecula, so you're closer to the freeway than the wine country and there's virtually no traffic to get on the freeway. Plus, in the event that the freeway is backed up or if you just want a scenic drive home from Camp Pendleton, you can take Deluz Road from Fallbrook and end up in Temecula, bypassing all of the freeway traffic.

Fallbrook is quaint, has an eclectic mix of older and newer custom homes and a charming downtown area. Most of the homes are on an average of 1-5 acres with the exception of those close to town. Falbrook is part of San Diego County, so home prices seem to be a little higher because of that. It's much quieter and slower paced than Temecula. It's getting a huge influx of Orange County people looking for a slower pace of life right now. We live between the 15 freeway and downtown Fallbrook on a 5 acre "farm". It's a great place to raise kids, get involved in the community, and settle down. The weather is very nice - we get a slight ocean breeze and never really need air conditioning. Re: the previous posters comments about crime - there was a stabbing a few weeks ago, but it was NOT a carjacking, and the two people involved were acquaintances and not from the area. It was a rare, freak thing. Tom Metzger does live in Fallbrook with his family, but he's been a fixture in town for years. He lives a very quiet life, and most people probably wouldn't even recognize him. A number of celebrities live in Fallbrook as well - most in the Rolling Hills/Olive Hill/Sleeping Indian area.

JMR

This is the kind of scoop I am after - great stuff and excellent insight!!!

Things have changed significantly … all the more reason for the in-depth research 2 yrs prior to our move. Our timing should be decent – the market and the housing “fall-out” may not be finalized but the brunt of the current environment will settle by late summer of 2010. We are fortunate that we will not need to commute down to San Diego… although we do enjoy the infrastructure that a “city” offers such as restaurants, events, quantity of services. We have friends that can enjoy the best of both worlds – they have lived in Carmel Valley for the past 15 yrs and when they spend time/evenings in San Diego all they have to do is walk out to their boat slip and have a place to sleep. They do not have kids nor do we have this kind of money.

As with most of the others that post here we do not expect a utopia but we surely want what is best for us as a family. The “community feel” is crucial. We want a home – not a house; one we expect to put roots down in. We view our home not so much as an investment but a part of our lives. All of the “pieces” are important but a give & take is inevitable. After considerable thought we choose N. San Diego as our future… 2nd place was Colo (Ft Collins), 3rd Arizona (Flagstaff or Tucson), 4th was Seattle. San Diego won our hearts for numerous reasons. The areas we are currently looking at are Carlsbad, San Elijo Hills, Fallbrook, and Temecula. This said our priorities are:
- community
- schools/school district
- house for the money (4-5 bdrms, a little space inside & out, less than 1.1M, quality of construction)
- surrounding area & infrastructure (safety, restaurants, convenience, progressive –active-attentive city government, places for the kids to do what kids do …swim, bike, play sports, and see other kids
- commute/traffic

Additional concerns but lower on the priority list:
-Association fees
-Taxes
-Fire issues & weather
-Water (I think as yrs past this may be significant)

As we note other comments from this site we see issues such as traffic, airports, summer heat, June gloom, strip malls, crime, cultural diversity, quarry mining, and poorly developed communities. So our search has started… we are excited about the possibilities & we are trying to keep an open mind and all options open. Some of the homes in Temecula are incredible – seems like good sized lots & lot’s of sq footage … what is with these 1.5M houses built in the “Reserve” and not completed/finished but on the market? San Elijo Hills looks good on paper – a “designed” community… we see numerous homes on the market here that are obviously a result of the market bust. Carlsbad has the infrastructure, proximity to the coast, and the weather… although these seemed to be the most overpriced. Fallbrook makes our commute easy. As we filter down our search and actually start looking at homes we are past the point of things like granite counters, custom window treatments, designer tile & wood floors – these are things that caught our eye when we purchased previous homes… and are only fluff, when purchasing a house for K$ only eye-candy. Now we look at $ per sq ft, functionality & space use, layout, location (cul-de-sac vs hill/slope) …

This site is the best resource for an inside view … any other thoughts on “communities” in N San Diego are appreciated. We had not considered Temecula before posting on this site but this has moved into one of favorites. I plan on visiting this Fall & next and will rent a vacation rental in each area for 1-2 weeks … no better or quicker way to get a sense of the area than a daily bicycle tour and to commute in rush hr.

One thing I've always liked about Temecula is that you can be in the 'sticks' after a 10 minute drive.

I grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara and I've always liked a semi-rural atmosphere.

JMR

Is "Malabar Ranch" part of the area you speak of - Deluz? N. Fallbrook initially caught my eye and remains in the top three of our short-list. What of the school district here? Any comparison to being part of SD county vs Temecula? The quarry mining plan in Temecula is no small thing - if finally approval is granted it is a 75 yr commitment and with only one major access road thru the center of the valley ....

Based upon what you described you are looking for I dont think there is a better area than where I live (Encinitas/South Carlsbad) I grew up in the Northeast in a fabulous community and this is the closest thing to it you will find. In your price range for something with room inside and outside I would learn about Olivenhain. In your time frame you should be able to get a 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft home on a half acre lot. It may not be the newest shiniest home but you can take care of that via remodelling if its important to you. You will get mature trees much taller than your home, no HOA or Mello Roos fees, great schools and a reasonable commute. You will be within a 5 to 10 minute drive of everything you need a regular basis (shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, libraries, doctors, sports for kids, great beaches, golf courses, movie theatres etc).

For my money there isnt a place I'd rather be in US. But thats just.

Just my $.02, but based on your stated priorities above I actually think Temecula/Murrieta might be a great fit. It definitely has a community feel (especially neighborhoods like Harveston, etc). I have trained for a number of triathlons while living in Temecula, and there are lots of places to cycle, run, etc. Also a lot of golf courses (Redhawk, Temeku Hills, etc.), and are fairly reasonable as well.

There is actually a ton of infrastructure now, and mostly you will be going to SD for stuff like major sporting events, the beach, or higher end shopping. There are some older, quaint restaurants in old town, the farmer's market (also in old town), and a wide variety of chain restaurants.

House for the money is a no brainer. Temecula / Murrieta is way ahead. You can also get a lot more yard in many neighborhoods than often available in SD. The realtor we used to sell our house there is outstanding - extremely proactive and an amazing resource (he is even working to find us a realtor here in Charlotte to sell our existing house). Let me know if you need contact info.

Traffic congestion on the 15 is mainly around rush hours, although I've noticed a little less severe with the gas prices. Also, traffic is pretty tough on the 79N/Winchester Rd. Proximity to freeway can reduce a ton of commute time, as I've been stuck on Winchester for over 20 mins to go just a few miles.

DeLuz is actually a pretty good recommendation. It's still near south Temecula so you don't feel too far out. You may also look at the La Cresta area, which is in the mountains just north of Temecula / Murrieta. It's a bit more removed, but beautiful and lots more spacious. I'd google Tom Metzger in Fallbrook and see if that is someone you feel comfortable living near.

Anyway, hope this helps. Based on the priorities as you laid them out above I think Temecula/Murrieta might be your best fit. Please feel free to ask any questions if needed.

JMR

Again - excellent insight! What is your take on Temecula in 7-10 yrs??? One of the comments I noted on another string was from view that the Coastal communities have gone thru their growing pains ... not much left to develop - good & bad related to this view. But other areas such as Temecula are targets for developers and "uncontrolled growth" - will the wine region be absorbed as land pricing again escalates and as water issues become more prominent? What of the quarry planning here - anything new?

This area is on our short list - the more info I have the easier the decision process. And no ... what Tom Metzger represents is not the environment to raise my family, yet I think that people would be shocked to see who really lives in a 5 mile radius around their home - in any neighborhood. I remember something about a sect living in Rancho Santa Fe that did a group suicide in the 80s/90s.

The areas we are looking at are: Temecula, Deluz, Fallbrook, San Elijo Hills, Encinitas, & Carlsbad. I am getting a feel for each from those posting on this site. The only area I have not seen feedback from is San Elijo Hills. IS Deluz on the West side of I-15... this area was not there when I lived in the region? I look foward to visiting each area. We will look into the area just North of Temecula too as you suggest. Send the contact info on the realtor - we are still at the start of our search but a few good realtors to pick from will be helpful in the future.

Any additional thoughts are welcome ... Thanks.

Deluz is bordered by Camp Pendleton to the west, Temecula to the east, and Fallbrook to the south. It you're looking for a quiet, upscale area of estate homes and ranches, it's a great area. I believe that Malabar Ranch is in Deluz. The only area that Fallbrook is really lacking in is their public education. (I'm a college professor and send my daughter to a nearby private school.)

The biggest problem I foresee with Temecula is the growth and traffic. The poor road planning and huge indian casino have made a mess of traffic on the south end of town. For convenience, Santiago Estates in Temecula is very nice, and close to the freeway, but you run the risk of having a million dollar house overlooking Walmart and apartment complexes, or backing up to a self-storage complex and mega-church. We lived very briefly in on the Temecula/Murrieta border, and it took me 20 minutes just to get to the freeway five miles away. Fallbrook people love Temecula because there's plenty of shopping nearby, but most wouldn't consider living there. It's primarily younger families and stucco tract homes. It's a perfect family community though - with lots of parks, events and activities for young children. Compared to Fallbrook, there's just way too many people. I commute from Fallbrook to Temecula every day, and even against traffic, it's still a pain.

If you're interested in Fallbrook, consider reading the Village News - it's the local newspaper and I think they have an online version.

I'm not sure about the school situation in DeLuz. We drove through the area last weekend and I actually saw an old "one room schoolhouse." I dont know if that was 'historic' or real.

DeLuz is a little more isolated and definitely not as easy to run out and pick up a gallon of milk or six pack of beer.

Have you checked out La Cresta? I've heard very nice things about the area. My husband and I go mountain biking up on the Santa Rosa Eco preserve. There is a very cool guide who leads hikes and bike tours every Saturday. In fact, if you come up to the area, I recommend either one. When my husband and I did the bike tour, it was just the three of us.

http://www.lacresta.santa-rosa-plateau-m...

I'm not sure about Temecula in 7-10 years. I'd like to think the City will act responsibly, but who knows? We're buying a house in a well-established neighborhood, and most of our neighbors have lived on the cul de sac for 15+ years, which I like.

I suppose you could call the city offices and find out what plans are in the works for expansion/growth.

Have you checked out this forum? It's a San Diego City forum with a lot of great info:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-diego/

Also, here are some links to the Liberty Quarry situation:

http://www.sos-hills.org/

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/05/...

This place fits your needs.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Temecula/34003-...

I can find you a bunch in wine country, santiago estates, meadowview, de luz, but the last one is on the low side of your price point, can be had for less, and a short walk to one of the best elementary schools in a two county region, almost no english language learners or free lunch kids, probably better demographics than a private school and not a single apartment in it's boundaries. Resort like clubhouse,tennis, full gym (not a cheesy little one) and everything else within walking distance.

While it's large, it's still a paved tract like neighborhood as opposed to 5 acre lots which kids just arent into (I know adults like it) but kids like playing in the street and having buddies next door. This and others like it fuse the two.

This one in morgan valley is much cheaper at 471k but it's all 1/4 acre or larger lots, secluded valley, I love the 4 car garage with the rear door that opens to the back yard.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Temecula/34033-...

Temecula is no Carlsbad, if you have 1.5 mil burning a hole in your pocket, go coastal. The drive to pendleton depends where on pendleton you need to go, it's alsmost traffic free to the back gate, from the south of temecula, or deluz or fallbrook you dont need to get on the freeway at all or one offramp. Need to get all the way to the gate in O'side, wrong place, try Carlsbad and down along the 5.

Speaking of traffic, I've driven to S.D. a number of times in the last few months and back during rush hour on the 15, no big deal, little delay in esco but not what it was a year ago, $4.20 gas has a good side.

Like anywhere, if you have never lived in a particular climate or region, rent for a spell like dharma did, then decide. Everyone is different and so are their needs, you really need to try things out.

And just to settle the myths I've read above
Fallbrook-there were two different murders in the last month, a few weeks apart, both resulted in arrests and they were not related but within walking distance of each other. A few random acts does not make a community unsafe, Fallbrook has a low crime rate and always will because of the demographics. Neither case involved random victims, you have nothing to be afraid of and even though one was originally reported as a car jacking, it wasn't. Both cases will be winding their way through court, follow them if you like in the papers. Fallbrook is still a nice town.

Metzger hasn't lived in fallbrook for years, I think more than a decade. He is in prison. And even when he did, he just hid out there, there were no activities in that town, no followers, I've never even seen a skinhead there in 20 years of visiting, it was his hideout, not a community of Klansmen, that's just silly.

The quarry isn't actually in Temecula, south west of it, actually between temecula, fallbrook, rainbow and De luz but it is in the wind path of temecula and is doubtful it will make it, huge opposition, the city is currently annexing the land and will then squash it, that is on track and the indians haven't even flexed their muscle, it won't get built. A few years back SDGE tried to run lines through the same area (an ecological preserve) and got pounded. Sempra had much more power than a quarry company and they failed. The activists up here, especially the eco types and the soccer moms are tenacious and organized. http://www.sos-hills.org/

I need to go back to watching the basketball game, maybe I'll read through the thread again and look for more to rebuke but that makes me look like a crab and I hate playing that role, just wanted to keep the record straight. Any other questions just ask.

I am personally a pro-Carlsbad guy. BubbleSitter and SD Realtor had some good insights on this town. The City is undergoing the initial stages of a paradigm shift in its politics. The mayor will not likely be around for next term and the council will be re-invigorated with new blood that will help push the City forward.

The City is undergoing an update of its General Plan, it is required to maintain 30% open space, it is in the process of approving a pedestrian master plan, and there is a revitalization plan in the works for the downtown village area.

The City doesn't own the local beaches (the State does) and there has been a rift between the two parties over the past several years on who should perform what services on the beaches. This is a gross over-simplification, but the short story is that current mayor, council, and city manager take the "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free" attitude. This is slowly changing and I think you will see the city take a more proactive stance in managing its beaches, which are a defining feature for Carlsbad.

Additionally, there will be plans to create a connected coastal rail trail between all three intra-city lagoons (Buena Vista, Agua Hedionda, and Batiquitos). Buena Vista lagoon is undergoing a restoration analysis and there are talks of trying to market the area for eco-tourism...Carlsbad is a stop on a major bird migration pathway.

The upshot is hopefully an environmentally conscious community that you can raise your family in. The schools are pretty good too from what I understand.

okay maybe this one is out of your price range right now but you never know what it will be in a few years. Someone on these boards needs to buy it, then invite me over all the time, you won't even know I'm there, literally. I'll change my name to Isaac and i'll tend bar for free. I hate land, 5 acres makes my skin crawl but this one just changed my mind. "Professionally managed vineyard" is music to my ears, I get to look at it, someone else deals with it.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Temecula/42000-...

I take back what i said, raise your kids in the wine country, adopt me and raise me there too.

Ok, so maybe $.03.

I don't have a whole lot to add on the quarry stuff. I would defer to TemeculaGuy's knowledge there. I will say that I definitely agree that DeLuz (just south of Temecula, west of the 15) or La Cresta would be cooler. But I also agree with TemeculaGuy that at least my kids wouldn't be into having 5 acres but no other kids right next door. But of course that is your call what would work best for you guys. If it does, I personally would prefer either of the mountain areas above, as opposed to wine country. Wine country takes time to get to, and it's getting worse. Your main concern might not be whether it gets bought up, but how much building goes on between you and the freeway. It used to be a fairly quick trip down Rancho California Rd or 79S, but with traffic it can take 30+ mins just to get to the freeway. 7-9 years from now it could be even uglier. Or gas could be $15 per gallon and we could all be telecommuting. :)

With regard to Fallbrook, it does come down to a personal decision. For my family, having at least some diversity was important to us. This does exist in Temecula/Murrieta (and most of SoCal), but was not the case in my experience in Fallbrook. I'm sure as a white guy you'd be perfectly safe. But I do have a couple of minority friends that aren't too excited about the area. That said, you are completely right in that predators are everywhere, and in almost any community. Look at the Hale Bopp comet, purple nike wearing freaks. Good point.

I'm sure there are lots of good realtors here (TemeculaGuy is very knowledgeable). Personally I would suggest Eric Tomlinson (Century 21, Ortiz-Tomlinson Team). They were very patient and helpful and awesome in follow-up. I called him recently and he even did the leg work to help me locate a realtor here in Charlotte. Anyway, I'm not typically one to be super enthusiastic about service providers, but they were really about the best I've encountered anywhere. He's not pushy, so he'd probably send you even now any info you needed that might help in your decision making. And no, I'm not affiliated with him in any way.

So there you go, I've used up my $.03. Hope this is helpful, and with any luck I'll be back in SoCal by Christmas!

dizzle, good comments but just for the record, I am not a realtor or in any way employed in the R/E or banking field, nor do I have any plans to be, but it's easy to make that assumption. I've lived in the valley for a couple of decades and owned a few homes but that is the extent of my expertise.

JMR

To those posting - Again great insight ... perfect scoop for the process in my search on where my family will put down roots! Thanks for all that posted (Dharmagirl, SD Realtor, Bubblesitter, Dizzle, Kirsten, Meadandle, Temeculaguy, Greekfire)- your input is valued. I appreciate the postings that not only show the positives of each area but the things you do not like or would change given the opportunity – applause to the soccer moms of Temecula Valley in the grass root/community effort to stop the Quarry and to those in Carlsbad to protest the Wal-Mart.

At this point the next step will be to visit the area and do a little "leg work" and get a personal feel, to keep digging via the internet, and watch in amazement the bubble burst, and then to shrink our search down to 3-4 (coastal vs. inland)regions. Again, I am in the market for a "home" for my family - not so much an investment. Hopefully by the summer of 2010 the blunt of this market fallout will show some sign of stability. As I review my initial post and your feedback it helps to solidify what I am really seeking and refine a priority ranking:

1. Schools (private is always an option although I am a strong proponent of public education during the formative years & private later), I would disfavor a commute to the elementary grades
2. Community – family feel, infrastructure, safety (maybe gated – although we have never lived in this type before), a little space for daily outdoor events (can the kids ride their bikes down the street), community center & events
3. House itself: 5 bedroom – large enough for family but maintainable for the parents (3200-4600 sq ft), construction & functionality, level lot & cul-de-sac type placement, does not need to be the highest in our price range nor does it need to be the newest but efficient for our overall needs, a place we will live for the next 15 yrs
4. Region/area: taxes, ownership fees, proactive city government, proximity to services (restaurants, shopping), roads & traffic, commute to Pendleton (Naval Hospital – either front or back gate), weather – compared to where we have lived in the past anywhere in N County will be enjoyable!
5. The remaining few: does not really matter as the first four will decide

Before finding Piggs my I was looking at San Elijo Hills (purely from my internet search) but have an uneasy sense for this area now after reading some of the post here and related sights … appears some issues with quality of construction. We will continue to look at Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, Fallbrook, Deluz, Temecula, and possible up to Murrieta.

I agree with others here homes with five acres may be too much for a “family feel” … and yes Temecula guy – your post of http://www.redfin.com/CA/Temecula/42000-...... is a beautiful & impressive house but I think your first is more the type to fit our needs http://www.redfin.com/CA/Temecula/34003-.... (it fits our priority list nicely). If we did have 2.8 M for a house such as this I would use 1M for the house then use 800k for a 3bdrm turnkey condo in Mammoth, and invest the remaining (a large portion into our 529 plans). Family has a way of making priorities well defined – but I would appreciate a home such as this… incredible.

Specific houses are next after the area is locked down, although looking at specific houses does help get a feel for things. Again, thanks for the input & insight … we will research more then return to this post in a few months. Any additional thoughts are appreciated… a lingering question from afar – what of these developments in N County started at the end of the bubble with houses built but not finished, yet still listed for sell (Malabar Ranch in N Temecula, Reserve in Temecula, San Elijo Hills, Deluz? They are no longer listed by the builder but instead by individual realtor agencies even though construction is not completed?

Hey JMR,

I'm happy to help in any way I can. I know what it's like to look at options from afar and you sound like a good, solid "investigator."

If there is any additional information I can give you please let me know.

As I said, I was ambivalent about moving to Temecula but have been pleasantly surprised in many ways. I think there is a real sense of community here and lots of nice people. I think it's a great place for families/children. I think in many ways, it has a "small town" feel and is very friendly. Not perfect, but pretty darn nice.

Good luck to you!

JMR

To be honest - "pretty darn nice" fits well for family and what I am looking for. Temecula was not in my original search but after hearing folks talk from Piggs it is on the short list - maybe on the outskirts of town as others have suggested. What effect of the city being part of the County of Riverside play ... infrastructure, city services (fire, police, waste), taxes comapred to San Diego County?

James

You know, I'm honestly not sure. I could try to find out - I've run into a few people who go to the City Council meetings, and are 'plugged in'.

You might also consider contacting the Temecula Chamber - it's a very active group and very involved with the city.

I'm not sure that San Diego County is exactly a shining example of fine governance...tho I'm willing to be wrong about that.

I think there are some very nice areas in town (Meadowview, Los Ranchitos, etc) and nice communities on the outskirts. As I said before, I'm beginning to like the small-town feel here.

Many of the people I've met (including our soon-to-be new neighbors) seem to have a lot of civic pride and are very involved in the community. I volunteered for the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival (www.tvbwf.com) and was impressed with the level of commitment that I've seen. There are only a few paid staff members and the event runs on the spirit and energy of volunteers. Same thing with the arts community here.

I didnt see this type of thing in other areas of North County when I lived there.

You should definitely check out the Santa Rosa Eco Preserve when you come to visit. It's gorgeous and the mountain biking is easy and fun. Again, I'd be happy to give you more info when you decide to come and visit.

What part of the world are you in right now? Are you looking forward to "coming home" (and making a home!)?