Stonebridge below 700k

User Forum Topic
Submitted by Eugene on June 28, 2008 - 11:46pm

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-086003156-12...

Asking 695k-720k, original 2005 sales price 928k. The owner is in default and attempting the short sale, trustee sale is scheduled for 7/08.

Stonebridge is shaping up to become an interesting competitor to Del Sur / 4S Ranch. In fact, according to Google Maps, Stonebridge is considerably closer to UTC than 4S Ranch.

Submitted by SD Realtor on June 28, 2008 - 11:52pm.

I think Stonebridge will zoom past 4S with respect to price declines. It is kind of interesting because Stonebridge lots spaced much better then 4S but Stonebridge does not enjoy the same popularity that 4S does. At any rate I see Stonebridge continuing to come down and come down hard.

Submitted by Raybyrnes on June 29, 2008 - 12:01am.

Wonder how the guy down the road feels trying to sell his place for a million. Grant it he has some nice upgrades but 300K can buy a lot of custom finishes.

Submitted by PadreBrian on June 29, 2008 - 10:43pm.

Stonebridge is more of a street with McManions than a real neighborhood. Also kind of in the boondocks...not to mention the uninsurable fire risk.

Submitted by temeculaguy on June 29, 2008 - 11:33pm.

How do you get a mortgage if you can't get fire insurance? Speaking of that how do you keep your mortgage without fire insurance? I remember once I switched fire insurance companies and forget to tell my mortgage company, they just about lost their minds thinking my house was uninsured for one day.

Submitted by SD Realtor on June 29, 2008 - 11:44pm.

You don't get a mortgage if you cannot get hazard insurance.

You can get hazard insurance in Stonebridge TG.

Sometimes people post things that well you know...

Hey it is the internet right?

Submitted by kcal09 on November 12, 2011 - 12:01pm.

While most prices in Stonebridge have gone down by about 25-30% since 2007 this one in on the market at no price reduction. Does it have a chance to be sold at asking price? It sure looks like nice with tons of upgrades...

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110062156-15...

Submitted by sd_resident on February 21, 2012 - 1:09am.

This recently sold house shows a decline of 34% from Summer 2005. $ per Sq. Ft. price is $177.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110061487-12...

Has Stonebridge reached it's bottom yet? I am trying to understand why it's avg $ per Sq. Ft. price is much below older Scripps Ranch especially Scripps Highlands area. Compared to 4S Ranch, I like it's proximity to Sorrento Valley where I work. Access to areas like Poway and Mira Mesa makes it convenient for shopping (Costco, Kohls, Home Depot etc) and entertainment/dining. Backyards are also much bigger than most of the houses in 4S. 4S has a community feel though and schools are closer as compared to Stonebridge.

Submitted by flu on February 21, 2012 - 1:22am.

sd_resident wrote:
This recently sold house shows a decline of 34% from Summer 2005. $ per Sq. Ft. price is $177.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110061487-12...

Has Stonebridge reached it's bottom yet? I am trying to understand why it's avg $ per Sq. Ft. price is much below older Scripps Ranch especially Scripps Highlands area. Compared to 4S Ranch, I like it's proximity to Sorrento Valley where I work. Access to areas like Poway and Mira Mesa makes it convenient for shopping (Costco, Kohls, Home Depot etc) and entertainment/dining. Backyards are also much bigger than most of the houses in 4S. 4S has a community feel though and schools are closer as compared to Stonebridge.

Oh my gosh, is this HOA amount on this property listed correctly. $423/month????? That's the equivalent of almost borrowing an extra $100k on a 30 year loan @ 4%.... Geeze. Why such a high hoa?

Submitted by flu on February 21, 2012 - 1:23am.

sd_resident wrote:
This recently sold house shows a decline of 34% from Summer 2005. $ per Sq. Ft. price is $177.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110061487-12...

Has Stonebridge reached it's bottom yet? I am trying to understand why it's avg $ per Sq. Ft. price is much below older Scripps Ranch especially Scripps Highlands area. Compared to 4S Ranch, I like it's proximity to Sorrento Valley where I work. Access to areas like Poway and Mira Mesa makes it convenient for shopping (Costco, Kohls, Home Depot etc) and entertainment/dining. Backyards are also much bigger than most of the houses in 4S. 4S has a community feel though and schools are closer as compared to Stonebridge.

Oh my. Geesh HOA is $423/month in these homes. Wow... I never knew...

Submitted by sd_resident on February 21, 2012 - 1:48am.

Flu

HOA is $179. MR is $423/Mo.

Submitted by flu on February 21, 2012 - 6:02am.

sd_resident wrote:
Flu

HOA is $179. MR is $423/Mo.

Duh!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, I'm on drugs....Sorry. I'm on drugs....Totally not reading things correctly...Duh!
My bad. Thanks.

Submitted by SD Realtor on February 21, 2012 - 8:22am.

Hard to say if Stonebridge has bottomed out yet. I think the lower end of Stonebridge has indeed bottomed out or at least most all of the risk has been bled out. High end Stonebridge not so much.

Stonebridge verses 4S has always been an interesting comparison. IMO Stonebridge compares favorably if you only look at the home/lot. For many people however it does not work out as well. Bear in mind the following opinions I have heard over the years when I ask buyers to compare:

- Stonebridge is much harder to get in and out of.
- 4S has alot more infrastructure then Stonebridge
- Convenience of supermarkets etc is better in 4S.
- Commute to high tech is easier. (More Fwy)

Again these are simply various opinions and by far the majority of young couples I have worked with preferred 4S over Stonebridge. With that said these are simply opinions and I have not heard many Stonebridge homeowners ever complain. In fact there are a few Stonebridge residents on this blog and they like it.

In terms of the ppsf remember that many homes in older Scripps are much smaller and ppsf goes down as the size of the home goes up. There are some other factors such as proximity to freeways and simply getting in and out of Scripps that contribute to the ppsf as well.

Submitted by ocrenter on February 21, 2012 - 10:50am.

sd_resident wrote:
This recently sold house shows a decline of 34% from Summer 2005. $ per Sq. Ft. price is $177.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110061487-12...

Has Stonebridge reached it's bottom yet? I am trying to understand why it's avg $ per Sq. Ft. price is much below older Scripps Ranch especially Scripps Highlands area. Compared to 4S Ranch, I like it's proximity to Sorrento Valley where I work. Access to areas like Poway and Mira Mesa makes it convenient for shopping (Costco, Kohls, Home Depot etc) and entertainment/dining. Backyards are also much bigger than most of the houses in 4S. 4S has a community feel though and schools are closer as compared to Stonebridge.

I'm not so sure this is a true bargain.

it has a sloped yard with people looking right down at you.

that's a $50k reduction for me right there.

the back yard improvements consist of a single slab of concrete and not much else. so there's a lot of work to be done.

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-110033512-12...

this Miramar Ranch North Scripps Ranch home is a little older and $100k more, but it has a nice pool/spa with a slide and very well kept. it does have a slope but everything is well covered up so you don't get that "looked down" feel. the difference in MR/HOA is about $500/month in the Miramar Ranch North home's favor. that $500/month is the equivalent of the $100k extra in mortgage cost at 4.5%.

Submitted by ocrenter on February 21, 2012 - 10:58am.

more problem with starwood. it is at the bottom right below Stonebridge to the south and Pomerado to the west. I sense very strong pattern of white noise throughout the day. Great for folks with tinnitus!

what is truly amazing is someone actually almost paid a cool million for this back in the days... ($954k)

Submitted by kkun on February 21, 2012 - 8:15pm.

Even with the shortcomings mentioned (eg sloped backyard, little noise, not great interior), this is a great deal. Even with some interior and backyard fixing it will be at good price. Now, if you don't like Stonebridge, that's a different deal. This house is very close to Pomerado- as opposed to Toll Brothers homes that are probably 5 miles inside Stonebridge.

I think 4S is losing value at same rate as Stonebridge with many more homes up for sale all the time. I think ere are 20+ homes on sale up for sale in 4S.

One question still wonders me why San Angelo/ Scripps Ranch Heights homes are still selling at $245 per sqft for comparable size homes. See this one:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-120002113-11...

Even with I15 noise this home is priced high IMHO

Submitted by ocrenter on February 21, 2012 - 8:53pm.

kkun wrote:
Even with the shortcomings mentioned (eg sloped backyard, little noise, not great interior), this is a great deal. Even with some interior and backyard fixing it will be at good price. Now, if you don't like Stonebridge, that's a different deal. This house is very close to Pomerado- as opposed to Toll Brothers homes that are probably 5 miles inside Stonebridge.

Uh, this house and toll brothers homes are in completely different leagues. It is like comparing Ivy Gates homes to Maybeck or Sivercrest in 4S.

Submitted by SD Realtor on February 21, 2012 - 9:00pm.

kkun I think that the answer is a combination of things. Lets look at some numbers. Drawing a polygon area around the entire highlands area and looking at comps for homes over 2700 sf you get an average of 248 ppsf for sales over the past year. Now looking at "actives" using the same criteria you get an average list price of around 259 ppsf. This is not surprising as list price ppsf is always higher then actual sold price ppsf unless there is a mitigating circumstance such as disrepair or distress (short sale/reo). Now there is a current listing on Aspendell that is contingent at 800k. The ppsf for this home is 218!

While your generalization may or may not be correct about highlands pricing being generally higher I think there are mitigating circumstances. For instance highlands is a better location with regards to commute then Stonebridge. A HUGE monetary advantage lies with NO MR for the San Angelo homes (if I am not mistaken) and like an 86 buck a month HOA fee. (OCR can correct me on all that). Do you realize how much you save in the long run?

Now I am not saying that 11592 Aspendell is not overpriced. However I am saying that based on the numbers alone, I think the lack of recurring charges and the better commute indicates the highlands homes (for that grade/size of house) is a better value.

Submitted by ocrenter on February 21, 2012 - 9:53pm.

SD Realtor wrote:

While your generalization may or may not be correct about highlands pricing being generally higher I think there are mitigating circumstances. For instance highlands is a better location with regards to commute then Stonebridge. A HUGE monetary advantage lies with NO MR for the San Angelo homes (if I am not mistaken) and like an 86 buck a month HOA fee. (OCR can correct me on all that). Do you realize how much you save in the long run? .

It really isn't that hard to figure out.

The stonebridge MR and HOA amounts to basically $100k in term of monthly mortgage cost. So all things being equal, the stonebridge home should be $100k less.

Now ocean view homes typically carry another $100k in premium.

So an equally sized home in highlands getting $800k makes perfect sense. And to be frank, that Starwood home in stonebridge should be $600k.

Submitted by SD Realtor on February 21, 2012 - 10:01pm.

well put!

Submitted by kcal09 on February 22, 2012 - 12:40am.

It would be interesting to find out how many homes in "Stonebridge" are currently underwater. I wouldn't be surprised if there are still a few homeowners out there who have bought in 2006/7 who are struggling and hanging on a thread.

Submitted by Navydoc on February 22, 2012 - 10:21am.

ocrenter wrote:
Uh, this house and toll brothers homes are in completely different leagues. It is like comparing Ivy Gates homes to Maybeck or Sivercrest in 4S.

Boy you aint kidding. We toured the available new stuff in Stonebridge, i.e. Montoro and Serenity, but when we saw the Toll models there was no comparison. So last November we put a deposit on a phase 2 lot, and they're trenching it now.

My feelings are thus: as any regular here knows, I've been wathing this market for 6 years now. Any resale I buy I'm going to have to modify extensively to get what I want, and then I'll stress about how bad a deal I got. Buying new takes all that anxiety out of the decision. I trust the Toll quality of construction, and I believe they're building the best houses in Stonebridge. The community looks nice too, since they have phase 1 almost ready for stucco, there are no 2 houses that are the same. You certainly can't say that about Montoro. As for commute, 4S and Stonebridge tested out about the same, and I'll probably ride my bike down to Mira Mesa Blvd and catch a bus to Balboa, which works well for me.

Really can't wait to move back to SD. Anybody want a nice house in Gaithersburg MD?

Submitted by bearishgurl on February 22, 2012 - 10:31am.

Navydoc wrote:
...Really can't wait to move back to SD. Anybody want a nice house in Gaithersburg MD?

That's a really NICE (and convenient) town, Navydoc! You shouldn't have any problem unloading it (assuming arguendo you are NOT underwater) :=]

Submitted by Navydoc on February 22, 2012 - 10:38am.

Nope, not underwater at all, and the improvements I did to the basement make the house a lot nicer than when we bought it 3 years ago. Won't make any money on it, but don't really need to. Was a great place to live for three years, and I'll miss the home. Can't stand the DC area though. People are too uptight and WAY too mean to bicyclists. I get called an F-ing A-hole about once a week while riding to work.

Submitted by bearishgurl on February 22, 2012 - 10:59am.

Navydoc, even though you are already in contract, I still think you shouldn't have given up on South Park/Burlingame. I toured most of it recently and it is getting better and better around there and (unlike SR) has been holding its value over the last few years. A large "fixer-type" property (or a =<2000 sf property on a largish lot) around there would be a fantastic investment for years to come, IMO.

And you could ride your bike from there thru "high and scenic" Balboa Golf Course every morning, drink in the city, bridge and Coronado views, exit the park at 26th st and cross Florida Cyn at the light before climbing the hill and showing your ID to enter Naval Hospital!

Total commute = 1 to 3 miles :)

edit: And 1+ mile north of the NAVHOSP entrance is SD's infamous "Velodrome" where you can pace and race to your heart's content :=D

Submitted by SD Realtor on February 22, 2012 - 10:53am.

Doc that has been the fastest 3 years ever. Correct me if I am wrong but I recall us talking about Venice Beach and Culver City. Seems like yesterday man. Good to hear you are coming back!

Submitted by ocrenter on February 22, 2012 - 11:13am.

Navydoc wrote:
ocrenter wrote:
Uh, this house and toll brothers homes are in completely different leagues. It is like comparing Ivy Gates homes to Maybeck or Sivercrest in 4S.

Boy you aint kidding. We toured the available new stuff in Stonebridge, i.e. Montoro and Serenity, but when we saw the Toll models there was no comparison. So last November we put a deposit on a phase 2 lot, and they're trenching it now.

My feelings are thus: as any regular here knows, I've been wathing this market for 6 years now. Any resale I buy I'm going to have to modify extensively to get what I want, and then I'll stress about how bad a deal I got. Buying new takes all that anxiety out of the decision. I trust the Toll quality of construction, and I believe they're building the best houses in Stonebridge. The community looks nice too, since they have phase 1 almost ready for stucco, there are no 2 houses that are the same. You certainly can't say that about Montoro. As for commute, 4S and Stonebridge tested out about the same, and I'll probably ride my bike down to Mira Mesa Blvd and catch a bus to Balboa, which works well for me.

Really can't wait to move back to SD. Anybody want a nice house in Gaithersburg MD?

navydoc, congrats on the move back to SD and getting in with Toll Bros.

the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch.

seriouisly, if you want starwood type homes (aka Astoria at the beginning of Stonebridge and Pomerado), you are better off finding something in Scripps Ranch proper or 4S, unless you can get them for cheap.

Submitted by bearishgurl on February 22, 2012 - 12:11pm.

ocrenter wrote:
... the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch....

This is a very biased statement to 1-2 far-flung zip codes, ocrenter. One doesn't need to buy into a (very heavily-encumbered) new construction tract in SD county to get either a large lot or "good schools." For instance, McKinley Elementary (Felton @ Redwood in 92104) has a 2011 API of 858. For middle and high school selection in and around that area, SDUSD is your oyster! Break out the CHOICE and VEEP, etc applications and do it early!!

McKinley's attendance area has MANY large homes on large lots valued at $500K - $900K with NO HOA or MR! And "curb appeal" is bar none around there!! I've lived in SD/South County for more than 35 years and can now emphatically say that the NP/SP area has come a long, long way since the '70's - '80's.

see: http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/...

Of course, if you haven't seen it recently and its several beautiful adjacent pockets, you wouldn't know that.

Submitted by ocrenter on February 22, 2012 - 12:27pm.

bearishgurl wrote:
ocrenter wrote:
... the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch....

This is a very biased statement to 1-2 far-flung zip codes, ocrenter. One doesn't need to buy into a (very heavily-encumbered) new construction tract in SD county to get either a large lot or "good schools." For instance, McKinley Elementary (Felton @ Redwood in 92104) has a 2011 API of 858. For middle and high school selection in and around that area, SDUSD is your oyster! Break out the CHOICE and VEEP, etc applications and do it early!!

McKinley's attendance area has MANY large homes on large lots valued at $500K - $900K with NO HOA or MR! And "curb appeal" is bar none around there!! I've lived in SD/South County for more than 35 years and can now emphatically say that the NP/SP area has come a long, long way since the '70's - '80's.

see: http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/...

Of course, if you haven't seen it recently and its several beautiful adjacent pockets, you wouldn't know that.

by estate type homes I meant 4000-5000 sqft homes on 1/3 to 1/2 acre lots. Nothing came across on sdlookup matching that description, although I'm sure I'm just not looking hard enough.

I'm sure McKinley is a fine school and it is a shame my children would not have the opportunity to be educated there due to my ignorance. Perhaps the next generation may be served better now that you have kindly pointed out the error of my ways.

Submitted by SD Realtor on February 22, 2012 - 12:46pm.

wow ocr do you need to take a train to work since you live in a far flung zip code?

Submitted by Navydoc on February 22, 2012 - 12:48pm.

Bearishgirl, with all due respect, you really have no idea what my wants and needs are. To say that I didn't give an area that you think is nice is absurd, considering how well I know this area. It's not like I'm a noob when it comes to San Diego.

A 2000 sf house in South Park or Burlingame would have to be doubled in size to suit our needs. How much would that cost? Assuming I would even get permits. The Toll house is 4600 sf for Christ's sake. In case you're wondering why I need so much space, my wife is from here, she's Laotian and has a huge family that is just dying to make chez Navydoc the family meeting place. I doubt we will ever be alone on a weekend. And yes, I love this type of activity and a large house affords me an opportunity to get away. Over this past Christmas we flew my wife's family in and had 20 people staying over the whole holiday, and we loved it. Can't wait for that all the time.

The final straw in our decision for Stonebridge is Poway Unified. I realize you can find good schools in SDUSD, but you have to admit it's much more work. My 4 year old daughter will start kindergarten next year, and I'm much happier with PUSD.

As ocrenter said above, there are no other properties in the price range that offer as much as Stonebridge regarding lot and house size in San Diego right now. Believe me, I've looked.

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