Thanks. The more i read about Rancho Santa Fe and surrounding areas, the more I begin to think of holding off until I can get a deal there. Maybe Oceanside isn’t the right place for me, if there really is as much of a crime/gang problem as people have been saying.

Have just been reading through some of the older posts by raptorduck and others on the RSF area. I drove through the area last weekend as well and thought it was amazing. But you still can’t get much for $1mm there, unless you’re willing to settle for something small and older.

I guess what gives me pause at the moment is the uncertainty on prices. In every single development I toured last weekend, there were dozens of people touring the models. At Scripps Preserve, 3 people left deposits that weekend on lots. My sense was that most of these were sideliners like me who are thinking about jumping in.

Perhaps it was a bout of naivete, but I went into the weekend with a pre-approval letter in hand and a hefty down payment thinking that these developments would be willing to negotiate on price. Most weren’t taking offers (including Buckingham and Tiburon), which was surprising.

In addition to some of the areas people have named, where else should I be looking if I want new, spacious homes at decent values?