I can address the view thing. “Water influence” has an effect on values almost no matter where you go. How much effect it has is usually a function of supply, and views are usually a function of topography. In the LA/Orange county areas, the supply of properties with view amenities is exceeding limited because of the topography. There is a range of hills that run all up and down the coast in those areas, and except for just a couple areas there are no ocean views of any type farther than about 1 mile away from the beaches, and lots of areas where its measured in blocks, not miles.

Here in SD County the topography is a lot more hilly and includes a lot more mesas and canyons. There are properties that are 20 miles or more from the ocean that can have a blue water view on a clear day and there are lots of those during the year. Because there are so many more view properties here, the effect of those views are generally less than if that same view were available up in the O.C. People up there go nuts for just a glimpse of blue.

Personally, there are very few views I would pay extra for unless I had money to burn, and no views that are worth to me what other people are willing to pay for them. Then again, I’m not emotional about my home and I would never spend hours sitting on a balcony staring off into the cosmos. But there are a lot of people who can get that wound up in a view amenity even though they’re seldom around to enjoy it. Different strokes, I guess.