Thanks for the helpful advice. I was looking at Bay Park, Bay Ho, and parts of Clairemont as well. A little older and worse school districts, but doesn’t matter for me with no kids in the picture for at least 5 years or so. Mira Mesa looks like a pretty attractive option… correct me if I am wrong, but the competition doesn’t seem as stiff there, possibly due to the perception of the neighborhood?

Buying a place cash sounds very tempting, but I can’t deal with the commute to Temecula and condos in town don’t have yards sadly.