The MM condo (suggested earlier) not only is narrow enough to emulate a train car inside (notice the sorry a$$ kitchen so narrow that if the oven is open, one can’t stand in front of the sink or open the frig??), it has ~$235 in monthly HOA dues (subject to hikes and also special assessments). [/quote]
Ouch! I would not say that bearishgirl. I have many memories from living in condos even smaller than this, but don’t recall thinking about the space limitations of the flat. As for the HOA fees they can be a useful tool. Have you noticed even non-HOA properties are subject to hikes and special assessments? I got a chuckle reading the latest property tax bill…. on top of the 1% property value tax, there were additional charges for $600 (and now I am not talking about MR fees). What is the girl got to do? Start a protest? 🙂
Any case I digress, the OP is in a unique position with the ability to make an all cash purchase. There are opportunities through out San Diego county that can meet one’s investment objectives. Like the saying goes, “value is in the eye of the beholder”. Knowledge is power, and imo real-estate money is made by understanding the dynamics of the property’s location. With everything being equal, what core attribute does the property have to make it stand out. That typically gives way to your revenue source.
Without guidance from the OP I don’t see a reason to hash the different san diego regions. For me the best place is my current hole in the wall 😛