[quote=paramount]This is what the same money will get you in 92592, and the schools are rated higher than even Poway:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/45638-Hawk-Ct_Temecula_CA_92592_M27740-39053?row=7&ex=CA566869400

Notice the San Diego property is really a condo.[/quote]Of course you can’t get as big of a house in San Diego compare to Temecula. But then you’re trading house size for distance to work.

This is what you get for a place w/in 5-15 minutes from SD’s view largest private employers.
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-130061746-10334_Darden_Rd_San_Diego_CA_92126. There’s no MR or HOA. That’s ~$260/month, or equivalently to ~$50k in housing price.

You preferred bigger house and can deal with commute. Other don’t mind smaller houses but hate commute. But to say you can’t get a house in the $400k in San Diego is wrong.

BTW, if you’re looking a place closer to RB area, you can pick this up in San Marcos: http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Marcos/971-Rose-Arbor-Dr-92078/home/3949871

If you’re looking for a place closer to Downtown (if you work down there), you can pick up something like this one: http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-130043985-1768_Wolf_Canyon_Loop_Chula_Vista_CA_91913

Schools in Both San Marcos and Eastlake are good too.