AN, here are some reasons why MH location wise has such appeal versus LJ, and its not generational appreciation for older homes, we know tons of 30s and 40s who live in MH or would DIE to live in MH. We rent a home in MH currently and here are some observations as well as commentary from neighbors/friends:
1. Most of the original homes that have not had extensive BAD remodels/gut jobs done to them are built with SKILLED labor. This typically means your home is going to hold up better and the materials used back then were of much higher quality in a lot of these homes. The built ins, the carefully framed arched doorways/hallways, the molding etc. Its very rare if not impossible to find that in a home built recently. And yes, many are architectually unique with charm versus cookie cutter tract homes. Most people here shudder at the though of living in tract homes that they consider Pleasantville.
2. North MH ( not including the hospital area) for instance is remarkably consistent in terms of how “nice” each street is from street to street.
3. There seems to be no shortage of well to do professional GAY couples who can afford to buy these homes and they find is an ideal neighbhorhood for them to live in versus LJ or NC where there are less of their kind/friends.
4. The area is VERY walkable/ bikeable to grocery stores, a LARGE variety of restaurants/bars, to Balboa park, to Coronado, to the beach. For those who like the idea of parking their cars on the weekend and not having to drive them, this is totally achievable living in MH. You can enjoy both a very nice neighborhood, the outdoors, and urban living.
5. There is a sense of community with neighbors who know each other have each other over for parties, dinner, help one another out. This is not a transient neighborhood with most people living in MH for a long time.
6. The area is very central for most when it comes to jobs. There are a lot of folks who work downtown, but for those work in UTC or Sorrento Valley its still a short commute with easy access to freeways. It is also very close to the airport for those who travel. There are a lot of doctors /lawyers who live in the area given the proximity to hospitals/courts
7. This area is relatively unpretentious compared to LJ. People may have money, but its often a “quiet” wealth more closely similar to the rich who live on the coast in Cardiff/Encinitas versus LJ
