Seems like there are quite a few deals around the $650k that were over 800k at peak. Is it possible that the houses you like are also the houses everyone else like, so it’s just supply/demand at work?[/quote]
Absolutely, we are looking at the better homes/lots in better neighborhoods on better streets (or some combination, at the right price).
You’ll note that many of the homes you’ve listed are new builds from the peak years (2004-2006). Those would be lower today because every single buyer in those tracts bought at the peak, many of them with builder-financed mortgages that were just as “toxic” as the sub-prime stuff. The other homes you’ve listed are mostly in the San Marcos school district, which definitely affects the price relative to those in the Carlsbad or San Dieguito/Encinitas districts.
Like sdr pointed out, you really need to understand the nuances of the area. There are some VERY funky homes, lots, and neighborhoods around here. The least desirable with really “WTF” prices from the peak have indeed dropped, but the better homes and areas have dropped very little.
