[quote=AN]SD is way overrated. It’s really a $hit hole with nothing but vast seas of TRACT homes.[/quote]
Actually, it isn’t at all. SD County has many more “custom” areas than other cities (esp those in Midwest and Southwest USA). It’s just that most Piggs, if given the choice, seem to gravitate towards SD County tract developments and the *newer* the better (inferior location and accompanying fees be damned).
Many older-tract subdivisions could now be considered mostly “custom” due to mass remodeling over the years.
The “universal preference” for “newer tracts” is partly a function of the confusion of so many tracts to choose from now, IMO, due to gross overbuilding in the last 15 years creating “urban sprawl.” Another reason for the preference is generational. Younger Gen X and Gen Y generally want to reduce property maintenance as much as possible and most didn’t want to learn and/or weren’t taught any “repair” or “heavy cleaning” skills. Thus, they often perceive an older, far more well-located property on a larger lot as too daunting or a “project,” even though there may be many thousands of $$ of “sweat equity” available to the buyer after its purchase. Instead, many would rather pay hundreds in fees every month (or even $1K+) and regularly take their children to a park instead of water, fertilize, mow and have them play in their backyard. In addition, they can’t envision living in a house while it still has (working) older appls, Formica countertops and/or vinyl floors in the bathrooms. For the vast majority of (younger) Gen X/Y homebuyers, the house they buy must already be completely “updated, turnkey” and “move-in ready” upon COE.
Even my own kids are like this, except they WILL live in older dwellings but all are completely opposed to having to take care of landscaping.
This wasn’t always the case with the majority of homebuyers but to each his own.
