Seriously though, you are certainly correct when you say any property can be made exactly the way you want it, but the hassle involved with that approach can be extraordinary. It’s ok if you don’t mind, but if one of the spouses doesn’t want to live in a partially renovated house with the dust, the constant debris, the noise and the smells, we could be talking divorce at some point. I renovated my basement myself here in Maryland, and it IS exactly the way I wanted it (going to miss my ultimate man cave), but the only way I could pull it off was that my wife never went down there to see the mess. She would just get to see her husband covered with drywall dust and would say “I’ll see it when your done.” Now, maybe you think my wife is a spoiled princess, but I assure you she’s not, and that the hassles of renovation are clearly not for everyone. Add to the fact that you may not recoup half of your renovation expenses when it comes time to sell, so how is that different from depreciation on a new house? And why do you say that all the best locations are already built? I happen to love the wide open feel of the Stonebridge community, and especially love the sizes of the yards. I can’t think of any community within a 30 minute commute to Balboa that looks/feels this way, regardless of age. 4S is similar, and that is a consideration, but there are few areas even in 4S that can boast a 3/4 acre yard. Ivy Gate is one, but the HOA’s and Mello Roos are just as bad as Stonebridge. If a yard that large is something your not interested in, then don’t disdain my choice for wanting one. I’m currently living on 1.25 acres and squeezing onto an 8000 sq ft lot in Carmel Valley or some of the 4S communities is not that appealing to me. Oh, you mentioned warmth. Right now as I type this it’s 103 degrees outside with 94% humidity. do you really think the heat ANYWHERE in San Diego is going to compare to the D/C area? And I don’t have to bring my snowblower either.
Folks on this board know I’ve been here for quite a while, and I’ve researched the San Diego real estate market as much or more than some professional realtors. Hell, I moved here 2 years ago and still read this board every day. I’ve simply come to the conclusion that a new home fits our wants and needs the best. I told you my psychology for wanting a new home was stupid, but since I have the means why can’t I have one?
