[quote=cabal]I will respond to as many posts as I can.
SW Escondido west of NC fair is an appealing option. Any downside to this area? @CAR – nice to see you are still here on Piggington fighting the good fight. Are you still CA Renter or now CA Owner?
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Hi cabal,
I can’t think of too many downsides to the SW Escondido area, especially the part that is west of NCF. There are some truly magnificent homes and lots there, and not too many kids that we’ve ever seen (one of the reasons we *didn’t* buy there). We’ve made multiple offers on homes in the SW Escondido area over the years (usually lowballing), but would have had to commute more than we’d like, so we ended up closer to the coast, both because of the commute and the lack of kids there — we’re the kind of family you wouldn’t want to live next to if you’re not fond of “kid noises.” 😉
The homes are often a bit older than you’d probably like, but they tend to be well-built and well-maintained. If not for the lack of kids and the longer commute, we would have bought there. Some of the homes have amazing views of the lake and surrounding hills. It’s a truly beautiful area, IMHO.
As far as downsides go, there is the traffic on Via Rancho Pkwy. We always tried to pick houses that had a light to turn onto VRP. Cars travel fast and there are many curves, so it feels like you’re risking your life every time you want to pull out onto that road. There is also the potential for brush fires, especially the homes to the west of Via Rancho Pkwy that border the lake area.
Also, be careful about the fenced-off area around Hamilton and Bernardo Ave. From what I understand it is a highly toxic site, and the chemicals have been found as far as the park. They’ve been working on cleaning it up for years, so not sure where it stands now, but I think it should be taken into consideration (might not want to buy a property adjacent to the site). That’s pretty much all I can think of.
If you’re interested in La Costa, this one has recently popped up. It’s older than you’d like, and the neighborhood is more active (there are some kids), but it’s a *very nice* neighborhood with mostly middle-aged folks.
