We are very happy in Talavera 4S Ranch, but we are a bit below your budget (more like $900K-$1M).
At your price point, you could consider the Ivy Gate community (feed into Stone Ranch Elementary), or as others have mentioned places like Santaluz, the Santa Fe Valley (Crosby etc). There are other small communities just north of Camino del Norte (near Maranatha School, etc), but I would have some concerns about changes in traffic patterns once some of the newer shopping centers, etc reach completion. I believe that all of the areas mentioned above are gated.
From the Crosby and Santa Fe Valley, etc, you will be able to cut up to Del Dios Hwy and enter I-15 already north of Lake Hodges in Escondido. If you are in Santa Luz or 4S, you will not have gate access to some of those roads, and you will more likely enter at Camino del Norte or Bernardo Center or Rancho Bernardo Rd. However, from what I can tell, there is fairly light traffic on I-15 north in the mornings. I don’t think you would need to use a FastPass. Contrary to what another poster said, I believe that both north- and south-bound lanes are open on most mornings (barring a MAJOR event — I’ve only seen that once in 1.5 years living around here).
If you do choose somewhere farther south (Carmel Valley corridor, Del Mar, etc), you can be assured that I-56 east bound has VERY light traffic in the mornings.
