Hi jfel, I think if your husband works in Lakeside, you should buy a house there, and do so ASAP.
Right now rates are very low, and in my view prices will soon rise.
There seem to be plenty of nice houses in Lakeside in the 350-450 range.
Low crime seems to be very important, so I suggest looking for higher prices (try to go up to 450) and big lot sizes of both the house and the neighborhood.
Having a short commute will allow your husband to have more time for his family and hobbies, reduce the risk of traffic accident, reduce car insurance, and reduce gas expense and vehicle wear.
You are also in luck that the Lakeside market is not super-tight as other parts of San Diego. You’ll have a decent selection in your range.
When budgeting don’t forget to include the value of the mortgage interest deduction. A four-member family with 65k in income and a 150k mortgage is not going to get a very big tax break when they buy, but your federal and state taxes will probably go down about $2,500 per year.
