I don’t consider SM a “suburb.” Even though within the City of SD, Allied Gardens (where the OP can’t afford to purchase) is a “suburb.” So is Linda Vista, Clairemont and Birdland (each of where I also don’t feel the OP can afford to purchase a “suitable” residence for his family). None are contiguous to the urban core as are Golden Hill, North Park and Hillcrest, for example. These areas are “urban.”
San Marcos is is considered “exurban” to SD. For those who believe Temecula is “exurban,” it is actually NOT exurban to SD. Temecula is “out of county” and not part of the San Diego area at all. It is suburban/exurban to Riverside.
SDEaves, hope you’re having fun with your family at LM Village about now 🙂 I rec’d another recommendation (for a buyer in your shoes) of Santee and the Lindo Lakes area of Lakeside. Both are further out along SR-52 but still not a very far commute to Tierrasanta/KM (well under 30 mins). I didn’t recommend these areas to you before because I was under the impression that Santee was mostly encumbered by CFDs and so had MR and Lakeside was not affordable due to its larger lots. However, my East County “expert” tells me they ARE still affordable and that less than half of Santee is encumbered by MR. Both have good public schools.
Again, you are looking here at 40-55 yo homes that are livable but may need cosmetic work and landscaping (in stages as you can afford it) which are presumably avail in your price range. Lakeside tends to have larger lots than Santee and LM and some of the lots (in its “Wintergardens area”) have a split backyard (with the rear portion a few feet higher for a possible horse corral).
I don’t know if you want to consider living that far east but given your price range, I would at least suggest parking yourself out there for a couple of mornings and then driving into work to see how your commute goes.
