I too am looking for a house with a view in the City.
cristalight, I’m not sure what your time frame is. But I’m waiting until the market is VERY depressed to buy a lot to build on, a teardown, or a fixer-upper.
If your budget is $800k, start budgeting the carrying cost for that amount and rent. Save the difference and I believe that if your timing it right, you will do better than Del Cerro. You might be able to get something in Bay Park, Point Loma or South La Jolla, or Kensington, or Normal Height (North of Adams), or Mission Hills.