I’ve lived in CV (specifically, Torrey Hills) since the beginning of 2005.
With regard to the initial question, no I do not see how it is worth the current asking prices. I’m renting and have been watching those prices inch down these last three years. They haven’t dropped much (esp in the $1M+ bracket), presumably because the population can afford to hold out for the market to rebound. However, I’m sure there’s a growing number of people who’d like to sell. Be that as it may, these are indeed tract houses, as has been pointed out. Many are huge, taking up almost the entire lot they sit on. I suppose the builders got a better profit margin that way.
I take exception, however to the “no soul” observations. My kid is in school in Torrey Hills and partly as a result of that we know lots of people in the neighborhood. Also, my wife is Chinese and thinks she is in heaven due to the high number of friendly neighbors who speak her language. It’s a rare day when we go out without seeing people we know and like. (I’m not aware of any aversion to us on the grounds of our being mere tenants.) There’s no comparison between this and an older neighborhood in San Diego where I lived for 21 years. Now there was a place where you really had to work overtime to find a friend!
We could live in Torrey Hills indefinitely. I wish I owned a 2K-sq-ft house there, of which there are a few. However, I will never buy at current prices. Again, these are still just tract houses.
