[quote=mixxalot]Problem is that I do not see anything affordable or nice close to coastal areas for under a million bucks.[/quote]
mixxalot, define “close to coastal areas,” please. What exactly did you expect? You will be a first-time buyer, no? (That is, if you ever make an offer on a property in SD.)
Do you think that your predecessor first-time buyers (yes, even as far back as 40 years ago) bought “close to coastal areas?” And if any of them actually did, was that dwelling actually habitable at the time they closed escrow on it?
Could it possibly be that you might be expecting too much for your first home and that is the reason why you haven’t yet bought anything in SD County?