[quote=ocrenter]BG, why do you have such a huge bias against 4S and the general area. quite frankly some of your info is completely wrong and misleading. 4S was never annexed as part of the city of San Diego. the library is part of the county system.
I understand some people do not like MR and HOA. that’s fine, a lot of people are ok with it, so let it be. You keep stating the same mantra about 4S MR and small lots. I bet you don’t even realize a lot of 4S actually have very low MR and HOA. it is really the part north of Camino del norte that have the high MR and smaller lots that you rally against. those are easily identifiable as they are typically built after 2007. But you repeatedly would try to steer anyone interested in the area completely away from it because of your personal bias against these new master plan communities. . . [/quote]
ocrenter, 4S Ranch IS part of the City of San Diego. It doesn’t matter who installed a branch library there. Did you look on the map I furnished with SD’s General Plan? Any zip code where the first 3 digits are 921 IS part of the City of San Diego. LJ 92037 is the only exception but also IS part of the City of San Diego. Obviously, you must know that your address is “SD 92127,” which is the most recent zip code annexation to the City. Its land was primarily vacant prior to its annexation and perhaps carried no zip code or that of 92128 (RB) or 92129 (PQ).
Yes, I understand the MR there varies wildly. Among the SFR active listings I saw, I observed several with MR as low as $250 – $300 mo and some as high as the $750-$800 mo range. There could be tracts with lower MR there than that but I didn’t run across any listings. HOWEVER, I just looked at listings which met or exceeded the OP’s sf requirement of 3500 sf.
I do not steer any Pigg anywhere. Particular out of county/out of state Piggs, especially those in a position to have many choices on where to live, should be appraised of the differences between areas, i.e. lot sizes, school attendance areas, the presence of MR bonds, etc. This OP knew the MR was high in Santaluz but I’m not sure he/she realized that it was among the highest, if not THE highest-priced community facilities district in the entire county.
Quite often, misconceptions abound with persons relocating. They see flat one-dimensional photos showing a property’s best assets and attempt to judge based upon those photos whether or not a community would meet their needs. Fortunately, this OP had actually spoke to homeowners in his/her area of choice and had done a bit of homework. But what would appeal to a longtime resident on the ground here and what would appeal to a relocating potential buyer are often two completely different animals. For instance, there are a great many large homes in the State of Texas similar in size and style to 4S Ranch properties. The listing photos show the marketed property only and often do NOT indicate lot size. The front yard/driveway photos are obviously taken from the curb across the street with the agent/assistant with the camera sitting or even laying down on the curb to make the setback look larger. Of course, no vehicle is parked in the driveway. If there were, it would give away the fact that a mid-sized vehicle parked in the driveway with the garage door closed would likely hang over the curb. From the listing photos, there is also no way to tell that a bedroom window is only 6-8 feet from a neighbors bedroom or bathroom window with a thin wood fence in between. When a Texan arrives on the ground in SD and drives up to 4S (or any newer tract development in CA) to view properties, they’re often SHOCKED that there is so little space around the house, not much more than sidewalk on the sides and a narrow patio in the back. They’re used to having this same house on 1/2 to 1 AC!
A buyer who will commute during rush hours also should attempt the commute at the times he/she will leave, both directions and preferably on a Friday before making an offer.
Misconceptions also abound regarding school quality, actual commuting times, build quality, neighborhood quality, etc. I see it almost every day on this blog. These common misconceptions stem from ignorance borne out of lack of experience within and knowledge of a micro area and dismissal of a micro area for a possible purchase of a residence for the flimsiest of reasons in favor of *new* or *newer* construction in a far-flung location (nearly ALWAYS with MR/HOA encumbrances and substandard lots).
Out of county and especially out of state buyers’ “expectations” have to be “managed” from the get go or they will end up coming here and either renting or deciding they don’t want to accept a position offered to them after all as nothing they will be shown in their price range will appeal to them. Deciding not to purchase is, of course, their perogative and perfectly fine. Managing expectations is especially important for those buyers who are upper-middle income and below and must secure a mortgage in order to buy.
The OP here presumably does not fall into this category. He/she appears to have MANY choices in where to live as they are not bound by commuting constraints. Yet, they were only slightly familiar with two zip codes, 92037 and 92130. Acc to their posts, their interest in 92127 was gleaned from the internet only and conversations with past and present homeowners. The OP could actually buy a home in the style/size and even gated community they prefer on a 20,000 sf lot with a 180 to 360 degree panoramic view of the SD skyline, Coronado Bridge, Silver Strand, Tijuana, Otay Mesa, Salt Creek, Spring Valley and Paradise Hills for well UNDER $1M with low/no MR in Rancho Del Rey (Chula Vista) or Bonita! Yet they are focusing on ONE far flung zip code with the HIGHEST MR in the entire county which has one of the HIGHEST levels of distressed owners and don’t even know these (many) other choices exist.
