[quote=protorio]I agree that if rent is really cheaper than buying, there’s no urgency.
But I’m talking about quiet family neighborhoods in communities where many life-long SD folks live: San Carlos, Allied Gardens, La Mesa. And I know there are modest and descent neighborhoods in Linda Vista, National City, College, Lemon Grove, etc.
City Heights and Southeast are mostly families. There are problems, but SD does not have a ghetto. Ask anyone from Philly.
Friends of mine who’ve moved here from elsewhere will take nothing but costal. They say, “I came all the way from ___, and I have to live on the beach.” Maybe San Diego natives take the beach for granted, but I’ve never felt the need to live on the beach (or any “aspirant” neighborhood), and to leverage my life and $$ in unhealthy ways to achieve it.[/quote]
Excellent post, protorio. Even though I HAVE lived in “aspirant” neighborhoods in the past, I don’t think we has to live in one to enjoy the SD lifestyle. All of those areas you mention here are fine places to raise a family (EXCEPT City Heights) and quite close to beaches, parks, major attractions, etc.
I just have serious issues with quality of environment and construction issues within it and quality of average tenant that City Heights attracts. I think it’s the worst area to invest in but would stop short of stating that it is a “ghetto.”
Note: the “City Heights” community comprises MOST of the 92105 zip but NOT all. In order of investment preference, I would rate them as follows:
Oak Park
College Grove
Hollywood Park
Corner of Rolando/Colima (mostly in 92115)
Chollas Creek
City Heights
Major problems with this area?? Street crime, prostitution, DUI drivers, unstable hills with construction on top, radon field, active dump, huge crevice dividing it (the *newish* I-15), residential break ins, auto break ins and cracked slabs, to name a few. It has a FEW good qualities but its bad qualities far outweigh them, IMO.
