I’ll be relocating back to the coast next year, and my criteria is more or less the same as yours – good public schools and a place where about $1m will get a nice 4 or 5-bdrm place with a decent lot (certainly not an acre, but enough for a pool and play equipment). I’ve lived in and/or visted every corner of the county for 40 years, spent 5 years actually looking hard, and ended up picking Encinitas/La Costa – the San Dieguito district. $1.5m will get you a VERY nice house there.
La Jolla and Coronado were removed from my list very early on in the search. Del Mar lasted a little longer, but the value isn’t there like it is in Encinitas.
