[quote=Scarlett]I didn’t say I was discounting it, just that I wasn’t *that* impressed with the neighborhood. I care more about front yard maintenance and street cleanliness than about the vehicles – than about a COUPLE of RVs or boats ON the street. If there are TOO MANY of trucks or boats etc. it MAY not be a good match for us – as I can’t imagine we’ll ever be owning such a vehicle. Nothing against those that do and nothing wrong with those vehicles, just we have different interests and lifestyles. Diversity is good, but we don’t want to stick out by NOT having one. When we first looked at houses, this was the first thing our realtor drilled into us: look at vehicles outside – I guess to see if you’d feel you have things in common with your neighbors.[/quote]
In the City of SD (and Chula Vista as well), RV’s and boats are not permitted to be parked on the street longer than 72 hours. If they are, a neighbor can call code compliance and they will cite it. All RV/boat owners know this. The 72-hour rule is to load or unload and clean the vehicle before storing it. Visitors driving RV’s must be self-contained and move their vehicles completely out of a space every 72 hours. They are not allowed to camp overnight in the street. I don’t own these types of vehicles but have neighbors that do and other neighbors who will call code compliance on them if they park on the street too long, esp in front of a house other than their own. I noticed the smaller house on Ramsey had RV parking. Streets where several homeowners have poured wide driveways for RV parking or have RV backyard access gates is often indicative of many retired persons living in the area. Many retired homeowners own recreational vehicles of all shapes and sizes, including large sailboats. Some rent a separate storage space/slip and trailer or bring the vehicle home on occasion.
IMO, living in an area with retired persons (much more likely to have equity in their properties) is FAR superior to living on a block where younger worker bees are struggling to make high mortgage payments, tax payments and HOA dues and are subject to short sale, foreclosure or walk-away. If the majority of vehicles you see on a block don’t appear to be “luxury vehicles,” in your mind, this says absolutely nothing about the net worth of the homeowners there except that the vehicles in question are far more likely to be owned free and clear. These areas are stable and much LESS likely to suffer distress in property values, past, present or future.
Remember, many of these “carefree retired neighbors” will be home and walking their dogs, gardening, questioning strange cars and people, humoring the mail lady (and observing every nook and cranny they have studied for the past 30+ years) while you are gone 10+ hours per day. As a worker, that might just be where you want to plant your older kids walking home from school or the bus stop while you’re at work (AND your valuable belongings) 😉
In a neighborhood that’s over 40 years old, don’t judge a book by its cover. And Scarlett, I just don’t see the values in UC taking a nosedive in the coming months/years. Most of it could be considered a “retire-in-place” community . . . for GOOD REASON. This is just my .02. Take it for what its worth (free) :=)
