While I’ve enjoyed a few pass through visits there I do not recommend it for real estate. Aecitia used to post here and she was shopping a vacation home there about 8 years ago, ultimately buying in Arrowhead. The problem with Idyllwild is that it lacks a body of water or snow skiing and the town is tiny and can be seen in an hour or two. For San Diegans it’s like Julian without the Pie or Mt. Laguna. If it floats your boat, great! But as an investment it is limited. With 3,800 people (which includes neighboring pine cove) it is about the size of a big high school and no consistent tourism draw, no high school at all and part of the Hemet school district, not a big real estate plus. It’s 89% white, so diversity is not it’s strong suit. The roads went to hell this last winter and still aren’t fixed so retirement is the only real option. The lack of shopping and dining are a big negative.
It’s at best a fun weekend in So Cal that feels like you are in the smokey mountains, far from any people. In 20 years it will likely be the same. From an R/E perspective, nobody with a job or kids can buy your house and currently second homes have deductabilty issues so I rate it as a “Sell.”
I just got back from an East coast vacation, and between a few days in Boston and a few in NYC we spent a few wonderful days in Mystic, Connecticut as well as Madison County, CT. Also some places in Rhode Island, admittedly I had my redfin app going at every place because it was the 1st week of October and the leaves were turning and the weather was ideal. But it’s like being married to a great woman and seeing a hot chick walk by who gives you a look, you don’t leave your wife because that hot chick is crazy and looking good is just a fraction of what makes a great relationship. You just nod back and keep going because everything you need, you already have. You live in wine country scaredy, Idyllwild is just a one night stand that you will regret.
