area suggestion

[an]

I’m trying to scope out areas where I might want to buy in the future. I was wondering if you guys have suggestions of areas that would fit the bill.

– Average lot of 1/4 acre
– Average house size of ~2500sq-ft (preferably single story)
– Tree lined streets with (grass/tree) between sidewalk and street
– View
– <$800k The one area that would fit the bill is the western end of UC, west of Regents, on Soderblom Ave. Anyone know of any other areas that are similar to these? Most of the area's I've seen with big lots (1/2 acre+) do not have sidewalk. Which I don't really understand. Considering how much land they have, you'd expect them to have at least sidewalks if not tree lined streets with sidewalks.

[sdduuuude]

I think you are looking for Denver.

[an]

There must be more around SD than just that one development in UC. There’s no way I’m moving out of SD :-D, so Denver is out of the question.

[bearishgurl]

AN, correct me if I’m wrong but I’m seeing from your post that you are primarily looking for neighborhood character (including city tree easement), setback and lot size in your next residence.

Plumosa Park (92106, bordering 92110) would fill the bill, but in order to get a ~2500 sf property for <=$800K, you are going to have to get lucky and find a property would likely need substantial work AND be able to act on it when you find it. Parts of Mission Hills (92103) and Banker's Hill (92101) have properties with your desired features as well and also one story (likely elevated above street level) homes in the size you seek. The challenge is your $800K ceiling. Part of Kensington (92116) also has a "few" ~2500 sf one story homes on streets which meet your criteria. However, price is an issue again. Morley Field (92104) meets your criteria and also has large, elevated covered porches. I would highly recommend this area for you, due to convenience factor, larger than avg lots and more character (for the $$). Again, very desirable and hard to find what you are looking for there in your price range. Parts of South Park (92104) are similar to Morley Field without the use of natural river rock. It has some curved streets and a bit smaller lots on average than Morley Field. It's harder to find a ~2500 sf one-story there.

Excellent private schools abound in 92104/92116.

Western Chula Vista (91910) also meets your criteria but the average house is not ~$800K there. On several streets, $800K++ houses are mixed in with $400-$800K houses and there may even be 1-6 <$300K rental houses on the same street. HOWEVER, you may find your "dream lot" there with a shop (or room to build one) to indulge yourself in vehicles 🙂 Parts of Lemon Grove (91945) and La Mesa (91941) also meet your needs, with Lemon Grove having larger lots for the money. The ~$800K properties would only exist in LM, however.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdduuuude]I think you are looking for Denver.[/quote]

I think he is, too 🙂

[bearishgurl]

[quote=AN]There must be more around SD than just that one development in UC. There’s no way I’m moving out of SD :-D, so Denver is out of the question.[/quote]

AN, have you considered Claremont, Pasadena or Pomona, CA? They’re only 110 miles or so from your family.

edit: Add to this list Lakewood, at the other end of town.

[SD Realtor]

The view part makes it hard but not impossible. Otherwise there are many areas that fit the bill. Another option is to pick up a more rundown home on a view lot and remodel.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=SD Realtor]The view part makes it hard but not impossible. Otherwise there are many areas that fit the bill. Another option is to pick up a more rundown home on a view lot and remodel.[/quote]

I agree to look for a fixer. I was focusing on the “character” aspects of his “wish list” and overlooked the “view” criteria. This makes it even harder.

[SK in CV]

Might try Del Cerro too. Much of the area has tree lawns. (though most of the trees were yanked because of the damage they did to the sidewalk.) Most of the homes are ranch style. 2500 square feet might be a little over the average, but there are plenty that are that big and bigger. 1/4 acre lots are rare, but a lot are >8,000 square feet. Good views are pretty common. And the price range is within your limits, maybe even cheaper.

Might be hard to find everything you want, but you can get most of it there.

[The-Shoveler]

Delete

[an]

BG, Plumosa Park doesn’t have have tree lined street like I’m describing. 92103 and 92101 lots, if I’m not mistaken are smaller than average of 1/4 acre. BTW, when I say 1/4 acre, I mean 1/4 acre usable lot. Preferably 100×100 sq-ft dimension, not your typical skinny and long lots. If I’m not mistaken, Kensington, South Park, and Morley Field lots are long and narrow as well, no? Lemon Grove and La Mesa does have larger lots, but I can’t find any with tree lined streets. Can you point me to a specific are w/in LG and LM?

This will be for a much later time, so, school isn’t as big of a factor.

Another area that seems to almost fit the bill for me is Stonebridge. However, those houses are 2000-3000 sq-ft too big for me. But the feel is just right. So, far, the UC’s development I mentioned seems to fit the bill exactly.

[an]

[quote=SD Realtor]The view part makes it hard but not impossible. Otherwise there are many areas that fit the bill. Another option is to pick up a more rundown home on a view lot and remodel.[/quote]
I have no problem with run down house and remodel. That’s actually preferable, since I get to customize it to my liking. All the while, getting good value. I just can’t find areas other than the UC’s development I mention that fit the bill exactly. I love their 100 ft wide lots.

[an]

[quote=SK in CV]Might try Del Cerro too. Much of the area has tree lawns. (though most of the trees were yanked because of the damage they did to the sidewalk.) Most of the homes are ranch style. 2500 square feet might be a little over the average, but there are plenty that are that big and bigger. 1/4 acre lots are rare, but a lot are >8,000 square feet. Good views are pretty common. And the price range is within your limits, maybe even cheaper.

Might be hard to find everything you want, but you can get most of it there.[/quote]
Del Cerro seems to have some good areas that fit the bill exactly too. Thanks SK.

[SD Realtor]

The getting the good value part is tough. What you described is available in Scripps but not sure if you would consider it good value. There are some areas of Tierra Santa and even San Carlos that have larger lots as well. I also think there are some areas in Poway that would fit the bill. Finally if you go a bit farther up Pomerado on the east side of it, before it bends back towards 15 in Rancho Bernardo there are some places as well. Also tucked in between Lake Hodges and south Escondido on the west side of I15 there are possibilities. I like that part of UC you are looking at. You could even consider Clairemont as well if you are patient enough to wait until something with a big lot comes up.

[UCGal]

Not all the lots there along soderblom are a full 10k sf lots… several are in the 8k sf range. (Still big). And a lot of the houses are more like 2k sf.

You might consider an east UC neighborhood as well. Look at the homes on Dirac, Pavlov, Bromfield… especially the ones that back to the canyon. Large lots, many with views.

And there are other small pockets – newer homes (compared to your mentioned neighborhood and the one I mentioned which are early 60’s era) –
Lahitte Ct, Hurd/Millikan/Willard.
The homes along the canyon – Wellesley, Mercer Lane, Condon…

Clairemont also has pockets. Some of the homes on Avati and it’s side streets are on larger lots with peek-a-boo views of the bay.

You need to look at individual houses/lots. UC in general has a 5k nominal lot size. So often you’ll get 5k sf lots on one side of the street (non canyon side) and 17k lots on the other side. Same is true in Clairemont.

In general – the older the neighborhood the wider the lots… My hood has an issue keeping postal carriers – every time we get a new postal carrier they apply for a new route because they realize the homes are spread apart and are old-school with the mailboxes at the front door. Too much walking.

[Author]

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