Best $1.5M+ neighborhoods for Kids in North County?

[heavyd]

I am an SD native who left the area for college, then moved back ~3 years ago before again moving to NYC in order to get my kids some medical attention not available in SoCal.

My 2c on this issue…

I most recently spent 2+ years living in Carmel Valley and working nearby. My kids are not yet school age but will be soon. I like SD, including some of the communities mentioned in this thread, but they all have a major disadvantage: if you live on an acre+ in a gated suburban community, getting ANYthing done requires getting yourself and your kids into a car a driving several miles.

From my own observations I would echo what others here have said, which is that kids and especially teenagers in these communities DO NOT hang out at the community centers within the gated communities mentioned (Santa Luz, Fairbanks, etc). For the most part I see teens hanging out at the beach communities or at the shopping centers nearest their schools, and younger kids seem to spend a lot of time at organized activities at the various community rec centers.

There is nothing wrong with that (I s’pose it’s what I did growing up in the area) but the downside is that once your kids reach a certain age (and that age seems to be falling…), they will either demand their own wheels or they will require that a parent or other helper chauffeur them about the neighborhood. From RSF or Santa Luz to ANYwhere is a couple of miles…too far for most kids to walk and given the way people drive I would not want my kids on bikes / skateboards on those roads.

Even in relatively cramped CV, I enjoyed having a bit of personal space but my wife and I were endlessly frustrated by having to jump in the car to pick up a 1/2 gallon of milk, Chinese food, for ‘playdates’, trips to the pediatrician, a drink after a long day…anything.

That’s maybe more than the 2c promised…long story short, if somehow we found ourselves back in SD we’d probably end up buying either in La Jolla or Del Mar or Solana Beach and putting up with June gloom and a relatively small lot in exchange for being closer to services. NYC is not exactly my cup of tea, but having lived in the ‘burbs in the Bay Area and SD, I can see very easily the advantages in being able to walk or ride to basic services here. Especially if you have young kids.

D

[george]

Thanks to all for the valuable info & insights.

Raptor: I didn’t know about Fairbanks Highlands and it looks like it would be a very good candidate for us.

Dwcap: I also really like SLO and I think it would be a great fit for us, but we do have ties to San Diego.

D: I share your concern about having to always drive the kids to visit friends, etc. I would like them to have the freedom be independent. I am not opposed to living in a truly urban area but I haven’t had any luck finding the big houses/big lots & neighborhoods with lots of kids/good schools in the SD urban areas.

[george]

Thanks to all for the valuable info & insights.

Raptor: I didn’t know about Fairbanks Highlands and it looks like it would be a very good candidate for us.

Dwcap: I also really like SLO and I think it would be a great fit for us, but we do have ties to San Diego.

D: I share your concern about having to always drive the kids to visit friends, etc. I would like them to have the freedom be independent. I am not opposed to living in a truly urban area but I haven’t had any luck finding the big houses/big lots & neighborhoods with lots of kids/good schools in the SD urban areas.

[george]

Thanks to all for the valuable info & insights.

Raptor: I didn’t know about Fairbanks Highlands and it looks like it would be a very good candidate for us.

Dwcap: I also really like SLO and I think it would be a great fit for us, but we do have ties to San Diego.

D: I share your concern about having to always drive the kids to visit friends, etc. I would like them to have the freedom be independent. I am not opposed to living in a truly urban area but I haven’t had any luck finding the big houses/big lots & neighborhoods with lots of kids/good schools in the SD urban areas.

[george]

Thanks to all for the valuable info & insights.

Raptor: I didn’t know about Fairbanks Highlands and it looks like it would be a very good candidate for us.

Dwcap: I also really like SLO and I think it would be a great fit for us, but we do have ties to San Diego.

D: I share your concern about having to always drive the kids to visit friends, etc. I would like them to have the freedom be independent. I am not opposed to living in a truly urban area but I haven’t had any luck finding the big houses/big lots & neighborhoods with lots of kids/good schools in the SD urban areas.

[george]

Thanks to all for the valuable info & insights.

Raptor: I didn’t know about Fairbanks Highlands and it looks like it would be a very good candidate for us.

Dwcap: I also really like SLO and I think it would be a great fit for us, but we do have ties to San Diego.

D: I share your concern about having to always drive the kids to visit friends, etc. I would like them to have the freedom be independent. I am not opposed to living in a truly urban area but I haven’t had any luck finding the big houses/big lots & neighborhoods with lots of kids/good schools in the SD urban areas.

[raptorduck]

Rene. Thanks for the school info. This past month we have written close to a dozen offers on homes in RSF, but also in Santaluz. Many of those have already worked themselves through, particularly all the under $3M ones, where, as I mentioned, there was competition and I don’t take the bait in bidding wars.

My offers in Santaluz were the most agressive for the reasons I mention so that is more of a waiting game. If I could get a home at the price and terms I offered, I could just end up there. Right now, ironically, it is homes there and in FBR left from my round of offers that are still the front runners, though FBR seems more likely, unless the Santaluz sellers finally blink.

Funny, I first found out about Santaluz when a former boss of mine I admire sold his beautiful house in RSF to buy one in Santaluz. I put it on my radar screen, but when I looked into it, I did not get it. His RSF house was just amazing to me when I last went there. My agent convinced me to look in Santaluz anyway and I have been back 5 times now looking at homes. Now I get it. I could happily live there at the right price.

Anyway. It seems very likely I will join the Santaluz club, even if I buy in FBR.

George: I am not sure if there are current listings in Fairbanks Highlands, but there were a few I looked at last year and a few of them may be pocket listings now you can find. The link below will give you info of the area and the agent on the top had a couple listings in there last year. She is very nice and a very honest listing agent from my experience.

http://www.fairbankshighlands.com/

Maybe you can hire SD Realtor to look at her listings there. I have learned much from him.

FYI. Just to clarify FBR, Cielo, Crosby, Covenant, Digueno Hills, Rancho Valencia, Bridges, RSF Farms, and a few other areas are all part of RSF. Santaluz, Fairbanks Highlands, and, of course, CV are part of San Diego.

[raptorduck]

Rene. Thanks for the school info. This past month we have written close to a dozen offers on homes in RSF, but also in Santaluz. Many of those have already worked themselves through, particularly all the under $3M ones, where, as I mentioned, there was competition and I don’t take the bait in bidding wars.

My offers in Santaluz were the most agressive for the reasons I mention so that is more of a waiting game. If I could get a home at the price and terms I offered, I could just end up there. Right now, ironically, it is homes there and in FBR left from my round of offers that are still the front runners, though FBR seems more likely, unless the Santaluz sellers finally blink.

Funny, I first found out about Santaluz when a former boss of mine I admire sold his beautiful house in RSF to buy one in Santaluz. I put it on my radar screen, but when I looked into it, I did not get it. His RSF house was just amazing to me when I last went there. My agent convinced me to look in Santaluz anyway and I have been back 5 times now looking at homes. Now I get it. I could happily live there at the right price.

Anyway. It seems very likely I will join the Santaluz club, even if I buy in FBR.

George: I am not sure if there are current listings in Fairbanks Highlands, but there were a few I looked at last year and a few of them may be pocket listings now you can find. The link below will give you info of the area and the agent on the top had a couple listings in there last year. She is very nice and a very honest listing agent from my experience.

http://www.fairbankshighlands.com/

Maybe you can hire SD Realtor to look at her listings there. I have learned much from him.

FYI. Just to clarify FBR, Cielo, Crosby, Covenant, Digueno Hills, Rancho Valencia, Bridges, RSF Farms, and a few other areas are all part of RSF. Santaluz, Fairbanks Highlands, and, of course, CV are part of San Diego.

[raptorduck]

Rene. Thanks for the school info. This past month we have written close to a dozen offers on homes in RSF, but also in Santaluz. Many of those have already worked themselves through, particularly all the under $3M ones, where, as I mentioned, there was competition and I don’t take the bait in bidding wars.

My offers in Santaluz were the most agressive for the reasons I mention so that is more of a waiting game. If I could get a home at the price and terms I offered, I could just end up there. Right now, ironically, it is homes there and in FBR left from my round of offers that are still the front runners, though FBR seems more likely, unless the Santaluz sellers finally blink.

Funny, I first found out about Santaluz when a former boss of mine I admire sold his beautiful house in RSF to buy one in Santaluz. I put it on my radar screen, but when I looked into it, I did not get it. His RSF house was just amazing to me when I last went there. My agent convinced me to look in Santaluz anyway and I have been back 5 times now looking at homes. Now I get it. I could happily live there at the right price.

Anyway. It seems very likely I will join the Santaluz club, even if I buy in FBR.

George: I am not sure if there are current listings in Fairbanks Highlands, but there were a few I looked at last year and a few of them may be pocket listings now you can find. The link below will give you info of the area and the agent on the top had a couple listings in there last year. She is very nice and a very honest listing agent from my experience.

http://www.fairbankshighlands.com/

Maybe you can hire SD Realtor to look at her listings there. I have learned much from him.

FYI. Just to clarify FBR, Cielo, Crosby, Covenant, Digueno Hills, Rancho Valencia, Bridges, RSF Farms, and a few other areas are all part of RSF. Santaluz, Fairbanks Highlands, and, of course, CV are part of San Diego.

[raptorduck]

Rene. Thanks for the school info. This past month we have written close to a dozen offers on homes in RSF, but also in Santaluz. Many of those have already worked themselves through, particularly all the under $3M ones, where, as I mentioned, there was competition and I don’t take the bait in bidding wars.

My offers in Santaluz were the most agressive for the reasons I mention so that is more of a waiting game. If I could get a home at the price and terms I offered, I could just end up there. Right now, ironically, it is homes there and in FBR left from my round of offers that are still the front runners, though FBR seems more likely, unless the Santaluz sellers finally blink.

Funny, I first found out about Santaluz when a former boss of mine I admire sold his beautiful house in RSF to buy one in Santaluz. I put it on my radar screen, but when I looked into it, I did not get it. His RSF house was just amazing to me when I last went there. My agent convinced me to look in Santaluz anyway and I have been back 5 times now looking at homes. Now I get it. I could happily live there at the right price.

Anyway. It seems very likely I will join the Santaluz club, even if I buy in FBR.

George: I am not sure if there are current listings in Fairbanks Highlands, but there were a few I looked at last year and a few of them may be pocket listings now you can find. The link below will give you info of the area and the agent on the top had a couple listings in there last year. She is very nice and a very honest listing agent from my experience.

http://www.fairbankshighlands.com/

Maybe you can hire SD Realtor to look at her listings there. I have learned much from him.

FYI. Just to clarify FBR, Cielo, Crosby, Covenant, Digueno Hills, Rancho Valencia, Bridges, RSF Farms, and a few other areas are all part of RSF. Santaluz, Fairbanks Highlands, and, of course, CV are part of San Diego.

[raptorduck]

Rene. Thanks for the school info. This past month we have written close to a dozen offers on homes in RSF, but also in Santaluz. Many of those have already worked themselves through, particularly all the under $3M ones, where, as I mentioned, there was competition and I don’t take the bait in bidding wars.

My offers in Santaluz were the most agressive for the reasons I mention so that is more of a waiting game. If I could get a home at the price and terms I offered, I could just end up there. Right now, ironically, it is homes there and in FBR left from my round of offers that are still the front runners, though FBR seems more likely, unless the Santaluz sellers finally blink.

Funny, I first found out about Santaluz when a former boss of mine I admire sold his beautiful house in RSF to buy one in Santaluz. I put it on my radar screen, but when I looked into it, I did not get it. His RSF house was just amazing to me when I last went there. My agent convinced me to look in Santaluz anyway and I have been back 5 times now looking at homes. Now I get it. I could happily live there at the right price.

Anyway. It seems very likely I will join the Santaluz club, even if I buy in FBR.

George: I am not sure if there are current listings in Fairbanks Highlands, but there were a few I looked at last year and a few of them may be pocket listings now you can find. The link below will give you info of the area and the agent on the top had a couple listings in there last year. She is very nice and a very honest listing agent from my experience.

http://www.fairbankshighlands.com/

Maybe you can hire SD Realtor to look at her listings there. I have learned much from him.

FYI. Just to clarify FBR, Cielo, Crosby, Covenant, Digueno Hills, Rancho Valencia, Bridges, RSF Farms, and a few other areas are all part of RSF. Santaluz, Fairbanks Highlands, and, of course, CV are part of San Diego.

[NorthCountyMan]

Here are my two cents George. I would never live in certain places in N. County. That includes Cielo, Crosby or SantaLuz.
All of these places were built during the boom, when big houses…most of them without backyards…were being build farther and farther East. Hell, you might as well be in Ramona living in Cielo and for 2M+ to boot!

As a native San Diegan, who loves SD for the beach, not the desert, I would choose something closer to the 5. Yes RSF is top notch, but you will be paying top notch dollars too. In addition, if you are in the covenant..then you are severly limited on how you can make changes to your property.

with that said, I believe the best bang for you buck is either in Olivenhain and the Loma Santa Fe CC area.

[NorthCountyMan]

Here are my two cents George. I would never live in certain places in N. County. That includes Cielo, Crosby or SantaLuz.
All of these places were built during the boom, when big houses…most of them without backyards…were being build farther and farther East. Hell, you might as well be in Ramona living in Cielo and for 2M+ to boot!

As a native San Diegan, who loves SD for the beach, not the desert, I would choose something closer to the 5. Yes RSF is top notch, but you will be paying top notch dollars too. In addition, if you are in the covenant..then you are severly limited on how you can make changes to your property.

with that said, I believe the best bang for you buck is either in Olivenhain and the Loma Santa Fe CC area.

[NorthCountyMan]

Here are my two cents George. I would never live in certain places in N. County. That includes Cielo, Crosby or SantaLuz.
All of these places were built during the boom, when big houses…most of them without backyards…were being build farther and farther East. Hell, you might as well be in Ramona living in Cielo and for 2M+ to boot!

As a native San Diegan, who loves SD for the beach, not the desert, I would choose something closer to the 5. Yes RSF is top notch, but you will be paying top notch dollars too. In addition, if you are in the covenant..then you are severly limited on how you can make changes to your property.

with that said, I believe the best bang for you buck is either in Olivenhain and the Loma Santa Fe CC area.

[NorthCountyMan]

Here are my two cents George. I would never live in certain places in N. County. That includes Cielo, Crosby or SantaLuz.
All of these places were built during the boom, when big houses…most of them without backyards…were being build farther and farther East. Hell, you might as well be in Ramona living in Cielo and for 2M+ to boot!

As a native San Diegan, who loves SD for the beach, not the desert, I would choose something closer to the 5. Yes RSF is top notch, but you will be paying top notch dollars too. In addition, if you are in the covenant..then you are severly limited on how you can make changes to your property.

with that said, I believe the best bang for you buck is either in Olivenhain and the Loma Santa Fe CC area.

[Author]

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