Best Family Areas for Low-$1Millions Budget

[yuhtey]

[quote=paramount][quote=harvey]You would love Temecula[/quote]

Agree, Temecula worth a look:

[/quote]

no it’s not. i do appreciate the inputs but c’mon i don’t want to sit in a car for that long everyday.

[yuhtey]

[quote=XBoxBoy]It’s hard to say much without knowing much about your situation. Where will you be working from? Personally, I would really consider the impact of my commute if I were you.

Looks like you are only considering North County? What about Mission Hills, or Kensington, or North Park? Are you willing to go into an older neighborhood?

How important are schools? How many kids and what ages? How important is a yard? Would you trade being able to walk to stores for a smaller house?[/quote]

yes – commute is important. i like to keep it to 20-30mins and 35-45 in heavy traffic or accident clog. let’s just say i work at REI near the 52.

so i lived up-town in banker’s for awhile and loved it. but that was when i was single or with girlfriend but no kids. after becoming a parent, people with man-buns make me angry and i don’t want to be near that many weirdos/hipsters. basically all the democrat voters now cause deep rage in my soul. so those older hipper places are kind of out.

schools are very important, but with the real-world expectation that they will actually suck because california is just awful in this regard. let’s just say i have 2 kids that are not yet in elementary yet. yard requirement is “no fucking pool, we’re in a god damn drought”

house can’t be small.

[yuhtey]

[quote=bearishgurl]I’ll bite.

[/quote]

fantastic, thank you!

[paramount]

[quote=yuhtey][quote=paramount][quote=harvey]You would love Temecula[/quote]

Agree, Temecula worth a look:

[/quote]

no it’s not. i do appreciate the inputs but c’mon i don’t want to sit in a car for that long everyday.[/quote]

Your looking at it the wrong way: it’s time for personal reflection. Also, very few libs/dems in Temecula.

[njtosd]

[quote=yuhtey][quote=paramount][quote=harvey]You would love Temecula[/quote]

Agree, Temecula worth a look:

[/quote]

no it’s not. i do appreciate the inputs but c’mon i don’t want to sit in a car for that long everyday.[/quote]

yuhtey – you seem to be in the unusual position (note sarcasm) of having to compromise. There are drawbacks to all San Diego locations. What are you willing to give in on? It’s either going to be price, location or aesthetics. For a million dollars you can get a lot more house that looks a lot more like the decorating magazines in 4S ranch than you can in CV, but there is the convenience factor, mello roos, etc. Everybody recognizes many of the factors that you mention (I’ll leave aside the man-buns and related comments). You realize that you’re not the first to recognize all of these things, right?

[ocrenter]

[quote=flu][quote=ocrenter][quote=Hobie]You might check Skyranch in Santee. good reviews. And maybe even look at Newport Coast. Lots of good stuff up there.[/quote]

another great thing about Skyranch is it is only 10 minutes away from La Jolla.[/quote]

You stole my line. That’s trademarked. Watch out for the lizards.[/quote]

Haha, I was waiting for you, you took too long!

[svelte]

Personally, I would not want to live too close or too far from work. Too close and I’m tempted to go in even on weekends. Too far, and I don’t want to go in even on weekdays. 🙂

For me, 15-25 minutes is the perfect commute.

If you think you’ll be employed at the location you’re at now for awhile, I would draw the bounds of an area that would keep your commute under 25 minutes and focus on those areas.

But that’s just me.

Also – don’t think you’ve specified the ideal square footage? Number of bedrooms? lot size? Amenities you want nearby? Number of stories? Coffee or tea? Paper or plastic? What was in this drink I just drank?

[bearishgurl]

[quote=yuhtey][quote=bearishgurl]I’ll bite.

[/quote]

fantastic, thank you![/quote]

You’re welcome yuhtey!

Why don’t you consider viewing this listing? I came within a hair of making an offer on a spec home on Vista Grande in the very early nineties. This listing is newer (but needs landscaping and fencing) and sits on one acre. I love this area and feel its an excellent place to raise a family with room for many toys, big and small!

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-150051823-2106_Canta_Lomas_El_Cajon_CA_92019

This listing is in a fantastic area with excellent schools K thru 12! It’s not heavily populated out there so your daily commute to/from the Jct 805/52 area shouldn’t be too bad if you can figure out a quick way to get on the 52 through the back roads out there! I would put it at 30-40 mins one way (a little longer on Friday afternoon).

Oh, and as a plus, this area tends to be a little “redder” than those “hip” City parts of the county (if you know what I mean). But it is NOT Santee by any stretch of the imagination. It is quite a bit more upscale and “sophisticated” than Santee.

Good luck in your search …. I haven’t checked any outstanding encumbrances on this listing but feel there could be some wiggle room in the price due to lack of landscaping/fencing …. that is, IF it is truly a “traditional sale” and not a short sale.

Edit: It has no MR or HOA. Public schools are Vista Grande Elem, Hillsdale Middle and Valhalla High … all excellent!

[bearishgurl]

Well, I just took the online video tour of the listing I just posted and it DOES appear to have new backyard fencing. And what a fantastic backyard for kids! It just needs landscaping and touching up on those honey-colored kitchen cabinets that you so detest (this young family was a bit hard on the property, it seems).

If refinishing/refacing kitchen cabinets and installing landscaping is all you have to do to make it yours, I say you will be lucky. You get a LOT of bang for your buck out there, yuhtey. IIRC, a Ralphs shopping center and several banks are just a 3 minute drive from there. It’s the best of the city and the country … combined in one area.

Just think about it. And make a trial run to your workplace from out there early on a weekday morning to check out the time/hassle factor from this location.

[ocrenter]

[quote=yuhtey][quote=ocrenter]
another great thing about Skyranch is it is only 10 minutes away from La Jolla.[/quote]

that’s stated like a realtor!

santee sucks. i would never live there. last time i visited a friend back in 2008 there was a freak in boots with nazi crap on.[/quote]

Haha, sorry, it’s an inside joke. Whenever Skyranch is mentioned on piggington one of us old timers will chime in with that line.

Back to your question:

Most of the professionals in SD are concentrated all alone the entire 56 corridor. We moved to SD almost 10 years ago and have looked at homes in almost every single neighborhood mentioned. You’ll find a lot of SD’s top schools essentially from the coast to Poway/Scripps Ranch all along the 56 corridor. With the price point of $1 million, you are looking at income range that would essentially put you right within this entire area. Let’s break this area down from coast and inward:

Carmel Valley: considered the best school district but prices extremely high and yards typically very minimal. Huge amount of money from China/HK/Taiwan propping up the market. Slim pickings at $1 million.

Del Sur: well planned, good schools, very high MR, up to 0.9% on top of the typical 1% property tax. Small lots usually.

Santaluz/Crosby/Lakes: much bigger lots, high MR and high HOA ($1k plus per month). Schools are great. Prices are mostly well north of $1 million.

Santa Fe Valley: in between 4S and Del Sur, lower MR and lower HOA, older, built in early 2000. Larger lots as well. Might be able to find something here, but low inventory.

4S (North): built mostly during the bubble, higher MR, packed in neighborhoods, good schools.

4S (South): built before the bubble, lower MR, more green space. good schools.

Sabre Springs: older, mostly late 90’s. Smaller homes.

PQ: older than Sabre Springs, smaller homes, schools are good.

Torrey Highland: essentially the southern part of 92129. Newer stock of homes. Good schools, you’ll be able to find something here for a mil and meet a lot of your criteria.

Poway: some nice estate sized homes in the north and east parts. The core is a little rotted. Gets quite hot during summer. Schools not quite as good as those west of the 15.

Scripps Ranch: Miramar North, early 2000 built, average 3000 sqft, excellent schools, low inventory, low MR, low HOA.

Scripps Ranch south of Pomerado, bigger homes, average $1.5 million, excellent schools, low MR and HOA.

Old Scripps: 70’s, 2000 sqft would be considered bigger sized.

Stonebridge: large estate homes on large lots, mid level MR and HOA, more inventory, zip code is Scripps but Poway schools, schools further than typical “neighborhood” schools.

[an]

[quote=flu][quote=ocrenter][quote=Hobie]You might check Skyranch in Santee. good reviews. And maybe even look at Newport Coast. Lots of good stuff up there.[/quote]

another great thing about Skyranch is it is only 10 minutes away from La Jolla.[/quote]

You stole my line. That’s trademarked. Watch out for the lizards.[/quote]
And walls.

[Anonymous]

[quote=yuhtey][…] let’s just say i work at REI near the 52.

so i lived up-town in banker’s for awhile and loved it. but that was when i was single or with girlfriend but no kids. after becoming a parent, people with man-buns make me angry and i don’t want to be near that many weirdos/hipsters. basically all the democrat voters now cause deep rage in my soul. so those older hipper places are kind of out.[/quote]

I’m guessing you don’t really work at REI.

[Coronita]

I can’t wait until I retire. Then I don’t need to plan my next house purchase based on where I work. If you don’t buy into the hype about school district such as Carmel VAlley, you could consider the newer homes in Sorrento Vallley done by Pardee. Still good schools, but probably not nearly the preimum as in CarmelV. But I’m sure some people have strong opinions on “tract homes”

[The-Shoveler]

[quote=flu]I can’t wait until I retire. Then I don’t need to plan my next house purchase based on where I work.[/quote]

I like John Travolta’s place, its in nowhere Florida but its got covered parking for his several jets (never needs to get in the sun from house front door to Jet door).

And a helipad,

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=harvey][quote=yuhtey][…] let’s just say i work at REI near the 52.

so i lived up-town in banker’s for awhile and loved it. but that was when i was single or with girlfriend but no kids. after becoming a parent, people with man-buns make me angry and i don’t want to be near that many weirdos/hipsters. basically all the democrat voters now cause deep rage in my soul. so those older hipper places are kind of out.[/quote]

I’m guessing you don’t really work at REI.[/quote]

U probably don’t want to buy the place next to me. The hipster radiation could prove fatal.

[Author]

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