Home › Forums › Closed Forums › Properties or Areas › Best Family Areas for Low-$1Millions Budget
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yuhtey.
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December 3, 2015 at 3:20 PM #791788December 3, 2015 at 3:37 PM #791789
flyer
ParticipantMany of our relatives who have lived in the Bay Area for years can’t believe where people are willing to buy homes up there now.
It’s understandable that affordability is the driving factor, but if/when things slow down again, they might have some challenges getting rid of some of those outlier properties, and, in the meantime, I don’t think the lifestyle is really be what you might call optimum.
It’s just my opinion that life is too short not to live the life you want to live, where you want to live it. We’ve known quite a few people who have waited for “retirement,” and never made it to that point, or found their time was cut short later in life, so–to the OP–find something you like, and start enjoying it now.
December 3, 2015 at 3:44 PM #791790bearishgurl
Participant[quote=flyer]Many of our relatives who have lived in the Bay Area for years can’t believe where people are willing to buy homes up there now.
It’s understandable that affordability is the driving factor, but if/when things slow down again, they might have some challenges getting rid of some of those outlier properties, and, in the meantime, I don’t think the lifestyle is really be what you might call optimum.
It’s just my opinion that life is too short not to live the life you want to live, where you want to live it. We’ve known quite a few people who have waited for “retirement,” and never made it to that point, or found their time was cut short later in life, so–to the OP–find something you like, and start enjoying it now.[/quote]
So true. Great advice, flyer!
December 3, 2015 at 3:48 PM #791791an
Participant[quote=bearishgurl][quote=AN]Back to the OP, it really depend on the type and age of houses you’re looking for. If I’m looking for a low $1M house, I would consider South West UC, something like this one: http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-150049752-5561_Stresemann_San_Diego_CA_92122, put $100k to upgrade and spend the other $100-500k in private school.[/quote]Very nice close-in listing, AN. I see concrete issues, a possible pool deck issue (OP said he really didn’t want a pool) and possibly rotted wood garden walls outside but very little, if anything, wrong with the inside. And the outside issues are likely not urgent.
It appears that this listing is in the Curie Elem attendance area (walking distance) so not sure why you suggested private schools. I know this micro area fairly well and some of its (irregular-shaped) lots are pretty awesome!
OP, you should really consider this listing for its location, putting aside the possible “political persuasion” of its neighborhood inhabitants and the existence of a pool (which can be fenced for about $2K). It’s a good house for you and it doesn’t get that much better than this for you, location wise.
Thanks for sharing![/quote]I think is particular house is over priced and the lot is on the small side. I would much prefer houses further west on that street, past the Elementary school. This location can get quite busy during drop off and pick up time. Although Curie might be good, it’s not as good as MBMA or LJCD. If I can afford $1.1-1.5, then I would buy $1M house and spend the rest in private school.
As for the pool, you can always fill it in for $7-10k. Just add that cost to the cost of remodeling the whole house.
December 3, 2015 at 3:50 PM #791792The-Shoveler
Participant[quote=flyer]Many of our relatives who have lived in the Bay Area for years can’t believe where people are willing to buy homes up there now.
It’s understandable that affordability is the driving factor, but if/when things slow down again, they might have some challenges getting rid of some of those outlier properties, and, in the meantime, I don’t think the lifestyle is really be what you might call optimum.
It’s just my opinion that life is too short not to live the life you want to live, where you want to live it. We’ve known quite a few people who have waited for “retirement,” and never made it to that point, or found their time was cut short later in life, so–to the OP–find something you like, and start enjoying it now.[/quote]
That sound all good and all but then you have a few kids and your choices start to go out the window.
Reality sucks.
December 3, 2015 at 4:17 PM #791793Participant[quote=AN][quote=flu][quote=FlyerInHi]I just saw a 2000sf condo. That would be fine for a family.
Why is a house a necessity if you have kids? I’m enjoying condo living and never want a house again.I wish they’d build more condos. Mid to high rises over 4 stories so they are solid concrete and steel. I think in Irvine and Carmel Valley, the Asians and tech workers would buy them up like hot cakes.[/quote]
Buying a 2000 sqft attached home in a given area might not me that much more affordable than an sfh. It depends on what the hoa will be. For example, if a condos hoa ends up being $400/month, that would be equivalent to borrowing more on a 30year with monthly payments being $400 more.[/quote]
Also, mortgage payment will end, while HOA will not.[/quote]IMO a condo has to be much cheaper or it does not make sense (unless there is something special about it like an ocean view etc..).
and it’s better suited for single people (like I said, I have never known a married couple who owned/lived in a condo and were happy about it).
Maybe as a rental.
December 3, 2015 at 5:12 PM #791794FlyerInHi
GuestI believe that something like the Astoria condos in Irvine would be great for buyers who just want low maintenance and a carefree lifestyle. Lock and go.
People are used the noisy lowrise condo that are built of wood. The highrises are built solid like an office building/hotel.
December 3, 2015 at 5:49 PM #791796Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]I believe that something like the Astoria condos in Irvine would be great for buyers who just want low maintenance and a carefree lifestyle. Lock and go.
People are used the noisy lowrise condo that are built of wood. The highrises are built solid like an office building/hotel.
Yes, those look nice but in SD, there is Marina Park. Although it would be considered a “low-rise” project (dtn SD circa 1982), it is built like a fortress (with brick) and quiet inside the units and inner common/pool area. Brittany Tower on Laurel in Banker’s Hill was built in about 1981 with special glass installed at an angle to shield its units from plane-landing noise. Both of these projects were probably built better than most of the newer projects in East Village. It’s still hard for even a single retiree with a dog to live in a condo like this, especially if they need to leave the dog home by themselves periodically. The only type of condo that would work for this group would be a ground floor unit with a small private walled-in patio with yard. These type of units do exist but most of them have 1.5 or 2 sets of stairs in them … even stairs leading to the garage, which I myself detest.
That project in Irvine is good for all ages who travel for business or pleasure frequently (singles or couples) and have no pets (maybe 1-2 cats) or a fish tank.
December 3, 2015 at 6:23 PM #791797ParticipantBasically, flyer makes a good point here about workers spending too many of their off-hours commuting to/from an area where the value isn’t really there (and never was to begin with, because it is agricultural).
Life IS short and that is too many hours to waste every day.
The reality is that a Patterson or Tracy homebuyer working in SV could have likely purchased a 50 year-old plain-jane, 1500-1600 sf 3-bdrm cosmetic fixer tract home in a much closer-in Alameda County city for the same money they spent on a slapped-together “mcmansion” in Podunk Farmville with 100+ degree heat more than half the year and been home every night ~20 minutes after crossing a bridge. But they chose not to.
I don’t want to hear any school arguments either as the Fremont Unified School District is great! As are the further-out Dublin and Pleasanton Unified School Districts (of which I am a product).
I received an excellent elementary education but I’m so old that elementary was K-8 back then, not K-5 or K-6 as it is now, lol . . . Dublin was out in the stix back then and NOT surrounded by interstate highways.
The “Tri-Valley Area” (Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon) has always been a cheaper alternative for families of Oakland and Walnut Creek workers (financial and insurance centers). With this area now being the epicenter of the I-580/I-680 Jct, it can now truly be called a “hub” in the center of town.
I wonder how long it takes this train to make the nine stops from Stockton to San Jose every day? And vice versa.
http://www.acerail.com/Getting-You-There/Maps-Stations/Pleasanton
There is no excuse whatsoever to live in farmville if you work in the bay area. The two regions are night and day from one another. That’s just crazy stupid and unwise.
December 3, 2015 at 8:02 PM #791798kkertzman
ParticipantI would suggest encinitas/luecadia. My wife works in genesee area and her commute is 20 minutes most days. Here is a home that is for sale on our street which has 24 kids under the age of 10 living on it. http://www.sdlookup.com/Property-1E560370-755_Del_Rio_Ave_Encinitas_CA_92024. It’s not on mls but they want 1.1.mil for all brand new construction. (Nice flip) No HOA’s and cool neighbors and neighborhood is rapidly turning over from old to new!
December 3, 2015 at 8:32 PM #791799yuhtey
Participant[quote=bearishgurl]
Why don’t you consider viewing this listing?
[/quote]
is that… el cajon? gee i’m not sure i’d fit in there, i don’t hang fake testicles from the back of my pickup. do you think they’d embrace me, even still?
December 3, 2015 at 8:37 PM #791800Participant[quote=poorgradstudent]
Has SD county just sprawled so far that Temecula no longer seems crazy?
[/quote]
to venture a guess – people do what they have to do. that car ride is repressed deep into the lobal cortal frontal err…
December 3, 2015 at 8:42 PM #791801Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]I just saw a 2000sf condo. That would be fine for a family.
Why is a house a necessity if you have kids? I’m enjoying condo living and never want a house again.I wish they’d build more condos. Mid to high rises over 4 stories so they are solid concrete and steel. I think in Irvine and Carmel Valley, the Asians and tech workers would buy them up like hot cakes.[/quote]
CV is fighting this but it WILL happen. even the new barns are so close together, it looks like a city of suburbs.
December 3, 2015 at 8:50 PM #791802Participantword.
[quote=flyer]Many of our relatives who have lived in the Bay Area for years can’t believe where people are willing to buy homes up there now.
It’s understandable that affordability is the driving factor, but if/when things slow down again, they might have some challenges getting rid of some of those outlier properties, and, in the meantime, I don’t think the lifestyle is really be what you might call optimum.
It’s just my opinion that life is too short not to live the life you want to live, where you want to live it. We’ve known quite a few people who have waited for “retirement,” and never made it to that point, or found their time was cut short later in life, so–to the OP–find something you like, and start enjoying it now.[/quote]
December 3, 2015 at 8:53 PM #791803Participant[quote=kkertzman]I would suggest encinitas/luecadia. My wife works in genesee area and her commute is 20 minutes most days. Here is a home that is for sale on our street which has 24 kids under the age of 10 living on it. http://www.sdlookup.com/Property-1E560370-755_Del_Rio_Ave_Encinitas_CA_92024. It’s not on mls but they want 1.1.mil for all brand new construction. (Nice flip) No HOA’s and cool neighbors and neighborhood is rapidly turning over from old to new![/quote]
thanks, i’m hunting up there. just waiting on some more inventory to drop.
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