Comments on the Vista area

[Chris Scoreboard Johnston]

I was hoping that I could get some feedback on the Vista area. My next housing buy whenever I do it requires itleast 2 flat acres of horse property. Because of this unique requirement, there are not always going to be a ton of properties available that meet my requirements during a market down cycle. I have found some places in the Vista area that meet that, also with ocean views from afar. I have heard from some people that there are some rough areas there with high crime.

Does anyone here live there or have intimate knowledge of this area? I used to play a golf course there with a friend of mine many years ago, and I just do not remember much about the area.

Before anyone piles on, just for the record, I am a housing bear like most people in here, and am not running out tommorrow to buy. I am just trying to zero in on an area for the future. I know RSF is possible, but too damn croweded for my taste. Olivenhaim is also another possibility, but I already am familiar with that area.

Thanks for any feedback

[sdrealtor]

Chris,
I am by no means an expert but here’s my uneducated take on Vista. If you were looking for someone to find you a place there I tell you to find someone else. With that said, here’s what I know. The areas you would be interested in are in 92084 in the Northeast corner of the zip. You could likely find property to meet all you requirements and because of the elevation I believe you could get a much better view than in RSF or Olivenhain. Also, even by San Diego standards Vista has phenomenal weather perhaps the best in the county. The area and topography are absolutely beautiful and it is relatively undeveloped. Vista Valley is a very nice private golf club also.

The downsides are that even though you are far enough away from the rough areas you likely need to drive through them to get to and from the 78. Shopping is limited and finding even a 3-star dining experience is probably 20-30 minutes or more away. Schools are also an issue and I dont know if there are good private options nearby. I dont know that ther is much of a community feeling there and I dont think there is alot of history other than Ranchos. If riding academies are a concern, you might not find many there either.

Based upon what you mentioned that you sold your preivous property for you could find what you are looking for in Olivenhain (which I know very well) today which is close to everything (beach, restaurants, shopping, riding trails/academies, healthcare and quality schools) and has a great community with a rich history. In a few years it should be less. Personally, I would feel very isolated in Vista but that may be appealing to you.

Best of Luck.

[Chris Scoreboard Johnston]

Chris Johnston

Thanks sdr, just the type of comments I was looking for. Schools do not matter because we do not have any kids. I have done some checking on crime, and itleast by the numbers it is very low. The isolation kind of goes with the territory for ranch property I think, so that is ok because it is not too far off the beaten path. Sounds like it is itleast worth checking into, maybe we wind up in Olivenhain after all. My wife does not like Olivenhain for some reason, she is afraid progress will result in alot of the horse properties being eliminated over time. That has happened to some areas up here in OC.

I am not in a great hurry, but you never know what you will run into.

[sdrealtor]

Chris,
Much of Olivenhain has 2 acre minimum lot size zoning which wont change. Another area you might really like is the Elfin Forest which is just east of Olivenhain. Much of it is unicorporated and in the county. Minimum lots sizes can be even larger out there and it is even less likely to be developed than Olivenhain and can be quite a bit cheaper. I’ll try to find an mls # to post if there is anything for sale there so you can get an idea of what its about and where it is.

SDR

[sdrealtor]

Here's one. MLS#061061373 that you should be able to look up on Realtor.com. Its quite overpriced even in todays market and it is tough to spend much more than $2M there even for something spectacular on 5 acres. There are smaller older homes there on 5 acres with horse facilities today for about $1M. It is a real unique situation as it has an Escondido Zip Code, most parts are in the RSF school district and it is under the Encinitas sphere of influence for many governmental issues even though it is in an unicorporated portion of the county. Check the area out on google earth. Tis very very rural!

[CardiffBaseball]

Thanks sdrealtor I have never heard of this place. Sounds like a neat place to take a hike.

[Chris Scoreboard Johnston]

Chris Johnston

Thanks sdr, great info!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bugs]

Yup, I think the Elfin Forest area is a good alternative to Vista. You can also check out Bonsall – there’s lots of horse properties out there and the path of development won’t change that.

[Chris Scoreboard Johnston]

Chris Johnston

Thanks Bugs. I also want an ocean view, so I am asking alot. Do any of these other places have that? I was thinking Bonsall was aways inland? Unfortunately, you see the battle that goes on in my household. I want the ocean view, my wife wants to have our horses on our own property instead of separate like they are currently. It is a tough mix, with the Carpinterias of the world being on the list. However, the prices up there are really high, Diego area is much cheaper. I may just wait for the drop, buy another ocean view place and have the horses be separate again, but I thought I would use this down cycle to check some alternatives out.

Thanks for the input.

[jimklinge]

I might have something for you – check out the road called Blue Bird Canyon Trail off Buena Creek. If you want rural, it’s worth a look – there’s nothing between you and the hills.

We preparing a house for sale right now, and it’ll be ready in a few days to look at. Email me for more details.

[email protected]

Jim the Realtor

[sdrealtor]

Cardiff baseball
Ther is a great trail about 1 mile up of switchbacks. People actually mountainbike up it. At the top is a beautiful meadow and the resevoir that was created when they built a dam several years ago.

Its fabulous and only about 15 to 20 minutes away from where you live.

Chris,
I believe ocean views might be possible in the Elfin Forest and great surfing is only 15 to 20 minutes away if thats important.

[sdrealtor]

Jim
You are really barking up the wrong tree if you think you could sell even the absoltely perfect house to Chris in this market. He is clearly a calculating technician when it comes to investments and not an emotional buyer. To his credit he pciked the cherry off the top of the home price sundae and I have no doubt he’ll do it again. He’s defintely my kind of guy!

SDR

[FutureSDguy]

Hmmm, posturing between agents? Isn’t getting the absolutely perfect house everyone’s goal?

[sdrealtor]

I’m sorry if you thought I was posturing. I wasnt. At the very beginnng of the thread Chris stated upfront that he has no intention of doing anything anytime soon. From what I know about him after reading his posts and his blog he is a very skilled market timer that makes decisions when he see’s clear and convincing signs to do so. Those signs are very very very likely to be at least a couple years away. Even if he found the perfect house, I believe he is an unemotional decision maker that would still wait for a better time as he has the assets to get what he wants today and even more than wants tommorrow. When I said he’s my kind of guy, I meant people like him are my favorite clients to work for. He isnt my client and I wasnt nor have I ever postured to get clients from this board. Just not my style!

Personally, I doubt more than 50% of the people on this board will ever buy a home in SD.

[FutureSDguy]

Sorry, I (mostly) meant it in jest. FWIW, I like the style of the both of you. It sure beats getting the occasion mails from agents with comments like “It appears as if the market is starting to turn – ever so slightly. Business is noticably picking up for buyer’s brokers like myself.” It also beats the insistency that I am helped on things like job searches and relocations. The more realtors want to be my best friend or try to paint a rosy picture, the less likely I’ll trust them to do what’s in my best interest in the RE market. I am still planning to be in the 50% that buys, but it sure scares the heck out of me. 🙂

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