Crosby and the Bridges

[raptorduck]

The content of this post has been deleted at the request of the original poster.

[Bugs]

Based on what you’ve been writing about to date, I wold think you’d be more interested in The Bridges. I don’t think there are any subdivision builders over there, whereas most of the Crosby is subdivisions.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Bugs. When I first heard about the Crosby, it seemed that there were homes of 4br or smaller there and it catered less to families. But we have found some 5br large homes in there. Worth a look. Same for the Bridges. Seemed less likely to cater to families and the homes seemd a bit overpriced for what you get compared to other parts of RSF. But again, we found some worth looking at.

I also figured out that I have previously looked at homes in Del Mar Mesa/Mesa Del Mar. I was not as impressed with that area as Meadows Del Mar and the homes seemed to be clones of eachother. But further up that road, we have found some very large custom homes on very large lots, which seems rare for CV, so we will take a quick look there as well.

[Anonymous]

Hi Raptor,

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur. It is not really geographically connected to RSF. The Bridges is a better but still isolated from the rest of the town.

If you can afford it, the Covenant is the best place to live in SD bar none. The location, the proximity to everyday life shopping facilities and jobs (along I-5 to the west and 56 and I-15 to the east), the setting and the privacy of the Covenant are unmatched. RSF town does not feature the most useful businesses but it is a nice place to go hang out during the W-E (expecially if you can walk there). The trails zooming through the whole town are just idyllic, specially if you are a nature lover. I can tell you that you will use the trails, especially if you have kids (horseback riding or not).

Again, this is not a snobbish statement, it is just my subjective feeling about the beauty of the place.

Rene

Rene

[gn]

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur.

I agree. Ditto for Santa Luz, just a step up from Del Sur, trying to disguise itself as "equivalent" to RSF.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Rene and gn. We have looked at a number of homes in the Covenant and will be looking at additional ones there this weekend. I have found prices in the Covenant to be very reasonable and less overpriced than Santaluz and apparently the Bridges or Crosby (plus no Mello Roos). There are very nice homes in our price range in all the areas we are looking at (FBR, Covenant, Cielo, RSF Farms, Rancho Valencia, Santaluz, CV, and now the Bridges and Crosby).

Of the areas we have looked at so far, as I have said before, Fairbanks Ranch is our favorite, but there are things about each area we liked enough to continue to consider buying a home in any of them at the right price.

No matter what we decide, as I have also stated before, it is a step up in size and quality and a step down in price from what we have found up here in the Bay Area, so we just can’t loose.

If we buy in one particular place over another, it will not be because we think that the nicest area. Chances are it will be the house itself and lot that drives the purchase. My worst case commute will be 17 min, best case 5 min. Compared to 30 min with no traffic here and 1.5 hrs in rush hr.

Here are my Pros and Cons for each area so far:

Fairbanks Ranch Pros: Resort like location, amazing homes, beautiful established neighborhoods, Cons: Many older that homes need interior updates

Covenant: Pros: Lot sizes, privacy, rural feeling, some great homes; Cons: some very old homes, not as easy to get in and out of, sometimes too private, variety in quality.

Rancho Valencia: Pro: Resort access, lush location, Con: none really

RSF Farms: Pro: nice homes, lush location, Con: non really

Cielo: Pro: Amazing views, some very nice homes; Cons: bit isolated, in fire area, location

Santaluz: Pro: Great landscaping theme (this surprised me), amazing custom homes, convenient location, newer homes; Cons: Mello Roos, Poway Schools (Del Sur), overpriced.

CV (Meadows Del Mar). Pros: Uberconvenient location, great homes; Cons: tiny lots, crowded neighborhoods with narrow streets.

We definately prefer gated communities, though some houses in the Covenant were so nice, we would not care so much about that.

[Anonymous]

gn, raptor,

If I had to choose between the Crosby/Bridges and Santaluz, I think I would choose Santaluz just because of the setting. It is one of the few places in SoCal that does actually feel like Tuscany (and therefore appeals to my European taste).

That said, it is agreed that RSF covenant is in a class of its own. The forrested feel would take years and a staggering amount of water to duplicate anywhere else (the RSF eucalyptus were planted during the 19th century). A community like the Bridges, Crosby or even Santaluz could be setup anywhere in a relatively short time, therefore reducing the value of these communities compared to the covenant.

I like Fairbanks but would feel boxed-in living there. The north loop is also pretty fire-prone. That said, Fairbanks has the best security I have ever seen. It would almost annoy me if I lived there.

Raptor, don’t forget that the cost of updating a home, especially in your price range, represents only a fraction of its purchase price. And by paying less and updating, you avoid paying property taxes ad vitam eternam on the remodeling costs.

Rene

[raptorduck]

Rene. You are very correct. Many of the homes we are considering need work. We hesitate only because of the hastle, time, etc. to remodel.

To be honest, I tend to push the fixer uppers, while my wife wants a brand new “turn key” house.

[vferraro]

As a former BOD in Crosby, I would offer up this. The Crosby has incredible access – be at the beach or Rancho Bernardo in 15 minutes. Bing Crosby Blvd connects Del Dios Hwy in the North to Camino Del Sur (Camino Del Norte) in the South.

The club is top noch and the golf course is one of the top private courses in the US.

There are no new subdivisions in the Crosby. One patio home developer (John Laing) is still selling some villas.

Crosby prices are doing pretty well although there has been some recent softening

Crosby has a real 92067 zip code as some of the Crosby property is in RSF – Santa Luz and Del Sur cannot say that. School District is the same as Fairbanks Ranch.

By the way – in Del Sur they are dealing on Avaron homes which are pretty nice.

Most people in the Crosby have real jobs or are retired. Most of the people in Bridges are “New Rich”. I am not criticizin them. I haven’t met anybody that has a real job there and it is overpriced versus what you can get in the Crosby

Santaluz vs. Crosby? Santaluz has many lower tract homes. Everything in Crosby is pretty high end. My subdivision minimum size was 5700 sq. feet.

[Chargersin2009]

Vferraro, I appreciate your comments on the Crosby. Can you elaborate on the current situation with Avaron? I made an offer on an Avaron home a few weeks ago. My offer was about $200K below asking price, and was rejected.

[Chargersin2009]

Vferraro, I appreciate your comments on the Crosby. Can you elaborate on the current situation with Avaron? I made an offer on an Avaron home a few weeks ago. My offer was about $200K below asking price, and was rejected.

[Chargersin2009]

Vferraro, I appreciate your comments on the Crosby. Can you elaborate on the current situation with Avaron? I made an offer on an Avaron home a few weeks ago. My offer was about $200K below asking price, and was rejected.

[Chargersin2009]

Vferraro, I appreciate your comments on the Crosby. Can you elaborate on the current situation with Avaron? I made an offer on an Avaron home a few weeks ago. My offer was about $200K below asking price, and was rejected.

[Chargersin2009]

Vferraro, I appreciate your comments on the Crosby. Can you elaborate on the current situation with Avaron? I made an offer on an Avaron home a few weeks ago. My offer was about $200K below asking price, and was rejected.

[raptorduck]

Vferraro. Thanks for your insights on the Crosby. We will get our first look this weekend with it and the Bridges.

As for these places being just a step up from Del Sur, we wondered into Del Sur on one of our trips and it struck us as very CV like, but without the prime CV location. Santaluz is more than a step up in my mind in terms of size and quality of home/lot and neighborhood feel. While we are looking at large custom homes in Santaluz and you can find homes in the $8 million range there (above our price range), you can’t find homes like that in Del Sur or CV. Even the “low end” homes of Santaluz strike me as nicer than what you find in Del Sur or the tract portions of CV.

The areas I am looking in I view as essentially comprable to eachother. Certainly I can find homes in all of them in my price range. Of course they are indeed different from eachother. But I say different, not necessarily better. I think folks who live in the neighborhoods I am looking in are all very happy to live there, from Cielo to Santaluz to the Covenant to FBR.

I always have to stop myself when making comparisons. Even when I lived in a simple duplex in old CV, I just loved it and thought my neighborhood was great.

You just can’t go wrong living anywhere in North County. It is all nice.

[Alex_angel]

I just don’t get the obsession about CV. It is not a pretty area. There are a lot better coastal areas in SD that have more character and more soul.

Forget Del mar Mesa. There are plans to one day connect it to Mira Mesa. I guess in SD all mesas have to connect.

The Crosby is Del Sur, nothing special. Santaluz is okay but the fee to just golf is outrageous. The rules attached for landscaping are horrible.

You will probably be happy no matter where you live. What makes a good situation are good neighbours. You can live in the best area in the world but if your neighbours are a$$holes then it makes the living experience unpleasant. UNless of course you can afford a home that has an acre on each side separating the homes. Most of the time, the bigger the homes, the bigger the familes, the more noise you’ll have to deal with.

[vferraro]

A major difference between Crosby and Santaluz (and you should do your own analysis)is average pricing. Both communities have expensive custom homes ($4M+) – but mean prices are lower in Santaluz. Even with a depressed housing market, prices in Crosby start at $1.3M and up. The products are different too. The homes Davidson built in Crosby are very different and bigger than Santaluz. Almost semi-custom like.

There are some pretty basic Del Sur style homes is SL. You won’t find that kind of product in the Crosby.

[Bugs]

I’ve been inside some of the homes at all of these projects whilst they were in construction, so you can take my opinion for what little it’s worth.

If it was my money, I’d go with the homes in the Covenant area or possibly Fairbanks or the RSF Farms area. I don’t think all the wannabe areas will hold up as well over the long term. They certainly won’t do as well over the next 5 years.

Then again, I’m not a golfer and I don’t consider having a golf course in my back yard to be a plus. If I was a golfer then the Crosby or The Bridges might interest me more.

Different strokes. I still think Raptorduck would like The Bridges better than the Crosby. I know I do.

[raptorduck]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will get a first hand look at the Crosby and the Bridges this weekend and will report back my take from that limited experience.

Alex, I know you get a lot of grief on this board over your edgy style and even I have seen the sharp edge of your sword before. But I for one appreicate your candor on this board and don’t mind you calling me clueless from time to time.

In terms of range of homes, I do agree that there is a broader range in Santaluz than other places I have seen. In FBR for example, you would be hard pressed to find a fixer upper under $2M (an can spend $20M+). In Cielo, it is mostly semi custom and custom homes of $2M+ as well (and can spend $10M+). But the tract home areas of Santaluz seem pretty nice from what I have seen so I don’t mind it. If you buy a $3-$5M home in Santaluz, chances are all the homes on your street will be in that price range and quality/size etc.

Like I said before, so far there are things about each area I like and I would not mind living in any one of them, quite frankly. Which I pick will have more to do with the home, its quality, value, pricing, and what my wife says. I do agree that some areas will probably do better than others in the long run, but that is not the foremost criteria for my decision. It is but one of many elements.

I don’t golf.

[EconProf]

BobS
C’mon Raptor, admit it. Some day you will be my neighbor in Santaluz. Sure, it seems overpriced. But a place perceived as “overpriced” generally stays that way, for whatever reason. As for Santaluz, I love the absense of huge eucalyptus trees everywhere, as in RSF & Fairbanks. Our distant views, the high altitude here, the tough CC&Rs are big pluses to me. To each his own.
When you visit, try to corral a resident at the pool or clubhouse and ask them about living at Santaluz. That is better market research than any realtor talk, or statistics available traditionally.
We live in a (relatively) small 2600 sf casita, bought for its simplicity and lack of stairs. Paid way too much per square foot, but the quality of the construction was great and we fell for the atmosphere of the place.
Then again, maybe I’m not so smart…bought in June of ’05, the absolute top of the market! Am now appealing my property tax assessment with the county as I believe I can document a 10% fall in value based on comps from January of ’07 (the relevant date for tax assessment purposes).
Wherever you buy, time is on your side. Prices will continue downward everywhere. Happy hunting…make only lowball offers.

[EconProf]

BobS
C’mon Raptor, admit it. Some day you will be my neighbor in Santaluz. Sure, it seems overpriced. But a place perceived as “overpriced” generally stays that way, for whatever reason. As for Santaluz, I love the absense of huge eucalyptus trees everywhere, as in RSF & Fairbanks. Our distant views, the high altitude here, the tough CC&Rs are big pluses to me. To each his own.
When you visit, try to corral a resident at the pool or clubhouse and ask them about living at Santaluz. That is better market research than any realtor talk, or statistics available traditionally.
We live in a (relatively) small 2600 sf casita, bought for its simplicity and lack of stairs. Paid way too much per square foot, but the quality of the construction was great and we fell for the atmosphere of the place.
Then again, maybe I’m not so smart…bought in June of ’05, the absolute top of the market! Am now appealing my property tax assessment with the county as I believe I can document a 10% fall in value based on comps from January of ’07 (the relevant date for tax assessment purposes).
Wherever you buy, time is on your side. Prices will continue downward everywhere. Happy hunting…make only lowball offers.

[EconProf]

BobS
C’mon Raptor, admit it. Some day you will be my neighbor in Santaluz. Sure, it seems overpriced. But a place perceived as “overpriced” generally stays that way, for whatever reason. As for Santaluz, I love the absense of huge eucalyptus trees everywhere, as in RSF & Fairbanks. Our distant views, the high altitude here, the tough CC&Rs are big pluses to me. To each his own.
When you visit, try to corral a resident at the pool or clubhouse and ask them about living at Santaluz. That is better market research than any realtor talk, or statistics available traditionally.
We live in a (relatively) small 2600 sf casita, bought for its simplicity and lack of stairs. Paid way too much per square foot, but the quality of the construction was great and we fell for the atmosphere of the place.
Then again, maybe I’m not so smart…bought in June of ’05, the absolute top of the market! Am now appealing my property tax assessment with the county as I believe I can document a 10% fall in value based on comps from January of ’07 (the relevant date for tax assessment purposes).
Wherever you buy, time is on your side. Prices will continue downward everywhere. Happy hunting…make only lowball offers.

[EconProf]

BobS
C’mon Raptor, admit it. Some day you will be my neighbor in Santaluz. Sure, it seems overpriced. But a place perceived as “overpriced” generally stays that way, for whatever reason. As for Santaluz, I love the absense of huge eucalyptus trees everywhere, as in RSF & Fairbanks. Our distant views, the high altitude here, the tough CC&Rs are big pluses to me. To each his own.
When you visit, try to corral a resident at the pool or clubhouse and ask them about living at Santaluz. That is better market research than any realtor talk, or statistics available traditionally.
We live in a (relatively) small 2600 sf casita, bought for its simplicity and lack of stairs. Paid way too much per square foot, but the quality of the construction was great and we fell for the atmosphere of the place.
Then again, maybe I’m not so smart…bought in June of ’05, the absolute top of the market! Am now appealing my property tax assessment with the county as I believe I can document a 10% fall in value based on comps from January of ’07 (the relevant date for tax assessment purposes).
Wherever you buy, time is on your side. Prices will continue downward everywhere. Happy hunting…make only lowball offers.

[EconProf]

BobS
C’mon Raptor, admit it. Some day you will be my neighbor in Santaluz. Sure, it seems overpriced. But a place perceived as “overpriced” generally stays that way, for whatever reason. As for Santaluz, I love the absense of huge eucalyptus trees everywhere, as in RSF & Fairbanks. Our distant views, the high altitude here, the tough CC&Rs are big pluses to me. To each his own.
When you visit, try to corral a resident at the pool or clubhouse and ask them about living at Santaluz. That is better market research than any realtor talk, or statistics available traditionally.
We live in a (relatively) small 2600 sf casita, bought for its simplicity and lack of stairs. Paid way too much per square foot, but the quality of the construction was great and we fell for the atmosphere of the place.
Then again, maybe I’m not so smart…bought in June of ’05, the absolute top of the market! Am now appealing my property tax assessment with the county as I believe I can document a 10% fall in value based on comps from January of ’07 (the relevant date for tax assessment purposes).
Wherever you buy, time is on your side. Prices will continue downward everywhere. Happy hunting…make only lowball offers.

[JustLurking]

Hi Raptor,

I have been following your house hunt with interest, as I live in one of the neighborhoods you ruled out because the houses were too small. I am pretty familiar with most of the areas you are considering, and I think your expected commute time might be a little too optimistic. Did you say you would be working in the Carmel Valley area? My office is near the El Camino Real exit off the 56 and I can tell you that on a bad afternoon, it can take 20 minutes to get from my office to the Carmel Valley Road exit off the 56 (3 or 4 miles?). Mornings can be worse. The 56 onramp at Carmel Valley Road is metered and it can back up for a long way. I have waited 15 minutes plus just to get ON the freeway, which of course is not moving at that point. Luckily, my schedule lets me commute at off-peak hours most of the time. If I had to do that drive every day, it would seriously put a damper on my mood.

What does your wife do? Will she stay home and manage kid activities? How old are your kids? The neighborhoods you are looking at have very different “mom” vibes and she may be much more comfortable in one vs. another. And some of the neighborhoods might be much more convenient for her day-to-day activities than others. I would be happy to offer my opinions if you want to give me a little more info.

JL

[raptorduck]

Bob S. You just might be right. I may end up as one of your neighbors. As you know, I like Santaluz just fine. I agree that the quality of homes is very high and the landscaping theme has really grown on me so much, I down right like it. It is completely different than other areas and that aspect makes it even more likeable. I still love lush tropical landscaping like FBR, but I would not ever consider doing that in a Santaluz home. It would ruin the theme and the CC&R’s would not let me anyway. Fine by me. I take Santaluz for what it is and it is a very nice area. I wish it did not have Mello Roos and that I had CV schools, but there is always private school and once I find what Del Sur schools would apply to my house, the public schools may be just fine.

Alas, however, I have not picked an area to live in yet. We have 5 homes on our watch list for potential offers and they are all in different places (Covenant, Cielo, FBR, Santaluz, and Meadows Del Mar). And we are looking at more homes in all those areas plus RSF Farms (where we have looked at before) and of course the Crosby and Bridges for the first time.

JL. I took one Friday down there and went to my job at 5pm and drove to Cielo (the furthest living option) and it took me exactly 17 minutes. And that was during rush hour. I don’t commute during rush hour. I go to work early and work late. My commute here is 30 min during off hours and 1-1.5 hrs during commute hours. AND, the commute was very scenic, unlike here. I am not worred about any commute. No matter what, it will be a dramatic improvement.

Wife stays at home raising the first batch of what will be 6 children. She is ok with the isolation of Cielo and has indicated a preferance for a gated community for some added security. We will always have at least one relative living with us anyway, usually more. She likes FBR the best by far and is pushing that community for a purchase, but is open to the others as well. She really likes the Cielo views. Parts of the Covenant she likes, others not so much. She likes Santaluz, but does not love it, though she does love the homes we have looked at there. They (and the ones in Meadows Del Mar) are closest to our taste without needing remodeling/refinishing. MDM of course have tiny lots, which is a big negative for our criteria. One of the homes on our short list in the Covenant is on over 3 flat, usable acres. We are looking at a few more this weekend with 5-6 acres each.

[JustLurking]

Raptor,

I think your wife would like FBR. I think it is a real community where she could meet friends at the park and get involved at the local elementary school. I know your realtor says otherwise, but I don’t see how prices there can stay steady while everything else declines. Do you like your realtor here? One of my neighbors is a realtor in that area and price range (plenty of pictures of him in Dream Homes magazine) and he is a very nice guy. I have never done business with him, but he seems like a straight up kind of person. Maybe I should ask him what he thinks.

Santa Luz is nice, but very overpriced. We looked there in 2001. We actually looked at a house that I can see from this house and I still like this one better. Santa Luz was built at a bad time when things were too expensive. Prices ran up too fast and now huge numbers of people are underwater. That story can’t have a happy ending.

The Bridges. Beautiful area with some beautiful homes, but too remote for my taste. A friend/colleague just moved there last month. He is nice enough, but he is definitely the kind of person who likes to impress people. He likes to show off his money and be around like-minded pompous people. I have been to the club at the Bridges twice with another friend. Too much bowing and scraping for me. I am not the country club type and I don’t particularly want people to kiss my ### because I have money. I could be way off base, but my impression of the Bridges is one of over the top snobbery.

I don’t think the Covenant is really a “get to know your neighbors” kind of place and so, for me, not the best choice for kids. I want my kids to play with the kids down the street and I don’t think that happens much in the Covenant. Particularly if you are on 5 acres. I only personally know one person who raised a family while living there. His kids were fine when they were young, but as they got involved in school activities they complained that all their friends lived “in town”. He complained that he felt like a chaffeur.

Sorry to ramble endlessly. I’ll stop.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[raptorduck]

And the winner is, FBR and Santaluz (aka. BobS).

Ok, I will post separately about my adventures this past weekend, but here is a summary of my take on the following areas we toured homes in. We are still in SD, but driving back tomorrow. I worked out of my employer’s CV offices today.

Fairbanks Ranch
Santaluz
The Crosby
Cielo
The Covenant
The Bridges
Carmel Valley (Del Mar Mesa and Meadows Del Mar)
RSF Farms

That is also my final order of ranking of the communities.

Here is the deal. I “love” all of them. I would be happy to live and may indeed end up living in any of the above plus Rancho Valencia, Del Mar Country Club, Fairbanks Highlands, and San Digueno Hills (all of which I have toured previously). The last place (which it realy is not) community is nicer than anything I can find up here in the Bay Area and I would be delighted to live in.

We toured homes in all the above areas, plus we toured all the country clubs.

Ok, so why did my rankings end up like this?

Remember my criteria. Large house (6,000-9,000sf) on large lot (1+ acres) for large immediate and extended family. Young kids, preference for gated community with nice kid frienly amenities, great and close schools, that is a balance between privacy and community feel (private, but not too private, neighbors, but not too close). My price range is $2M-$5M, with the sweet spot really in the $3M-$4M range.

BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, here is my take:

1) Fairbanks Ranch.

Neighborhoods: Amazing, like “wow!”
Home quality: Older, true custom estates, 1st rate build quality.
Amenities: Very nice, free, no mello roos!
Schools: RSF school right there, inside the “gates”!

Comments: This is where we really “want” to live. Large majestic homes, on large well manicured lots, with gorgeous majestic neighborhoods (this is the “wow” area of RSF to us). If we can find the “right” house here, we will buy here. But finding that house is hard. Many need updating, but this is the perfect community for us and our needs.

2) Santaluz.

Neighborhoods: Can you say Tuscany? European feel. Nice!
Home quality: Mostly custom to semi-custom. Outstanding build quality on brand new homes
Amenities: Great clubs (Hacienda, Social, Golf). Perfect (best) for kids. Mello roos
Schools: Better than I thought, but not RSF/CV. Good enough.

Comments: If you say you don’t like Santaluz, then you have never been to Santaluz. Of the newer gated communities on our list, this is our favorite. Just great. Props to BobS.

3) The Crosby

Neighborhoods: Beautifully done community. Love those bridges.
Home quality: Custom to Semi-custom. Perhaps slightly higher than Santaluz. Simply amazing homes. Lots not as good as Santaluz though. Smaller and not as creatively positioned.
Amenities: Very very nice clubs (golf and sport). Mello roos
Schools: RSF, longer drive to get there.

Comments: We loved the Crosby. Probably saw the nicest home there on not the nicest lot. Kid friendly, but not as kid friendly as Santaluz, but definatley a first class area.

4) Cielo

Neighborhoods: Kind of sporadic, but very nice. It is all about the views here.
Home quality: Semicustom to McMansion. Varies greatly from cheap to excellent build quality. Some builders cut corners. The ones we are consdering are great, but not as good as FBR, Santaluz, Crsby, Bridges, RSF Farms, most of Covenant. Lots are amazing with those views, though. Did I mention the amazing views?
Amenities: Very nice for a free set up. No complaints.
Schools: RSF, but longer to get tehre.

Comments: The homes are not as well built as the other communities, but some are and no other community can beat those views. They are spectacular. Cielo is a special place and you never know, we may end up there.

5) The covenant

Neighborhoods. Varies. Mostly rural farm like. Too private. No sense of community. Hard to get in and out of some. In places nice views of burnt hillsides.
Home quality. All custom. New homes outstanding build quality. Older are old ranches. Lots are fantastic!
Amenities. Distant
Schools: Distant, but RSF. No Mello Roos.

Comments: Not for us. The Covenant is just beautiful and rural, but too isolating for a family with young children. We want privacy, but also want to know our neighbor and don’t want to get lost going home and want the added security of a gated community.

6) The Bridges

Neighborhoods: Wow, just beautiful. Talk about absolute highest level of environment. The most extravagent and well thought out of the new gated communities if your goal is “luxury” and “wealth.”
Home quality: custom to semi custom. Probably best build quality outside of FBR.
Amenities: High brow club. Maybe too high brow for us. But boy is it just beautiful.
Schools: Same as Crosby, Cielo.

Comments: The homes are just beautiful and of amazing build quality. The neighborhoods are the most plush of the new gated areas and second only to FBR. The lots are perhaps the nicest outside of FBR, with amazing privacy and lush views. So why is is so far down the list? If I were w/o kids, it would be #2 on my list. But I did not see this as the best place for young children. Lots are smaller than I want too. It felt too fancy I suppose. Too fancy for me. I don’t know, but my wife felt the same. We had to change our clothes just to tour the club (in the Crosby too).Probably the most high end of the new communities, but not for us.

7) CV (Meadows Del Mar, Del Mar Mesa)

Neighborhoods: MDM. Nicest in CV. Homes too close together, lots too small, streets too narrow. DMM. Very nice, large lots in CV? Now that is a rare find indeed.
Home quality: MDM. Semi custom. Extremly high build quality. DMM. McMansion down lower, custom higher up. Good to high.
Amenities: good.
Schools. CV. Good enough.

Comments: Not much to say. MDM is out due to small lots and tight quarters despite fantastic houses. DMM still in running due to large lots and convenience.

8) RSF Farms

Neighborhoods: Very very beautiful (if you are a golfer). Not the most kid friendly lots or streets. Not at all!
Home quality: Semi custom. Very nice. Somewhat comprable to Santaluz and Crosby.
Amenties: Nice club, if you are a golfer.
Schools. RSF

Comments: Not for us. Not for our kids. Lovely area though.

Others. Rancho Valencia is up there near FBR in our book. Fairbanks Highlands is very nice (semi custom to McMansion), comprable to Cielo without the views, but the homes smaller. Lots large and usable. Neighborhoods very nice. San Digueno Hills. Very very nice. One of our favorites. Same for Del Mar Country club area.

[robyns_song]

Just an observation but $2-$5M is a pretty big price range.

I can’t understand why people would want 9,000 square foot house. Not that I’m critiquing parenting styles or anything, but how can does would you have a relationship with your kids in a house that large–you’d never see them.

[EconProf]

BobS
Raptor: Man, you sure are analytical.
Wherever you end up, you certainly will have no regrets…all factors are known beforehand.
Am thinking of asking you to start a new thread called “Compare and contrast the different presidential candidates”. We Piggers would not have to go anywhere else for our information.

[EconProf]

BobS
Raptor: Man, you sure are analytical.
Wherever you end up, you certainly will have no regrets…all factors are known beforehand.
Am thinking of asking you to start a new thread called “Compare and contrast the different presidential candidates”. We Piggers would not have to go anywhere else for our information.

[EconProf]

BobS
Raptor: Man, you sure are analytical.
Wherever you end up, you certainly will have no regrets…all factors are known beforehand.
Am thinking of asking you to start a new thread called “Compare and contrast the different presidential candidates”. We Piggers would not have to go anywhere else for our information.

[EconProf]

BobS
Raptor: Man, you sure are analytical.
Wherever you end up, you certainly will have no regrets…all factors are known beforehand.
Am thinking of asking you to start a new thread called “Compare and contrast the different presidential candidates”. We Piggers would not have to go anywhere else for our information.

[EconProf]

BobS
Raptor: Man, you sure are analytical.
Wherever you end up, you certainly will have no regrets…all factors are known beforehand.
Am thinking of asking you to start a new thread called “Compare and contrast the different presidential candidates”. We Piggers would not have to go anywhere else for our information.

[raptorduck]

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[raptorduck]

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[raptorduck]

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[raptorduck]

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[raptorduck]

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[robyns_song]

Just an observation but $2-$5M is a pretty big price range.

I can’t understand why people would want 9,000 square foot house. Not that I’m critiquing parenting styles or anything, but how can does would you have a relationship with your kids in a house that large–you’d never see them.

[robyns_song]

Just an observation but $2-$5M is a pretty big price range.

I can’t understand why people would want 9,000 square foot house. Not that I’m critiquing parenting styles or anything, but how can does would you have a relationship with your kids in a house that large–you’d never see them.

[robyns_song]

Just an observation but $2-$5M is a pretty big price range.

I can’t understand why people would want 9,000 square foot house. Not that I’m critiquing parenting styles or anything, but how can does would you have a relationship with your kids in a house that large–you’d never see them.

[robyns_song]

Just an observation but $2-$5M is a pretty big price range.

I can’t understand why people would want 9,000 square foot house. Not that I’m critiquing parenting styles or anything, but how can does would you have a relationship with your kids in a house that large–you’d never see them.

[raptorduck]

And the winner is, FBR and Santaluz (aka. BobS).

Ok, I will post separately about my adventures this past weekend, but here is a summary of my take on the following areas we toured homes in. We are still in SD, but driving back tomorrow. I worked out of my employer’s CV offices today.

Fairbanks Ranch
Santaluz
The Crosby
Cielo
The Covenant
The Bridges
Carmel Valley (Del Mar Mesa and Meadows Del Mar)
RSF Farms

That is also my final order of ranking of the communities.

Here is the deal. I “love” all of them. I would be happy to live and may indeed end up living in any of the above plus Rancho Valencia, Del Mar Country Club, Fairbanks Highlands, and San Digueno Hills (all of which I have toured previously). The last place (which it realy is not) community is nicer than anything I can find up here in the Bay Area and I would be delighted to live in.

We toured homes in all the above areas, plus we toured all the country clubs.

Ok, so why did my rankings end up like this?

Remember my criteria. Large house (6,000-9,000sf) on large lot (1+ acres) for large immediate and extended family. Young kids, preference for gated community with nice kid frienly amenities, great and close schools, that is a balance between privacy and community feel (private, but not too private, neighbors, but not too close). My price range is $2M-$5M, with the sweet spot really in the $3M-$4M range.

BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, here is my take:

1) Fairbanks Ranch.

Neighborhoods: Amazing, like “wow!”
Home quality: Older, true custom estates, 1st rate build quality.
Amenities: Very nice, free, no mello roos!
Schools: RSF school right there, inside the “gates”!

Comments: This is where we really “want” to live. Large majestic homes, on large well manicured lots, with gorgeous majestic neighborhoods (this is the “wow” area of RSF to us). If we can find the “right” house here, we will buy here. But finding that house is hard. Many need updating, but this is the perfect community for us and our needs.

2) Santaluz.

Neighborhoods: Can you say Tuscany? European feel. Nice!
Home quality: Mostly custom to semi-custom. Outstanding build quality on brand new homes
Amenities: Great clubs (Hacienda, Social, Golf). Perfect (best) for kids. Mello roos
Schools: Better than I thought, but not RSF/CV. Good enough.

Comments: If you say you don’t like Santaluz, then you have never been to Santaluz. Of the newer gated communities on our list, this is our favorite. Just great. Props to BobS.

3) The Crosby

Neighborhoods: Beautifully done community. Love those bridges.
Home quality: Custom to Semi-custom. Perhaps slightly higher than Santaluz. Simply amazing homes. Lots not as good as Santaluz though. Smaller and not as creatively positioned.
Amenities: Very very nice clubs (golf and sport). Mello roos
Schools: RSF, longer drive to get there.

Comments: We loved the Crosby. Probably saw the nicest home there on not the nicest lot. Kid friendly, but not as kid friendly as Santaluz, but definatley a first class area.

4) Cielo

Neighborhoods: Kind of sporadic, but very nice. It is all about the views here.
Home quality: Semicustom to McMansion. Varies greatly from cheap to excellent build quality. Some builders cut corners. The ones we are consdering are great, but not as good as FBR, Santaluz, Crsby, Bridges, RSF Farms, most of Covenant. Lots are amazing with those views, though. Did I mention the amazing views?
Amenities: Very nice for a free set up. No complaints.
Schools: RSF, but longer to get tehre.

Comments: The homes are not as well built as the other communities, but some are and no other community can beat those views. They are spectacular. Cielo is a special place and you never know, we may end up there.

5) The covenant

Neighborhoods. Varies. Mostly rural farm like. Too private. No sense of community. Hard to get in and out of some. In places nice views of burnt hillsides.
Home quality. All custom. New homes outstanding build quality. Older are old ranches. Lots are fantastic!
Amenities. Distant
Schools: Distant, but RSF. No Mello Roos.

Comments: Not for us. The Covenant is just beautiful and rural, but too isolating for a family with young children. We want privacy, but also want to know our neighbor and don’t want to get lost going home and want the added security of a gated community.

6) The Bridges

Neighborhoods: Wow, just beautiful. Talk about absolute highest level of environment. The most extravagent and well thought out of the new gated communities if your goal is “luxury” and “wealth.”
Home quality: custom to semi custom. Probably best build quality outside of FBR.
Amenities: High brow club. Maybe too high brow for us. But boy is it just beautiful.
Schools: Same as Crosby, Cielo.

Comments: The homes are just beautiful and of amazing build quality. The neighborhoods are the most plush of the new gated areas and second only to FBR. The lots are perhaps the nicest outside of FBR, with amazing privacy and lush views. So why is is so far down the list? If I were w/o kids, it would be #2 on my list. But I did not see this as the best place for young children. Lots are smaller than I want too. It felt too fancy I suppose. Too fancy for me. I don’t know, but my wife felt the same. We had to change our clothes just to tour the club (in the Crosby too).Probably the most high end of the new communities, but not for us.

7) CV (Meadows Del Mar, Del Mar Mesa)

Neighborhoods: MDM. Nicest in CV. Homes too close together, lots too small, streets too narrow. DMM. Very nice, large lots in CV? Now that is a rare find indeed.
Home quality: MDM. Semi custom. Extremly high build quality. DMM. McMansion down lower, custom higher up. Good to high.
Amenities: good.
Schools. CV. Good enough.

Comments: Not much to say. MDM is out due to small lots and tight quarters despite fantastic houses. DMM still in running due to large lots and convenience.

8) RSF Farms

Neighborhoods: Very very beautiful (if you are a golfer). Not the most kid friendly lots or streets. Not at all!
Home quality: Semi custom. Very nice. Somewhat comprable to Santaluz and Crosby.
Amenties: Nice club, if you are a golfer.
Schools. RSF

Comments: Not for us. Not for our kids. Lovely area though.

Others. Rancho Valencia is up there near FBR in our book. Fairbanks Highlands is very nice (semi custom to McMansion), comprable to Cielo without the views, but the homes smaller. Lots large and usable. Neighborhoods very nice. San Digueno Hills. Very very nice. One of our favorites. Same for Del Mar Country club area.

[raptorduck]

And the winner is, FBR and Santaluz (aka. BobS).

Ok, I will post separately about my adventures this past weekend, but here is a summary of my take on the following areas we toured homes in. We are still in SD, but driving back tomorrow. I worked out of my employer’s CV offices today.

Fairbanks Ranch
Santaluz
The Crosby
Cielo
The Covenant
The Bridges
Carmel Valley (Del Mar Mesa and Meadows Del Mar)
RSF Farms

That is also my final order of ranking of the communities.

Here is the deal. I “love” all of them. I would be happy to live and may indeed end up living in any of the above plus Rancho Valencia, Del Mar Country Club, Fairbanks Highlands, and San Digueno Hills (all of which I have toured previously). The last place (which it realy is not) community is nicer than anything I can find up here in the Bay Area and I would be delighted to live in.

We toured homes in all the above areas, plus we toured all the country clubs.

Ok, so why did my rankings end up like this?

Remember my criteria. Large house (6,000-9,000sf) on large lot (1+ acres) for large immediate and extended family. Young kids, preference for gated community with nice kid frienly amenities, great and close schools, that is a balance between privacy and community feel (private, but not too private, neighbors, but not too close). My price range is $2M-$5M, with the sweet spot really in the $3M-$4M range.

BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, here is my take:

1) Fairbanks Ranch.

Neighborhoods: Amazing, like “wow!”
Home quality: Older, true custom estates, 1st rate build quality.
Amenities: Very nice, free, no mello roos!
Schools: RSF school right there, inside the “gates”!

Comments: This is where we really “want” to live. Large majestic homes, on large well manicured lots, with gorgeous majestic neighborhoods (this is the “wow” area of RSF to us). If we can find the “right” house here, we will buy here. But finding that house is hard. Many need updating, but this is the perfect community for us and our needs.

2) Santaluz.

Neighborhoods: Can you say Tuscany? European feel. Nice!
Home quality: Mostly custom to semi-custom. Outstanding build quality on brand new homes
Amenities: Great clubs (Hacienda, Social, Golf). Perfect (best) for kids. Mello roos
Schools: Better than I thought, but not RSF/CV. Good enough.

Comments: If you say you don’t like Santaluz, then you have never been to Santaluz. Of the newer gated communities on our list, this is our favorite. Just great. Props to BobS.

3) The Crosby

Neighborhoods: Beautifully done community. Love those bridges.
Home quality: Custom to Semi-custom. Perhaps slightly higher than Santaluz. Simply amazing homes. Lots not as good as Santaluz though. Smaller and not as creatively positioned.
Amenities: Very very nice clubs (golf and sport). Mello roos
Schools: RSF, longer drive to get there.

Comments: We loved the Crosby. Probably saw the nicest home there on not the nicest lot. Kid friendly, but not as kid friendly as Santaluz, but definatley a first class area.

4) Cielo

Neighborhoods: Kind of sporadic, but very nice. It is all about the views here.
Home quality: Semicustom to McMansion. Varies greatly from cheap to excellent build quality. Some builders cut corners. The ones we are consdering are great, but not as good as FBR, Santaluz, Crsby, Bridges, RSF Farms, most of Covenant. Lots are amazing with those views, though. Did I mention the amazing views?
Amenities: Very nice for a free set up. No complaints.
Schools: RSF, but longer to get tehre.

Comments: The homes are not as well built as the other communities, but some are and no other community can beat those views. They are spectacular. Cielo is a special place and you never know, we may end up there.

5) The covenant

Neighborhoods. Varies. Mostly rural farm like. Too private. No sense of community. Hard to get in and out of some. In places nice views of burnt hillsides.
Home quality. All custom. New homes outstanding build quality. Older are old ranches. Lots are fantastic!
Amenities. Distant
Schools: Distant, but RSF. No Mello Roos.

Comments: Not for us. The Covenant is just beautiful and rural, but too isolating for a family with young children. We want privacy, but also want to know our neighbor and don’t want to get lost going home and want the added security of a gated community.

6) The Bridges

Neighborhoods: Wow, just beautiful. Talk about absolute highest level of environment. The most extravagent and well thought out of the new gated communities if your goal is “luxury” and “wealth.”
Home quality: custom to semi custom. Probably best build quality outside of FBR.
Amenities: High brow club. Maybe too high brow for us. But boy is it just beautiful.
Schools: Same as Crosby, Cielo.

Comments: The homes are just beautiful and of amazing build quality. The neighborhoods are the most plush of the new gated areas and second only to FBR. The lots are perhaps the nicest outside of FBR, with amazing privacy and lush views. So why is is so far down the list? If I were w/o kids, it would be #2 on my list. But I did not see this as the best place for young children. Lots are smaller than I want too. It felt too fancy I suppose. Too fancy for me. I don’t know, but my wife felt the same. We had to change our clothes just to tour the club (in the Crosby too).Probably the most high end of the new communities, but not for us.

7) CV (Meadows Del Mar, Del Mar Mesa)

Neighborhoods: MDM. Nicest in CV. Homes too close together, lots too small, streets too narrow. DMM. Very nice, large lots in CV? Now that is a rare find indeed.
Home quality: MDM. Semi custom. Extremly high build quality. DMM. McMansion down lower, custom higher up. Good to high.
Amenities: good.
Schools. CV. Good enough.

Comments: Not much to say. MDM is out due to small lots and tight quarters despite fantastic houses. DMM still in running due to large lots and convenience.

8) RSF Farms

Neighborhoods: Very very beautiful (if you are a golfer). Not the most kid friendly lots or streets. Not at all!
Home quality: Semi custom. Very nice. Somewhat comprable to Santaluz and Crosby.
Amenties: Nice club, if you are a golfer.
Schools. RSF

Comments: Not for us. Not for our kids. Lovely area though.

Others. Rancho Valencia is up there near FBR in our book. Fairbanks Highlands is very nice (semi custom to McMansion), comprable to Cielo without the views, but the homes smaller. Lots large and usable. Neighborhoods very nice. San Digueno Hills. Very very nice. One of our favorites. Same for Del Mar Country club area.

[raptorduck]

And the winner is, FBR and Santaluz (aka. BobS).

Ok, I will post separately about my adventures this past weekend, but here is a summary of my take on the following areas we toured homes in. We are still in SD, but driving back tomorrow. I worked out of my employer’s CV offices today.

Fairbanks Ranch
Santaluz
The Crosby
Cielo
The Covenant
The Bridges
Carmel Valley (Del Mar Mesa and Meadows Del Mar)
RSF Farms

That is also my final order of ranking of the communities.

Here is the deal. I “love” all of them. I would be happy to live and may indeed end up living in any of the above plus Rancho Valencia, Del Mar Country Club, Fairbanks Highlands, and San Digueno Hills (all of which I have toured previously). The last place (which it realy is not) community is nicer than anything I can find up here in the Bay Area and I would be delighted to live in.

We toured homes in all the above areas, plus we toured all the country clubs.

Ok, so why did my rankings end up like this?

Remember my criteria. Large house (6,000-9,000sf) on large lot (1+ acres) for large immediate and extended family. Young kids, preference for gated community with nice kid frienly amenities, great and close schools, that is a balance between privacy and community feel (private, but not too private, neighbors, but not too close). My price range is $2M-$5M, with the sweet spot really in the $3M-$4M range.

BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, here is my take:

1) Fairbanks Ranch.

Neighborhoods: Amazing, like “wow!”
Home quality: Older, true custom estates, 1st rate build quality.
Amenities: Very nice, free, no mello roos!
Schools: RSF school right there, inside the “gates”!

Comments: This is where we really “want” to live. Large majestic homes, on large well manicured lots, with gorgeous majestic neighborhoods (this is the “wow” area of RSF to us). If we can find the “right” house here, we will buy here. But finding that house is hard. Many need updating, but this is the perfect community for us and our needs.

2) Santaluz.

Neighborhoods: Can you say Tuscany? European feel. Nice!
Home quality: Mostly custom to semi-custom. Outstanding build quality on brand new homes
Amenities: Great clubs (Hacienda, Social, Golf). Perfect (best) for kids. Mello roos
Schools: Better than I thought, but not RSF/CV. Good enough.

Comments: If you say you don’t like Santaluz, then you have never been to Santaluz. Of the newer gated communities on our list, this is our favorite. Just great. Props to BobS.

3) The Crosby

Neighborhoods: Beautifully done community. Love those bridges.
Home quality: Custom to Semi-custom. Perhaps slightly higher than Santaluz. Simply amazing homes. Lots not as good as Santaluz though. Smaller and not as creatively positioned.
Amenities: Very very nice clubs (golf and sport). Mello roos
Schools: RSF, longer drive to get there.

Comments: We loved the Crosby. Probably saw the nicest home there on not the nicest lot. Kid friendly, but not as kid friendly as Santaluz, but definatley a first class area.

4) Cielo

Neighborhoods: Kind of sporadic, but very nice. It is all about the views here.
Home quality: Semicustom to McMansion. Varies greatly from cheap to excellent build quality. Some builders cut corners. The ones we are consdering are great, but not as good as FBR, Santaluz, Crsby, Bridges, RSF Farms, most of Covenant. Lots are amazing with those views, though. Did I mention the amazing views?
Amenities: Very nice for a free set up. No complaints.
Schools: RSF, but longer to get tehre.

Comments: The homes are not as well built as the other communities, but some are and no other community can beat those views. They are spectacular. Cielo is a special place and you never know, we may end up there.

5) The covenant

Neighborhoods. Varies. Mostly rural farm like. Too private. No sense of community. Hard to get in and out of some. In places nice views of burnt hillsides.
Home quality. All custom. New homes outstanding build quality. Older are old ranches. Lots are fantastic!
Amenities. Distant
Schools: Distant, but RSF. No Mello Roos.

Comments: Not for us. The Covenant is just beautiful and rural, but too isolating for a family with young children. We want privacy, but also want to know our neighbor and don’t want to get lost going home and want the added security of a gated community.

6) The Bridges

Neighborhoods: Wow, just beautiful. Talk about absolute highest level of environment. The most extravagent and well thought out of the new gated communities if your goal is “luxury” and “wealth.”
Home quality: custom to semi custom. Probably best build quality outside of FBR.
Amenities: High brow club. Maybe too high brow for us. But boy is it just beautiful.
Schools: Same as Crosby, Cielo.

Comments: The homes are just beautiful and of amazing build quality. The neighborhoods are the most plush of the new gated areas and second only to FBR. The lots are perhaps the nicest outside of FBR, with amazing privacy and lush views. So why is is so far down the list? If I were w/o kids, it would be #2 on my list. But I did not see this as the best place for young children. Lots are smaller than I want too. It felt too fancy I suppose. Too fancy for me. I don’t know, but my wife felt the same. We had to change our clothes just to tour the club (in the Crosby too).Probably the most high end of the new communities, but not for us.

7) CV (Meadows Del Mar, Del Mar Mesa)

Neighborhoods: MDM. Nicest in CV. Homes too close together, lots too small, streets too narrow. DMM. Very nice, large lots in CV? Now that is a rare find indeed.
Home quality: MDM. Semi custom. Extremly high build quality. DMM. McMansion down lower, custom higher up. Good to high.
Amenities: good.
Schools. CV. Good enough.

Comments: Not much to say. MDM is out due to small lots and tight quarters despite fantastic houses. DMM still in running due to large lots and convenience.

8) RSF Farms

Neighborhoods: Very very beautiful (if you are a golfer). Not the most kid friendly lots or streets. Not at all!
Home quality: Semi custom. Very nice. Somewhat comprable to Santaluz and Crosby.
Amenties: Nice club, if you are a golfer.
Schools. RSF

Comments: Not for us. Not for our kids. Lovely area though.

Others. Rancho Valencia is up there near FBR in our book. Fairbanks Highlands is very nice (semi custom to McMansion), comprable to Cielo without the views, but the homes smaller. Lots large and usable. Neighborhoods very nice. San Digueno Hills. Very very nice. One of our favorites. Same for Del Mar Country club area.

[raptorduck]

And the winner is, FBR and Santaluz (aka. BobS).

Ok, I will post separately about my adventures this past weekend, but here is a summary of my take on the following areas we toured homes in. We are still in SD, but driving back tomorrow. I worked out of my employer’s CV offices today.

Fairbanks Ranch
Santaluz
The Crosby
Cielo
The Covenant
The Bridges
Carmel Valley (Del Mar Mesa and Meadows Del Mar)
RSF Farms

That is also my final order of ranking of the communities.

Here is the deal. I “love” all of them. I would be happy to live and may indeed end up living in any of the above plus Rancho Valencia, Del Mar Country Club, Fairbanks Highlands, and San Digueno Hills (all of which I have toured previously). The last place (which it realy is not) community is nicer than anything I can find up here in the Bay Area and I would be delighted to live in.

We toured homes in all the above areas, plus we toured all the country clubs.

Ok, so why did my rankings end up like this?

Remember my criteria. Large house (6,000-9,000sf) on large lot (1+ acres) for large immediate and extended family. Young kids, preference for gated community with nice kid frienly amenities, great and close schools, that is a balance between privacy and community feel (private, but not too private, neighbors, but not too close). My price range is $2M-$5M, with the sweet spot really in the $3M-$4M range.

BASED ON THAT CRITERIA, here is my take:

1) Fairbanks Ranch.

Neighborhoods: Amazing, like “wow!”
Home quality: Older, true custom estates, 1st rate build quality.
Amenities: Very nice, free, no mello roos!
Schools: RSF school right there, inside the “gates”!

Comments: This is where we really “want” to live. Large majestic homes, on large well manicured lots, with gorgeous majestic neighborhoods (this is the “wow” area of RSF to us). If we can find the “right” house here, we will buy here. But finding that house is hard. Many need updating, but this is the perfect community for us and our needs.

2) Santaluz.

Neighborhoods: Can you say Tuscany? European feel. Nice!
Home quality: Mostly custom to semi-custom. Outstanding build quality on brand new homes
Amenities: Great clubs (Hacienda, Social, Golf). Perfect (best) for kids. Mello roos
Schools: Better than I thought, but not RSF/CV. Good enough.

Comments: If you say you don’t like Santaluz, then you have never been to Santaluz. Of the newer gated communities on our list, this is our favorite. Just great. Props to BobS.

3) The Crosby

Neighborhoods: Beautifully done community. Love those bridges.
Home quality: Custom to Semi-custom. Perhaps slightly higher than Santaluz. Simply amazing homes. Lots not as good as Santaluz though. Smaller and not as creatively positioned.
Amenities: Very very nice clubs (golf and sport). Mello roos
Schools: RSF, longer drive to get there.

Comments: We loved the Crosby. Probably saw the nicest home there on not the nicest lot. Kid friendly, but not as kid friendly as Santaluz, but definatley a first class area.

4) Cielo

Neighborhoods: Kind of sporadic, but very nice. It is all about the views here.
Home quality: Semicustom to McMansion. Varies greatly from cheap to excellent build quality. Some builders cut corners. The ones we are consdering are great, but not as good as FBR, Santaluz, Crsby, Bridges, RSF Farms, most of Covenant. Lots are amazing with those views, though. Did I mention the amazing views?
Amenities: Very nice for a free set up. No complaints.
Schools: RSF, but longer to get tehre.

Comments: The homes are not as well built as the other communities, but some are and no other community can beat those views. They are spectacular. Cielo is a special place and you never know, we may end up there.

5) The covenant

Neighborhoods. Varies. Mostly rural farm like. Too private. No sense of community. Hard to get in and out of some. In places nice views of burnt hillsides.
Home quality. All custom. New homes outstanding build quality. Older are old ranches. Lots are fantastic!
Amenities. Distant
Schools: Distant, but RSF. No Mello Roos.

Comments: Not for us. The Covenant is just beautiful and rural, but too isolating for a family with young children. We want privacy, but also want to know our neighbor and don’t want to get lost going home and want the added security of a gated community.

6) The Bridges

Neighborhoods: Wow, just beautiful. Talk about absolute highest level of environment. The most extravagent and well thought out of the new gated communities if your goal is “luxury” and “wealth.”
Home quality: custom to semi custom. Probably best build quality outside of FBR.
Amenities: High brow club. Maybe too high brow for us. But boy is it just beautiful.
Schools: Same as Crosby, Cielo.

Comments: The homes are just beautiful and of amazing build quality. The neighborhoods are the most plush of the new gated areas and second only to FBR. The lots are perhaps the nicest outside of FBR, with amazing privacy and lush views. So why is is so far down the list? If I were w/o kids, it would be #2 on my list. But I did not see this as the best place for young children. Lots are smaller than I want too. It felt too fancy I suppose. Too fancy for me. I don’t know, but my wife felt the same. We had to change our clothes just to tour the club (in the Crosby too).Probably the most high end of the new communities, but not for us.

7) CV (Meadows Del Mar, Del Mar Mesa)

Neighborhoods: MDM. Nicest in CV. Homes too close together, lots too small, streets too narrow. DMM. Very nice, large lots in CV? Now that is a rare find indeed.
Home quality: MDM. Semi custom. Extremly high build quality. DMM. McMansion down lower, custom higher up. Good to high.
Amenities: good.
Schools. CV. Good enough.

Comments: Not much to say. MDM is out due to small lots and tight quarters despite fantastic houses. DMM still in running due to large lots and convenience.

8) RSF Farms

Neighborhoods: Very very beautiful (if you are a golfer). Not the most kid friendly lots or streets. Not at all!
Home quality: Semi custom. Very nice. Somewhat comprable to Santaluz and Crosby.
Amenties: Nice club, if you are a golfer.
Schools. RSF

Comments: Not for us. Not for our kids. Lovely area though.

Others. Rancho Valencia is up there near FBR in our book. Fairbanks Highlands is very nice (semi custom to McMansion), comprable to Cielo without the views, but the homes smaller. Lots large and usable. Neighborhoods very nice. San Digueno Hills. Very very nice. One of our favorites. Same for Del Mar Country club area.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[raptorduck]

JL. All of these last 3 posts of yours have provided me some of the best insights yet I have gotten on the areas I am looking at. Thank you very much!

I know you said you live in an area that I rulled out, but you sound like you live in FBR South Gate or perhaps in the St. Andrews area and like you would be a great neighbor to have. Those are areas I am looking in within a stone’s throw of Santaluz. The only other area I can imagine you live in is Del Sur or the extreme east of CV.

[JustLurking]

Raptor,

I think your wife would like FBR. I think it is a real community where she could meet friends at the park and get involved at the local elementary school. I know your realtor says otherwise, but I don’t see how prices there can stay steady while everything else declines. Do you like your realtor here? One of my neighbors is a realtor in that area and price range (plenty of pictures of him in Dream Homes magazine) and he is a very nice guy. I have never done business with him, but he seems like a straight up kind of person. Maybe I should ask him what he thinks.

Santa Luz is nice, but very overpriced. We looked there in 2001. We actually looked at a house that I can see from this house and I still like this one better. Santa Luz was built at a bad time when things were too expensive. Prices ran up too fast and now huge numbers of people are underwater. That story can’t have a happy ending.

The Bridges. Beautiful area with some beautiful homes, but too remote for my taste. A friend/colleague just moved there last month. He is nice enough, but he is definitely the kind of person who likes to impress people. He likes to show off his money and be around like-minded pompous people. I have been to the club at the Bridges twice with another friend. Too much bowing and scraping for me. I am not the country club type and I don’t particularly want people to kiss my ### because I have money. I could be way off base, but my impression of the Bridges is one of over the top snobbery.

I don’t think the Covenant is really a “get to know your neighbors” kind of place and so, for me, not the best choice for kids. I want my kids to play with the kids down the street and I don’t think that happens much in the Covenant. Particularly if you are on 5 acres. I only personally know one person who raised a family while living there. His kids were fine when they were young, but as they got involved in school activities they complained that all their friends lived “in town”. He complained that he felt like a chaffeur.

Sorry to ramble endlessly. I’ll stop.

[JustLurking]

Raptor,

I think your wife would like FBR. I think it is a real community where she could meet friends at the park and get involved at the local elementary school. I know your realtor says otherwise, but I don’t see how prices there can stay steady while everything else declines. Do you like your realtor here? One of my neighbors is a realtor in that area and price range (plenty of pictures of him in Dream Homes magazine) and he is a very nice guy. I have never done business with him, but he seems like a straight up kind of person. Maybe I should ask him what he thinks.

Santa Luz is nice, but very overpriced. We looked there in 2001. We actually looked at a house that I can see from this house and I still like this one better. Santa Luz was built at a bad time when things were too expensive. Prices ran up too fast and now huge numbers of people are underwater. That story can’t have a happy ending.

The Bridges. Beautiful area with some beautiful homes, but too remote for my taste. A friend/colleague just moved there last month. He is nice enough, but he is definitely the kind of person who likes to impress people. He likes to show off his money and be around like-minded pompous people. I have been to the club at the Bridges twice with another friend. Too much bowing and scraping for me. I am not the country club type and I don’t particularly want people to kiss my ### because I have money. I could be way off base, but my impression of the Bridges is one of over the top snobbery.

I don’t think the Covenant is really a “get to know your neighbors” kind of place and so, for me, not the best choice for kids. I want my kids to play with the kids down the street and I don’t think that happens much in the Covenant. Particularly if you are on 5 acres. I only personally know one person who raised a family while living there. His kids were fine when they were young, but as they got involved in school activities they complained that all their friends lived “in town”. He complained that he felt like a chaffeur.

Sorry to ramble endlessly. I’ll stop.

[JustLurking]

Raptor,

I think your wife would like FBR. I think it is a real community where she could meet friends at the park and get involved at the local elementary school. I know your realtor says otherwise, but I don’t see how prices there can stay steady while everything else declines. Do you like your realtor here? One of my neighbors is a realtor in that area and price range (plenty of pictures of him in Dream Homes magazine) and he is a very nice guy. I have never done business with him, but he seems like a straight up kind of person. Maybe I should ask him what he thinks.

Santa Luz is nice, but very overpriced. We looked there in 2001. We actually looked at a house that I can see from this house and I still like this one better. Santa Luz was built at a bad time when things were too expensive. Prices ran up too fast and now huge numbers of people are underwater. That story can’t have a happy ending.

The Bridges. Beautiful area with some beautiful homes, but too remote for my taste. A friend/colleague just moved there last month. He is nice enough, but he is definitely the kind of person who likes to impress people. He likes to show off his money and be around like-minded pompous people. I have been to the club at the Bridges twice with another friend. Too much bowing and scraping for me. I am not the country club type and I don’t particularly want people to kiss my ### because I have money. I could be way off base, but my impression of the Bridges is one of over the top snobbery.

I don’t think the Covenant is really a “get to know your neighbors” kind of place and so, for me, not the best choice for kids. I want my kids to play with the kids down the street and I don’t think that happens much in the Covenant. Particularly if you are on 5 acres. I only personally know one person who raised a family while living there. His kids were fine when they were young, but as they got involved in school activities they complained that all their friends lived “in town”. He complained that he felt like a chaffeur.

Sorry to ramble endlessly. I’ll stop.

[JustLurking]

Raptor,

I think your wife would like FBR. I think it is a real community where she could meet friends at the park and get involved at the local elementary school. I know your realtor says otherwise, but I don’t see how prices there can stay steady while everything else declines. Do you like your realtor here? One of my neighbors is a realtor in that area and price range (plenty of pictures of him in Dream Homes magazine) and he is a very nice guy. I have never done business with him, but he seems like a straight up kind of person. Maybe I should ask him what he thinks.

Santa Luz is nice, but very overpriced. We looked there in 2001. We actually looked at a house that I can see from this house and I still like this one better. Santa Luz was built at a bad time when things were too expensive. Prices ran up too fast and now huge numbers of people are underwater. That story can’t have a happy ending.

The Bridges. Beautiful area with some beautiful homes, but too remote for my taste. A friend/colleague just moved there last month. He is nice enough, but he is definitely the kind of person who likes to impress people. He likes to show off his money and be around like-minded pompous people. I have been to the club at the Bridges twice with another friend. Too much bowing and scraping for me. I am not the country club type and I don’t particularly want people to kiss my ### because I have money. I could be way off base, but my impression of the Bridges is one of over the top snobbery.

I don’t think the Covenant is really a “get to know your neighbors” kind of place and so, for me, not the best choice for kids. I want my kids to play with the kids down the street and I don’t think that happens much in the Covenant. Particularly if you are on 5 acres. I only personally know one person who raised a family while living there. His kids were fine when they were young, but as they got involved in school activities they complained that all their friends lived “in town”. He complained that he felt like a chaffeur.

Sorry to ramble endlessly. I’ll stop.

[raptorduck]

Bob S. You just might be right. I may end up as one of your neighbors. As you know, I like Santaluz just fine. I agree that the quality of homes is very high and the landscaping theme has really grown on me so much, I down right like it. It is completely different than other areas and that aspect makes it even more likeable. I still love lush tropical landscaping like FBR, but I would not ever consider doing that in a Santaluz home. It would ruin the theme and the CC&R’s would not let me anyway. Fine by me. I take Santaluz for what it is and it is a very nice area. I wish it did not have Mello Roos and that I had CV schools, but there is always private school and once I find what Del Sur schools would apply to my house, the public schools may be just fine.

Alas, however, I have not picked an area to live in yet. We have 5 homes on our watch list for potential offers and they are all in different places (Covenant, Cielo, FBR, Santaluz, and Meadows Del Mar). And we are looking at more homes in all those areas plus RSF Farms (where we have looked at before) and of course the Crosby and Bridges for the first time.

JL. I took one Friday down there and went to my job at 5pm and drove to Cielo (the furthest living option) and it took me exactly 17 minutes. And that was during rush hour. I don’t commute during rush hour. I go to work early and work late. My commute here is 30 min during off hours and 1-1.5 hrs during commute hours. AND, the commute was very scenic, unlike here. I am not worred about any commute. No matter what, it will be a dramatic improvement.

Wife stays at home raising the first batch of what will be 6 children. She is ok with the isolation of Cielo and has indicated a preferance for a gated community for some added security. We will always have at least one relative living with us anyway, usually more. She likes FBR the best by far and is pushing that community for a purchase, but is open to the others as well. She really likes the Cielo views. Parts of the Covenant she likes, others not so much. She likes Santaluz, but does not love it, though she does love the homes we have looked at there. They (and the ones in Meadows Del Mar) are closest to our taste without needing remodeling/refinishing. MDM of course have tiny lots, which is a big negative for our criteria. One of the homes on our short list in the Covenant is on over 3 flat, usable acres. We are looking at a few more this weekend with 5-6 acres each.

[raptorduck]

Bob S. You just might be right. I may end up as one of your neighbors. As you know, I like Santaluz just fine. I agree that the quality of homes is very high and the landscaping theme has really grown on me so much, I down right like it. It is completely different than other areas and that aspect makes it even more likeable. I still love lush tropical landscaping like FBR, but I would not ever consider doing that in a Santaluz home. It would ruin the theme and the CC&R’s would not let me anyway. Fine by me. I take Santaluz for what it is and it is a very nice area. I wish it did not have Mello Roos and that I had CV schools, but there is always private school and once I find what Del Sur schools would apply to my house, the public schools may be just fine.

Alas, however, I have not picked an area to live in yet. We have 5 homes on our watch list for potential offers and they are all in different places (Covenant, Cielo, FBR, Santaluz, and Meadows Del Mar). And we are looking at more homes in all those areas plus RSF Farms (where we have looked at before) and of course the Crosby and Bridges for the first time.

JL. I took one Friday down there and went to my job at 5pm and drove to Cielo (the furthest living option) and it took me exactly 17 minutes. And that was during rush hour. I don’t commute during rush hour. I go to work early and work late. My commute here is 30 min during off hours and 1-1.5 hrs during commute hours. AND, the commute was very scenic, unlike here. I am not worred about any commute. No matter what, it will be a dramatic improvement.

Wife stays at home raising the first batch of what will be 6 children. She is ok with the isolation of Cielo and has indicated a preferance for a gated community for some added security. We will always have at least one relative living with us anyway, usually more. She likes FBR the best by far and is pushing that community for a purchase, but is open to the others as well. She really likes the Cielo views. Parts of the Covenant she likes, others not so much. She likes Santaluz, but does not love it, though she does love the homes we have looked at there. They (and the ones in Meadows Del Mar) are closest to our taste without needing remodeling/refinishing. MDM of course have tiny lots, which is a big negative for our criteria. One of the homes on our short list in the Covenant is on over 3 flat, usable acres. We are looking at a few more this weekend with 5-6 acres each.

[raptorduck]

Bob S. You just might be right. I may end up as one of your neighbors. As you know, I like Santaluz just fine. I agree that the quality of homes is very high and the landscaping theme has really grown on me so much, I down right like it. It is completely different than other areas and that aspect makes it even more likeable. I still love lush tropical landscaping like FBR, but I would not ever consider doing that in a Santaluz home. It would ruin the theme and the CC&R’s would not let me anyway. Fine by me. I take Santaluz for what it is and it is a very nice area. I wish it did not have Mello Roos and that I had CV schools, but there is always private school and once I find what Del Sur schools would apply to my house, the public schools may be just fine.

Alas, however, I have not picked an area to live in yet. We have 5 homes on our watch list for potential offers and they are all in different places (Covenant, Cielo, FBR, Santaluz, and Meadows Del Mar). And we are looking at more homes in all those areas plus RSF Farms (where we have looked at before) and of course the Crosby and Bridges for the first time.

JL. I took one Friday down there and went to my job at 5pm and drove to Cielo (the furthest living option) and it took me exactly 17 minutes. And that was during rush hour. I don’t commute during rush hour. I go to work early and work late. My commute here is 30 min during off hours and 1-1.5 hrs during commute hours. AND, the commute was very scenic, unlike here. I am not worred about any commute. No matter what, it will be a dramatic improvement.

Wife stays at home raising the first batch of what will be 6 children. She is ok with the isolation of Cielo and has indicated a preferance for a gated community for some added security. We will always have at least one relative living with us anyway, usually more. She likes FBR the best by far and is pushing that community for a purchase, but is open to the others as well. She really likes the Cielo views. Parts of the Covenant she likes, others not so much. She likes Santaluz, but does not love it, though she does love the homes we have looked at there. They (and the ones in Meadows Del Mar) are closest to our taste without needing remodeling/refinishing. MDM of course have tiny lots, which is a big negative for our criteria. One of the homes on our short list in the Covenant is on over 3 flat, usable acres. We are looking at a few more this weekend with 5-6 acres each.

[raptorduck]

Bob S. You just might be right. I may end up as one of your neighbors. As you know, I like Santaluz just fine. I agree that the quality of homes is very high and the landscaping theme has really grown on me so much, I down right like it. It is completely different than other areas and that aspect makes it even more likeable. I still love lush tropical landscaping like FBR, but I would not ever consider doing that in a Santaluz home. It would ruin the theme and the CC&R’s would not let me anyway. Fine by me. I take Santaluz for what it is and it is a very nice area. I wish it did not have Mello Roos and that I had CV schools, but there is always private school and once I find what Del Sur schools would apply to my house, the public schools may be just fine.

Alas, however, I have not picked an area to live in yet. We have 5 homes on our watch list for potential offers and they are all in different places (Covenant, Cielo, FBR, Santaluz, and Meadows Del Mar). And we are looking at more homes in all those areas plus RSF Farms (where we have looked at before) and of course the Crosby and Bridges for the first time.

JL. I took one Friday down there and went to my job at 5pm and drove to Cielo (the furthest living option) and it took me exactly 17 minutes. And that was during rush hour. I don’t commute during rush hour. I go to work early and work late. My commute here is 30 min during off hours and 1-1.5 hrs during commute hours. AND, the commute was very scenic, unlike here. I am not worred about any commute. No matter what, it will be a dramatic improvement.

Wife stays at home raising the first batch of what will be 6 children. She is ok with the isolation of Cielo and has indicated a preferance for a gated community for some added security. We will always have at least one relative living with us anyway, usually more. She likes FBR the best by far and is pushing that community for a purchase, but is open to the others as well. She really likes the Cielo views. Parts of the Covenant she likes, others not so much. She likes Santaluz, but does not love it, though she does love the homes we have looked at there. They (and the ones in Meadows Del Mar) are closest to our taste without needing remodeling/refinishing. MDM of course have tiny lots, which is a big negative for our criteria. One of the homes on our short list in the Covenant is on over 3 flat, usable acres. We are looking at a few more this weekend with 5-6 acres each.

[Anonymous]

Just Lurking, I’m interested in your take on the Mom Vibe in these 3 areas. We’ve been considering Carmel Valley in gerneral but it seems so spread out, with one area blending into the next (i.e. Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands area to Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Country Highlands.)

Mom vibe is key to being happy where you live, noone can dispute that! But exactly what it is, I’m hoping you’ll share.

[JustLurking]

Melman,

Carmel Valley is an interested place. My kids went to preschool here and I know the mom circuit pretty well. The kids at the preschool were from all over Carmel Valley. I have quite a few friends with kids now at Sage Canyon, Torrey Hills, Sycamore Ridge, Carmel Creek and the new school 8 (Ocean Air?).

Of course, I think my friends are great, but I do hear some interesting stories about keeping up with the Joneses. Some of the people in this area are very competitive about everything. Better house, better car, smarter kids, more volunteer hours – you name it and someone has to “win”.

At the elementary school level, working moms are definitely looked down on. Some men consider the SAH spouse as a sort of trophy and those wives act the part. Some of the area SAHMs hang out at the “PAC” (Pacific Athletic Club) and talk about the other moms. The PAC, a gym, has valet parking. No joke. People here spend a lot of money and I’m not sure how many of them really have it to spend.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things I like about Carmel Valley. There are some very nice people here. There are also a lot of wannabes trying to impress. I don’t think you will find many wannabes in Pacific Highlands Ranch, or even most areas of Carmel Country Highlands. You might find more on Del Mar Mesa and in Meadows Del Mar. Although I do know one or two who live in Lexington. The good news is that they are easy to spot. They are the ones who run Raptor over in their Hummer on the way to soccer ;).

[JustLurking]

Melman,

Carmel Valley is an interested place. My kids went to preschool here and I know the mom circuit pretty well. The kids at the preschool were from all over Carmel Valley. I have quite a few friends with kids now at Sage Canyon, Torrey Hills, Sycamore Ridge, Carmel Creek and the new school 8 (Ocean Air?).

Of course, I think my friends are great, but I do hear some interesting stories about keeping up with the Joneses. Some of the people in this area are very competitive about everything. Better house, better car, smarter kids, more volunteer hours – you name it and someone has to “win”.

At the elementary school level, working moms are definitely looked down on. Some men consider the SAH spouse as a sort of trophy and those wives act the part. Some of the area SAHMs hang out at the “PAC” (Pacific Athletic Club) and talk about the other moms. The PAC, a gym, has valet parking. No joke. People here spend a lot of money and I’m not sure how many of them really have it to spend.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things I like about Carmel Valley. There are some very nice people here. There are also a lot of wannabes trying to impress. I don’t think you will find many wannabes in Pacific Highlands Ranch, or even most areas of Carmel Country Highlands. You might find more on Del Mar Mesa and in Meadows Del Mar. Although I do know one or two who live in Lexington. The good news is that they are easy to spot. They are the ones who run Raptor over in their Hummer on the way to soccer ;).

[JustLurking]

Melman,

Carmel Valley is an interested place. My kids went to preschool here and I know the mom circuit pretty well. The kids at the preschool were from all over Carmel Valley. I have quite a few friends with kids now at Sage Canyon, Torrey Hills, Sycamore Ridge, Carmel Creek and the new school 8 (Ocean Air?).

Of course, I think my friends are great, but I do hear some interesting stories about keeping up with the Joneses. Some of the people in this area are very competitive about everything. Better house, better car, smarter kids, more volunteer hours – you name it and someone has to “win”.

At the elementary school level, working moms are definitely looked down on. Some men consider the SAH spouse as a sort of trophy and those wives act the part. Some of the area SAHMs hang out at the “PAC” (Pacific Athletic Club) and talk about the other moms. The PAC, a gym, has valet parking. No joke. People here spend a lot of money and I’m not sure how many of them really have it to spend.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things I like about Carmel Valley. There are some very nice people here. There are also a lot of wannabes trying to impress. I don’t think you will find many wannabes in Pacific Highlands Ranch, or even most areas of Carmel Country Highlands. You might find more on Del Mar Mesa and in Meadows Del Mar. Although I do know one or two who live in Lexington. The good news is that they are easy to spot. They are the ones who run Raptor over in their Hummer on the way to soccer ;).

[JustLurking]

Melman,

Carmel Valley is an interested place. My kids went to preschool here and I know the mom circuit pretty well. The kids at the preschool were from all over Carmel Valley. I have quite a few friends with kids now at Sage Canyon, Torrey Hills, Sycamore Ridge, Carmel Creek and the new school 8 (Ocean Air?).

Of course, I think my friends are great, but I do hear some interesting stories about keeping up with the Joneses. Some of the people in this area are very competitive about everything. Better house, better car, smarter kids, more volunteer hours – you name it and someone has to “win”.

At the elementary school level, working moms are definitely looked down on. Some men consider the SAH spouse as a sort of trophy and those wives act the part. Some of the area SAHMs hang out at the “PAC” (Pacific Athletic Club) and talk about the other moms. The PAC, a gym, has valet parking. No joke. People here spend a lot of money and I’m not sure how many of them really have it to spend.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things I like about Carmel Valley. There are some very nice people here. There are also a lot of wannabes trying to impress. I don’t think you will find many wannabes in Pacific Highlands Ranch, or even most areas of Carmel Country Highlands. You might find more on Del Mar Mesa and in Meadows Del Mar. Although I do know one or two who live in Lexington. The good news is that they are easy to spot. They are the ones who run Raptor over in their Hummer on the way to soccer ;).

[JustLurking]

Melman,

Carmel Valley is an interested place. My kids went to preschool here and I know the mom circuit pretty well. The kids at the preschool were from all over Carmel Valley. I have quite a few friends with kids now at Sage Canyon, Torrey Hills, Sycamore Ridge, Carmel Creek and the new school 8 (Ocean Air?).

Of course, I think my friends are great, but I do hear some interesting stories about keeping up with the Joneses. Some of the people in this area are very competitive about everything. Better house, better car, smarter kids, more volunteer hours – you name it and someone has to “win”.

At the elementary school level, working moms are definitely looked down on. Some men consider the SAH spouse as a sort of trophy and those wives act the part. Some of the area SAHMs hang out at the “PAC” (Pacific Athletic Club) and talk about the other moms. The PAC, a gym, has valet parking. No joke. People here spend a lot of money and I’m not sure how many of them really have it to spend.

Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things I like about Carmel Valley. There are some very nice people here. There are also a lot of wannabes trying to impress. I don’t think you will find many wannabes in Pacific Highlands Ranch, or even most areas of Carmel Country Highlands. You might find more on Del Mar Mesa and in Meadows Del Mar. Although I do know one or two who live in Lexington. The good news is that they are easy to spot. They are the ones who run Raptor over in their Hummer on the way to soccer ;).

[Anonymous]

Just Lurking, I’m interested in your take on the Mom Vibe in these 3 areas. We’ve been considering Carmel Valley in gerneral but it seems so spread out, with one area blending into the next (i.e. Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands area to Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Country Highlands.)

Mom vibe is key to being happy where you live, noone can dispute that! But exactly what it is, I’m hoping you’ll share.

[Anonymous]

Just Lurking, I’m interested in your take on the Mom Vibe in these 3 areas. We’ve been considering Carmel Valley in gerneral but it seems so spread out, with one area blending into the next (i.e. Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands area to Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Country Highlands.)

Mom vibe is key to being happy where you live, noone can dispute that! But exactly what it is, I’m hoping you’ll share.

[Anonymous]

Just Lurking, I’m interested in your take on the Mom Vibe in these 3 areas. We’ve been considering Carmel Valley in gerneral but it seems so spread out, with one area blending into the next (i.e. Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands area to Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Country Highlands.)

Mom vibe is key to being happy where you live, noone can dispute that! But exactly what it is, I’m hoping you’ll share.

[Anonymous]

Just Lurking, I’m interested in your take on the Mom Vibe in these 3 areas. We’ve been considering Carmel Valley in gerneral but it seems so spread out, with one area blending into the next (i.e. Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands area to Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Country Highlands.)

Mom vibe is key to being happy where you live, noone can dispute that! But exactly what it is, I’m hoping you’ll share.

[JustLurking]

Hi Raptor,

I have been following your house hunt with interest, as I live in one of the neighborhoods you ruled out because the houses were too small. I am pretty familiar with most of the areas you are considering, and I think your expected commute time might be a little too optimistic. Did you say you would be working in the Carmel Valley area? My office is near the El Camino Real exit off the 56 and I can tell you that on a bad afternoon, it can take 20 minutes to get from my office to the Carmel Valley Road exit off the 56 (3 or 4 miles?). Mornings can be worse. The 56 onramp at Carmel Valley Road is metered and it can back up for a long way. I have waited 15 minutes plus just to get ON the freeway, which of course is not moving at that point. Luckily, my schedule lets me commute at off-peak hours most of the time. If I had to do that drive every day, it would seriously put a damper on my mood.

What does your wife do? Will she stay home and manage kid activities? How old are your kids? The neighborhoods you are looking at have very different “mom” vibes and she may be much more comfortable in one vs. another. And some of the neighborhoods might be much more convenient for her day-to-day activities than others. I would be happy to offer my opinions if you want to give me a little more info.

JL

[JustLurking]

Hi Raptor,

I have been following your house hunt with interest, as I live in one of the neighborhoods you ruled out because the houses were too small. I am pretty familiar with most of the areas you are considering, and I think your expected commute time might be a little too optimistic. Did you say you would be working in the Carmel Valley area? My office is near the El Camino Real exit off the 56 and I can tell you that on a bad afternoon, it can take 20 minutes to get from my office to the Carmel Valley Road exit off the 56 (3 or 4 miles?). Mornings can be worse. The 56 onramp at Carmel Valley Road is metered and it can back up for a long way. I have waited 15 minutes plus just to get ON the freeway, which of course is not moving at that point. Luckily, my schedule lets me commute at off-peak hours most of the time. If I had to do that drive every day, it would seriously put a damper on my mood.

What does your wife do? Will she stay home and manage kid activities? How old are your kids? The neighborhoods you are looking at have very different “mom” vibes and she may be much more comfortable in one vs. another. And some of the neighborhoods might be much more convenient for her day-to-day activities than others. I would be happy to offer my opinions if you want to give me a little more info.

JL

[JustLurking]

Hi Raptor,

I have been following your house hunt with interest, as I live in one of the neighborhoods you ruled out because the houses were too small. I am pretty familiar with most of the areas you are considering, and I think your expected commute time might be a little too optimistic. Did you say you would be working in the Carmel Valley area? My office is near the El Camino Real exit off the 56 and I can tell you that on a bad afternoon, it can take 20 minutes to get from my office to the Carmel Valley Road exit off the 56 (3 or 4 miles?). Mornings can be worse. The 56 onramp at Carmel Valley Road is metered and it can back up for a long way. I have waited 15 minutes plus just to get ON the freeway, which of course is not moving at that point. Luckily, my schedule lets me commute at off-peak hours most of the time. If I had to do that drive every day, it would seriously put a damper on my mood.

What does your wife do? Will she stay home and manage kid activities? How old are your kids? The neighborhoods you are looking at have very different “mom” vibes and she may be much more comfortable in one vs. another. And some of the neighborhoods might be much more convenient for her day-to-day activities than others. I would be happy to offer my opinions if you want to give me a little more info.

JL

[JustLurking]

Hi Raptor,

I have been following your house hunt with interest, as I live in one of the neighborhoods you ruled out because the houses were too small. I am pretty familiar with most of the areas you are considering, and I think your expected commute time might be a little too optimistic. Did you say you would be working in the Carmel Valley area? My office is near the El Camino Real exit off the 56 and I can tell you that on a bad afternoon, it can take 20 minutes to get from my office to the Carmel Valley Road exit off the 56 (3 or 4 miles?). Mornings can be worse. The 56 onramp at Carmel Valley Road is metered and it can back up for a long way. I have waited 15 minutes plus just to get ON the freeway, which of course is not moving at that point. Luckily, my schedule lets me commute at off-peak hours most of the time. If I had to do that drive every day, it would seriously put a damper on my mood.

What does your wife do? Will she stay home and manage kid activities? How old are your kids? The neighborhoods you are looking at have very different “mom” vibes and she may be much more comfortable in one vs. another. And some of the neighborhoods might be much more convenient for her day-to-day activities than others. I would be happy to offer my opinions if you want to give me a little more info.

JL

[raptorduck]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will get a first hand look at the Crosby and the Bridges this weekend and will report back my take from that limited experience.

Alex, I know you get a lot of grief on this board over your edgy style and even I have seen the sharp edge of your sword before. But I for one appreicate your candor on this board and don’t mind you calling me clueless from time to time.

In terms of range of homes, I do agree that there is a broader range in Santaluz than other places I have seen. In FBR for example, you would be hard pressed to find a fixer upper under $2M (an can spend $20M+). In Cielo, it is mostly semi custom and custom homes of $2M+ as well (and can spend $10M+). But the tract home areas of Santaluz seem pretty nice from what I have seen so I don’t mind it. If you buy a $3-$5M home in Santaluz, chances are all the homes on your street will be in that price range and quality/size etc.

Like I said before, so far there are things about each area I like and I would not mind living in any one of them, quite frankly. Which I pick will have more to do with the home, its quality, value, pricing, and what my wife says. I do agree that some areas will probably do better than others in the long run, but that is not the foremost criteria for my decision. It is but one of many elements.

I don’t golf.

[raptorduck]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will get a first hand look at the Crosby and the Bridges this weekend and will report back my take from that limited experience.

Alex, I know you get a lot of grief on this board over your edgy style and even I have seen the sharp edge of your sword before. But I for one appreicate your candor on this board and don’t mind you calling me clueless from time to time.

In terms of range of homes, I do agree that there is a broader range in Santaluz than other places I have seen. In FBR for example, you would be hard pressed to find a fixer upper under $2M (an can spend $20M+). In Cielo, it is mostly semi custom and custom homes of $2M+ as well (and can spend $10M+). But the tract home areas of Santaluz seem pretty nice from what I have seen so I don’t mind it. If you buy a $3-$5M home in Santaluz, chances are all the homes on your street will be in that price range and quality/size etc.

Like I said before, so far there are things about each area I like and I would not mind living in any one of them, quite frankly. Which I pick will have more to do with the home, its quality, value, pricing, and what my wife says. I do agree that some areas will probably do better than others in the long run, but that is not the foremost criteria for my decision. It is but one of many elements.

I don’t golf.

[raptorduck]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will get a first hand look at the Crosby and the Bridges this weekend and will report back my take from that limited experience.

Alex, I know you get a lot of grief on this board over your edgy style and even I have seen the sharp edge of your sword before. But I for one appreicate your candor on this board and don’t mind you calling me clueless from time to time.

In terms of range of homes, I do agree that there is a broader range in Santaluz than other places I have seen. In FBR for example, you would be hard pressed to find a fixer upper under $2M (an can spend $20M+). In Cielo, it is mostly semi custom and custom homes of $2M+ as well (and can spend $10M+). But the tract home areas of Santaluz seem pretty nice from what I have seen so I don’t mind it. If you buy a $3-$5M home in Santaluz, chances are all the homes on your street will be in that price range and quality/size etc.

Like I said before, so far there are things about each area I like and I would not mind living in any one of them, quite frankly. Which I pick will have more to do with the home, its quality, value, pricing, and what my wife says. I do agree that some areas will probably do better than others in the long run, but that is not the foremost criteria for my decision. It is but one of many elements.

I don’t golf.

[raptorduck]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will get a first hand look at the Crosby and the Bridges this weekend and will report back my take from that limited experience.

Alex, I know you get a lot of grief on this board over your edgy style and even I have seen the sharp edge of your sword before. But I for one appreicate your candor on this board and don’t mind you calling me clueless from time to time.

In terms of range of homes, I do agree that there is a broader range in Santaluz than other places I have seen. In FBR for example, you would be hard pressed to find a fixer upper under $2M (an can spend $20M+). In Cielo, it is mostly semi custom and custom homes of $2M+ as well (and can spend $10M+). But the tract home areas of Santaluz seem pretty nice from what I have seen so I don’t mind it. If you buy a $3-$5M home in Santaluz, chances are all the homes on your street will be in that price range and quality/size etc.

Like I said before, so far there are things about each area I like and I would not mind living in any one of them, quite frankly. Which I pick will have more to do with the home, its quality, value, pricing, and what my wife says. I do agree that some areas will probably do better than others in the long run, but that is not the foremost criteria for my decision. It is but one of many elements.

I don’t golf.

[Bugs]

I’ve been inside some of the homes at all of these projects whilst they were in construction, so you can take my opinion for what little it’s worth.

If it was my money, I’d go with the homes in the Covenant area or possibly Fairbanks or the RSF Farms area. I don’t think all the wannabe areas will hold up as well over the long term. They certainly won’t do as well over the next 5 years.

Then again, I’m not a golfer and I don’t consider having a golf course in my back yard to be a plus. If I was a golfer then the Crosby or The Bridges might interest me more.

Different strokes. I still think Raptorduck would like The Bridges better than the Crosby. I know I do.

[Bugs]

I’ve been inside some of the homes at all of these projects whilst they were in construction, so you can take my opinion for what little it’s worth.

If it was my money, I’d go with the homes in the Covenant area or possibly Fairbanks or the RSF Farms area. I don’t think all the wannabe areas will hold up as well over the long term. They certainly won’t do as well over the next 5 years.

Then again, I’m not a golfer and I don’t consider having a golf course in my back yard to be a plus. If I was a golfer then the Crosby or The Bridges might interest me more.

Different strokes. I still think Raptorduck would like The Bridges better than the Crosby. I know I do.

[Bugs]

I’ve been inside some of the homes at all of these projects whilst they were in construction, so you can take my opinion for what little it’s worth.

If it was my money, I’d go with the homes in the Covenant area or possibly Fairbanks or the RSF Farms area. I don’t think all the wannabe areas will hold up as well over the long term. They certainly won’t do as well over the next 5 years.

Then again, I’m not a golfer and I don’t consider having a golf course in my back yard to be a plus. If I was a golfer then the Crosby or The Bridges might interest me more.

Different strokes. I still think Raptorduck would like The Bridges better than the Crosby. I know I do.

[Bugs]

I’ve been inside some of the homes at all of these projects whilst they were in construction, so you can take my opinion for what little it’s worth.

If it was my money, I’d go with the homes in the Covenant area or possibly Fairbanks or the RSF Farms area. I don’t think all the wannabe areas will hold up as well over the long term. They certainly won’t do as well over the next 5 years.

Then again, I’m not a golfer and I don’t consider having a golf course in my back yard to be a plus. If I was a golfer then the Crosby or The Bridges might interest me more.

Different strokes. I still think Raptorduck would like The Bridges better than the Crosby. I know I do.

[vferraro]

A major difference between Crosby and Santaluz (and you should do your own analysis)is average pricing. Both communities have expensive custom homes ($4M+) – but mean prices are lower in Santaluz. Even with a depressed housing market, prices in Crosby start at $1.3M and up. The products are different too. The homes Davidson built in Crosby are very different and bigger than Santaluz. Almost semi-custom like.

There are some pretty basic Del Sur style homes is SL. You won’t find that kind of product in the Crosby.

[vferraro]

A major difference between Crosby and Santaluz (and you should do your own analysis)is average pricing. Both communities have expensive custom homes ($4M+) – but mean prices are lower in Santaluz. Even with a depressed housing market, prices in Crosby start at $1.3M and up. The products are different too. The homes Davidson built in Crosby are very different and bigger than Santaluz. Almost semi-custom like.

There are some pretty basic Del Sur style homes is SL. You won’t find that kind of product in the Crosby.

[vferraro]

A major difference between Crosby and Santaluz (and you should do your own analysis)is average pricing. Both communities have expensive custom homes ($4M+) – but mean prices are lower in Santaluz. Even with a depressed housing market, prices in Crosby start at $1.3M and up. The products are different too. The homes Davidson built in Crosby are very different and bigger than Santaluz. Almost semi-custom like.

There are some pretty basic Del Sur style homes is SL. You won’t find that kind of product in the Crosby.

[vferraro]

A major difference between Crosby and Santaluz (and you should do your own analysis)is average pricing. Both communities have expensive custom homes ($4M+) – but mean prices are lower in Santaluz. Even with a depressed housing market, prices in Crosby start at $1.3M and up. The products are different too. The homes Davidson built in Crosby are very different and bigger than Santaluz. Almost semi-custom like.

There are some pretty basic Del Sur style homes is SL. You won’t find that kind of product in the Crosby.

[Alex_angel]

I just don’t get the obsession about CV. It is not a pretty area. There are a lot better coastal areas in SD that have more character and more soul.

Forget Del mar Mesa. There are plans to one day connect it to Mira Mesa. I guess in SD all mesas have to connect.

The Crosby is Del Sur, nothing special. Santaluz is okay but the fee to just golf is outrageous. The rules attached for landscaping are horrible.

You will probably be happy no matter where you live. What makes a good situation are good neighbours. You can live in the best area in the world but if your neighbours are a$$holes then it makes the living experience unpleasant. UNless of course you can afford a home that has an acre on each side separating the homes. Most of the time, the bigger the homes, the bigger the familes, the more noise you’ll have to deal with.

[Alex_angel]

I just don’t get the obsession about CV. It is not a pretty area. There are a lot better coastal areas in SD that have more character and more soul.

Forget Del mar Mesa. There are plans to one day connect it to Mira Mesa. I guess in SD all mesas have to connect.

The Crosby is Del Sur, nothing special. Santaluz is okay but the fee to just golf is outrageous. The rules attached for landscaping are horrible.

You will probably be happy no matter where you live. What makes a good situation are good neighbours. You can live in the best area in the world but if your neighbours are a$$holes then it makes the living experience unpleasant. UNless of course you can afford a home that has an acre on each side separating the homes. Most of the time, the bigger the homes, the bigger the familes, the more noise you’ll have to deal with.

[Alex_angel]

I just don’t get the obsession about CV. It is not a pretty area. There are a lot better coastal areas in SD that have more character and more soul.

Forget Del mar Mesa. There are plans to one day connect it to Mira Mesa. I guess in SD all mesas have to connect.

The Crosby is Del Sur, nothing special. Santaluz is okay but the fee to just golf is outrageous. The rules attached for landscaping are horrible.

You will probably be happy no matter where you live. What makes a good situation are good neighbours. You can live in the best area in the world but if your neighbours are a$$holes then it makes the living experience unpleasant. UNless of course you can afford a home that has an acre on each side separating the homes. Most of the time, the bigger the homes, the bigger the familes, the more noise you’ll have to deal with.

[Alex_angel]

I just don’t get the obsession about CV. It is not a pretty area. There are a lot better coastal areas in SD that have more character and more soul.

Forget Del mar Mesa. There are plans to one day connect it to Mira Mesa. I guess in SD all mesas have to connect.

The Crosby is Del Sur, nothing special. Santaluz is okay but the fee to just golf is outrageous. The rules attached for landscaping are horrible.

You will probably be happy no matter where you live. What makes a good situation are good neighbours. You can live in the best area in the world but if your neighbours are a$$holes then it makes the living experience unpleasant. UNless of course you can afford a home that has an acre on each side separating the homes. Most of the time, the bigger the homes, the bigger the familes, the more noise you’ll have to deal with.

[raptorduck]

Vferraro. Thanks for your insights on the Crosby. We will get our first look this weekend with it and the Bridges.

As for these places being just a step up from Del Sur, we wondered into Del Sur on one of our trips and it struck us as very CV like, but without the prime CV location. Santaluz is more than a step up in my mind in terms of size and quality of home/lot and neighborhood feel. While we are looking at large custom homes in Santaluz and you can find homes in the $8 million range there (above our price range), you can’t find homes like that in Del Sur or CV. Even the “low end” homes of Santaluz strike me as nicer than what you find in Del Sur or the tract portions of CV.

The areas I am looking in I view as essentially comprable to eachother. Certainly I can find homes in all of them in my price range. Of course they are indeed different from eachother. But I say different, not necessarily better. I think folks who live in the neighborhoods I am looking in are all very happy to live there, from Cielo to Santaluz to the Covenant to FBR.

I always have to stop myself when making comparisons. Even when I lived in a simple duplex in old CV, I just loved it and thought my neighborhood was great.

You just can’t go wrong living anywhere in North County. It is all nice.

[raptorduck]

Vferraro. Thanks for your insights on the Crosby. We will get our first look this weekend with it and the Bridges.

As for these places being just a step up from Del Sur, we wondered into Del Sur on one of our trips and it struck us as very CV like, but without the prime CV location. Santaluz is more than a step up in my mind in terms of size and quality of home/lot and neighborhood feel. While we are looking at large custom homes in Santaluz and you can find homes in the $8 million range there (above our price range), you can’t find homes like that in Del Sur or CV. Even the “low end” homes of Santaluz strike me as nicer than what you find in Del Sur or the tract portions of CV.

The areas I am looking in I view as essentially comprable to eachother. Certainly I can find homes in all of them in my price range. Of course they are indeed different from eachother. But I say different, not necessarily better. I think folks who live in the neighborhoods I am looking in are all very happy to live there, from Cielo to Santaluz to the Covenant to FBR.

I always have to stop myself when making comparisons. Even when I lived in a simple duplex in old CV, I just loved it and thought my neighborhood was great.

You just can’t go wrong living anywhere in North County. It is all nice.

[raptorduck]

Vferraro. Thanks for your insights on the Crosby. We will get our first look this weekend with it and the Bridges.

As for these places being just a step up from Del Sur, we wondered into Del Sur on one of our trips and it struck us as very CV like, but without the prime CV location. Santaluz is more than a step up in my mind in terms of size and quality of home/lot and neighborhood feel. While we are looking at large custom homes in Santaluz and you can find homes in the $8 million range there (above our price range), you can’t find homes like that in Del Sur or CV. Even the “low end” homes of Santaluz strike me as nicer than what you find in Del Sur or the tract portions of CV.

The areas I am looking in I view as essentially comprable to eachother. Certainly I can find homes in all of them in my price range. Of course they are indeed different from eachother. But I say different, not necessarily better. I think folks who live in the neighborhoods I am looking in are all very happy to live there, from Cielo to Santaluz to the Covenant to FBR.

I always have to stop myself when making comparisons. Even when I lived in a simple duplex in old CV, I just loved it and thought my neighborhood was great.

You just can’t go wrong living anywhere in North County. It is all nice.

[raptorduck]

Vferraro. Thanks for your insights on the Crosby. We will get our first look this weekend with it and the Bridges.

As for these places being just a step up from Del Sur, we wondered into Del Sur on one of our trips and it struck us as very CV like, but without the prime CV location. Santaluz is more than a step up in my mind in terms of size and quality of home/lot and neighborhood feel. While we are looking at large custom homes in Santaluz and you can find homes in the $8 million range there (above our price range), you can’t find homes like that in Del Sur or CV. Even the “low end” homes of Santaluz strike me as nicer than what you find in Del Sur or the tract portions of CV.

The areas I am looking in I view as essentially comprable to eachother. Certainly I can find homes in all of them in my price range. Of course they are indeed different from eachother. But I say different, not necessarily better. I think folks who live in the neighborhoods I am looking in are all very happy to live there, from Cielo to Santaluz to the Covenant to FBR.

I always have to stop myself when making comparisons. Even when I lived in a simple duplex in old CV, I just loved it and thought my neighborhood was great.

You just can’t go wrong living anywhere in North County. It is all nice.

[vferraro]

As a former BOD in Crosby, I would offer up this. The Crosby has incredible access – be at the beach or Rancho Bernardo in 15 minutes. Bing Crosby Blvd connects Del Dios Hwy in the North to Camino Del Sur (Camino Del Norte) in the South.

The club is top noch and the golf course is one of the top private courses in the US.

There are no new subdivisions in the Crosby. One patio home developer (John Laing) is still selling some villas.

Crosby prices are doing pretty well although there has been some recent softening

Crosby has a real 92067 zip code as some of the Crosby property is in RSF – Santa Luz and Del Sur cannot say that. School District is the same as Fairbanks Ranch.

By the way – in Del Sur they are dealing on Avaron homes which are pretty nice.

Most people in the Crosby have real jobs or are retired. Most of the people in Bridges are “New Rich”. I am not criticizin them. I haven’t met anybody that has a real job there and it is overpriced versus what you can get in the Crosby

Santaluz vs. Crosby? Santaluz has many lower tract homes. Everything in Crosby is pretty high end. My subdivision minimum size was 5700 sq. feet.

[vferraro]

As a former BOD in Crosby, I would offer up this. The Crosby has incredible access – be at the beach or Rancho Bernardo in 15 minutes. Bing Crosby Blvd connects Del Dios Hwy in the North to Camino Del Sur (Camino Del Norte) in the South.

The club is top noch and the golf course is one of the top private courses in the US.

There are no new subdivisions in the Crosby. One patio home developer (John Laing) is still selling some villas.

Crosby prices are doing pretty well although there has been some recent softening

Crosby has a real 92067 zip code as some of the Crosby property is in RSF – Santa Luz and Del Sur cannot say that. School District is the same as Fairbanks Ranch.

By the way – in Del Sur they are dealing on Avaron homes which are pretty nice.

Most people in the Crosby have real jobs or are retired. Most of the people in Bridges are “New Rich”. I am not criticizin them. I haven’t met anybody that has a real job there and it is overpriced versus what you can get in the Crosby

Santaluz vs. Crosby? Santaluz has many lower tract homes. Everything in Crosby is pretty high end. My subdivision minimum size was 5700 sq. feet.

[vferraro]

As a former BOD in Crosby, I would offer up this. The Crosby has incredible access – be at the beach or Rancho Bernardo in 15 minutes. Bing Crosby Blvd connects Del Dios Hwy in the North to Camino Del Sur (Camino Del Norte) in the South.

The club is top noch and the golf course is one of the top private courses in the US.

There are no new subdivisions in the Crosby. One patio home developer (John Laing) is still selling some villas.

Crosby prices are doing pretty well although there has been some recent softening

Crosby has a real 92067 zip code as some of the Crosby property is in RSF – Santa Luz and Del Sur cannot say that. School District is the same as Fairbanks Ranch.

By the way – in Del Sur they are dealing on Avaron homes which are pretty nice.

Most people in the Crosby have real jobs or are retired. Most of the people in Bridges are “New Rich”. I am not criticizin them. I haven’t met anybody that has a real job there and it is overpriced versus what you can get in the Crosby

Santaluz vs. Crosby? Santaluz has many lower tract homes. Everything in Crosby is pretty high end. My subdivision minimum size was 5700 sq. feet.

[vferraro]

As a former BOD in Crosby, I would offer up this. The Crosby has incredible access – be at the beach or Rancho Bernardo in 15 minutes. Bing Crosby Blvd connects Del Dios Hwy in the North to Camino Del Sur (Camino Del Norte) in the South.

The club is top noch and the golf course is one of the top private courses in the US.

There are no new subdivisions in the Crosby. One patio home developer (John Laing) is still selling some villas.

Crosby prices are doing pretty well although there has been some recent softening

Crosby has a real 92067 zip code as some of the Crosby property is in RSF – Santa Luz and Del Sur cannot say that. School District is the same as Fairbanks Ranch.

By the way – in Del Sur they are dealing on Avaron homes which are pretty nice.

Most people in the Crosby have real jobs or are retired. Most of the people in Bridges are “New Rich”. I am not criticizin them. I haven’t met anybody that has a real job there and it is overpriced versus what you can get in the Crosby

Santaluz vs. Crosby? Santaluz has many lower tract homes. Everything in Crosby is pretty high end. My subdivision minimum size was 5700 sq. feet.

[raptorduck]

Rene. You are very correct. Many of the homes we are considering need work. We hesitate only because of the hastle, time, etc. to remodel.

To be honest, I tend to push the fixer uppers, while my wife wants a brand new “turn key” house.

[raptorduck]

Rene. You are very correct. Many of the homes we are considering need work. We hesitate only because of the hastle, time, etc. to remodel.

To be honest, I tend to push the fixer uppers, while my wife wants a brand new “turn key” house.

[raptorduck]

Rene. You are very correct. Many of the homes we are considering need work. We hesitate only because of the hastle, time, etc. to remodel.

To be honest, I tend to push the fixer uppers, while my wife wants a brand new “turn key” house.

[raptorduck]

Rene. You are very correct. Many of the homes we are considering need work. We hesitate only because of the hastle, time, etc. to remodel.

To be honest, I tend to push the fixer uppers, while my wife wants a brand new “turn key” house.

[Anonymous]

gn, raptor,

If I had to choose between the Crosby/Bridges and Santaluz, I think I would choose Santaluz just because of the setting. It is one of the few places in SoCal that does actually feel like Tuscany (and therefore appeals to my European taste).

That said, it is agreed that RSF covenant is in a class of its own. The forrested feel would take years and a staggering amount of water to duplicate anywhere else (the RSF eucalyptus were planted during the 19th century). A community like the Bridges, Crosby or even Santaluz could be setup anywhere in a relatively short time, therefore reducing the value of these communities compared to the covenant.

I like Fairbanks but would feel boxed-in living there. The north loop is also pretty fire-prone. That said, Fairbanks has the best security I have ever seen. It would almost annoy me if I lived there.

Raptor, don’t forget that the cost of updating a home, especially in your price range, represents only a fraction of its purchase price. And by paying less and updating, you avoid paying property taxes ad vitam eternam on the remodeling costs.

Rene

[Anonymous]

gn, raptor,

If I had to choose between the Crosby/Bridges and Santaluz, I think I would choose Santaluz just because of the setting. It is one of the few places in SoCal that does actually feel like Tuscany (and therefore appeals to my European taste).

That said, it is agreed that RSF covenant is in a class of its own. The forrested feel would take years and a staggering amount of water to duplicate anywhere else (the RSF eucalyptus were planted during the 19th century). A community like the Bridges, Crosby or even Santaluz could be setup anywhere in a relatively short time, therefore reducing the value of these communities compared to the covenant.

I like Fairbanks but would feel boxed-in living there. The north loop is also pretty fire-prone. That said, Fairbanks has the best security I have ever seen. It would almost annoy me if I lived there.

Raptor, don’t forget that the cost of updating a home, especially in your price range, represents only a fraction of its purchase price. And by paying less and updating, you avoid paying property taxes ad vitam eternam on the remodeling costs.

Rene

[Anonymous]

gn, raptor,

If I had to choose between the Crosby/Bridges and Santaluz, I think I would choose Santaluz just because of the setting. It is one of the few places in SoCal that does actually feel like Tuscany (and therefore appeals to my European taste).

That said, it is agreed that RSF covenant is in a class of its own. The forrested feel would take years and a staggering amount of water to duplicate anywhere else (the RSF eucalyptus were planted during the 19th century). A community like the Bridges, Crosby or even Santaluz could be setup anywhere in a relatively short time, therefore reducing the value of these communities compared to the covenant.

I like Fairbanks but would feel boxed-in living there. The north loop is also pretty fire-prone. That said, Fairbanks has the best security I have ever seen. It would almost annoy me if I lived there.

Raptor, don’t forget that the cost of updating a home, especially in your price range, represents only a fraction of its purchase price. And by paying less and updating, you avoid paying property taxes ad vitam eternam on the remodeling costs.

Rene

[Anonymous]

gn, raptor,

If I had to choose between the Crosby/Bridges and Santaluz, I think I would choose Santaluz just because of the setting. It is one of the few places in SoCal that does actually feel like Tuscany (and therefore appeals to my European taste).

That said, it is agreed that RSF covenant is in a class of its own. The forrested feel would take years and a staggering amount of water to duplicate anywhere else (the RSF eucalyptus were planted during the 19th century). A community like the Bridges, Crosby or even Santaluz could be setup anywhere in a relatively short time, therefore reducing the value of these communities compared to the covenant.

I like Fairbanks but would feel boxed-in living there. The north loop is also pretty fire-prone. That said, Fairbanks has the best security I have ever seen. It would almost annoy me if I lived there.

Raptor, don’t forget that the cost of updating a home, especially in your price range, represents only a fraction of its purchase price. And by paying less and updating, you avoid paying property taxes ad vitam eternam on the remodeling costs.

Rene

[gracie]

Santaluz homes feeds into Poway Unified….which is NOT a negative! Poway is a fabulous school district!

[EconProf]

BobS
JL’s comments remind us that what should count most in your search are the needs of your growing family. In this regard, elementary kids in Santaluz (according to my realtor neighbor Shaun Worthen) presently go to various schools, but all in the highly regarded Poway District. Soon, all will go to Willow Grove, by Verazano (sp), quite close to Santaluz. Shaun says this will be in 2009. So given the demographics of the Willow Grove school, that is a plus.
A large, new private Christian HS is in the new Del Sur area just 2 miles north of Santaluz if you want to opt out of public schools entirely.

[Aecetia]

Or you can home school your children.

[Aecetia]

Or you can home school your children.

[Aecetia]

Or you can home school your children.

[Aecetia]

Or you can home school your children.

[Aecetia]

Or you can home school your children.

[EconProf]

BobS
JL’s comments remind us that what should count most in your search are the needs of your growing family. In this regard, elementary kids in Santaluz (according to my realtor neighbor Shaun Worthen) presently go to various schools, but all in the highly regarded Poway District. Soon, all will go to Willow Grove, by Verazano (sp), quite close to Santaluz. Shaun says this will be in 2009. So given the demographics of the Willow Grove school, that is a plus.
A large, new private Christian HS is in the new Del Sur area just 2 miles north of Santaluz if you want to opt out of public schools entirely.

[EconProf]

BobS
JL’s comments remind us that what should count most in your search are the needs of your growing family. In this regard, elementary kids in Santaluz (according to my realtor neighbor Shaun Worthen) presently go to various schools, but all in the highly regarded Poway District. Soon, all will go to Willow Grove, by Verazano (sp), quite close to Santaluz. Shaun says this will be in 2009. So given the demographics of the Willow Grove school, that is a plus.
A large, new private Christian HS is in the new Del Sur area just 2 miles north of Santaluz if you want to opt out of public schools entirely.

[EconProf]

BobS
JL’s comments remind us that what should count most in your search are the needs of your growing family. In this regard, elementary kids in Santaluz (according to my realtor neighbor Shaun Worthen) presently go to various schools, but all in the highly regarded Poway District. Soon, all will go to Willow Grove, by Verazano (sp), quite close to Santaluz. Shaun says this will be in 2009. So given the demographics of the Willow Grove school, that is a plus.
A large, new private Christian HS is in the new Del Sur area just 2 miles north of Santaluz if you want to opt out of public schools entirely.

[EconProf]

BobS
JL’s comments remind us that what should count most in your search are the needs of your growing family. In this regard, elementary kids in Santaluz (according to my realtor neighbor Shaun Worthen) presently go to various schools, but all in the highly regarded Poway District. Soon, all will go to Willow Grove, by Verazano (sp), quite close to Santaluz. Shaun says this will be in 2009. So given the demographics of the Willow Grove school, that is a plus.
A large, new private Christian HS is in the new Del Sur area just 2 miles north of Santaluz if you want to opt out of public schools entirely.

[raptorduck]

Gracie. I do understand that the Poway school district is very good. My comment was more about the uncertainty about what schools and the fact that the particular ones are too new to be able to know how they will score etc.

Right now all I know is that my kids would probably go to a shool in Del Sur, but that would be a moving target for a while. I don’t know more than that.

In other areas, I would know exactly the school they would go to and its scores etc.

[JustLurking]

In general, Poway schools are good. When we bought in 2001, we were promised that the new elementary school was coming very soon – the one BobS says is now supposed to open in 2009, but with recent budget cuts I am not holding my breath. Have they broken ground? I haven’t driven by in quite awhile. It took a neighborhood petition drive to get the school board to agree to consider building the school that we have been paying for in taxes for years. In my neighborhood, almost all of the kids go to private school because the Poway schools used as “overflow” for this area are not really that great. I took a different tack and bought a beach house in La Jolla so I send my kids to La Jolla schools. This has worked great for us, although the school commute is getting old and I am looking at moving to La Jolla – which is why I starting lurking here several months ago.

I think the elementary school for FBR is Solana Sante Fe (or something like that) that is right outside FBR on El Apajo. I have heard that it is a wonderful school. Very well funded (by parents) with a lot of parental involvement. I don’t know anything about the middle/high schools for that area.

My friends who live in the Crosby and the Bridges don’t have kids, so I don’t know about those schools.

Another friend who lived in the Covenant a several years ago had kids in the public schools. He said they were fine. His kids (middle/high schoolers) complained that they were too far away from all of their friends who lived “in town”. His general comments about kids being a bit isolated in the Covenant is one of the reasons I never seriously looked there when I was moving from Del Mar.

[JustLurking]

In general, Poway schools are good. When we bought in 2001, we were promised that the new elementary school was coming very soon – the one BobS says is now supposed to open in 2009, but with recent budget cuts I am not holding my breath. Have they broken ground? I haven’t driven by in quite awhile. It took a neighborhood petition drive to get the school board to agree to consider building the school that we have been paying for in taxes for years. In my neighborhood, almost all of the kids go to private school because the Poway schools used as “overflow” for this area are not really that great. I took a different tack and bought a beach house in La Jolla so I send my kids to La Jolla schools. This has worked great for us, although the school commute is getting old and I am looking at moving to La Jolla – which is why I starting lurking here several months ago.

I think the elementary school for FBR is Solana Sante Fe (or something like that) that is right outside FBR on El Apajo. I have heard that it is a wonderful school. Very well funded (by parents) with a lot of parental involvement. I don’t know anything about the middle/high schools for that area.

My friends who live in the Crosby and the Bridges don’t have kids, so I don’t know about those schools.

Another friend who lived in the Covenant a several years ago had kids in the public schools. He said they were fine. His kids (middle/high schoolers) complained that they were too far away from all of their friends who lived “in town”. His general comments about kids being a bit isolated in the Covenant is one of the reasons I never seriously looked there when I was moving from Del Mar.

[JustLurking]

In general, Poway schools are good. When we bought in 2001, we were promised that the new elementary school was coming very soon – the one BobS says is now supposed to open in 2009, but with recent budget cuts I am not holding my breath. Have they broken ground? I haven’t driven by in quite awhile. It took a neighborhood petition drive to get the school board to agree to consider building the school that we have been paying for in taxes for years. In my neighborhood, almost all of the kids go to private school because the Poway schools used as “overflow” for this area are not really that great. I took a different tack and bought a beach house in La Jolla so I send my kids to La Jolla schools. This has worked great for us, although the school commute is getting old and I am looking at moving to La Jolla – which is why I starting lurking here several months ago.

I think the elementary school for FBR is Solana Sante Fe (or something like that) that is right outside FBR on El Apajo. I have heard that it is a wonderful school. Very well funded (by parents) with a lot of parental involvement. I don’t know anything about the middle/high schools for that area.

My friends who live in the Crosby and the Bridges don’t have kids, so I don’t know about those schools.

Another friend who lived in the Covenant a several years ago had kids in the public schools. He said they were fine. His kids (middle/high schoolers) complained that they were too far away from all of their friends who lived “in town”. His general comments about kids being a bit isolated in the Covenant is one of the reasons I never seriously looked there when I was moving from Del Mar.

[JustLurking]

In general, Poway schools are good. When we bought in 2001, we were promised that the new elementary school was coming very soon – the one BobS says is now supposed to open in 2009, but with recent budget cuts I am not holding my breath. Have they broken ground? I haven’t driven by in quite awhile. It took a neighborhood petition drive to get the school board to agree to consider building the school that we have been paying for in taxes for years. In my neighborhood, almost all of the kids go to private school because the Poway schools used as “overflow” for this area are not really that great. I took a different tack and bought a beach house in La Jolla so I send my kids to La Jolla schools. This has worked great for us, although the school commute is getting old and I am looking at moving to La Jolla – which is why I starting lurking here several months ago.

I think the elementary school for FBR is Solana Sante Fe (or something like that) that is right outside FBR on El Apajo. I have heard that it is a wonderful school. Very well funded (by parents) with a lot of parental involvement. I don’t know anything about the middle/high schools for that area.

My friends who live in the Crosby and the Bridges don’t have kids, so I don’t know about those schools.

Another friend who lived in the Covenant a several years ago had kids in the public schools. He said they were fine. His kids (middle/high schoolers) complained that they were too far away from all of their friends who lived “in town”. His general comments about kids being a bit isolated in the Covenant is one of the reasons I never seriously looked there when I was moving from Del Mar.

[JustLurking]

In general, Poway schools are good. When we bought in 2001, we were promised that the new elementary school was coming very soon – the one BobS says is now supposed to open in 2009, but with recent budget cuts I am not holding my breath. Have they broken ground? I haven’t driven by in quite awhile. It took a neighborhood petition drive to get the school board to agree to consider building the school that we have been paying for in taxes for years. In my neighborhood, almost all of the kids go to private school because the Poway schools used as “overflow” for this area are not really that great. I took a different tack and bought a beach house in La Jolla so I send my kids to La Jolla schools. This has worked great for us, although the school commute is getting old and I am looking at moving to La Jolla – which is why I starting lurking here several months ago.

I think the elementary school for FBR is Solana Sante Fe (or something like that) that is right outside FBR on El Apajo. I have heard that it is a wonderful school. Very well funded (by parents) with a lot of parental involvement. I don’t know anything about the middle/high schools for that area.

My friends who live in the Crosby and the Bridges don’t have kids, so I don’t know about those schools.

Another friend who lived in the Covenant a several years ago had kids in the public schools. He said they were fine. His kids (middle/high schoolers) complained that they were too far away from all of their friends who lived “in town”. His general comments about kids being a bit isolated in the Covenant is one of the reasons I never seriously looked there when I was moving from Del Mar.

[raptorduck]

Gracie. I do understand that the Poway school district is very good. My comment was more about the uncertainty about what schools and the fact that the particular ones are too new to be able to know how they will score etc.

Right now all I know is that my kids would probably go to a shool in Del Sur, but that would be a moving target for a while. I don’t know more than that.

In other areas, I would know exactly the school they would go to and its scores etc.

[raptorduck]

Gracie. I do understand that the Poway school district is very good. My comment was more about the uncertainty about what schools and the fact that the particular ones are too new to be able to know how they will score etc.

Right now all I know is that my kids would probably go to a shool in Del Sur, but that would be a moving target for a while. I don’t know more than that.

In other areas, I would know exactly the school they would go to and its scores etc.

[raptorduck]

Gracie. I do understand that the Poway school district is very good. My comment was more about the uncertainty about what schools and the fact that the particular ones are too new to be able to know how they will score etc.

Right now all I know is that my kids would probably go to a shool in Del Sur, but that would be a moving target for a while. I don’t know more than that.

In other areas, I would know exactly the school they would go to and its scores etc.

[raptorduck]

Gracie. I do understand that the Poway school district is very good. My comment was more about the uncertainty about what schools and the fact that the particular ones are too new to be able to know how they will score etc.

Right now all I know is that my kids would probably go to a shool in Del Sur, but that would be a moving target for a while. I don’t know more than that.

In other areas, I would know exactly the school they would go to and its scores etc.

[gracie]

Santaluz homes feeds into Poway Unified….which is NOT a negative! Poway is a fabulous school district!

[gracie]

Santaluz homes feeds into Poway Unified….which is NOT a negative! Poway is a fabulous school district!

[gracie]

Santaluz homes feeds into Poway Unified….which is NOT a negative! Poway is a fabulous school district!

[gracie]

Santaluz homes feeds into Poway Unified….which is NOT a negative! Poway is a fabulous school district!

[raptorduck]

Thanks Rene and gn. We have looked at a number of homes in the Covenant and will be looking at additional ones there this weekend. I have found prices in the Covenant to be very reasonable and less overpriced than Santaluz and apparently the Bridges or Crosby (plus no Mello Roos). There are very nice homes in our price range in all the areas we are looking at (FBR, Covenant, Cielo, RSF Farms, Rancho Valencia, Santaluz, CV, and now the Bridges and Crosby).

Of the areas we have looked at so far, as I have said before, Fairbanks Ranch is our favorite, but there are things about each area we liked enough to continue to consider buying a home in any of them at the right price.

No matter what we decide, as I have also stated before, it is a step up in size and quality and a step down in price from what we have found up here in the Bay Area, so we just can’t loose.

If we buy in one particular place over another, it will not be because we think that the nicest area. Chances are it will be the house itself and lot that drives the purchase. My worst case commute will be 17 min, best case 5 min. Compared to 30 min with no traffic here and 1.5 hrs in rush hr.

Here are my Pros and Cons for each area so far:

Fairbanks Ranch Pros: Resort like location, amazing homes, beautiful established neighborhoods, Cons: Many older that homes need interior updates

Covenant: Pros: Lot sizes, privacy, rural feeling, some great homes; Cons: some very old homes, not as easy to get in and out of, sometimes too private, variety in quality.

Rancho Valencia: Pro: Resort access, lush location, Con: none really

RSF Farms: Pro: nice homes, lush location, Con: non really

Cielo: Pro: Amazing views, some very nice homes; Cons: bit isolated, in fire area, location

Santaluz: Pro: Great landscaping theme (this surprised me), amazing custom homes, convenient location, newer homes; Cons: Mello Roos, Poway Schools (Del Sur), overpriced.

CV (Meadows Del Mar). Pros: Uberconvenient location, great homes; Cons: tiny lots, crowded neighborhoods with narrow streets.

We definately prefer gated communities, though some houses in the Covenant were so nice, we would not care so much about that.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Rene and gn. We have looked at a number of homes in the Covenant and will be looking at additional ones there this weekend. I have found prices in the Covenant to be very reasonable and less overpriced than Santaluz and apparently the Bridges or Crosby (plus no Mello Roos). There are very nice homes in our price range in all the areas we are looking at (FBR, Covenant, Cielo, RSF Farms, Rancho Valencia, Santaluz, CV, and now the Bridges and Crosby).

Of the areas we have looked at so far, as I have said before, Fairbanks Ranch is our favorite, but there are things about each area we liked enough to continue to consider buying a home in any of them at the right price.

No matter what we decide, as I have also stated before, it is a step up in size and quality and a step down in price from what we have found up here in the Bay Area, so we just can’t loose.

If we buy in one particular place over another, it will not be because we think that the nicest area. Chances are it will be the house itself and lot that drives the purchase. My worst case commute will be 17 min, best case 5 min. Compared to 30 min with no traffic here and 1.5 hrs in rush hr.

Here are my Pros and Cons for each area so far:

Fairbanks Ranch Pros: Resort like location, amazing homes, beautiful established neighborhoods, Cons: Many older that homes need interior updates

Covenant: Pros: Lot sizes, privacy, rural feeling, some great homes; Cons: some very old homes, not as easy to get in and out of, sometimes too private, variety in quality.

Rancho Valencia: Pro: Resort access, lush location, Con: none really

RSF Farms: Pro: nice homes, lush location, Con: non really

Cielo: Pro: Amazing views, some very nice homes; Cons: bit isolated, in fire area, location

Santaluz: Pro: Great landscaping theme (this surprised me), amazing custom homes, convenient location, newer homes; Cons: Mello Roos, Poway Schools (Del Sur), overpriced.

CV (Meadows Del Mar). Pros: Uberconvenient location, great homes; Cons: tiny lots, crowded neighborhoods with narrow streets.

We definately prefer gated communities, though some houses in the Covenant were so nice, we would not care so much about that.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Rene and gn. We have looked at a number of homes in the Covenant and will be looking at additional ones there this weekend. I have found prices in the Covenant to be very reasonable and less overpriced than Santaluz and apparently the Bridges or Crosby (plus no Mello Roos). There are very nice homes in our price range in all the areas we are looking at (FBR, Covenant, Cielo, RSF Farms, Rancho Valencia, Santaluz, CV, and now the Bridges and Crosby).

Of the areas we have looked at so far, as I have said before, Fairbanks Ranch is our favorite, but there are things about each area we liked enough to continue to consider buying a home in any of them at the right price.

No matter what we decide, as I have also stated before, it is a step up in size and quality and a step down in price from what we have found up here in the Bay Area, so we just can’t loose.

If we buy in one particular place over another, it will not be because we think that the nicest area. Chances are it will be the house itself and lot that drives the purchase. My worst case commute will be 17 min, best case 5 min. Compared to 30 min with no traffic here and 1.5 hrs in rush hr.

Here are my Pros and Cons for each area so far:

Fairbanks Ranch Pros: Resort like location, amazing homes, beautiful established neighborhoods, Cons: Many older that homes need interior updates

Covenant: Pros: Lot sizes, privacy, rural feeling, some great homes; Cons: some very old homes, not as easy to get in and out of, sometimes too private, variety in quality.

Rancho Valencia: Pro: Resort access, lush location, Con: none really

RSF Farms: Pro: nice homes, lush location, Con: non really

Cielo: Pro: Amazing views, some very nice homes; Cons: bit isolated, in fire area, location

Santaluz: Pro: Great landscaping theme (this surprised me), amazing custom homes, convenient location, newer homes; Cons: Mello Roos, Poway Schools (Del Sur), overpriced.

CV (Meadows Del Mar). Pros: Uberconvenient location, great homes; Cons: tiny lots, crowded neighborhoods with narrow streets.

We definately prefer gated communities, though some houses in the Covenant were so nice, we would not care so much about that.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Rene and gn. We have looked at a number of homes in the Covenant and will be looking at additional ones there this weekend. I have found prices in the Covenant to be very reasonable and less overpriced than Santaluz and apparently the Bridges or Crosby (plus no Mello Roos). There are very nice homes in our price range in all the areas we are looking at (FBR, Covenant, Cielo, RSF Farms, Rancho Valencia, Santaluz, CV, and now the Bridges and Crosby).

Of the areas we have looked at so far, as I have said before, Fairbanks Ranch is our favorite, but there are things about each area we liked enough to continue to consider buying a home in any of them at the right price.

No matter what we decide, as I have also stated before, it is a step up in size and quality and a step down in price from what we have found up here in the Bay Area, so we just can’t loose.

If we buy in one particular place over another, it will not be because we think that the nicest area. Chances are it will be the house itself and lot that drives the purchase. My worst case commute will be 17 min, best case 5 min. Compared to 30 min with no traffic here and 1.5 hrs in rush hr.

Here are my Pros and Cons for each area so far:

Fairbanks Ranch Pros: Resort like location, amazing homes, beautiful established neighborhoods, Cons: Many older that homes need interior updates

Covenant: Pros: Lot sizes, privacy, rural feeling, some great homes; Cons: some very old homes, not as easy to get in and out of, sometimes too private, variety in quality.

Rancho Valencia: Pro: Resort access, lush location, Con: none really

RSF Farms: Pro: nice homes, lush location, Con: non really

Cielo: Pro: Amazing views, some very nice homes; Cons: bit isolated, in fire area, location

Santaluz: Pro: Great landscaping theme (this surprised me), amazing custom homes, convenient location, newer homes; Cons: Mello Roos, Poway Schools (Del Sur), overpriced.

CV (Meadows Del Mar). Pros: Uberconvenient location, great homes; Cons: tiny lots, crowded neighborhoods with narrow streets.

We definately prefer gated communities, though some houses in the Covenant were so nice, we would not care so much about that.

[gn]

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur.

I agree. Ditto for Santa Luz, just a step up from Del Sur, trying to disguise itself as "equivalent" to RSF.

[gn]

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur.

I agree. Ditto for Santa Luz, just a step up from Del Sur, trying to disguise itself as "equivalent" to RSF.

[gn]

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur.

I agree. Ditto for Santa Luz, just a step up from Del Sur, trying to disguise itself as "equivalent" to RSF.

[gn]

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur.

I agree. Ditto for Santa Luz, just a step up from Del Sur, trying to disguise itself as "equivalent" to RSF.

[Anonymous]

Hi Raptor,

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur. It is not really geographically connected to RSF. The Bridges is a better but still isolated from the rest of the town.

If you can afford it, the Covenant is the best place to live in SD bar none. The location, the proximity to everyday life shopping facilities and jobs (along I-5 to the west and 56 and I-15 to the east), the setting and the privacy of the Covenant are unmatched. RSF town does not feature the most useful businesses but it is a nice place to go hang out during the W-E (expecially if you can walk there). The trails zooming through the whole town are just idyllic, specially if you are a nature lover. I can tell you that you will use the trails, especially if you have kids (horseback riding or not).

Again, this is not a snobbish statement, it is just my subjective feeling about the beauty of the place.

Rene

Rene

[Anonymous]

Hi Raptor,

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur. It is not really geographically connected to RSF. The Bridges is a better but still isolated from the rest of the town.

If you can afford it, the Covenant is the best place to live in SD bar none. The location, the proximity to everyday life shopping facilities and jobs (along I-5 to the west and 56 and I-15 to the east), the setting and the privacy of the Covenant are unmatched. RSF town does not feature the most useful businesses but it is a nice place to go hang out during the W-E (expecially if you can walk there). The trails zooming through the whole town are just idyllic, specially if you are a nature lover. I can tell you that you will use the trails, especially if you have kids (horseback riding or not).

Again, this is not a snobbish statement, it is just my subjective feeling about the beauty of the place.

Rene

Rene

[Anonymous]

Hi Raptor,

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur. It is not really geographically connected to RSF. The Bridges is a better but still isolated from the rest of the town.

If you can afford it, the Covenant is the best place to live in SD bar none. The location, the proximity to everyday life shopping facilities and jobs (along I-5 to the west and 56 and I-15 to the east), the setting and the privacy of the Covenant are unmatched. RSF town does not feature the most useful businesses but it is a nice place to go hang out during the W-E (expecially if you can walk there). The trails zooming through the whole town are just idyllic, specially if you are a nature lover. I can tell you that you will use the trails, especially if you have kids (horseback riding or not).

Again, this is not a snobbish statement, it is just my subjective feeling about the beauty of the place.

Rene

Rene

[Anonymous]

Hi Raptor,

My personal opinion is that the Crosby is just a step up from Del Sur. It is not really geographically connected to RSF. The Bridges is a better but still isolated from the rest of the town.

If you can afford it, the Covenant is the best place to live in SD bar none. The location, the proximity to everyday life shopping facilities and jobs (along I-5 to the west and 56 and I-15 to the east), the setting and the privacy of the Covenant are unmatched. RSF town does not feature the most useful businesses but it is a nice place to go hang out during the W-E (expecially if you can walk there). The trails zooming through the whole town are just idyllic, specially if you are a nature lover. I can tell you that you will use the trails, especially if you have kids (horseback riding or not).

Again, this is not a snobbish statement, it is just my subjective feeling about the beauty of the place.

Rene

Rene

[raptorduck]

Thanks Bugs. When I first heard about the Crosby, it seemed that there were homes of 4br or smaller there and it catered less to families. But we have found some 5br large homes in there. Worth a look. Same for the Bridges. Seemed less likely to cater to families and the homes seemd a bit overpriced for what you get compared to other parts of RSF. But again, we found some worth looking at.

I also figured out that I have previously looked at homes in Del Mar Mesa/Mesa Del Mar. I was not as impressed with that area as Meadows Del Mar and the homes seemed to be clones of eachother. But further up that road, we have found some very large custom homes on very large lots, which seems rare for CV, so we will take a quick look there as well.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Bugs. When I first heard about the Crosby, it seemed that there were homes of 4br or smaller there and it catered less to families. But we have found some 5br large homes in there. Worth a look. Same for the Bridges. Seemed less likely to cater to families and the homes seemd a bit overpriced for what you get compared to other parts of RSF. But again, we found some worth looking at.

I also figured out that I have previously looked at homes in Del Mar Mesa/Mesa Del Mar. I was not as impressed with that area as Meadows Del Mar and the homes seemed to be clones of eachother. But further up that road, we have found some very large custom homes on very large lots, which seems rare for CV, so we will take a quick look there as well.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Bugs. When I first heard about the Crosby, it seemed that there were homes of 4br or smaller there and it catered less to families. But we have found some 5br large homes in there. Worth a look. Same for the Bridges. Seemed less likely to cater to families and the homes seemd a bit overpriced for what you get compared to other parts of RSF. But again, we found some worth looking at.

I also figured out that I have previously looked at homes in Del Mar Mesa/Mesa Del Mar. I was not as impressed with that area as Meadows Del Mar and the homes seemed to be clones of eachother. But further up that road, we have found some very large custom homes on very large lots, which seems rare for CV, so we will take a quick look there as well.

[raptorduck]

Thanks Bugs. When I first heard about the Crosby, it seemed that there were homes of 4br or smaller there and it catered less to families. But we have found some 5br large homes in there. Worth a look. Same for the Bridges. Seemed less likely to cater to families and the homes seemd a bit overpriced for what you get compared to other parts of RSF. But again, we found some worth looking at.

I also figured out that I have previously looked at homes in Del Mar Mesa/Mesa Del Mar. I was not as impressed with that area as Meadows Del Mar and the homes seemed to be clones of eachother. But further up that road, we have found some very large custom homes on very large lots, which seems rare for CV, so we will take a quick look there as well.

[Bugs]

Based on what you’ve been writing about to date, I wold think you’d be more interested in The Bridges. I don’t think there are any subdivision builders over there, whereas most of the Crosby is subdivisions.

[Bugs]

Based on what you’ve been writing about to date, I wold think you’d be more interested in The Bridges. I don’t think there are any subdivision builders over there, whereas most of the Crosby is subdivisions.

[Bugs]

Based on what you’ve been writing about to date, I wold think you’d be more interested in The Bridges. I don’t think there are any subdivision builders over there, whereas most of the Crosby is subdivisions.

[Bugs]

Based on what you’ve been writing about to date, I wold think you’d be more interested in The Bridges. I don’t think there are any subdivision builders over there, whereas most of the Crosby is subdivisions.

[Author]

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