Good place to live with children

[louise]

We are moving to San Diego in the summer. I will work in La Jolla and my husband will work downtown, We have two children in elementary school. We could pay max $550000. But where? We have started to look at different places online. The most important thing is that it should be a good place for kids to grow up in, good schools, a lot of activities etc. It is OK to commute for 30 min, new construction is OK, doesn’t need to be close to the beach. Any suggestions?

[XBoxBoy]

Louise,

Have you considered renting instead of buying? Getting anything in a good neighborhood with good schools and less than 30 minutes commute to la jolla and downtown for less than 550k at this time seems like a tall order to me. If you rented, you might be able to find a place that would work for you.

Also if you rented, you would get a better idea of commutes, neighborhoods and schools, which would allow you to figure out what you are willing to compromise on.

I’m also assuming you want a house. If you are willing to take a condo, you might be able to find something in the 500k price range.

XBoxBoy

[XBoxBoy]

Louise,

Have you considered renting instead of buying? Getting anything in a good neighborhood with good schools and less than 30 minutes commute to la jolla and downtown for less than 550k at this time seems like a tall order to me. If you rented, you might be able to find a place that would work for you.

Also if you rented, you would get a better idea of commutes, neighborhoods and schools, which would allow you to figure out what you are willing to compromise on.

I’m also assuming you want a house. If you are willing to take a condo, you might be able to find something in the 500k price range.

XBoxBoy

[XBoxBoy]

Louise,

Have you considered renting instead of buying? Getting anything in a good neighborhood with good schools and less than 30 minutes commute to la jolla and downtown for less than 550k at this time seems like a tall order to me. If you rented, you might be able to find a place that would work for you.

Also if you rented, you would get a better idea of commutes, neighborhoods and schools, which would allow you to figure out what you are willing to compromise on.

I’m also assuming you want a house. If you are willing to take a condo, you might be able to find something in the 500k price range.

XBoxBoy

[louise]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, when looking around online to see what is available, I realize that everything is little too expensive. I guess I would compromise on the commute. We rent a house now, and I could rent again, perhaps the smartest to do, but we have already moved so much (From Sweden to Pasadena to Valencia). So, if I rent I would like to rent in a neighborhood where I probably could afford to bye after a while, so we would live in the same school-area.

[louise]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, when looking around online to see what is available, I realize that everything is little too expensive. I guess I would compromise on the commute. We rent a house now, and I could rent again, perhaps the smartest to do, but we have already moved so much (From Sweden to Pasadena to Valencia). So, if I rent I would like to rent in a neighborhood where I probably could afford to bye after a while, so we would live in the same school-area.

[louise]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, when looking around online to see what is available, I realize that everything is little too expensive. I guess I would compromise on the commute. We rent a house now, and I could rent again, perhaps the smartest to do, but we have already moved so much (From Sweden to Pasadena to Valencia). So, if I rent I would like to rent in a neighborhood where I probably could afford to bye after a while, so we would live in the same school-area.

[raptorduck]

When I lived in Carmel Valley, it was the ultimate family kingdom and I worked in La Jolla at the time, near UTC and had a 5-10 minute commute max. It seems every house in CV has kids in it. Great family community and homes not that expensive (relatively speaking). The schools are the best in San Diego county from what I could tell and still are I believe.

I don’t know what $550k will get you there. Probably an under 1,800sf 2 or 3 br town house or nice condo. I think a detached house would probably run more like $700k, but I don’t know in this market. Perhaps you can now find something for $550k under 2,000 sf and 2 or 3BR. That would surprise me, but this market is dropping by the day. I would think SD Realtor, Rustico, or SDR would be able to tell you with certainty.

Poway also has good schools from what I can tell and lower prices than CV.

[raptorduck]

When I lived in Carmel Valley, it was the ultimate family kingdom and I worked in La Jolla at the time, near UTC and had a 5-10 minute commute max. It seems every house in CV has kids in it. Great family community and homes not that expensive (relatively speaking). The schools are the best in San Diego county from what I could tell and still are I believe.

I don’t know what $550k will get you there. Probably an under 1,800sf 2 or 3 br town house or nice condo. I think a detached house would probably run more like $700k, but I don’t know in this market. Perhaps you can now find something for $550k under 2,000 sf and 2 or 3BR. That would surprise me, but this market is dropping by the day. I would think SD Realtor, Rustico, or SDR would be able to tell you with certainty.

Poway also has good schools from what I can tell and lower prices than CV.

[raptorduck]

When I lived in Carmel Valley, it was the ultimate family kingdom and I worked in La Jolla at the time, near UTC and had a 5-10 minute commute max. It seems every house in CV has kids in it. Great family community and homes not that expensive (relatively speaking). The schools are the best in San Diego county from what I could tell and still are I believe.

I don’t know what $550k will get you there. Probably an under 1,800sf 2 or 3 br town house or nice condo. I think a detached house would probably run more like $700k, but I don’t know in this market. Perhaps you can now find something for $550k under 2,000 sf and 2 or 3BR. That would surprise me, but this market is dropping by the day. I would think SD Realtor, Rustico, or SDR would be able to tell you with certainty.

Poway also has good schools from what I can tell and lower prices than CV.

[louise]

Thanks, I will look at Carmel Valley. If houses are ~$700000 there now, they might have gone down little more to the summer.

[louise]

Thanks, I will look at Carmel Valley. If houses are ~$700000 there now, they might have gone down little more to the summer.

[louise]

Thanks, I will look at Carmel Valley. If houses are ~$700000 there now, they might have gone down little more to the summer.

[mydogsarelazy]

If your work depends on being close to San Diego I can’t help you, but if location is flexible why not Temecula?

I know — the San Diego snobs will be shooting me down in the next post — since Temecula has grown too fast, has traffic problems and is hotter than the coastal areas.

Now that we are past that, you should be able to buy something quite nice between 300 and 500k, and the schools are excellent. The Temecula Children’s Museum is brilliant, and there are many services relating to recreation and education.

I have lived in both Temecula and Murrieta and really think there are many good aspects of these communities for families.

Okay San Diego folks, have a rip at me for even suggesting this.

JS

PS: and by the way, there are many well-developed areas here with recent, fire-resistant homes away from canyons and hills that are likely to burn.

[mydogsarelazy]

If your work depends on being close to San Diego I can’t help you, but if location is flexible why not Temecula?

I know — the San Diego snobs will be shooting me down in the next post — since Temecula has grown too fast, has traffic problems and is hotter than the coastal areas.

Now that we are past that, you should be able to buy something quite nice between 300 and 500k, and the schools are excellent. The Temecula Children’s Museum is brilliant, and there are many services relating to recreation and education.

I have lived in both Temecula and Murrieta and really think there are many good aspects of these communities for families.

Okay San Diego folks, have a rip at me for even suggesting this.

JS

PS: and by the way, there are many well-developed areas here with recent, fire-resistant homes away from canyons and hills that are likely to burn.

[Author]

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