Good place to live with children

[fishsticks]

On a related note, does anyone know where you can get good reliable stats on the quality of public schools in SD?

[SD Realtor]

Hi Louise –

So here are the ones you already heard…

Carmel Valley – A very large area stretching from Highway 5 to the west to several miles to the east. It is within 15-30 minutes to La Jolla depending on where in Carmel Valley you live and where in La Jolla you work. The western portion of CV is older homes built in the 80s and 90s and new developments are in the eastern part of CV. Very good schools, lots of families, many professionals live there including tons of engineers, medical professionals, etc… Some of the older housing is not subject to Mello Roos fees. There are also many condos in CV as well. Lots to choose from. No gang activity that I know of. Not huge lots but a good housing stock. Most homes are out of the price range you are thinking but they are coming down. You will need patience.

4S Ranch – It is a stretch to say 4S is 30 minutes from La Jolla. It is located west of Rancho Bernardo off of I15 and consists of homes built from say the late 90s to this very day with new construction continuing. Good schools, good community, pricing is high but also coming down. Most every home out there will involve Mello Roos fees and possible HOA as well. No gang activity that I know of out there as well.

Scripps – I live here. It is about at the 30 minute commute limit. Distance wise it is not far but it is a pain because there is not a direct east west artery. Scripps is composed of two distinct regions, old and new scripps. Old Scripps has homes built in the 70s and they show it… however they are also on larger lots with wider easements so you do not feel crammed in like you do in newer communites such as those listed above. New Scripps has homes built in the 90s and up. The schools are SD unified unless you are in Stone Bridge but you would not be there due to price as they are Poway. The school ratings here are okay, no they do not stand up as strong to the schools in CV or 4S but they are still good. No real gang activity or dangerous streets here either.

University City is very close to La Jolla. UC borders La Jolla to the east and is composed of older housing stock, 60s and 70s mostly. No Mello Roos fees here as well. The easements between the homes are okay, not as large as scripps but larger then CV and 4S. UC is a very established community that is about as centrally located as anywhere in SD. The school system is SD unified and is okay. Not as strong as CV or 4S. Honestly I don’t know how it compares to Scripps. Not much gang activity that I know of here either.

Note both UC and Scripps border communities where there is some gang activity. Scripps border Mira Mesa and UC borders Clairemont. While these communities border these other ones I would not discount them.

Also while there is gang activity in say Mira Mesa I have lived there before and not had problems. I know some posters that live there to and one who grew up there. They speak very highly of it.

Back to communities….

Rancho Penasquitos, Sabre Springs – These two communities are also on the 30 minute or more commute path to La Jolla. They are more affordable then some of the others mentioned. Both are served by the Poway school district which is a great school district. RP to the northeast has some less desireable area. Sabre Springs does not. RP housing stock is older, built in the 70s and 80s. SS is much newer and built in the 90s and up. You may end up paying Mello Roos in SS. Both of these communities are quite family oriented and again, are more affordable then the others mentioned and there are homes available in both these communities at your current price levels.

There are other communities but I am growing tired. Baypark to the south of La Jolla, Encinitas to the north (about 30 minutes away from LJ) but there are traffic issues getting up there.

Anyways hope this is helpful for now.

SD Realtor

[SD Realtor]

Hi Louise –

So here are the ones you already heard…

Carmel Valley – A very large area stretching from Highway 5 to the west to several miles to the east. It is within 15-30 minutes to La Jolla depending on where in Carmel Valley you live and where in La Jolla you work. The western portion of CV is older homes built in the 80s and 90s and new developments are in the eastern part of CV. Very good schools, lots of families, many professionals live there including tons of engineers, medical professionals, etc… Some of the older housing is not subject to Mello Roos fees. There are also many condos in CV as well. Lots to choose from. No gang activity that I know of. Not huge lots but a good housing stock. Most homes are out of the price range you are thinking but they are coming down. You will need patience.

4S Ranch – It is a stretch to say 4S is 30 minutes from La Jolla. It is located west of Rancho Bernardo off of I15 and consists of homes built from say the late 90s to this very day with new construction continuing. Good schools, good community, pricing is high but also coming down. Most every home out there will involve Mello Roos fees and possible HOA as well. No gang activity that I know of out there as well.

Scripps – I live here. It is about at the 30 minute commute limit. Distance wise it is not far but it is a pain because there is not a direct east west artery. Scripps is composed of two distinct regions, old and new scripps. Old Scripps has homes built in the 70s and they show it… however they are also on larger lots with wider easements so you do not feel crammed in like you do in newer communites such as those listed above. New Scripps has homes built in the 90s and up. The schools are SD unified unless you are in Stone Bridge but you would not be there due to price as they are Poway. The school ratings here are okay, no they do not stand up as strong to the schools in CV or 4S but they are still good. No real gang activity or dangerous streets here either.

University City is very close to La Jolla. UC borders La Jolla to the east and is composed of older housing stock, 60s and 70s mostly. No Mello Roos fees here as well. The easements between the homes are okay, not as large as scripps but larger then CV and 4S. UC is a very established community that is about as centrally located as anywhere in SD. The school system is SD unified and is okay. Not as strong as CV or 4S. Honestly I don’t know how it compares to Scripps. Not much gang activity that I know of here either.

Note both UC and Scripps border communities where there is some gang activity. Scripps border Mira Mesa and UC borders Clairemont. While these communities border these other ones I would not discount them.

Also while there is gang activity in say Mira Mesa I have lived there before and not had problems. I know some posters that live there to and one who grew up there. They speak very highly of it.

Back to communities….

Rancho Penasquitos, Sabre Springs – These two communities are also on the 30 minute or more commute path to La Jolla. They are more affordable then some of the others mentioned. Both are served by the Poway school district which is a great school district. RP to the northeast has some less desireable area. Sabre Springs does not. RP housing stock is older, built in the 70s and 80s. SS is much newer and built in the 90s and up. You may end up paying Mello Roos in SS. Both of these communities are quite family oriented and again, are more affordable then the others mentioned and there are homes available in both these communities at your current price levels.

There are other communities but I am growing tired. Baypark to the south of La Jolla, Encinitas to the north (about 30 minutes away from LJ) but there are traffic issues getting up there.

Anyways hope this is helpful for now.

SD Realtor

[SD Realtor]

Hi Louise –

So here are the ones you already heard…

Carmel Valley – A very large area stretching from Highway 5 to the west to several miles to the east. It is within 15-30 minutes to La Jolla depending on where in Carmel Valley you live and where in La Jolla you work. The western portion of CV is older homes built in the 80s and 90s and new developments are in the eastern part of CV. Very good schools, lots of families, many professionals live there including tons of engineers, medical professionals, etc… Some of the older housing is not subject to Mello Roos fees. There are also many condos in CV as well. Lots to choose from. No gang activity that I know of. Not huge lots but a good housing stock. Most homes are out of the price range you are thinking but they are coming down. You will need patience.

4S Ranch – It is a stretch to say 4S is 30 minutes from La Jolla. It is located west of Rancho Bernardo off of I15 and consists of homes built from say the late 90s to this very day with new construction continuing. Good schools, good community, pricing is high but also coming down. Most every home out there will involve Mello Roos fees and possible HOA as well. No gang activity that I know of out there as well.

Scripps – I live here. It is about at the 30 minute commute limit. Distance wise it is not far but it is a pain because there is not a direct east west artery. Scripps is composed of two distinct regions, old and new scripps. Old Scripps has homes built in the 70s and they show it… however they are also on larger lots with wider easements so you do not feel crammed in like you do in newer communites such as those listed above. New Scripps has homes built in the 90s and up. The schools are SD unified unless you are in Stone Bridge but you would not be there due to price as they are Poway. The school ratings here are okay, no they do not stand up as strong to the schools in CV or 4S but they are still good. No real gang activity or dangerous streets here either.

University City is very close to La Jolla. UC borders La Jolla to the east and is composed of older housing stock, 60s and 70s mostly. No Mello Roos fees here as well. The easements between the homes are okay, not as large as scripps but larger then CV and 4S. UC is a very established community that is about as centrally located as anywhere in SD. The school system is SD unified and is okay. Not as strong as CV or 4S. Honestly I don’t know how it compares to Scripps. Not much gang activity that I know of here either.

Note both UC and Scripps border communities where there is some gang activity. Scripps border Mira Mesa and UC borders Clairemont. While these communities border these other ones I would not discount them.

Also while there is gang activity in say Mira Mesa I have lived there before and not had problems. I know some posters that live there to and one who grew up there. They speak very highly of it.

Back to communities….

Rancho Penasquitos, Sabre Springs – These two communities are also on the 30 minute or more commute path to La Jolla. They are more affordable then some of the others mentioned. Both are served by the Poway school district which is a great school district. RP to the northeast has some less desireable area. Sabre Springs does not. RP housing stock is older, built in the 70s and 80s. SS is much newer and built in the 90s and up. You may end up paying Mello Roos in SS. Both of these communities are quite family oriented and again, are more affordable then the others mentioned and there are homes available in both these communities at your current price levels.

There are other communities but I am growing tired. Baypark to the south of La Jolla, Encinitas to the north (about 30 minutes away from LJ) but there are traffic issues getting up there.

Anyways hope this is helpful for now.

SD Realtor

[louise]

Thanks so much! Now I have a lot to read 🙂

[louise]

Thanks so much! Now I have a lot to read 🙂

[louise]

Thanks so much! Now I have a lot to read 🙂

[jimmyle]

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-076064216-10926_Caminito_Arcada_San_Diego_CA_92131

Here is a nice detached 4b/3b house in Scripps Ranch listing for $485,000 to $530,876 . HOA is only $88/month. If it weren’t the bears here suggested that I waited for atleast another year I would have seriously think about buying it.

Take the Photo Tour.

[jimmyle]

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-076064216-10926_Caminito_Arcada_San_Diego_CA_92131

Here is a nice detached 4b/3b house in Scripps Ranch listing for $485,000 to $530,876 . HOA is only $88/month. If it weren’t the bears here suggested that I waited for atleast another year I would have seriously think about buying it.

Take the Photo Tour.

[jimmyle]

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-076064216-10926_Caminito_Arcada_San_Diego_CA_92131

Here is a nice detached 4b/3b house in Scripps Ranch listing for $485,000 to $530,876 . HOA is only $88/month. If it weren’t the bears here suggested that I waited for atleast another year I would have seriously think about buying it.

Take the Photo Tour.

[masayako]

In my humble opinion, I think Encinitas should be considered.
Encinitas has good school, good neighborhood, close to La Jolla and it is definitely a great coastal area. The price is dropping by the day.

You have options like these:
1280 SANTA FE DRIVE, Encinitas, CA 92024 $599,000
2797 sqfts
4 bedrooms
3 baths
4 days on market

352 TRAILVIEW RD, Encinitas, CA 92024 $579,000
1800 sqfts
4 bedrooms
2 baths
25 days on market

209 VILLAGE RUN W, Encinitas, CA 92024 $565,000
2329 sqfts
5 bedrooms
3 baths
89 days on market

With the current market, I am quite positive you can negotiate some more, maybe 5-7% cheaper. Really depend on how despair the homeowners are.

But still, I think the market is not going to turn around anytime soon. I won’t touch real estates until the dusts are somewhat settled first. I foresee some RE bloodbaths in 2008/2009.

My suggestion remains the same: “Sit tight & enjoy the show. ”

Masayako

[masayako]

In my humble opinion, I think Encinitas should be considered.
Encinitas has good school, good neighborhood, close to La Jolla and it is definitely a great coastal area. The price is dropping by the day.

You have options like these:
1280 SANTA FE DRIVE, Encinitas, CA 92024 $599,000
2797 sqfts
4 bedrooms
3 baths
4 days on market

352 TRAILVIEW RD, Encinitas, CA 92024 $579,000
1800 sqfts
4 bedrooms
2 baths
25 days on market

209 VILLAGE RUN W, Encinitas, CA 92024 $565,000
2329 sqfts
5 bedrooms
3 baths
89 days on market

With the current market, I am quite positive you can negotiate some more, maybe 5-7% cheaper. Really depend on how despair the homeowners are.

But still, I think the market is not going to turn around anytime soon. I won’t touch real estates until the dusts are somewhat settled first. I foresee some RE bloodbaths in 2008/2009.

My suggestion remains the same: “Sit tight & enjoy the show. ”

Masayako

[masayako]

In my humble opinion, I think Encinitas should be considered.
Encinitas has good school, good neighborhood, close to La Jolla and it is definitely a great coastal area. The price is dropping by the day.

You have options like these:
1280 SANTA FE DRIVE, Encinitas, CA 92024 $599,000
2797 sqfts
4 bedrooms
3 baths
4 days on market

352 TRAILVIEW RD, Encinitas, CA 92024 $579,000
1800 sqfts
4 bedrooms
2 baths
25 days on market

209 VILLAGE RUN W, Encinitas, CA 92024 $565,000
2329 sqfts
5 bedrooms
3 baths
89 days on market

With the current market, I am quite positive you can negotiate some more, maybe 5-7% cheaper. Really depend on how despair the homeowners are.

But still, I think the market is not going to turn around anytime soon. I won’t touch real estates until the dusts are somewhat settled first. I foresee some RE bloodbaths in 2008/2009.

My suggestion remains the same: “Sit tight & enjoy the show. ”

Masayako

[asragov]

San Diego County school test scores are available here:

http://api.cde.ca.gov/AcntRpt2007/2007GrthAPICo.aspx?cSelect=37,San,Diego

You can debate what is good and what is not so good, but you can check out Scripps Ranch (highest middle school score – Marshall Middle), La Jolla (highest elementary school score at Bird Rock), and Preuss School at UCSD (high school) to get an idea of the top. This is in the San Diego Unified school district.

You have some higher scores outside the San Diego Unified district (a whole other conversation – but I believe if your kids are talented, it is better to be in the San Diego district) at Sage Canyon (Del Mar Union elementary), and Carmel Valley Middle. Preuss UCSD beats most anyone in any district, but can also be considered a special case (charter school etc. etc.).

It is easy to scan these and see that La Jolla, Scripps Ranch, Del Mar-ish, and Coronado have excellent schools. Some other areas, well, not as much.

I do recruiting (volunteer) for my school’s alumni association, so I am very attuned to school performance.

I understand the desire to buy, but consider that many analysts feel that the market is still 30-50% overvalued. By renting for a year or two or three, you might be saving over $100k-$200k.

PLEASE consider renting, if not only to learn the neighborhoods, but also to, possibly, save a huge, giant, enormous bundle.

[asragov]

San Diego County school test scores are available here:

http://api.cde.ca.gov/AcntRpt2007/2007GrthAPICo.aspx?cSelect=37,San,Diego

You can debate what is good and what is not so good, but you can check out Scripps Ranch (highest middle school score – Marshall Middle), La Jolla (highest elementary school score at Bird Rock), and Preuss School at UCSD (high school) to get an idea of the top. This is in the San Diego Unified school district.

You have some higher scores outside the San Diego Unified district (a whole other conversation – but I believe if your kids are talented, it is better to be in the San Diego district) at Sage Canyon (Del Mar Union elementary), and Carmel Valley Middle. Preuss UCSD beats most anyone in any district, but can also be considered a special case (charter school etc. etc.).

It is easy to scan these and see that La Jolla, Scripps Ranch, Del Mar-ish, and Coronado have excellent schools. Some other areas, well, not as much.

I do recruiting (volunteer) for my school’s alumni association, so I am very attuned to school performance.

I understand the desire to buy, but consider that many analysts feel that the market is still 30-50% overvalued. By renting for a year or two or three, you might be saving over $100k-$200k.

PLEASE consider renting, if not only to learn the neighborhoods, but also to, possibly, save a huge, giant, enormous bundle.

[Author]

Posts