Goodby, San Diego!

[kicksavedave]

I too, have left San Diego behind. My story isn’t the same as RenterClint’s, but the end result is the same.

Having been completely priced out of the market, a few months shy of age 40, wanting the stability of ownership (at a reasonable price) vs renting and moving every 12-18 months, my wife and I decided to move to the suburbs of Denver… we’ve been here for about a week and a half.

Thanks to Piggington, I declined the offer to purchase our rented condo townhouse in LaCosta, for ~$500K. It was 1620 sqft, no yard, needing update, 25 years old, not very convenient. Since we declined the offer about a year ago, the comps have dropped down to around $425K… phew, dodged a bullet there, thanks Piggington, and thanks H8toRent also. We rented it for $1800 a month.

So now we rent a 2400 3 year old sqft house, with a huge unfinished basement (What’s a basement???) and a 3 car garage. We rent this for $1400 a month, and total utilities are less than in the SD townhouse. We also have the option to buy this one, at $282K or less (without a realtor we expect a discount). Many other houses, from newer resales, to new contruction, all between 2K and 3.5K sqft, are available all around for prices ranging from $250K to $450K – AFFORDABLE!

We’re not going to buy right away. Prices are still dropping slightly here in the Denver metro area, foreclosures are ramapant. But the nice thing is, we can start searching now, knowing that when we finally do jump in, we’ll have a mortgage that is affordable by either of us on a single income, even though we’re currently DINK’s. We have the luxury knowing that even if the property declines 10% after we buy it, we still have the flexibility to get out without ruining our future. And we have the room to start and grow a family, and still take nice vacations. And if we decide we want to, building our own custom home is a viable, affordable option for us. To do that in SoCal??? not a snowballs chance in heck!

Plus, the people in this area have been extremely friendly, welcoming, and nice.

All this, and in exchange, I just have to teach my wife how to drive in the snow:) All in all, I think this was the right tradeoff. I will miss San Diego a lot… But I will not miss being financially burdened just to put a roof over our heads.

Thank you to Piggington for helping me make a smart financial decision. San Diego prices may be dropping, but the value for us, was found elsewhere. I could have been stuck in a half million dollar crapbox… phew! Thanks again! 🙂

/Dave

[kicksavedave]

I too, have left San Diego behind. My story isn’t the same as RenterClint’s, but the end result is the same.

Having been completely priced out of the market, a few months shy of age 40, wanting the stability of ownership (at a reasonable price) vs renting and moving every 12-18 months, my wife and I decided to move to the suburbs of Denver… we’ve been here for about a week and a half.

Thanks to Piggington, I declined the offer to purchase our rented condo townhouse in LaCosta, for ~$500K. It was 1620 sqft, no yard, needing update, 25 years old, not very convenient. Since we declined the offer about a year ago, the comps have dropped down to around $425K… phew, dodged a bullet there, thanks Piggington, and thanks H8toRent also. We rented it for $1800 a month.

So now we rent a 2400 3 year old sqft house, with a huge unfinished basement (What’s a basement???) and a 3 car garage. We rent this for $1400 a month, and total utilities are less than in the SD townhouse. We also have the option to buy this one, at $282K or less (without a realtor we expect a discount). Many other houses, from newer resales, to new contruction, all between 2K and 3.5K sqft, are available all around for prices ranging from $250K to $450K – AFFORDABLE!

We’re not going to buy right away. Prices are still dropping slightly here in the Denver metro area, foreclosures are ramapant. But the nice thing is, we can start searching now, knowing that when we finally do jump in, we’ll have a mortgage that is affordable by either of us on a single income, even though we’re currently DINK’s. We have the luxury knowing that even if the property declines 10% after we buy it, we still have the flexibility to get out without ruining our future. And we have the room to start and grow a family, and still take nice vacations. And if we decide we want to, building our own custom home is a viable, affordable option for us. To do that in SoCal??? not a snowballs chance in heck!

Plus, the people in this area have been extremely friendly, welcoming, and nice.

All this, and in exchange, I just have to teach my wife how to drive in the snow:) All in all, I think this was the right tradeoff. I will miss San Diego a lot… But I will not miss being financially burdened just to put a roof over our heads.

Thank you to Piggington for helping me make a smart financial decision. San Diego prices may be dropping, but the value for us, was found elsewhere. I could have been stuck in a half million dollar crapbox… phew! Thanks again! 🙂

/Dave

[lostkitty]

You public school kids sure are a whiny lot. Tell your husband to quit watching TV and quaffing Bud and to up his earning power.

 You sure are mean-spirited for a 'Christian' jg.

 

[lostkitty]

You public school kids sure are a whiny lot. Tell your husband to quit watching TV and quaffing Bud and to up his earning power.

 You sure are mean-spirited for a 'Christian' jg.

 

[Anonymous]

You’re right, lk, that a statement such as ‘I dont even understand why anyone would stick around San Diego and try’ should engender nothing but loving, supportive, warm comments.

Puhleeze, lk. I’m a Christian, not your doormat.

And, please say ‘hello’ to all of your terrorist neighbors there in Upstate for me:

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/paul-williams051107.htm

High taxes, weak economics, Hillary, snow and ice, armed towelheads running amok. Sounds like a great place to live.

[Anonymous]

You’re right, lk, that a statement such as ‘I dont even understand why anyone would stick around San Diego and try’ should engender nothing but loving, supportive, warm comments.

Puhleeze, lk. I’m a Christian, not your doormat.

And, please say ‘hello’ to all of your terrorist neighbors there in Upstate for me:

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/paul-williams051107.htm

High taxes, weak economics, Hillary, snow and ice, armed towelheads running amok. Sounds like a great place to live.

[lostkitty]

This comment: ‘I dont even understand why anyone would stick around San Diego and try’ was in reference to those, like the original poster here, and like myself, who do not make above 200k and would still like to have a decent lifestyle without having to be housepoor. There are alternatives jg. That is my point.

What in the hell does this thread have to do with terrorism? i could comb the internet right now and find numerous San Diego links to terrorism. You are grasping jg.

[lostkitty]

This comment: ‘I dont even understand why anyone would stick around San Diego and try’ was in reference to those, like the original poster here, and like myself, who do not make above 200k and would still like to have a decent lifestyle without having to be housepoor. There are alternatives jg. That is my point.

What in the hell does this thread have to do with terrorism? i could comb the internet right now and find numerous San Diego links to terrorism. You are grasping jg.

[NotCranky]

“and bum off your friends who have the membership at the Beach and Tennis Club.”
Hello friend, tennis anyone?

Hi Lostkitty read your post about too much blogging. Thanks.
We were talking about setting up a second computer.It bothered me. My goal is to stay a one computer family so we discipline ourselves to stay with the kids physically and mentally..since my wife and I both use the home computer for work, blogging has to take a hit. Moderation is a good thing anyway.

[NotCranky]

“and bum off your friends who have the membership at the Beach and Tennis Club.”
Hello friend, tennis anyone?

Hi Lostkitty read your post about too much blogging. Thanks.
We were talking about setting up a second computer.It bothered me. My goal is to stay a one computer family so we discipline ourselves to stay with the kids physically and mentally..since my wife and I both use the home computer for work, blogging has to take a hit. Moderation is a good thing anyway.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely agree with your statement that there are lots of very nice places to live other than San Diego. I have lived in several — Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin — myself.

I just disagreed with your implication that only hardheaded numbskulls are sticking around in San Diego.

Many folks of relatively modest means make due in San Diego, such as military families. Yes, lots and homes are smaller than in Upstate.

But, I have observed that lots and homes are smaller than Upstate in Tokyo, Manhattan, Rome, Paris, and Monaco, too. Obviously, there must be charms that outweigh the ‘cost’ of the smaller-lots-and-smaller-homes element.

There are tradeoffs in every choice.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely agree with your statement that there are lots of very nice places to live other than San Diego. I have lived in several — Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin — myself.

I just disagreed with your implication that only hardheaded numbskulls are sticking around in San Diego.

Many folks of relatively modest means make due in San Diego, such as military families. Yes, lots and homes are smaller than in Upstate.

But, I have observed that lots and homes are smaller than Upstate in Tokyo, Manhattan, Rome, Paris, and Monaco, too. Obviously, there must be charms that outweigh the ‘cost’ of the smaller-lots-and-smaller-homes element.

There are tradeoffs in every choice.

[NotCranky]

“towelheads”
Is this offensive or dehumanizing in any way?

[NotCranky]

“towelheads”
Is this offensive or dehumanizing in any way?

[PerryChase]

Rustico, do what I do. Get a wireless notebook computer and carry it around the house and use it as your online magazine/newspaper. I even use my computer to listen to foreign radio and television programming, or to such show as Charlie Rose. No need for cable.

Staples and Office Depot sell good notebooks of $429. That’s all you need.

[Author]

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