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February 22, 2011 at 10:46 AM #670654February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM #669507bearishgurlParticipant
[quote=sdmove][quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdmove] . . . I’m looking 2+/2+ condos and homes and the reason I chose UC, CV, PQ and SR were for the schools. I currently live and work in UC. . .
Thank you.[/quote]sdmove, if you live and work in UC and your budget is only $400K, why don’t you stay there? Can’t you get a 2/2 condo or older 3/2 townhome in UC for =<$400K? Doyle Elementary is a good school. Why commute at all? IMO, commuting doesn't really make sense unless you want to try to find an SFR in your price range. After you have kid(s), your life will be hard enough without adding 1+ hrs daily road time into the mix.[/quote] Hello Bearishgurl, I am hoping that sometime this year I can find a SFR for $400k. However, we are considering condos and townhomes in UC as well. I just feel like a SFR might provide us with more space. I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 year old atm. Seconly, It appears that the Poway USD school system is a little better than what we have here in UC. One possibility is trying to go to Curie/Spreckles and move when they boys are older. So many considerations to home buying! What am I getting myself into.[/quote] I'm sorry. You did say you already have children. I don't think it would be easy to get into Spreckels from the Doyle attendance area unless your children could qualify to be admitted into its magnet program. Spreckels is actually lower-scoring than Doyle (in your current attendance area). In order to attend Curie, you would have to move into its attendance area and that area is beyond your price range and not likely to come down that low. REMEMBER, that you will pay HOA dues in UC with a condo/townhome purchase and receive some amenities in return but will NOT pay Mello Roos (MR). Much of PQ has MR, which may be the same (or more) as paying HOA dues. In PQ, you may also have to pay HOA dues for an SFR, IN ADDITION to MR. Keep this important monthly out-of-pocket expense in mind.
Are the elementary schools in PQ THAT much higher scoring than Doyle? Enough to justify $100 or more a month in MR? Or are they even higher-scoring at all?
As far as I know, there is no MR in Mira Mesa (92126). Correct me, AN, if I have this wrong.
February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM #669569bearishgurlParticipant[quote=sdmove][quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdmove] . . . I’m looking 2+/2+ condos and homes and the reason I chose UC, CV, PQ and SR were for the schools. I currently live and work in UC. . .
Thank you.[/quote]sdmove, if you live and work in UC and your budget is only $400K, why don’t you stay there? Can’t you get a 2/2 condo or older 3/2 townhome in UC for =<$400K? Doyle Elementary is a good school. Why commute at all? IMO, commuting doesn't really make sense unless you want to try to find an SFR in your price range. After you have kid(s), your life will be hard enough without adding 1+ hrs daily road time into the mix.[/quote] Hello Bearishgurl, I am hoping that sometime this year I can find a SFR for $400k. However, we are considering condos and townhomes in UC as well. I just feel like a SFR might provide us with more space. I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 year old atm. Seconly, It appears that the Poway USD school system is a little better than what we have here in UC. One possibility is trying to go to Curie/Spreckles and move when they boys are older. So many considerations to home buying! What am I getting myself into.[/quote] I'm sorry. You did say you already have children. I don't think it would be easy to get into Spreckels from the Doyle attendance area unless your children could qualify to be admitted into its magnet program. Spreckels is actually lower-scoring than Doyle (in your current attendance area). In order to attend Curie, you would have to move into its attendance area and that area is beyond your price range and not likely to come down that low. REMEMBER, that you will pay HOA dues in UC with a condo/townhome purchase and receive some amenities in return but will NOT pay Mello Roos (MR). Much of PQ has MR, which may be the same (or more) as paying HOA dues. In PQ, you may also have to pay HOA dues for an SFR, IN ADDITION to MR. Keep this important monthly out-of-pocket expense in mind.
Are the elementary schools in PQ THAT much higher scoring than Doyle? Enough to justify $100 or more a month in MR? Or are they even higher-scoring at all?
As far as I know, there is no MR in Mira Mesa (92126). Correct me, AN, if I have this wrong.
February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM #670176bearishgurlParticipant[quote=sdmove][quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdmove] . . . I’m looking 2+/2+ condos and homes and the reason I chose UC, CV, PQ and SR were for the schools. I currently live and work in UC. . .
Thank you.[/quote]sdmove, if you live and work in UC and your budget is only $400K, why don’t you stay there? Can’t you get a 2/2 condo or older 3/2 townhome in UC for =<$400K? Doyle Elementary is a good school. Why commute at all? IMO, commuting doesn't really make sense unless you want to try to find an SFR in your price range. After you have kid(s), your life will be hard enough without adding 1+ hrs daily road time into the mix.[/quote] Hello Bearishgurl, I am hoping that sometime this year I can find a SFR for $400k. However, we are considering condos and townhomes in UC as well. I just feel like a SFR might provide us with more space. I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 year old atm. Seconly, It appears that the Poway USD school system is a little better than what we have here in UC. One possibility is trying to go to Curie/Spreckles and move when they boys are older. So many considerations to home buying! What am I getting myself into.[/quote] I'm sorry. You did say you already have children. I don't think it would be easy to get into Spreckels from the Doyle attendance area unless your children could qualify to be admitted into its magnet program. Spreckels is actually lower-scoring than Doyle (in your current attendance area). In order to attend Curie, you would have to move into its attendance area and that area is beyond your price range and not likely to come down that low. REMEMBER, that you will pay HOA dues in UC with a condo/townhome purchase and receive some amenities in return but will NOT pay Mello Roos (MR). Much of PQ has MR, which may be the same (or more) as paying HOA dues. In PQ, you may also have to pay HOA dues for an SFR, IN ADDITION to MR. Keep this important monthly out-of-pocket expense in mind.
Are the elementary schools in PQ THAT much higher scoring than Doyle? Enough to justify $100 or more a month in MR? Or are they even higher-scoring at all?
As far as I know, there is no MR in Mira Mesa (92126). Correct me, AN, if I have this wrong.
February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM #670315bearishgurlParticipant[quote=sdmove][quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdmove] . . . I’m looking 2+/2+ condos and homes and the reason I chose UC, CV, PQ and SR were for the schools. I currently live and work in UC. . .
Thank you.[/quote]sdmove, if you live and work in UC and your budget is only $400K, why don’t you stay there? Can’t you get a 2/2 condo or older 3/2 townhome in UC for =<$400K? Doyle Elementary is a good school. Why commute at all? IMO, commuting doesn't really make sense unless you want to try to find an SFR in your price range. After you have kid(s), your life will be hard enough without adding 1+ hrs daily road time into the mix.[/quote] Hello Bearishgurl, I am hoping that sometime this year I can find a SFR for $400k. However, we are considering condos and townhomes in UC as well. I just feel like a SFR might provide us with more space. I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 year old atm. Seconly, It appears that the Poway USD school system is a little better than what we have here in UC. One possibility is trying to go to Curie/Spreckles and move when they boys are older. So many considerations to home buying! What am I getting myself into.[/quote] I'm sorry. You did say you already have children. I don't think it would be easy to get into Spreckels from the Doyle attendance area unless your children could qualify to be admitted into its magnet program. Spreckels is actually lower-scoring than Doyle (in your current attendance area). In order to attend Curie, you would have to move into its attendance area and that area is beyond your price range and not likely to come down that low. REMEMBER, that you will pay HOA dues in UC with a condo/townhome purchase and receive some amenities in return but will NOT pay Mello Roos (MR). Much of PQ has MR, which may be the same (or more) as paying HOA dues. In PQ, you may also have to pay HOA dues for an SFR, IN ADDITION to MR. Keep this important monthly out-of-pocket expense in mind.
Are the elementary schools in PQ THAT much higher scoring than Doyle? Enough to justify $100 or more a month in MR? Or are they even higher-scoring at all?
As far as I know, there is no MR in Mira Mesa (92126). Correct me, AN, if I have this wrong.
February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM #670659bearishgurlParticipant[quote=sdmove][quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdmove] . . . I’m looking 2+/2+ condos and homes and the reason I chose UC, CV, PQ and SR were for the schools. I currently live and work in UC. . .
Thank you.[/quote]sdmove, if you live and work in UC and your budget is only $400K, why don’t you stay there? Can’t you get a 2/2 condo or older 3/2 townhome in UC for =<$400K? Doyle Elementary is a good school. Why commute at all? IMO, commuting doesn't really make sense unless you want to try to find an SFR in your price range. After you have kid(s), your life will be hard enough without adding 1+ hrs daily road time into the mix.[/quote] Hello Bearishgurl, I am hoping that sometime this year I can find a SFR for $400k. However, we are considering condos and townhomes in UC as well. I just feel like a SFR might provide us with more space. I have a 3.5 yr old and 1.5 year old atm. Seconly, It appears that the Poway USD school system is a little better than what we have here in UC. One possibility is trying to go to Curie/Spreckles and move when they boys are older. So many considerations to home buying! What am I getting myself into.[/quote] I'm sorry. You did say you already have children. I don't think it would be easy to get into Spreckels from the Doyle attendance area unless your children could qualify to be admitted into its magnet program. Spreckels is actually lower-scoring than Doyle (in your current attendance area). In order to attend Curie, you would have to move into its attendance area and that area is beyond your price range and not likely to come down that low. REMEMBER, that you will pay HOA dues in UC with a condo/townhome purchase and receive some amenities in return but will NOT pay Mello Roos (MR). Much of PQ has MR, which may be the same (or more) as paying HOA dues. In PQ, you may also have to pay HOA dues for an SFR, IN ADDITION to MR. Keep this important monthly out-of-pocket expense in mind.
Are the elementary schools in PQ THAT much higher scoring than Doyle? Enough to justify $100 or more a month in MR? Or are they even higher-scoring at all?
As far as I know, there is no MR in Mira Mesa (92126). Correct me, AN, if I have this wrong.
February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM #669527ScarlettParticipantDoyle is a very good school. I’ve rented quite a while in UTC area – now in La Jolla COlony area nearby, and if we don’t buy, my daughter will go to Doyle and I am now perfectly fine with that. I am also looking to buy in PUSD but in no hurry, I think it’s more prudent to let the mess sort itself out, prices may go down, I may save more for downpayment etc. In the mean time, I am still looking, because it is hard to find something you really like – and if we do, we will jump in.
My advice is to look around but continue to rent until the oldest one is close to middle school. Middle and high school in UC are decent. I’d say from others experience that PUSD is better. But even there it depends on the schools – for example Mt. Carmel high is not rated as high as Westview, but both are good.
I wanted to correct the impression that you may get from BG’s comment. There are plenty of places in PQ that are older, quite a bit was built in 70s – therefore no Melo-Roos!!!, unlike its newer neighbor Carmel Mtn Ranch or parts of Sabre Springs. (MeloRoos appeared sometime in mid80s). Even newer PQ like some south of 56 (e.g. Pipilo street) built in mid 80s DON’T HAVE MeloRoos. Probably some do , especially in Park Village and Torrey Highlands, but you probably won’t find what you want there. But most if not all the smaller places you look at under 500K (detached) will not have MRs and many don’t even have HOA, or if they have one, is like less than $50 a month. I have looked at MANY places in PQ, although at slightly higher price point than yours.
Mira Mesa has no MRs – the demographics is heavily Asian and Phillipino as you probably know – more than PQ – and the recent school scores are very good for many of the schools, including middle and high.
BTW, I’d personally rate the Scripps Ranch schools as great, and if I’d buy a townhouse I’d be hard press to choose between UC (which doesn’t have many townhouses, BTW) and SR (longer commute though).
You may want to consider the townhomes in La Jolla zip code across I-5 like Southpointe and Woodlands. For NOW they go to Torrey Pines elementary, and go on to La Jolla High which are excellent. I don’t see any reasons that will change in the future, but who knows. They could end up going to UC high in that case.
With 2 kids, I’d go for more space in the house i.e. PQ.
February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM #669589ScarlettParticipantDoyle is a very good school. I’ve rented quite a while in UTC area – now in La Jolla COlony area nearby, and if we don’t buy, my daughter will go to Doyle and I am now perfectly fine with that. I am also looking to buy in PUSD but in no hurry, I think it’s more prudent to let the mess sort itself out, prices may go down, I may save more for downpayment etc. In the mean time, I am still looking, because it is hard to find something you really like – and if we do, we will jump in.
My advice is to look around but continue to rent until the oldest one is close to middle school. Middle and high school in UC are decent. I’d say from others experience that PUSD is better. But even there it depends on the schools – for example Mt. Carmel high is not rated as high as Westview, but both are good.
I wanted to correct the impression that you may get from BG’s comment. There are plenty of places in PQ that are older, quite a bit was built in 70s – therefore no Melo-Roos!!!, unlike its newer neighbor Carmel Mtn Ranch or parts of Sabre Springs. (MeloRoos appeared sometime in mid80s). Even newer PQ like some south of 56 (e.g. Pipilo street) built in mid 80s DON’T HAVE MeloRoos. Probably some do , especially in Park Village and Torrey Highlands, but you probably won’t find what you want there. But most if not all the smaller places you look at under 500K (detached) will not have MRs and many don’t even have HOA, or if they have one, is like less than $50 a month. I have looked at MANY places in PQ, although at slightly higher price point than yours.
Mira Mesa has no MRs – the demographics is heavily Asian and Phillipino as you probably know – more than PQ – and the recent school scores are very good for many of the schools, including middle and high.
BTW, I’d personally rate the Scripps Ranch schools as great, and if I’d buy a townhouse I’d be hard press to choose between UC (which doesn’t have many townhouses, BTW) and SR (longer commute though).
You may want to consider the townhomes in La Jolla zip code across I-5 like Southpointe and Woodlands. For NOW they go to Torrey Pines elementary, and go on to La Jolla High which are excellent. I don’t see any reasons that will change in the future, but who knows. They could end up going to UC high in that case.
With 2 kids, I’d go for more space in the house i.e. PQ.
February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM #670196ScarlettParticipantDoyle is a very good school. I’ve rented quite a while in UTC area – now in La Jolla COlony area nearby, and if we don’t buy, my daughter will go to Doyle and I am now perfectly fine with that. I am also looking to buy in PUSD but in no hurry, I think it’s more prudent to let the mess sort itself out, prices may go down, I may save more for downpayment etc. In the mean time, I am still looking, because it is hard to find something you really like – and if we do, we will jump in.
My advice is to look around but continue to rent until the oldest one is close to middle school. Middle and high school in UC are decent. I’d say from others experience that PUSD is better. But even there it depends on the schools – for example Mt. Carmel high is not rated as high as Westview, but both are good.
I wanted to correct the impression that you may get from BG’s comment. There are plenty of places in PQ that are older, quite a bit was built in 70s – therefore no Melo-Roos!!!, unlike its newer neighbor Carmel Mtn Ranch or parts of Sabre Springs. (MeloRoos appeared sometime in mid80s). Even newer PQ like some south of 56 (e.g. Pipilo street) built in mid 80s DON’T HAVE MeloRoos. Probably some do , especially in Park Village and Torrey Highlands, but you probably won’t find what you want there. But most if not all the smaller places you look at under 500K (detached) will not have MRs and many don’t even have HOA, or if they have one, is like less than $50 a month. I have looked at MANY places in PQ, although at slightly higher price point than yours.
Mira Mesa has no MRs – the demographics is heavily Asian and Phillipino as you probably know – more than PQ – and the recent school scores are very good for many of the schools, including middle and high.
BTW, I’d personally rate the Scripps Ranch schools as great, and if I’d buy a townhouse I’d be hard press to choose between UC (which doesn’t have many townhouses, BTW) and SR (longer commute though).
You may want to consider the townhomes in La Jolla zip code across I-5 like Southpointe and Woodlands. For NOW they go to Torrey Pines elementary, and go on to La Jolla High which are excellent. I don’t see any reasons that will change in the future, but who knows. They could end up going to UC high in that case.
With 2 kids, I’d go for more space in the house i.e. PQ.
February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM #670335ScarlettParticipantDoyle is a very good school. I’ve rented quite a while in UTC area – now in La Jolla COlony area nearby, and if we don’t buy, my daughter will go to Doyle and I am now perfectly fine with that. I am also looking to buy in PUSD but in no hurry, I think it’s more prudent to let the mess sort itself out, prices may go down, I may save more for downpayment etc. In the mean time, I am still looking, because it is hard to find something you really like – and if we do, we will jump in.
My advice is to look around but continue to rent until the oldest one is close to middle school. Middle and high school in UC are decent. I’d say from others experience that PUSD is better. But even there it depends on the schools – for example Mt. Carmel high is not rated as high as Westview, but both are good.
I wanted to correct the impression that you may get from BG’s comment. There are plenty of places in PQ that are older, quite a bit was built in 70s – therefore no Melo-Roos!!!, unlike its newer neighbor Carmel Mtn Ranch or parts of Sabre Springs. (MeloRoos appeared sometime in mid80s). Even newer PQ like some south of 56 (e.g. Pipilo street) built in mid 80s DON’T HAVE MeloRoos. Probably some do , especially in Park Village and Torrey Highlands, but you probably won’t find what you want there. But most if not all the smaller places you look at under 500K (detached) will not have MRs and many don’t even have HOA, or if they have one, is like less than $50 a month. I have looked at MANY places in PQ, although at slightly higher price point than yours.
Mira Mesa has no MRs – the demographics is heavily Asian and Phillipino as you probably know – more than PQ – and the recent school scores are very good for many of the schools, including middle and high.
BTW, I’d personally rate the Scripps Ranch schools as great, and if I’d buy a townhouse I’d be hard press to choose between UC (which doesn’t have many townhouses, BTW) and SR (longer commute though).
You may want to consider the townhomes in La Jolla zip code across I-5 like Southpointe and Woodlands. For NOW they go to Torrey Pines elementary, and go on to La Jolla High which are excellent. I don’t see any reasons that will change in the future, but who knows. They could end up going to UC high in that case.
With 2 kids, I’d go for more space in the house i.e. PQ.
February 22, 2011 at 11:42 AM #670679ScarlettParticipantDoyle is a very good school. I’ve rented quite a while in UTC area – now in La Jolla COlony area nearby, and if we don’t buy, my daughter will go to Doyle and I am now perfectly fine with that. I am also looking to buy in PUSD but in no hurry, I think it’s more prudent to let the mess sort itself out, prices may go down, I may save more for downpayment etc. In the mean time, I am still looking, because it is hard to find something you really like – and if we do, we will jump in.
My advice is to look around but continue to rent until the oldest one is close to middle school. Middle and high school in UC are decent. I’d say from others experience that PUSD is better. But even there it depends on the schools – for example Mt. Carmel high is not rated as high as Westview, but both are good.
I wanted to correct the impression that you may get from BG’s comment. There are plenty of places in PQ that are older, quite a bit was built in 70s – therefore no Melo-Roos!!!, unlike its newer neighbor Carmel Mtn Ranch or parts of Sabre Springs. (MeloRoos appeared sometime in mid80s). Even newer PQ like some south of 56 (e.g. Pipilo street) built in mid 80s DON’T HAVE MeloRoos. Probably some do , especially in Park Village and Torrey Highlands, but you probably won’t find what you want there. But most if not all the smaller places you look at under 500K (detached) will not have MRs and many don’t even have HOA, or if they have one, is like less than $50 a month. I have looked at MANY places in PQ, although at slightly higher price point than yours.
Mira Mesa has no MRs – the demographics is heavily Asian and Phillipino as you probably know – more than PQ – and the recent school scores are very good for many of the schools, including middle and high.
BTW, I’d personally rate the Scripps Ranch schools as great, and if I’d buy a townhouse I’d be hard press to choose between UC (which doesn’t have many townhouses, BTW) and SR (longer commute though).
You may want to consider the townhomes in La Jolla zip code across I-5 like Southpointe and Woodlands. For NOW they go to Torrey Pines elementary, and go on to La Jolla High which are excellent. I don’t see any reasons that will change in the future, but who knows. They could end up going to UC high in that case.
With 2 kids, I’d go for more space in the house i.e. PQ.
February 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM #669532sdmoveParticipantBearishgurl, I will be taking HOA and MR fees into account when I price homes. My rule of thumb is that for every $100/month in fees I need to increase the purchase price by $20k. This is just my simple way to compare homes/condos etc.
The homes we’re look at in PQ are in the older areas and do not have MR.
As for UC, I only look for homes east of Gennessee as they are older and tend to be cheaper than the newer homes on the west side. Unfortunately, the cheapest home in the area is $489k. There are some condos/twinhomes on Erlanger under $400k, but the HOA fees put those out of my reach as well.
February 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM #669594sdmoveParticipantBearishgurl, I will be taking HOA and MR fees into account when I price homes. My rule of thumb is that for every $100/month in fees I need to increase the purchase price by $20k. This is just my simple way to compare homes/condos etc.
The homes we’re look at in PQ are in the older areas and do not have MR.
As for UC, I only look for homes east of Gennessee as they are older and tend to be cheaper than the newer homes on the west side. Unfortunately, the cheapest home in the area is $489k. There are some condos/twinhomes on Erlanger under $400k, but the HOA fees put those out of my reach as well.
February 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM #670201sdmoveParticipantBearishgurl, I will be taking HOA and MR fees into account when I price homes. My rule of thumb is that for every $100/month in fees I need to increase the purchase price by $20k. This is just my simple way to compare homes/condos etc.
The homes we’re look at in PQ are in the older areas and do not have MR.
As for UC, I only look for homes east of Gennessee as they are older and tend to be cheaper than the newer homes on the west side. Unfortunately, the cheapest home in the area is $489k. There are some condos/twinhomes on Erlanger under $400k, but the HOA fees put those out of my reach as well.
February 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM #670340sdmoveParticipantBearishgurl, I will be taking HOA and MR fees into account when I price homes. My rule of thumb is that for every $100/month in fees I need to increase the purchase price by $20k. This is just my simple way to compare homes/condos etc.
The homes we’re look at in PQ are in the older areas and do not have MR.
As for UC, I only look for homes east of Gennessee as they are older and tend to be cheaper than the newer homes on the west side. Unfortunately, the cheapest home in the area is $489k. There are some condos/twinhomes on Erlanger under $400k, but the HOA fees put those out of my reach as well.
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