If you had 4 young kids, $2M, and wanted an acre…

[Kishy]

I’ve read hundreds of posts and topics here in over the last 48 hours. Fascinating discussion! So much information. Really a great resource – thank you! Much of what I read is a few years old now, so I’d love to get some updated thoughts if you don’t mind 🙂

My wife and I and 4 kids (ages 4-11) have decided to move. And we can really be anywhere in the world (I work from home). We have debated over NorCal, Austin, boulder, and SoCal. And we have finally come to the conclusion that north San Diego has the right mix of families, culture, weather, schools, quality, nature, and lifestyle that we are looking for.

So my question is, if you had 4 kids, $2-2.5M to spend, where would you look? Here are some other factors we have identified:
– we don’t care about beach proximity
– we love nature and trees. Nervous about too many shrubs, not enough trees.
– do like poway schools (though I just read about that 40 year bond – what??)
– I’d like at least an acre
– I’d like to have chickens!
– i don’t think I want santaluz-like restrictions telling me what color shirt I can wear (kidding – sort of)
– I’d like to have a fairly consistent home quality if possible, though that may be hard if I also want chickens :/
– I think I’d like to build custom, though if the right thing came along…

Here are some thoughts on the area based on what interests me. Maybe I’m wrong?

– Encinitas: nice, but hard to get large lots that close to the ocean. Plus you pay more, and more overcast weather.
– olivenhein (misspelled sorry!): nice, but a little far out from grocery stores etc, and a little older
– rancho Bernardo: don’t know too much. But I see a lot of lots on redfin from homes that burned 4 years ago and haven’t been rebuilt – why?
– rancho Santa fe: high prices, varied quality, a little “privileged” for kids
– santaluz: gorgeous, but very restrictive, lots of added costs (mr + hoa + club)
– 4s: small lots
– rancho penasquitos: small lots
– poway: hot and cowboyish, highly variable home quality

Maybe I’m wrong about some of this? Maybe I’m missing some key places to look? I know nothing substitutes for driving the streets, and I’m going to visit in a few weeks, I’m just doing all the research I can in ahead of time.

Many thank in advance for any and all answers!

Thanks

[Coronita]

No advice from me. If you have 2-2.5 to blow on a home, and have sufficient retirement savings and enough to put all 4 of your kids through to school, you’re definitely out of my league..

You need to talk to a few folks hear which unfortunately don’t post anymore. Raptorduck was one of them, and I believe he settled in Fairbanks ranch. But I doubt he runs a chicken coup or something.

sdrealtor lives in Encinitas…You can ping him on opinions there.

[The-Shoveler]

Try Bonsall (just a little south of Fallbrook),

Really nice custom homes there with acreage (most with paying avocado groves on them).

Fallbrook is nice as well but its’ a little too close to the Base and not so sure about the schools.

Don’t really know about Bonsall schools either so you would need to check that out.

[spdrun]

Somewhere out in the styxx like Fallbrook? 😉

Though if I really could work from anywhere, wanted culture, acreage, and nature, I’d likely buy in some small New England town west of Boston (MA). And keep a pied a terre in downtown Boston/Camberville, Manhattan, and/or a West Coast beach city.

With $2MM (= at least $4MM buying power), no need to keep your eggs in one basket. I’d also pick up some rentals to pay the expenses on everything else. Let some other bum-losers pay for your lifestyle!

[NotCranky]

I’d buy the best acre in La Mesa, except for the fact that chickens are not allowed. Might have to make someone an offer they can’t refuse on an unlisted property, but it would be significantly less than 2M, I think.

[no_such_reality]

Anywhere but here.

Seriously, buy a nice place elsewhere and rent a place here the few months you want to be here.

[rbeast]

There’s a beautiful property on Polvera (18555) in RB 92128 (stucco) that’s been reduced – PUSD schools! I’d go for in heartbeat if my kids were younger!

[spdrun]

$2MM cash – he can have his cake and eat it too. Though agreed about “anywhere but SD” full-time … New Englanders are awesome in that they’re generally friendly, civilized, yet respectful of privacy. Not to mention valuing education.

[no_such_reality]

[quote=spdrun]$2MM cash – he can have his cake and eat it too. Though agreed about “anywhere but SD” full-time … New Englanders are awesome in that they’re generally friendly, civilized, yet respectful of privacy. Not to mention valuing education.[/quote]

Actually, he needs to seriously consider capital preservation.

By living out of state, he can avoid the inevitable tax grabs that are coming in California and reap the benefits by renting here.

[spdrun]

Why not drop say $250k cash on a place in California, leveraged 2/3 for a total price of $750k? If the place loses value or he gets burned with taxes when selling it, he can chalk it up to experience and lose maybe $100k worst case.

Paying 100% cash in this market isn’t a good idea if you’re competing with counterfeit Treasonbucks.

[Kishy]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

To be clear, I’m not looking for an investment, I’m looking for a place to raise my kids for the next 15 years. I don’t want to move around anymore. (Currently living in Spain – living overseas isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, kinda stinks actually.)

I wish wish wish I could live out of state and avoid Jerry brown’s anti-business measures. I wish I could find peace and happiness in Nevada or Texas. But i just love love love California. (many reasons but I don’t need to get into it.)

Again, I just want to settle down and have a home with some land and great people around and enjoy the weather 🙂 [and maybe some chickens… 😉 ]

[spdrun]

Have you been back to the Anglosphere for more than just business travel recently? Are you sure that you want your kids growing up poisoned by the Anglo media and the idiotic f**king fears that they try to instill in the average American?

What about one of the better-run European countries or Quebec?

I may add that one of the major attractions of living in NYC is that about 40-50% of the people who live here weren’t born in the US. And unlike areas with similar demographics in CA, the “not born heres” don’t tend towards a Latin American monoculture but are truly global.

[Coronita]

Santa Barbara.

Or if you if must stay in so cal.
Palos Verdes.

[The-Shoveler]

[quote=flu]Santa Barbara.

Or if you if must stay in so cal.
Palos Verdes.[/quote]

2-3 Mil won’t buy you a lot in Santa Barbara, but you will have Oprah as a neighbor,

You get a little more in Palos Verdes, not sure if Arnold still lives there or not, in Bonsall you can get a very very nice place for around 1.5 mil.

School link,
http://www.bonsallusd.com/

Bonsall schools are rated about the same as San Marco’s, Not too shabby,

[bearishgurl]

Kishy, are you an American? If so, what state or region of the country are you from? Just to get an idea of what you have been “used to” in the US.

In SD County, I would recommend Valley Center (92082) for you. You will find your acreage there where you will likely be able to keep poultry. Just an FYI that most (or all) of the lots you are looking for will be on septic.

However, based upon your posts, I really feel NorCal is a better fit for you and your family for many reasons, not the least of which is “culture.” If I were you, I would consider the following counties to raise my children in on at least one AC (perhaps larger) and also raise chickens. Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino (eastern), Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Yolo, with the first four counties most preferable.

Also (eastern) Santa Barbara County (central CA) as another poster mentioned.

And why did you decide to pass on Boulder? Did you consider towns west of there such as Nederland? And are you aware that there are several towns in Boulder County where a homeowner can raise chickens? That area offers a tremendous quality of life, IMHO, especially for “transplants” who have the means to enjoy all the varied activities it has to offer :=]

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