Home › Forums › Financial Markets/Economics › Investment property…Coastal vs. Escondido
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August 16, 2011 at 1:29 PM #721247August 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM #720208
ctr70
ParticipantYes Riverside or San Bernardino County for $100k house $1,200 in rent. Also Lancaster/Palmdale for those numbers or better. I know of a lot of long term pros in Riverside & SB County in the buy & hold rental business and those are the numbers they have been getting. Not sure if they still are now. I personally don’t really want to buy up there though b/c it is too far.
91910 is a C+/B- neighborhood IMO, I don’t know all of it, maybe parts of it are B if you were generous. “A” neighborhoods are places like Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, Del Mar, etc… “B” neighborhoods are San Carlos, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, etc.. “C” neighborhoods (and below.. and there is a wide variance from C- to C+) are places like El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Vista, most of O-side, Escondido). Of course there are parts of places like El Cajon, etc.. in the hiils that are more “B”.
Bearishgirl has never owned a condo but seems to know they all have special assessments and plumbing problems:) I have looked at, talked to and reviewed hoas of dozens and dozens recently and many have not not had special assessments in decades or had very minor ones. But I’m sure there are some bad ones out there. And it is not like you never have your own little “special assessment” on a SFR when the roof leaks or something else breaks. SFR’s are definitely preferable over condos when all else is equal, but all else is not equal in SD County. But I think if you can find the right SFR that works and you have all the cash to put down and fix it, you should definatly go for it over a condo.
Just curious for other experienced investors who are IN the market right now chime in what they think of a $265k 91910 house as a excellent buy and hold investment? Kingside? Ren? Sdrealtor?
I DO think 91910 is a strong rental area, I just think the prices are a bit high for a decent ROI. I don’t know what is on the market right now, but it might be a stretch to get a 3/2/2 1500+ sf SFR on a +/- 7500 sf lot for $265k right now in a good area on nice street that would pull $1,850. I would have to check Craigslist too to see what types of properties are renting for $1,850 and if they are the types of properties that could be had for $265k.
Contacting owners direct of vacant properties is a “needle in the haystack” type of strategy and takes a ton of time and effort, using things like direct mail, and you may or may not find something after spending a ton of time most people don’t have. But if you have all that time and could get it to work it would be good. Bearishgirl have you ever bought a property that way? It’s something talked a lot by the “gurus” in books but I don’t meet many non-full time professional buyers that have ever done it. And most of those owners still know what their property is worth and won’t let it go for 20% under it’s current appraised value.
And bearishgirl you need to write a book about how you fix these major fixers for less than $5,000:) Apparently all the landlords and investors out there (many contractors themselves) have to spend at least $15k min to fix up most fixer upper SFR rentals they buy right now to make them rent ready. Go visit a few dozen fixers with a yellow pad and cost it out, they have a lot of stuff wrong with them. And it all adds up. But who knows maybe you could do it with all your experience and doing everything yourself, but not many people can. I’m curious investors out there, how much do you usually spend to fix up a fixer upper SFR you turn into a rental? The people that I have talked to $15k-$25k. We’re talking fixers here. And most professionals buying rentals don’t have the time, or their time is worth a lot more per hour, than to learn to do things like lay tile or carpet themselves:) But yeah if you know how to do that stuff or like it, you can save a little money.
August 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM #720300ParticipantYes Riverside or San Bernardino County for $100k house $1,200 in rent. Also Lancaster/Palmdale for those numbers or better. I know of a lot of long term pros in Riverside & SB County in the buy & hold rental business and those are the numbers they have been getting. Not sure if they still are now. I personally don’t really want to buy up there though b/c it is too far.
91910 is a C+/B- neighborhood IMO, I don’t know all of it, maybe parts of it are B if you were generous. “A” neighborhoods are places like Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, Del Mar, etc… “B” neighborhoods are San Carlos, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, etc.. “C” neighborhoods (and below.. and there is a wide variance from C- to C+) are places like El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Vista, most of O-side, Escondido). Of course there are parts of places like El Cajon, etc.. in the hiils that are more “B”.
Bearishgirl has never owned a condo but seems to know they all have special assessments and plumbing problems:) I have looked at, talked to and reviewed hoas of dozens and dozens recently and many have not not had special assessments in decades or had very minor ones. But I’m sure there are some bad ones out there. And it is not like you never have your own little “special assessment” on a SFR when the roof leaks or something else breaks. SFR’s are definitely preferable over condos when all else is equal, but all else is not equal in SD County. But I think if you can find the right SFR that works and you have all the cash to put down and fix it, you should definatly go for it over a condo.
Just curious for other experienced investors who are IN the market right now chime in what they think of a $265k 91910 house as a excellent buy and hold investment? Kingside? Ren? Sdrealtor?
I DO think 91910 is a strong rental area, I just think the prices are a bit high for a decent ROI. I don’t know what is on the market right now, but it might be a stretch to get a 3/2/2 1500+ sf SFR on a +/- 7500 sf lot for $265k right now in a good area on nice street that would pull $1,850. I would have to check Craigslist too to see what types of properties are renting for $1,850 and if they are the types of properties that could be had for $265k.
Contacting owners direct of vacant properties is a “needle in the haystack” type of strategy and takes a ton of time and effort, using things like direct mail, and you may or may not find something after spending a ton of time most people don’t have. But if you have all that time and could get it to work it would be good. Bearishgirl have you ever bought a property that way? It’s something talked a lot by the “gurus” in books but I don’t meet many non-full time professional buyers that have ever done it. And most of those owners still know what their property is worth and won’t let it go for 20% under it’s current appraised value.
And bearishgirl you need to write a book about how you fix these major fixers for less than $5,000:) Apparently all the landlords and investors out there (many contractors themselves) have to spend at least $15k min to fix up most fixer upper SFR rentals they buy right now to make them rent ready. Go visit a few dozen fixers with a yellow pad and cost it out, they have a lot of stuff wrong with them. And it all adds up. But who knows maybe you could do it with all your experience and doing everything yourself, but not many people can. I’m curious investors out there, how much do you usually spend to fix up a fixer upper SFR you turn into a rental? The people that I have talked to $15k-$25k. We’re talking fixers here. And most professionals buying rentals don’t have the time, or their time is worth a lot more per hour, than to learn to do things like lay tile or carpet themselves:) But yeah if you know how to do that stuff or like it, you can save a little money.
August 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM #720900ParticipantYes Riverside or San Bernardino County for $100k house $1,200 in rent. Also Lancaster/Palmdale for those numbers or better. I know of a lot of long term pros in Riverside & SB County in the buy & hold rental business and those are the numbers they have been getting. Not sure if they still are now. I personally don’t really want to buy up there though b/c it is too far.
91910 is a C+/B- neighborhood IMO, I don’t know all of it, maybe parts of it are B if you were generous. “A” neighborhoods are places like Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, Del Mar, etc… “B” neighborhoods are San Carlos, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, etc.. “C” neighborhoods (and below.. and there is a wide variance from C- to C+) are places like El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Vista, most of O-side, Escondido). Of course there are parts of places like El Cajon, etc.. in the hiils that are more “B”.
Bearishgirl has never owned a condo but seems to know they all have special assessments and plumbing problems:) I have looked at, talked to and reviewed hoas of dozens and dozens recently and many have not not had special assessments in decades or had very minor ones. But I’m sure there are some bad ones out there. And it is not like you never have your own little “special assessment” on a SFR when the roof leaks or something else breaks. SFR’s are definitely preferable over condos when all else is equal, but all else is not equal in SD County. But I think if you can find the right SFR that works and you have all the cash to put down and fix it, you should definatly go for it over a condo.
Just curious for other experienced investors who are IN the market right now chime in what they think of a $265k 91910 house as a excellent buy and hold investment? Kingside? Ren? Sdrealtor?
I DO think 91910 is a strong rental area, I just think the prices are a bit high for a decent ROI. I don’t know what is on the market right now, but it might be a stretch to get a 3/2/2 1500+ sf SFR on a +/- 7500 sf lot for $265k right now in a good area on nice street that would pull $1,850. I would have to check Craigslist too to see what types of properties are renting for $1,850 and if they are the types of properties that could be had for $265k.
Contacting owners direct of vacant properties is a “needle in the haystack” type of strategy and takes a ton of time and effort, using things like direct mail, and you may or may not find something after spending a ton of time most people don’t have. But if you have all that time and could get it to work it would be good. Bearishgirl have you ever bought a property that way? It’s something talked a lot by the “gurus” in books but I don’t meet many non-full time professional buyers that have ever done it. And most of those owners still know what their property is worth and won’t let it go for 20% under it’s current appraised value.
And bearishgirl you need to write a book about how you fix these major fixers for less than $5,000:) Apparently all the landlords and investors out there (many contractors themselves) have to spend at least $15k min to fix up most fixer upper SFR rentals they buy right now to make them rent ready. Go visit a few dozen fixers with a yellow pad and cost it out, they have a lot of stuff wrong with them. And it all adds up. But who knows maybe you could do it with all your experience and doing everything yourself, but not many people can. I’m curious investors out there, how much do you usually spend to fix up a fixer upper SFR you turn into a rental? The people that I have talked to $15k-$25k. We’re talking fixers here. And most professionals buying rentals don’t have the time, or their time is worth a lot more per hour, than to learn to do things like lay tile or carpet themselves:) But yeah if you know how to do that stuff or like it, you can save a little money.
August 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM #721057ParticipantYes Riverside or San Bernardino County for $100k house $1,200 in rent. Also Lancaster/Palmdale for those numbers or better. I know of a lot of long term pros in Riverside & SB County in the buy & hold rental business and those are the numbers they have been getting. Not sure if they still are now. I personally don’t really want to buy up there though b/c it is too far.
91910 is a C+/B- neighborhood IMO, I don’t know all of it, maybe parts of it are B if you were generous. “A” neighborhoods are places like Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, Del Mar, etc… “B” neighborhoods are San Carlos, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, etc.. “C” neighborhoods (and below.. and there is a wide variance from C- to C+) are places like El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Vista, most of O-side, Escondido). Of course there are parts of places like El Cajon, etc.. in the hiils that are more “B”.
Bearishgirl has never owned a condo but seems to know they all have special assessments and plumbing problems:) I have looked at, talked to and reviewed hoas of dozens and dozens recently and many have not not had special assessments in decades or had very minor ones. But I’m sure there are some bad ones out there. And it is not like you never have your own little “special assessment” on a SFR when the roof leaks or something else breaks. SFR’s are definitely preferable over condos when all else is equal, but all else is not equal in SD County. But I think if you can find the right SFR that works and you have all the cash to put down and fix it, you should definatly go for it over a condo.
Just curious for other experienced investors who are IN the market right now chime in what they think of a $265k 91910 house as a excellent buy and hold investment? Kingside? Ren? Sdrealtor?
I DO think 91910 is a strong rental area, I just think the prices are a bit high for a decent ROI. I don’t know what is on the market right now, but it might be a stretch to get a 3/2/2 1500+ sf SFR on a +/- 7500 sf lot for $265k right now in a good area on nice street that would pull $1,850. I would have to check Craigslist too to see what types of properties are renting for $1,850 and if they are the types of properties that could be had for $265k.
Contacting owners direct of vacant properties is a “needle in the haystack” type of strategy and takes a ton of time and effort, using things like direct mail, and you may or may not find something after spending a ton of time most people don’t have. But if you have all that time and could get it to work it would be good. Bearishgirl have you ever bought a property that way? It’s something talked a lot by the “gurus” in books but I don’t meet many non-full time professional buyers that have ever done it. And most of those owners still know what their property is worth and won’t let it go for 20% under it’s current appraised value.
And bearishgirl you need to write a book about how you fix these major fixers for less than $5,000:) Apparently all the landlords and investors out there (many contractors themselves) have to spend at least $15k min to fix up most fixer upper SFR rentals they buy right now to make them rent ready. Go visit a few dozen fixers with a yellow pad and cost it out, they have a lot of stuff wrong with them. And it all adds up. But who knows maybe you could do it with all your experience and doing everything yourself, but not many people can. I’m curious investors out there, how much do you usually spend to fix up a fixer upper SFR you turn into a rental? The people that I have talked to $15k-$25k. We’re talking fixers here. And most professionals buying rentals don’t have the time, or their time is worth a lot more per hour, than to learn to do things like lay tile or carpet themselves:) But yeah if you know how to do that stuff or like it, you can save a little money.
August 16, 2011 at 9:28 PM #721420ParticipantYes Riverside or San Bernardino County for $100k house $1,200 in rent. Also Lancaster/Palmdale for those numbers or better. I know of a lot of long term pros in Riverside & SB County in the buy & hold rental business and those are the numbers they have been getting. Not sure if they still are now. I personally don’t really want to buy up there though b/c it is too far.
91910 is a C+/B- neighborhood IMO, I don’t know all of it, maybe parts of it are B if you were generous. “A” neighborhoods are places like Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, Del Mar, etc… “B” neighborhoods are San Carlos, Clairemont, Mira Mesa, etc.. “C” neighborhoods (and below.. and there is a wide variance from C- to C+) are places like El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Vista, most of O-side, Escondido). Of course there are parts of places like El Cajon, etc.. in the hiils that are more “B”.
Bearishgirl has never owned a condo but seems to know they all have special assessments and plumbing problems:) I have looked at, talked to and reviewed hoas of dozens and dozens recently and many have not not had special assessments in decades or had very minor ones. But I’m sure there are some bad ones out there. And it is not like you never have your own little “special assessment” on a SFR when the roof leaks or something else breaks. SFR’s are definitely preferable over condos when all else is equal, but all else is not equal in SD County. But I think if you can find the right SFR that works and you have all the cash to put down and fix it, you should definatly go for it over a condo.
Just curious for other experienced investors who are IN the market right now chime in what they think of a $265k 91910 house as a excellent buy and hold investment? Kingside? Ren? Sdrealtor?
I DO think 91910 is a strong rental area, I just think the prices are a bit high for a decent ROI. I don’t know what is on the market right now, but it might be a stretch to get a 3/2/2 1500+ sf SFR on a +/- 7500 sf lot for $265k right now in a good area on nice street that would pull $1,850. I would have to check Craigslist too to see what types of properties are renting for $1,850 and if they are the types of properties that could be had for $265k.
Contacting owners direct of vacant properties is a “needle in the haystack” type of strategy and takes a ton of time and effort, using things like direct mail, and you may or may not find something after spending a ton of time most people don’t have. But if you have all that time and could get it to work it would be good. Bearishgirl have you ever bought a property that way? It’s something talked a lot by the “gurus” in books but I don’t meet many non-full time professional buyers that have ever done it. And most of those owners still know what their property is worth and won’t let it go for 20% under it’s current appraised value.
And bearishgirl you need to write a book about how you fix these major fixers for less than $5,000:) Apparently all the landlords and investors out there (many contractors themselves) have to spend at least $15k min to fix up most fixer upper SFR rentals they buy right now to make them rent ready. Go visit a few dozen fixers with a yellow pad and cost it out, they have a lot of stuff wrong with them. And it all adds up. But who knows maybe you could do it with all your experience and doing everything yourself, but not many people can. I’m curious investors out there, how much do you usually spend to fix up a fixer upper SFR you turn into a rental? The people that I have talked to $15k-$25k. We’re talking fixers here. And most professionals buying rentals don’t have the time, or their time is worth a lot more per hour, than to learn to do things like lay tile or carpet themselves:) But yeah if you know how to do that stuff or like it, you can save a little money.
August 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM #720218Participant[quote=jstoesz]Can I just restate what has been said numerous times on here…
BG, you need to try living in some other place than s. county san diego. It really is a hole, despite all your protesting. Move to Portland or Denver or Minneapolis or eastern Sac! (yes yes I know my bias is showing) You will see that life is so much cleaner and safer for the money.[/quote]
This is so true. San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)
August 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM #720310Participant[quote=jstoesz]Can I just restate what has been said numerous times on here…
BG, you need to try living in some other place than s. county san diego. It really is a hole, despite all your protesting. Move to Portland or Denver or Minneapolis or eastern Sac! (yes yes I know my bias is showing) You will see that life is so much cleaner and safer for the money.[/quote]
This is so true. San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)
August 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM #720910Participant[quote=jstoesz]Can I just restate what has been said numerous times on here…
BG, you need to try living in some other place than s. county san diego. It really is a hole, despite all your protesting. Move to Portland or Denver or Minneapolis or eastern Sac! (yes yes I know my bias is showing) You will see that life is so much cleaner and safer for the money.[/quote]
This is so true. San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)
August 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM #721067Participant[quote=jstoesz]Can I just restate what has been said numerous times on here…
BG, you need to try living in some other place than s. county san diego. It really is a hole, despite all your protesting. Move to Portland or Denver or Minneapolis or eastern Sac! (yes yes I know my bias is showing) You will see that life is so much cleaner and safer for the money.[/quote]
This is so true. San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)
August 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM #721429Participant[quote=jstoesz]Can I just restate what has been said numerous times on here…
BG, you need to try living in some other place than s. county san diego. It really is a hole, despite all your protesting. Move to Portland or Denver or Minneapolis or eastern Sac! (yes yes I know my bias is showing) You will see that life is so much cleaner and safer for the money.[/quote]
This is so true. San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)
August 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM #720328bearishgurl
Participant[quote=ctr70]…San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)[/quote]
ctr, it’s a free country. That’s why I advocate Denver for you, specifically 80209 and 80210. We were just there last month combing those areas. It’s “expensive” but fixers are still widely available! You get lots of sf for the $$ (due to basements) and LOTS of character. Walk the Gaylord Street shopping area, ride the light rail and visit Washington Park. If you don’t have a dog, get one! There is the DARK, THICK beer at Larimer Square to sample, major league sports abound and the coffee’s great there, too at the Tattered Cover (multi-story) bookstore!
see: http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattered_CoverIt’s 1-3 hrs from GREAT skiing! And only 5-6 hrs from your rental property in ABQ! Denver’s got your name all over it. I’m not kidding … airline fares are going down as I write this ….
Better yet, DRIVE there and stop in Glenwood Sprs to take a long swim in the natural hot springs and don’t forget to eat at the brewery:
Have a good trip! :=)
August 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM #720420Participant[quote=ctr70]…San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)[/quote]
ctr, it’s a free country. That’s why I advocate Denver for you, specifically 80209 and 80210. We were just there last month combing those areas. It’s “expensive” but fixers are still widely available! You get lots of sf for the $$ (due to basements) and LOTS of character. Walk the Gaylord Street shopping area, ride the light rail and visit Washington Park. If you don’t have a dog, get one! There is the DARK, THICK beer at Larimer Square to sample, major league sports abound and the coffee’s great there, too at the Tattered Cover (multi-story) bookstore!
see: http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattered_CoverIt’s 1-3 hrs from GREAT skiing! And only 5-6 hrs from your rental property in ABQ! Denver’s got your name all over it. I’m not kidding … airline fares are going down as I write this ….
Better yet, DRIVE there and stop in Glenwood Sprs to take a long swim in the natural hot springs and don’t forget to eat at the brewery:
Have a good trip! :=)
August 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM #721018Participant[quote=ctr70]…San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)[/quote]
ctr, it’s a free country. That’s why I advocate Denver for you, specifically 80209 and 80210. We were just there last month combing those areas. It’s “expensive” but fixers are still widely available! You get lots of sf for the $$ (due to basements) and LOTS of character. Walk the Gaylord Street shopping area, ride the light rail and visit Washington Park. If you don’t have a dog, get one! There is the DARK, THICK beer at Larimer Square to sample, major league sports abound and the coffee’s great there, too at the Tattered Cover (multi-story) bookstore!
see: http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattered_CoverIt’s 1-3 hrs from GREAT skiing! And only 5-6 hrs from your rental property in ABQ! Denver’s got your name all over it. I’m not kidding … airline fares are going down as I write this ….
Better yet, DRIVE there and stop in Glenwood Sprs to take a long swim in the natural hot springs and don’t forget to eat at the brewery:
Have a good trip! :=)
August 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM #721176Participant[quote=ctr70]…San Diego just has so many blighted, dingy, dumpy neighborhoods. Just square mile after square mile of drab, characterless tracts of home with unsightly strip centers posing as downtowns full of gas stations and chain stores (the 7/11 is the “anchor boutique store” of the downtown!)…pretty much most of East and South County, a lot of Central SD and Vista, Escondido, Oceanside. I’m not saying that to rip on it, it’s just the truth. As the poster said, SD just really lacks the interesting tree lined handsome neighborhoods with character like a Portland, Minn., Seattle, Boston, Austin. Places you want to live and would be exited about buying a home and living in. San Diego is a paradox, it is a place with an incredible gift of weather & landscape, but with a lot of terrible architecture and dumpsville USA neighborhoods. And everyone going 90mph on the freeway tailgating you in their gigantic 6 mpg Escalade or Expedition (waiting to get home to their 150 inch flat screen TV, all the while their bank account likely runs on fumes).
I have driven 91910 extensively, and I just don’t see it. It doesn’t seem like the quaint, interesting neighborhood I would dream and strive to live in one day and own a house:)
And in the more upscale newer areas in North County, it is sterile cookie cutter car culture suburbia. There are some exceptions of course in north county with the coastal beach towns west of 5. And for central SD… North Park/Univ Heights/Bankers Hill/South Park/Kensington/Hillcrest…are the most “Portland or Boston-like”. But even these areas have a lot of really dingy creepy sections.
OK…I gotta cut back on the caffeine now:)[/quote]
ctr, it’s a free country. That’s why I advocate Denver for you, specifically 80209 and 80210. We were just there last month combing those areas. It’s “expensive” but fixers are still widely available! You get lots of sf for the $$ (due to basements) and LOTS of character. Walk the Gaylord Street shopping area, ride the light rail and visit Washington Park. If you don’t have a dog, get one! There is the DARK, THICK beer at Larimer Square to sample, major league sports abound and the coffee’s great there, too at the Tattered Cover (multi-story) bookstore!
see: http://www.tatteredcover.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattered_CoverIt’s 1-3 hrs from GREAT skiing! And only 5-6 hrs from your rental property in ABQ! Denver’s got your name all over it. I’m not kidding … airline fares are going down as I write this ….
Better yet, DRIVE there and stop in Glenwood Sprs to take a long swim in the natural hot springs and don’t forget to eat at the brewery:
Have a good trip! :=)
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