NY-er moving to SD- but where??

[NYMom]

Hi everybody! I’d really appreciate some knowledgable guidance regarding the right area of SD for our family. We currently reside in an affluent town in Westchester County, NY, just a short commute to NYC. Schools are amazing, it’s safe, on the water, with great recreation for the kids and an amazing sense of community with down to earth, wonderful people, which can be a hard to find combination. I’m looking to recreate those attributes in SD if possible. I’ve researched areas like RSF, LJ, Laguna, Brea, etc. I’m most concerned with great schools (we have a 6 and an 8 yr old), safety, non-cookie cutter homes on LARGE lots (one of the main reasons I’ve ruled out quite a few areas that have 7,000 sq ft lots), and some kind of a “village” or downtown feel, where there is a center that pulls the community together and keeps businesses alive instead of having to go to the mall for everything. I want a big enough house to host my large Italian family for extended visits from NY, and a pool etc. (My ideal would be at least 3,000 sq ft+, on at least 1/2- 3/4 acre, but dream is an acre) One other thing to keep in mind is I want to feel like I “belong” as much as I do where we currently live. We are an educated, successful family, but are raising our kids in a very old-fashioned way. We live well below our means and place a high value on family. I want my kids to grow up comfortably, but with an absence of silver spoon entitlement. These are the reasons we’ve chosen to avoid LA and areas such as Brentwood, BH etc. Hoping for more of a low-key, down to earth community. Please help!! And thanks again for your time. 🙂

[SK in CV]

you didn’t mention your price range, but if you can afford it, Del Mar, has all those things.

[spdrun]

Honestly, speaking as a current NY’er who owns property in SD, I’d strongly consider staying in the NYC area unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.

If you do move to SD (and I will be hammered on here for saying this), choose a walkable area — perhaps one of the beach cities in SD or beach towns in North County. Being locked in a ‘burb development, tied to the parental car is no damn way for a kid to grow up.

Problem is that right now, you get more bang for the buck as far as property in the NY suburbs than in SD.

[CA renter]

[quote=SK in CV]you didn’t mention your price range, but if you can afford it, Del Mar, has all those things.[/quote]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Not sure about it being down-to-earth, or having large enough lots, but for a wealthier area with a “downtown village” area, I can’t think of another place that comes close to Del Mar, other than La Jolla, but don’t think that’s as good for kids as most of the people there seem to be on the older end of the spectrum (Del Mar, too, but there are some younger areas).

Have to agree with spdrun, too, though. If you’re looking for very good schools, large lots (3/4 acre+), large homes that are not “cookie-cutter” houses, AND a more down-to-earth vibe…not sure that it’s really possible to find in Southern California, to be honest.

[NYMom]

I’m sorry, you’re right I forgot to mention that. Our current home is worth around 1.3, so I would say our range is 1.3-1.75 on the very upper range.

[NYMom]

I totally hear you. Our town where we live, the kids don’t even get bussed to school! We can walk to schools, the village, parks, friends houses, and my husband has a 7 minute walk to the train which takes him to NYC in 30 minutes. It’s ideal for sure. But he’s FROM California, and is dying to return. I think my marriage basically depends on it at this point. So, pretty compelling. 🙂

[spdrun]

For that price, you could probably do some beach towns west of the 5. Search Zillow for Carlsbad, Encinitas, Pacific Beach (92109) etc. Problem is acreage — you likely won’t get it for the price in areas that aren’t awful. And Pacific Beach isn’t seen as very kid-friendly by people on here.

Where are you and your husband going to work in SD? Commute should be a consideration as well.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of neighborhoods in SD that meet your requirements, but you’ll need a time machine to get to them.

[NYMom]

We’ve actually stayed in Carlsbad for a week at a rental house and I wasn’t thrilled with the area. It seemed very barren to me in the housing developments. I like lush, greenery and lots of trees and there were LOTS of mobile homes parked in driveways! LOL. The owner of the house said they moved because they’re kids were getting older and the schools there aren’t good. Now they live in RSF, but keep that house as a vacation rental.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=NYMom]I totally hear you. Our town where we live, the kids don’t even get bussed to school! We can walk to schools, the village, parks, friends houses, and my husband has a 7 minute walk to the train which takes him to NYC in 30 minutes. It’s ideal for sure. But he’s FROM California, and is dying to return. I think my marriage basically depends on it at this point. So, pretty compelling. :)[/quote]

You can find what you’re looking for in Mission Hills (SD 92103), although it might be smaller than what you say you need/want (~2600 sf) for your price range. Grant School (public) serves grades K-8 and you will likely have a choice of one of the academies at SDHS (depending on WHERE in Mission Hills you live), Pt Loma or Mission Bay HS (Pt Loma is better) or you can try to choice your kids into the HS of your choice (within SDUSD). Also the buses for Bishops (private HS) pick up/drop off students at two stops in MH and there are separate boys and girls Catholic HS’s in North Park (92104), situated ~3 miles away. Those properties are most like the properties in the neighborhood you will be leaving (elevation, setback, neighborhood, trees, architecture, walkability, etc). Many of MH’s residents have lived there for decades and may even be the 2nd or 3rd generation of their families living in their family home.

MH is situated 2.5 – 3.5 miles from dtn SD, due north and is on the 83 busline and just a short drive downhill to the Old Town trolley transfer station.

The only other area comparable to MH that I can think of is Glorietta Bay in Coronado but the homes there are out of your price range.

[SK in CV]

[quote=bearishgurl]
You can find what you’re looking for in Mission Hills (SD 92103), although it might be smaller than what you say you need/want (~2600 sf) for your price range. [/quote]

No, she can’t. Not with her lot size requirement.

[bearishgurl]

I forgot to add that MH has its own shopping district and some of the sidewalks there are 4-5′ wide with tree easements. It also has small groceries and other small biz interspersed in a couple of different areas (walkable by its residents) and is situated just 3 miles from Lindbergh Field (SD airport). You will CERTAINLY find a 7K sf lot and even a 12K sf (corner) lot but alley access on many of MH’s lots makes a smaller lot feel more usable. MH DOES have 1/2 to 1 AC lots above the Presidio but I fear any listings in this area may be out of your price range unless you are willing to do major work on the place (not even sure if there are any “fixer” properties left around there).

Unfortunately, the large lot you desire combined with the nearby urban amenities you desire isn’t very doable in SoCal except possibly in BH, like you previously mentioned that you considered but your price range makes all of your desires in one pkg a bit challenging.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=SK in CV][quote=bearishgurl]
You can find what you’re looking for in Mission Hills (SD 92103), although it might be smaller than what you say you need/want (~2600 sf) for your price range. [/quote]

No, she can’t. Not with her lot size requirement.[/quote]

Understand …. I just addressed that, above.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=SK in CV][quote=bearishgurl]
You can find what you’re looking for in Mission Hills (SD 92103), although it might be smaller than what you say you need/want (~2600 sf) for your price range. [/quote]

No, she can’t. Not with her lot size requirement.[/quote]

Temecula wine country. Sort of. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/33670-Pauba-Rd-Temecula-CA-92592/2106137295_zpid/

This place is walking distance to some schools 1 mile to elem. Scool. Very bikeable right near Temecula country like but less than a mile from stuff maybe two miles to the freewat.

This one’s not very nice and price is high. Just drove by it last night taking kid to a piano lesson. Cool area.

Not sure there’s any feeling of belngingness though

[NYMom]

Thank you all for such thoughtful replies! I really appreciate the feedback, please keep it coming as I research the areas you’ve already recommended!

[Author]

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