Relo from Boston – urban mom wants it all

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]BG, she is a single mom, she needs schools and streets that her kid can bike or walk to and whose playmates in the neighbrhood attend the same schools. What’s the Chula to HTH drive at 7 am, half an hour? I say more, I dated a woman in Pt. Loma, very near that school, there’s no quick way there. Every light is like 5 minutes, I bet it takes an hour. What are the odds that in a city of 1.3 million, her kid gets one of the 400 spots in one of the good schools if she doesn’t live there. That place can be harder than college to get into.[/quote]

TG, I never suggested Chula Vista to the OP. I only mentioned my two “friend families” because they actually rec’d interdistrict transfers to attend the HT schools. It was to illustrate these schools’ liberal application policy. The new students are picked from a lottery to replace the graduates. Not sure how a continuing-student application is handled.

These families actually reside in the Bonita Vista Middle/High attendance area. These are VERY good schools (the best in the district). HOWEVER, these parents wanted their kids to have a math/science education with an emphasis on creativity and innovation and BV Middle/High are “mainstream” (college prep) schools. That is why they are driving their kids over to Liberty Stn every day. And yes, I’m sure it is longer than 30 mins one way for them.

I disagree with you about the bike riding and walking to the corner store in urban neighborhoods. Is is done every day by six year olds. I see it myself walking my dog and I am an urban dweller in a very charming mid-century neighborhood. Observing many urban ‘hoods more than 60 years old in SD County could be compared to watching “Leave it to Beaver.” You are forgetting that these areas don’t turn over like the ‘burbs and exurbs. Often, the bulk of urban residents have resided in the same house for 50+ years. They know every nook, cranny, ditch, tree, utility easement and what is SUPPOSED to be behind all of them. They even know where the squirrel and skunk families are “nesting.” They have NOTHING TO DO but walk the streets with each other, visit each other and mind everyone’s business. These are the BEST areas to raise a young child, ESP one who may be a “latchkey” kid for a couple of hours per day, IMHO.

Since you mention it, if the OP has a reliable relative to help with her child in central Chula Vista (Hilltop), she should know that there are always good well-built (1000-1800 sf) houses for sale in that area for $200K to $450K. They are 50-70 years old and MANY have been completely remodeled. Lots are 6,000 to 20,000 sf. The elementary schools are Rosebank, Hilltop Drive and Helen Goes Cook. IIRC, Rosebank and Cook have DASH (a 6 to 6 program) for a nominal weekly fee where homework help is available. The Middle/High schools are Hilltop.

ALL GOOD SCHOOLS!

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdrealtor]Great suggestion on Liberty Station. Its kinda urban and kinda suburban. She should be able to get a nice place (3BR 1500 sq ft townhome) in her price range if she is patient. For a traveler, I dont know that one could have better access to the airport. Its clean, safe and walkable to all shopping one needs on a daily basis. There’s a Wine Steals for a quick night out or a glass of wine on the way home if you have time.

She should scope out a rental there and see if it makes sense for her. Plenty of time to buy as prices arent going any where soon nor are rates.[/quote]

Good advice about scoping out a rental in LS and proximity to the Lindbergh Field.

frossty, this doesn’t affect a tenant but you should be aware that every property in Liberty Station belongs to a homeowner’s association. There are several HOA’s there. I would surmise that townhome HOA dues there would be +/-$300 month.

In addition, Liberty Station was developed 18 years ago on the former Naval Training Center land (formerly SD Navy “boot camp”) which the Navy deeded to the City of SD. It was developed in stages by the Corky McMillin Co under a “land swap” agreement with the City and is now built out and “self-contained.” It is directly on the rising path of the jet runway of Lindbergh Field (SD Airport). When a jet takes off (every 15-20 mins, on avg) the noise at LS is deafening for up to 30 seconds. The worst noise is in the SFR/office area adjacent to the “Rock Church” near the Nimitz entrance. This is just down the street from High Tech High. In the past, the City imposed a “moratorium” on the Port District on jet takeoffs/landings of approx 10:20 p.m. (for the U.S. Mail jet). Not sure if it is this early anymore.

I agree that you should rent first in SD County and get a feel for all the areas you are interested in purchasing in. You can’t tell very much from viewing properties online.

[scaredyclassic]

Wanting it all just sounds like a bad idea.

[sdrealtor]

But we coulda had it aaalllll…….rolling in the deeeeeeeeeeeeeep

[UCGal]

One more comment about Liberty Station.

IIRC – they do not allow rentals. It’s deed restricted. Unless that changed since they first came online in 2001…

It’s what prevented us from even considering them. We’d just relo’d back to San Diego from Philly and knew that life might toss us for a loop – and we’d end up moving back to Philly.

They may have removed the deed restriction in the intervening years since they were built… but that was in place at the time we were considering.

But I do agree with the advise to rent first. No need to purchase right away – the market is fairly flat and it will give you a chance to assess what neighborhood/school is right for your child.

As for looking at middle schools… I see the point of that. I’ve got a 5th grader so am in the throes of figuring out our next school situation. Better to consider it early.

[briansd1]

[quote=pri_dk][quote=walterwhite]Probably an urban mom who wants it all will dislike temecula, even though it’s what she probably really needs.[/quote]

Anyone who describes themselves as ‘urban’ will probably find a reason not to like Temecula.[/quote]

The more time I spend on the East Coast, the more I see San Diego in a different light.

San Diego is nice because it’s clean, the weather is beautiful, and there is plenty of outdoors stuff to do. Plus you don’t have to plan your activities on the weather. But SD does not have a real vibrant urban core. Downtown SD is more like a touristy convention place.

There is a trade-off and it depends what’s important to you. I’m glad I get to enjoy both.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=UCGal]A note on high tech high/high tech middle…. they are charter schools and admission is by lottery. There are also multiple sites. My understanding is that it is MUCH easier to get into the south bay campus (convenient to Chula Vista) than to the campus at Liberty station. I have applications in for the point loma campus for both my boys but am not optimistic. That said – it looks like an incredible program,

http://www.hightechhigh.org/?show=schools

Liberty Station might be a very good fit of urban/parks/convenience to the airport and family. Our friends who live there love it.[/quote]

UCGal, just saw this post. Based on the stuff you’ve posted that your son(s) are interested in, I would say “go for it!” You have nothing to lose by applying to the PL campus and re-applying every year. Some of the programs at HTH/HTM seem perfect for one or both of them!

[briansd1]

I also vote for Liberty Station. It sounds like a good compromise between urban and suburban. The nice part about LS is that the housing units are new so you won’t need to repair before move in.

Renting first is a good option to get familiar with the lay of the land.

[briansd1]

[quote=walterwhite]Wanting it all just sounds like a bad idea.[/quote]

It’s fine to want to it all. Why not?

Some people have it all, and those are the people we are most envious of.

George Soros defined the ‘fantastic object’ as something very desirable and beneficial, but not easily achievable.

Some people have fantastic lives, fantastic marriage to beautiful spouses; they have fantastic jobs, fantastic kids, and houses in fanstastic neighborhoods. Why shouldn’t all of that be a goal?

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]I also vote for Liberty Station. It sounds like a good compromise between urban and suburban. The nice part about LS is that the housing units are new so you won’t need to repair before move in.

Renting first is a good option to get familiar with the lay of the land.[/quote]

Brian, you don’t have a kid.

Please folks. Don’t comment and offer advise on things like kids and school if you don’t have any practical experience or knowledge.. Sorry Brian, I’m not trying to pick on you here. I actually been liking your posts lately. Seriously.. But, dude you don’t have kids and you don’t send kids to school.

[briansd1]

Well, I said nothing about kids and schools. But given that frossty’s style is more downtown, Liberty Station, as suggested by others, sounds like good option.

BTW, I think that I’d be a good parent. Maybe I need to adopt a kid from Haiti or Burma to satisfy my liberal longings 😉

[Coronita]

[quote=briansd1]Well, I said nothing about kids and schools. But given that frossty’s style is more downtown, Liberty Station, as suggested by others, sounds like good option.

BTW, I think that I’d be a good parent. Maybe I need to adopt a kid from Haiti or Burma to satisfy my liberal longings ;)[/quote]

Brian, I don’t doubt that you wouldn’t be actually. But like I said, unless you have you, you’re really in a completely different ball game…

For one, you probably don’t need to constantly have this nice juggle of this thing called “priorities”.

Examples:

1. Do I get a big SUV for kids safety, or do a I get a two door convertible.

2. At night, do I hang out with the significant other for lots of sXXX and romance or do I put read my kid a book at night to go to sleep.

3. In this particular case: do I live more like in my lifestyle that I would personally like being an urbanite or do suffer living in suburbia and send them to a one of the schools that are arguably better….

#1. I regret my decision there.
#2. No comment on what I would personally choose on this
#3. Is a realistic problem.

[CDMA ENG]

[quote=sdrealtor]Great suggestion on Liberty Station. Its kinda urban and kinda suburban. She should be able to get a nice place (3BR 1500 sq ft townhome) in her price range if she is patient. For a traveler, I dont know that one could have better access to the airport. Its clean, safe and walkable to all shopping one needs on a daily basis. There’s a Wine Steals for a quick night out or a glass of wine on the way home if you have time.

She should scope out a rental there and see if it makes sense for her. Plenty of time to buy as prices arent going any where soon nor are rates.[/quote]

Ugh…

I hate to say this but for once I agree with BG. While Liberty Station is a very cool little area the noise from the Airport is OUTRAGEOUS!

I use to live in Point Loma and can tell you I never used my alarm clock after living there. No Joke. First plane is allowed to roll out at exactly 6:30 AM it will wake you up! As for watching TV… Forget about that exciting conclusion to the episode… It will probably not be heard.

As soon as the move the Airport… The real estate there will double in price!!

Highly recommned against living their long term.

CE

[bearishgurl]

[quote=briansd1]…The nice part about LS is that the housing units are new so you won’t need to repair before move in…[/quote]

For some reason, I’m seeing a lot of recent posts in this same vein when a Pigg is considering buying or buys in an “older area,” (Rich, for example?).

“Now it is time to get to know your local home depot really really well. :)”

Piggington Jumps the Shark

Thanks, ocrenter ;=]

Just because an area is 50+ years old, this in no way means that a property for sale there hasn’t been remodeled down to the studs in the last 20 years and/or will need constant expensive repairs after move-in!! In addition, many older properties which have NOT been extensively remodeled have been extremely well-maintained over the years and have central A/C and even a central vac! Most of the sellers in these areas have the $$ for maintenance, gardeners, pool svc, etc. WHY is this so?? They don’t have HOA dues and MR, lol. A good portion have Prop 13 protection on their tax rates and another good portion (could be the same portion as the first portion) do NOT have a mortgage.

DUH…

The “potential buyer” Piggs on this site have likely been touring too many fvcked up REO’s and SS shacks out in the ‘burbs, IMHO.

[quote=flu] . . . 3. In this particular case: do I live more like in my lifestyle that I would personally like being an urbanite or do suffer living in suburbia and send them to a one of the schools that are arguably better….[/quote]

It depends on who’s arguing, flu, and what one considers the attributes of a “good school.” If it is “test scores” alone, then many of the schools in the “‘burbs” fail against those of the “city” and that much-maligned “South County” :=0

Actually, I think a parent can be an “urbanite” and have children who have a good public education and good life. You have to know WHERE to look at properties for your children to live in, you have to really KNOW the ‘hoods and the schools (and not just view online test scores).

Some of the happiest parents/families are those where the parent(s) went to the same schools they are now sending their children to. These schools are neither new or in the far reaches of suburbia/exurbia. Having other relatives nearby to help with their children is a bonus, too 🙂

[sdrealtor]

I thought about that upfront CE but she’s an east coast city girl. Noise is relative and to someone who lives in an urabn environment like much of Boston its less of a concern than it would be for a RELO from the midwest

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