Home › Forums › Closed Forums › Properties or Areas › Stonebridge below 700k
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sunny88.
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February 22, 2012 at 9:59 AM #738485February 22, 2012 at 10:13 AM #738489
ocrenter
Participant[quote=Navydoc][quote=ocrenter]Uh, this house and toll brothers homes are in completely different leagues. It is like comparing Ivy Gates homes to Maybeck or Sivercrest in 4S.[/quote]
Boy you aint kidding. We toured the available new stuff in Stonebridge, i.e. Montoro and Serenity, but when we saw the Toll models there was no comparison. So last November we put a deposit on a phase 2 lot, and they’re trenching it now.
My feelings are thus: as any regular here knows, I’ve been wathing this market for 6 years now. Any resale I buy I’m going to have to modify extensively to get what I want, and then I’ll stress about how bad a deal I got. Buying new takes all that anxiety out of the decision. I trust the Toll quality of construction, and I believe they’re building the best houses in Stonebridge. The community looks nice too, since they have phase 1 almost ready for stucco, there are no 2 houses that are the same. You certainly can’t say that about Montoro. As for commute, 4S and Stonebridge tested out about the same, and I’ll probably ride my bike down to Mira Mesa Blvd and catch a bus to Balboa, which works well for me.
Really can’t wait to move back to SD. Anybody want a nice house in Gaithersburg MD?[/quote]
navydoc, congrats on the move back to SD and getting in with Toll Bros.
the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch.
seriouisly, if you want starwood type homes (aka Astoria at the beginning of Stonebridge and Pomerado), you are better off finding something in Scripps Ranch proper or 4S, unless you can get them for cheap.
February 22, 2012 at 11:11 AM #738494bearishgurl
Participant[quote=ocrenter] … the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch….[/quote]
This is a very biased statement to 1-2 far-flung zip codes, ocrenter. One doesn’t need to buy into a (very heavily-encumbered) new construction tract in SD county to get either a large lot or “good schools.” For instance, McKinley Elementary (Felton @ Redwood in 92104) has a 2011 API of 858. For middle and high school selection in and around that area, SDUSD is your oyster! Break out the CHOICE and VEEP, etc applications and do it early!!
McKinley’s attendance area has MANY large homes on large lots valued at $500K – $900K with NO HOA or MR! And “curb appeal” is bar none around there!! I’ve lived in SD/South County for more than 35 years and can now emphatically say that the NP/SP area has come a long, long way since the ’70’s – ’80’s.
see: http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/Centricity/Domain/97/pdfs/boundary/Elementary/McKinley.pdf
Of course, if you haven’t seen it recently and its several beautiful adjacent pockets, you wouldn’t know that.
February 22, 2012 at 11:27 AM #738497Participant[quote=bearishgurl][quote=ocrenter] … the reason for Stonebridge is the estate like homes and the large yard yet at very decent prices. The only other place with this type of inventory of new homes on large yards in a good school district would be at Black Mountain Ranch, but then the MR and HOA are kicked up another notch….[/quote]
This is a very biased statement to 1-2 far-flung zip codes, ocrenter. One doesn’t need to buy into a (very heavily-encumbered) new construction tract in SD county to get either a large lot or “good schools.” For instance, McKinley Elementary (Felton @ Redwood in 92104) has a 2011 API of 858. For middle and high school selection in and around that area, SDUSD is your oyster! Break out the CHOICE and VEEP, etc applications and do it early!!
McKinley’s attendance area has MANY large homes on large lots valued at $500K – $900K with NO HOA or MR! And “curb appeal” is bar none around there!! I’ve lived in SD/South County for more than 35 years and can now emphatically say that the NP/SP area has come a long, long way since the ’70’s – ’80’s.
see: http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/Centricity/Domain/97/pdfs/boundary/Elementary/McKinley.pdf
Of course, if you haven’t seen it recently and its several beautiful adjacent pockets, you wouldn’t know that.[/quote]
by estate type homes I meant 4000-5000 sqft homes on 1/3 to 1/2 acre lots. Nothing came across on sdlookup matching that description, although I’m sure I’m just not looking hard enough.
I’m sure McKinley is a fine school and it is a shame my children would not have the opportunity to be educated there due to my ignorance. Perhaps the next generation may be served better now that you have kindly pointed out the error of my ways.
February 22, 2012 at 11:46 AM #738498SD Realtor
Participantwow ocr do you need to take a train to work since you live in a far flung zip code?
February 22, 2012 at 11:48 AM #738499Navydoc
ParticipantBearishgirl, with all due respect, you really have no idea what my wants and needs are. To say that I didn’t give an area that you think is nice is absurd, considering how well I know this area. It’s not like I’m a noob when it comes to San Diego.
A 2000 sf house in South Park or Burlingame would have to be doubled in size to suit our needs. How much would that cost? Assuming I would even get permits. The Toll house is 4600 sf for Christ’s sake. In case you’re wondering why I need so much space, my wife is from here, she’s Laotian and has a huge family that is just dying to make chez Navydoc the family meeting place. I doubt we will ever be alone on a weekend. And yes, I love this type of activity and a large house affords me an opportunity to get away. Over this past Christmas we flew my wife’s family in and had 20 people staying over the whole holiday, and we loved it. Can’t wait for that all the time.
The final straw in our decision for Stonebridge is Poway Unified. I realize you can find good schools in SDUSD, but you have to admit it’s much more work. My 4 year old daughter will start kindergarten next year, and I’m much happier with PUSD.
As ocrenter said above, there are no other properties in the price range that offer as much as Stonebridge regarding lot and house size in San Diego right now. Believe me, I’ve looked.
February 22, 2012 at 12:00 PM #738502Participant[quote=SD Realtor]wow ocr do you need to take a train to work since you live in a far flung zip code?[/quote]
dude, sometimes it takes many moons just to get to work. often times I end up sleeping at work because of that. shopping is so difficult that we end up planting our own veggies and raise our own chickens and pigs.
February 22, 2012 at 12:11 PM #738503sdrealtor
ParticipantRemember the neverending short sale on Old Creek? They had chickens in the backyard and now I understand why. They needed them to survive living in such a far flung lizard invested wasteland.
February 22, 2012 at 12:14 PM #738504Participant[quote=ocrenter] . . . by estate type homes I meant 4000-5000 sqft homes on 1/3 to 1/2 acre lots. Nothing came across on sdlookup matching that description, although I’m sure I’m just not looking hard enough.
I’m sure McKinley is a fine school and it is a shame my children would not have the opportunity to be educated there due to my ignorance. Perhaps the next generation may be served better now that you have kindly pointed out the error of my ways.[/quote]
A “4000 – 5000 sf” home is not a “need” (unless you have a family of 16). It is a “want.” For a family of 3-5, it is a lot of toilets and empty rooms to clean (furnished or unfurnished) just because they are there. 92104 has MANY 2700 to 3500 sf homes on lots ranging from 9000 to 22000 sf, BEAUTIFULLY appointed with REAL (redwood/cedar/river rock) materials and include pocket doors and stained glass, etc! These homes/lots are MORE THAN ample to raise a family of 4-6 in!
Nothing personal was intended, ocrenter. Different strokes for different folks. I’m once again pointing out this area because Navydoc will be working at NAVHOSP. He can have his “bicycle-lifestyle” in NP/SP SD without dealing with all those vulgar east-coast road hogs. The fact is, he and his family can really “have it all” there, as do many other similarly-situated downtown SD legal and medical professionals.
I never stated that the inventory currently available in 92104 and its immediate surrounds would match Navydoc’s needs. Why do you suppose this is so, ocrenter, yet there is so MUCH available inventory in 92131?? Could it be that high-equity potential sellers in 92104 are holding off putting their properties on the market right now because they will likely only receive “undervalued” offers?
The reality is that property owners in this area of 92104 have an infinitely higher equity stake in their properties than owners in “Stonebridge” 92131 …. read “stable area.”
It is very possible Navydoc could have found something suitable close to work back when he began looking last year. But it would have taken him more trips to SD and more work than just signing a contract for not-yet-built new construction.
I have nothing against Navydoc’s personal housing decisions. He could be anyone. All I’m saying here is that SD transplants or re-transplants often have a knee-jerk reaction to sign up with a developer after viewing new home models on a quick trip instead of doing the work and due diligence to obtain a (resale) property in a more well-located, valuable and/or coveted area for the same or lesser price, sans HOA/MR.
That’s partly why there is so much distress in areas like Stonebridge, IMHO. The bulk of the properties purchased new are purchased by buyers who are likely unaware of all the housing choices they have in this county. Most are probably NOT working with an experienced agent but simply show up at the new project on a whirlwind weekend trip, become “mesmerized” by the model homes and sign up! I’m not saying this happened to Navydoc, however, since he was previously stationed in SD.
I’m wondering now if the non-deductibility of MR on a homeowner’s tax return beginning this year will further erode the values of these very highly-encumbered tracts. Time will tell . . .
Congrats on returning to SD, Navydoc! I think MD is beautiful but SD’s “lifestyle” most definitely trumps it!!
February 22, 2012 at 12:18 PM #738505briansd1
Guestnavydoc, parties are your house sound really fun.
You can host weddings at your house complete with Lao square dancing. I have Lao friends too and I love papaya salad with sticky rice and beef jerky.
February 22, 2012 at 12:21 PM #738506Participant[quote=sdrealtor]Remember the neverending short sale on Old Creek? They had chickens in the backyard and now I understand why. They needed them to survive living in such a far flung lizard invested wasteland.[/quote]
a little known fact about stonebridge is because of its far flung location, residents frequently go to various resident doctors’ homes for medical care. I’m sure the residents will be quite happy to hear they can now just go to one of the new Toll Bros homes to deliver their offsprings. I’ve heard many a times expectant mothers end up delivering on the way out of that far flung wasteland.
February 22, 2012 at 12:25 PM #738507Participant[quote=Navydoc]…A 2000 sf house in South Park or Burlingame would have to be doubled in size to suit our needs. How much would that cost? Assuming I would even get permits. The Toll house is 4600 sf for Christ’s sake. In case you’re wondering why I need so much space, my wife is from here, she’s Laotian and has a huge family that is just dying to make chez Navydoc the family meeting place. I doubt we will ever be alone on a weekend. And yes, I love this type of activity and a large house affords me an opportunity to get away. Over this past Christmas we flew my wife’s family in and had 20 people staying over the whole holiday, and we loved it. Can’t wait for that all the time.
The final straw in our decision for Stonebridge is Poway Unified. I realize you can find good schools in SDUSD, but you have to admit it’s much more work. My 4 year old daughter will start kindergarten next year, and I’m much happier with PUSD.
As ocrenter said above, there are no other properties in the price range that offer as much as Stonebridge regarding lot and house size in San Diego right now. Believe me, I’ve looked.[/quote]
Lol, Navydoc …. see my previous post. I understand everything now! That extra 2500 to 3000 sf would NOT go to waste in your case ….
I totally AGREE, you would NOT be able to expand in that manner in 92104. Your plans would FAIL at the “letters-to-neighbors-within-300-feet” stage, LOL! Owners in that area would NOT be even remotely interested in a monstrous mcmansion in their midst.
Congrats on your purchase, Navydoc and may you and your (extended) family have many happy years living in Stonebridge!
February 22, 2012 at 12:27 PM #738508Participant[quote=bearishgurl]
Different strokes for different folks.
[/quote]
That much I agree.
February 22, 2012 at 12:37 PM #738510Guest[quote=bearishgurl]
I totally AGREE, you would NOT be able to expand in that manner in 92104. Your plans would FAIL at the “letters-to-neighbors-within-300-feet” stage, LOL! Owners in that area would NOT be even remotely interested in a monstrous mcmansion in their midst.[/quote]BG, a large house doesn’t have to be monstrous if well done.
New large houses would help increase property values for everyone in established areas such as 92103 and 92104. I would live in that area if I could buy an old bungalow, tear it down and rebuild without hassle.
The fact is that buyers want new large houses. Accept it.
February 22, 2012 at 12:48 PM #738511ParticipantIt is especially fun to read comments from experts on neighborhoods that they probably have never even visited before.
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