[23109VC]

I live in Harveston. I’ve lived there for almost two years.

I really like the area. It all depends on what you want/need.

If you want a big lot, lots of space, and privacy, then it’s not ideal. As others have commented above, the lots are generally on the small side. There are quite a few different builders and different subdivisions that went into Harveston at different phases, and all have different plans, different sized lots, etc. The “cottages” which line the lake and the immediate areas behind/around the lake have the SMALLEST lots in harveston and in my opinion, a poor design. it maximized the number of houses they can put in…but it’s not my cup of tea. the cottages have garages in the rear and the “front” of the house does have a street in front of it, but no driveway. so to park your car you have to approach your house in an alley that runs along the back. it’s very tight and looks like a condo/townhome parking. the houses are so close they look/feel like townhomes – despite being free standing.

There are a few developments that have larger lots.

One thing I’ve noticed about Harveston is that there are VERY few lots that have secluded/private rear yards. First off, the cottages do NOT have backyards…they have a small amount of space between the house and the rear garage…very condo feeling to me.

the other areas that have rear yards either back up onto major streets, interior streets, or back up onto other houses. I have a lot that has a secluded private rear yard that backs up on a greenbelt – but there aren’t a lot of lots iwth that type of location w/in harveston…so you have to consider what you want/need.

one thing I do like about harveston is the HOAs. someone above said that harveston looked like a ghetto..with all due respect, I’ve seen ghettos and Harveston is NOTHING like that at all. the lots in some areas are small, and the houses look cramped, but they are NICE looking houses, and 99% of them have well kept yards. the association does enforce the rules. a neighbor of mine was fined for having a boat in their driveway – it was there for a week or two…they don’t normally keep it there, but got lazy, dind’t return it to the stoarage yard and got nailed. another neighbor got a warning/threat of fine for having some oil stains on their driveway.

I have drien through areas on Winchester/French Valley that have better prices for more square footage and no HOAs, and the yards look like crap. 5 cars in the driveway,front of the house, boats, RVS, motorcycles, oil stains, dead grass…and there are 5 houses in a row like that…THAT looks crappy..not ghetto crappy, but it does not look like an upscale neighborhood.

I personally find tha tmost of Harveston is well kept and in general a nice area. the location is great. 5 min to the mall. 5 min to the freeway. 5 min to Costco. it’s also 5 min to my job. 🙂

if you commute to San Diego, then south Temecula migth be better, but if that’s not an issue – Harveston is very nice.

The lake is great. it’s not Miramar Lake with fishing, and power boats…it’s “large pond”….but it’s pretty, well maintained, and most of the people there are walkign their dogs, jogging, etc. you don’t have gang bangers drinking 40 ouncers on the lawn… the worst thign i’ve seen is the occasional high school couple that are making out on the grass or something…not exactly hard core criminals..

Harveston has a nice pool/spa facility. the clubhouse is available to rent for parties and it is very nice. there are several parks in the area – there is a kiddie park right next to the lake.

i have three small children, and part of why we like Harveston is the kid friendly atmosphere. you can walk from your house (if youlive near the lake) to the lake, let your kids play on the swings, jungle gym, then walk around the lake, and b/c it’s not so big, you can walk around it with kids…and then go back home. you get out, get some fresh air, see some water, let your kids enjoy being outside, and you don’t even have to get in the car.

personally, i would not buy ON the lake. i know people who live ON the lake and they love it. they like the view. but i also hear them complain about the foot traffic that is constantly going by…because the joggers, bikes, etc will be walking around your front yard…not IN your yard, but back and forth near it.

i’d rather live slightly OFF the lake, but close enough to walk to it. which is exactly what i have.

with the prices falling, there are a lot of good deals to be had in Harveston.

if you think you like it but don’t want to buy, then rent something and try it out. if the choice is north Temecula, I don’t think there is anything aside from Hareston that is as nice for the money.

especially if yo have kids…i think for a family this is a nice area.

[23109VC]

I live in Harveston. I’ve lived there for almost two years.

I really like the area. It all depends on what you want/need.

If you want a big lot, lots of space, and privacy, then it’s not ideal. As others have commented above, the lots are generally on the small side. There are quite a few different builders and different subdivisions that went into Harveston at different phases, and all have different plans, different sized lots, etc. The “cottages” which line the lake and the immediate areas behind/around the lake have the SMALLEST lots in harveston and in my opinion, a poor design. it maximized the number of houses they can put in…but it’s not my cup of tea. the cottages have garages in the rear and the “front” of the house does have a street in front of it, but no driveway. so to park your car you have to approach your house in an alley that runs along the back. it’s very tight and looks like a condo/townhome parking. the houses are so close they look/feel like townhomes – despite being free standing.

There are a few developments that have larger lots.

One thing I’ve noticed about Harveston is that there are VERY few lots that have secluded/private rear yards. First off, the cottages do NOT have backyards…they have a small amount of space between the house and the rear garage…very condo feeling to me.

the other areas that have rear yards either back up onto major streets, interior streets, or back up onto other houses. I have a lot that has a secluded private rear yard that backs up on a greenbelt – but there aren’t a lot of lots iwth that type of location w/in harveston…so you have to consider what you want/need.

one thing I do like about harveston is the HOAs. someone above said that harveston looked like a ghetto..with all due respect, I’ve seen ghettos and Harveston is NOTHING like that at all. the lots in some areas are small, and the houses look cramped, but they are NICE looking houses, and 99% of them have well kept yards. the association does enforce the rules. a neighbor of mine was fined for having a boat in their driveway – it was there for a week or two…they don’t normally keep it there, but got lazy, dind’t return it to the stoarage yard and got nailed. another neighbor got a warning/threat of fine for having some oil stains on their driveway.

I have drien through areas on Winchester/French Valley that have better prices for more square footage and no HOAs, and the yards look like crap. 5 cars in the driveway,front of the house, boats, RVS, motorcycles, oil stains, dead grass…and there are 5 houses in a row like that…THAT looks crappy..not ghetto crappy, but it does not look like an upscale neighborhood.

I personally find tha tmost of Harveston is well kept and in general a nice area. the location is great. 5 min to the mall. 5 min to the freeway. 5 min to Costco. it’s also 5 min to my job. 🙂

if you commute to San Diego, then south Temecula migth be better, but if that’s not an issue – Harveston is very nice.

The lake is great. it’s not Miramar Lake with fishing, and power boats…it’s “large pond”….but it’s pretty, well maintained, and most of the people there are walkign their dogs, jogging, etc. you don’t have gang bangers drinking 40 ouncers on the lawn… the worst thign i’ve seen is the occasional high school couple that are making out on the grass or something…not exactly hard core criminals..

Harveston has a nice pool/spa facility. the clubhouse is available to rent for parties and it is very nice. there are several parks in the area – there is a kiddie park right next to the lake.

i have three small children, and part of why we like Harveston is the kid friendly atmosphere. you can walk from your house (if youlive near the lake) to the lake, let your kids play on the swings, jungle gym, then walk around the lake, and b/c it’s not so big, you can walk around it with kids…and then go back home. you get out, get some fresh air, see some water, let your kids enjoy being outside, and you don’t even have to get in the car.

personally, i would not buy ON the lake. i know people who live ON the lake and they love it. they like the view. but i also hear them complain about the foot traffic that is constantly going by…because the joggers, bikes, etc will be walking around your front yard…not IN your yard, but back and forth near it.

i’d rather live slightly OFF the lake, but close enough to walk to it. which is exactly what i have.

with the prices falling, there are a lot of good deals to be had in Harveston.

if you think you like it but don’t want to buy, then rent something and try it out. if the choice is north Temecula, I don’t think there is anything aside from Hareston that is as nice for the money.

especially if yo have kids…i think for a family this is a nice area.

[23109VC]

I live in Harveston. I’ve lived there for almost two years.

I really like the area. It all depends on what you want/need.

If you want a big lot, lots of space, and privacy, then it’s not ideal. As others have commented above, the lots are generally on the small side. There are quite a few different builders and different subdivisions that went into Harveston at different phases, and all have different plans, different sized lots, etc. The “cottages” which line the lake and the immediate areas behind/around the lake have the SMALLEST lots in harveston and in my opinion, a poor design. it maximized the number of houses they can put in…but it’s not my cup of tea. the cottages have garages in the rear and the “front” of the house does have a street in front of it, but no driveway. so to park your car you have to approach your house in an alley that runs along the back. it’s very tight and looks like a condo/townhome parking. the houses are so close they look/feel like townhomes – despite being free standing.

There are a few developments that have larger lots.

One thing I’ve noticed about Harveston is that there are VERY few lots that have secluded/private rear yards. First off, the cottages do NOT have backyards…they have a small amount of space between the house and the rear garage…very condo feeling to me.

the other areas that have rear yards either back up onto major streets, interior streets, or back up onto other houses. I have a lot that has a secluded private rear yard that backs up on a greenbelt – but there aren’t a lot of lots iwth that type of location w/in harveston…so you have to consider what you want/need.

one thing I do like about harveston is the HOAs. someone above said that harveston looked like a ghetto..with all due respect, I’ve seen ghettos and Harveston is NOTHING like that at all. the lots in some areas are small, and the houses look cramped, but they are NICE looking houses, and 99% of them have well kept yards. the association does enforce the rules. a neighbor of mine was fined for having a boat in their driveway – it was there for a week or two…they don’t normally keep it there, but got lazy, dind’t return it to the stoarage yard and got nailed. another neighbor got a warning/threat of fine for having some oil stains on their driveway.

I have drien through areas on Winchester/French Valley that have better prices for more square footage and no HOAs, and the yards look like crap. 5 cars in the driveway,front of the house, boats, RVS, motorcycles, oil stains, dead grass…and there are 5 houses in a row like that…THAT looks crappy..not ghetto crappy, but it does not look like an upscale neighborhood.

I personally find tha tmost of Harveston is well kept and in general a nice area. the location is great. 5 min to the mall. 5 min to the freeway. 5 min to Costco. it’s also 5 min to my job. 🙂

if you commute to San Diego, then south Temecula migth be better, but if that’s not an issue – Harveston is very nice.

The lake is great. it’s not Miramar Lake with fishing, and power boats…it’s “large pond”….but it’s pretty, well maintained, and most of the people there are walkign their dogs, jogging, etc. you don’t have gang bangers drinking 40 ouncers on the lawn… the worst thign i’ve seen is the occasional high school couple that are making out on the grass or something…not exactly hard core criminals..

Harveston has a nice pool/spa facility. the clubhouse is available to rent for parties and it is very nice. there are several parks in the area – there is a kiddie park right next to the lake.

i have three small children, and part of why we like Harveston is the kid friendly atmosphere. you can walk from your house (if youlive near the lake) to the lake, let your kids play on the swings, jungle gym, then walk around the lake, and b/c it’s not so big, you can walk around it with kids…and then go back home. you get out, get some fresh air, see some water, let your kids enjoy being outside, and you don’t even have to get in the car.

personally, i would not buy ON the lake. i know people who live ON the lake and they love it. they like the view. but i also hear them complain about the foot traffic that is constantly going by…because the joggers, bikes, etc will be walking around your front yard…not IN your yard, but back and forth near it.

i’d rather live slightly OFF the lake, but close enough to walk to it. which is exactly what i have.

with the prices falling, there are a lot of good deals to be had in Harveston.

if you think you like it but don’t want to buy, then rent something and try it out. if the choice is north Temecula, I don’t think there is anything aside from Hareston that is as nice for the money.

especially if yo have kids…i think for a family this is a nice area.

[23109VC]

I live in Harveston. I’ve lived there for almost two years.

I really like the area. It all depends on what you want/need.

If you want a big lot, lots of space, and privacy, then it’s not ideal. As others have commented above, the lots are generally on the small side. There are quite a few different builders and different subdivisions that went into Harveston at different phases, and all have different plans, different sized lots, etc. The “cottages” which line the lake and the immediate areas behind/around the lake have the SMALLEST lots in harveston and in my opinion, a poor design. it maximized the number of houses they can put in…but it’s not my cup of tea. the cottages have garages in the rear and the “front” of the house does have a street in front of it, but no driveway. so to park your car you have to approach your house in an alley that runs along the back. it’s very tight and looks like a condo/townhome parking. the houses are so close they look/feel like townhomes – despite being free standing.

There are a few developments that have larger lots.

One thing I’ve noticed about Harveston is that there are VERY few lots that have secluded/private rear yards. First off, the cottages do NOT have backyards…they have a small amount of space between the house and the rear garage…very condo feeling to me.

the other areas that have rear yards either back up onto major streets, interior streets, or back up onto other houses. I have a lot that has a secluded private rear yard that backs up on a greenbelt – but there aren’t a lot of lots iwth that type of location w/in harveston…so you have to consider what you want/need.

one thing I do like about harveston is the HOAs. someone above said that harveston looked like a ghetto..with all due respect, I’ve seen ghettos and Harveston is NOTHING like that at all. the lots in some areas are small, and the houses look cramped, but they are NICE looking houses, and 99% of them have well kept yards. the association does enforce the rules. a neighbor of mine was fined for having a boat in their driveway – it was there for a week or two…they don’t normally keep it there, but got lazy, dind’t return it to the stoarage yard and got nailed. another neighbor got a warning/threat of fine for having some oil stains on their driveway.

I have drien through areas on Winchester/French Valley that have better prices for more square footage and no HOAs, and the yards look like crap. 5 cars in the driveway,front of the house, boats, RVS, motorcycles, oil stains, dead grass…and there are 5 houses in a row like that…THAT looks crappy..not ghetto crappy, but it does not look like an upscale neighborhood.

I personally find tha tmost of Harveston is well kept and in general a nice area. the location is great. 5 min to the mall. 5 min to the freeway. 5 min to Costco. it’s also 5 min to my job. 🙂

if you commute to San Diego, then south Temecula migth be better, but if that’s not an issue – Harveston is very nice.

The lake is great. it’s not Miramar Lake with fishing, and power boats…it’s “large pond”….but it’s pretty, well maintained, and most of the people there are walkign their dogs, jogging, etc. you don’t have gang bangers drinking 40 ouncers on the lawn… the worst thign i’ve seen is the occasional high school couple that are making out on the grass or something…not exactly hard core criminals..

Harveston has a nice pool/spa facility. the clubhouse is available to rent for parties and it is very nice. there are several parks in the area – there is a kiddie park right next to the lake.

i have three small children, and part of why we like Harveston is the kid friendly atmosphere. you can walk from your house (if youlive near the lake) to the lake, let your kids play on the swings, jungle gym, then walk around the lake, and b/c it’s not so big, you can walk around it with kids…and then go back home. you get out, get some fresh air, see some water, let your kids enjoy being outside, and you don’t even have to get in the car.

personally, i would not buy ON the lake. i know people who live ON the lake and they love it. they like the view. but i also hear them complain about the foot traffic that is constantly going by…because the joggers, bikes, etc will be walking around your front yard…not IN your yard, but back and forth near it.

i’d rather live slightly OFF the lake, but close enough to walk to it. which is exactly what i have.

with the prices falling, there are a lot of good deals to be had in Harveston.

if you think you like it but don’t want to buy, then rent something and try it out. if the choice is north Temecula, I don’t think there is anything aside from Hareston that is as nice for the money.

especially if yo have kids…i think for a family this is a nice area.

[23109VC]

Ex-SD

the house that is 475k here is 175 there.

what is the discrepancy in salaries/incomes.

the guy who makes $100k here – what does he make there? $50? I’m assuming a local job, not someone self employed over the internet who makes the same regardless of where they live…. your average person has to work somehwere, and in general, incomes seem to vary with regions – cost of living varies.. etc.

housing in CA may be way overpriced, but part of why it costs more is that jobs here sometimes tend to pay better than say a job in Arkansas….where that 475k house cost 100k..

[23109VC]

Ex-SD

the house that is 475k here is 175 there.

what is the discrepancy in salaries/incomes.

the guy who makes $100k here – what does he make there? $50? I’m assuming a local job, not someone self employed over the internet who makes the same regardless of where they live…. your average person has to work somehwere, and in general, incomes seem to vary with regions – cost of living varies.. etc.

housing in CA may be way overpriced, but part of why it costs more is that jobs here sometimes tend to pay better than say a job in Arkansas….where that 475k house cost 100k..

[23109VC]

Ex-SD

the house that is 475k here is 175 there.

what is the discrepancy in salaries/incomes.

the guy who makes $100k here – what does he make there? $50? I’m assuming a local job, not someone self employed over the internet who makes the same regardless of where they live…. your average person has to work somehwere, and in general, incomes seem to vary with regions – cost of living varies.. etc.

housing in CA may be way overpriced, but part of why it costs more is that jobs here sometimes tend to pay better than say a job in Arkansas….where that 475k house cost 100k..

[23109VC]

suppose you can rent a house out for $1800-2000.

what do fundamentals say it should sell for?

[23109VC]

suppose you can rent a house out for $1800-2000.

what do fundamentals say it should sell for?

[23109VC]

wow, this thread took a turn down the nasty street.

when we bought the house – we did plan to be there for the long run, that is still the plan.

after seeing my *neighbor* preparing for foreclosure, and another house down the street already bank owned, it made me wonder what he/they might wind up doing.

that got me thinking, *what it* I had to unload mine, what would I do.

if my house goes negative by $50k i’m not gonna have a hissy fit and try to run. I guess, if suddenly I could buy a house that was 10 times better, for half what I paid for this one, I would think of a way to trade up. that’s human nature.

I just think long term, and usually think of many alternative contingencies and plan for them all. i think about retirement plans and options too, BUT I don’t plan on retiring for about 25 years. It’s a long way off, but i think about it. just b/c i’m wondering about exit strategies, doens’t mean i plan to do it.

better safe than sorry.
if you fail to plan you plan to fail
etc etc

[23109VC]

wow, this thread took a turn down the nasty street.

when we bought the house – we did plan to be there for the long run, that is still the plan.

after seeing my *neighbor* preparing for foreclosure, and another house down the street already bank owned, it made me wonder what he/they might wind up doing.

that got me thinking, *what it* I had to unload mine, what would I do.

if my house goes negative by $50k i’m not gonna have a hissy fit and try to run. I guess, if suddenly I could buy a house that was 10 times better, for half what I paid for this one, I would think of a way to trade up. that’s human nature.

I just think long term, and usually think of many alternative contingencies and plan for them all. i think about retirement plans and options too, BUT I don’t plan on retiring for about 25 years. It’s a long way off, but i think about it. just b/c i’m wondering about exit strategies, doens’t mean i plan to do it.

better safe than sorry.
if you fail to plan you plan to fail
etc etc

[23109VC]

those who asked if I was that guy who posted all the questions about buying a house for 350k.. yeah that’s me.

yeah, I’m thinknig ahead about exit strategies IF the $hit hits the fan.

i’m STILL above water. NO house in my area has sold for what I paid. YET. 🙂 I’m one of those complacent people who will NOT sell or move if things just got slightly underwater.

but if it actually fell to 100k less than *I* paid…then I’d start thinking exit strategy.

We have no buyer’s remorse yet. We like our house, like our area, and after considering rents and what we pay to own – we think we are at worse breaking even right now. we could rent for less net dollars – but after factoring in taxes, etc… our mortgage (including HOAs taxes, and factoring the tax savings vs renting) is about what we would pay to rent possibly a smidgen higher to buy…but we didn’t have to incur moving costs/stress…which to us was worth something.

all in all we are still happy. when my house is worth 250k i won’t be happy and will be looking to bail. 🙂 we’ll see if it happens.

i’ll continue to check in from time to time and report what I see. so far I’m still happy with my decision.

[23109VC]

those who asked if I was that guy who posted all the questions about buying a house for 350k.. yeah that’s me.

yeah, I’m thinknig ahead about exit strategies IF the $hit hits the fan.

i’m STILL above water. NO house in my area has sold for what I paid. YET. 🙂 I’m one of those complacent people who will NOT sell or move if things just got slightly underwater.

but if it actually fell to 100k less than *I* paid…then I’d start thinking exit strategy.

We have no buyer’s remorse yet. We like our house, like our area, and after considering rents and what we pay to own – we think we are at worse breaking even right now. we could rent for less net dollars – but after factoring in taxes, etc… our mortgage (including HOAs taxes, and factoring the tax savings vs renting) is about what we would pay to rent possibly a smidgen higher to buy…but we didn’t have to incur moving costs/stress…which to us was worth something.

all in all we are still happy. when my house is worth 250k i won’t be happy and will be looking to bail. 🙂 we’ll see if it happens.

i’ll continue to check in from time to time and report what I see. so far I’m still happy with my decision.

[23109VC]

these kids who kill their friends are just sick twisted little kids who have problems. THEY are hte problem. not guns.

blaming guns for these problems is like blaming McDonalds for making you fat.

[23109VC]

these kids who kill their friends are just sick twisted little kids who have problems. THEY are hte problem. not guns.

blaming guns for these problems is like blaming McDonalds for making you fat.

[Author]

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