[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]I just saw a 2000sf condo. That would be fine for a family.
Why is a house a necessity if you have kids? I’m enjoying condo living and never want a house again.

I wish they’d build more condos. Mid to high rises over 4 stories so they are solid concrete and steel. I think in Irvine and Carmel Valley, the Asians and tech workers would buy them up like hot cakes.[/quote]

Condos are fine for a family who has a parent regularly available to take the kids to a park where they can run and play … OR the kids go to after-school care until 5-6 pm and their parent(s) take them to a park on weekends. Condos are bad for large dogs and all dogs in units which are not on the ground floor (with dog doors installed to the outside). A condo’s outside enclosed ground-floor courtyard needs some dirt and grass for dogs and so many of them are just concrete.

HOA Assns have many rules prohibiting kids from playing in the common area due to owner complaints about trampling landscaping, littering and throwing balls too close to windows, etc. It’s not ideal to raise kid(s) in, even if there is a tot lot on the premises (which needs a chaperone in attendance for kids visiting it). If the parent at home needs to get work done inside the unit, the kids can only play on their enclosed balcony, patio or courtyard, where the parent can see them. With their own fenced backyard and playthings, kids can busy themselves much longer so the parent can get some work done.

For a family with teenagers, a condo may be fine, as long as the family doesn’t have too many cars for their garage and/or assigned parking spaces. If they do, it will be an everyday hassle to figure out where to park their extra vehicles and keep them from being ticketed.

Families with kids are typically bulging out of condos within a very short time after move-in. I’ve seen listings of condos with families of 4 or more living in them which were literally stuffed with junk in every closet, wall and crevice. I have no idea how those inhabitants were able to move around in there and enter and use all the rooms, etc.

No matter what size the house is, having a lot which is owned eases the burden of storing unused items in your condo unit, especially in those units without a garage. With a backyard, a homeowner can always buy storage shed(s) or even expand the footprint of the rear of their home. With a condo, you’re essentially stuck with the way it was built for the length of your ownership.

A condo is mostly NOT ideal for people with dogs and/or young families in SoCal, which is very car-dependent.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=The-Shoveler]Whatever BG, Even SJ is growing (building) quite a bit to the north, east and south.

I guess we will see.[/quote]

Where is SJ building? I haven’t been up there in more than a year. The north and east of SJ is abutted by other cities. And I didn’t realize there was any room left where SJ ended and Morgan Hill began.

Am I missing something?

Perhaps you are referring to “infill” construction?

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flu]Start smaller and move up. Especially if you are starting at a time when prices are high…[/quote]

This is what the boomers did in SD 30-40 years ago. It wasn’t due to high prices, necessarily but high prevailing mortgage rates.

We also didn’t have anywhere near the selection of homes at that time that buyers today have to choose from, especially newer construction.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=The-Shoveler]Then they are sure wasting a lot on money building freeways and roads along the I-15 LOL.[/quote]

Caltrans is now finishing the decades-long-needed I-215/I-15 merge up thru Cajon Pass for the entire region of intra/interstate travelers to use!

I remember when US 395 (a 2 or 4-lane hwy) continued I-15’s route out of the IE south to SD … with 2-3 stoplights in the vicinity of March AFB and south. Up until about 18 months ago, I-215 had no less than 4 hwy switches northbound before reaching the southern base of Cajon Pass which all had to be negotiated to remain on I-215. It was a mess, especially in heavy truck traffic.

I-15 is more streamlined and a bit shorter now thru Corona. When finished, I-215 will enable motorists in the more eastern cities of the IE (ex: San Bern and Riv) to quickly get to the base of the pass and begin climbing into the high desert.

These are regional improvements by the state which have nothing to do with local population numbers. They have been planned for nearly 40 years.

see: http://www.cajonpassproject.com/

[bearishgurl]

[quote=The-Shoveler][quote=poorgradstudent]When did this board become Pro-Temecula?

I remember the good old days during the bubble when Temecula was the poster child for everything wrong with the housing bubble.

Has SD county just sprawled so far that Temecula no longer seems crazy?

I actually drove through Temecula over the holiday weekend. I was actually surprised how it feels like a bustling suburb full of Big Box stores now instead of nothing.[/quote]

I am not sure I saw anything in this thread that was pro TV, but that said Temecula is following the path of many many bedroom communities before it, Woodland-hills, WestLake, Newbury park, Valencia etc…

Its starting to have its own Jobs and former exurbs like Carlsbad are not too far and are becoming job centers in their own right.

Its not all down south.

The whole I-15 corridor is getting primed for growth in the next cycle.

SoCal is growing at about 1500 people PER-DAY.

Growth, its got to go somewhere.

IMO The current building cycle has been very slow getting started so this housing cycle is really just getting started and may last another 4 or 5 years, anyway IMO.[/quote]

Again, shoveler, whoever moves in must buy/rent whatever is available, which may or may not be in their preferred location or their choice of housing. SoCal cities and counties don’t owe newcomers anything. If all of them can’t find suitable housing for themselves, they ones that can’t (or refuse what’s on offer to them) won’t move here in the first place. It’s all as it should be. This is the way it is in the SF bay area and those cities/counties aren’t suffering in any way, shape or form due to housing shortages or affordability factors. If the rent is raised causing a tenant to move out, there are plenty of qualified tenants ready to pounce with their applications.

I don’t see all the new construction projects that you do going forward in SoCal … especially residential and even moreso, single family homes.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=poorgradstudent]When did this board become Pro-Temecula?

I remember the good old days during the bubble when Temecula was the poster child for everything wrong with the housing bubble.

Has SD county just sprawled so far that Temecula no longer seems crazy?

I actually drove through Temecula over the holiday weekend. I was actually surprised how it feels like a bustling suburb full of Big Box stores now instead of nothing.[/quote]

Temecula is “extremely congested” in my book. At least the I-15 thru it is . . . even after a several-lane-wide expansion project … now completed. I have no idea how Temeculans get their errands done in that mess, especially those who work FT in another county! It is also FULL of CFD’s, with some of its subdivisions having over 40 years of bond payments attached to them.

That said, I’ve got a hotel voucher for one night (from my recent road trip) which I’m going to use up there near during the holiday season to visit its winery circuit. I would much prefer having a place to stay up there after sampling at 8+ wineries in one day, rather than chance driving the ~75 miles back home that night 😛

I’ve been to Pechanga for a conference and it is situated in a beautiful area. I’m looking forward to our (self-guided) winery tour!

[bearishgurl]

“Political persuasion” is NOT a “protected class,” folks. I hope ya’ll agree that we CAN discuss the OP’s housing needs in polite company 😀

It is what it is. yuhtey is not alone.

[bearishgurl]

Having dozens of relatives living in those “deep red” flyover states … I understand absolutely everything here, folks :=D

[bearishgurl]

I didn’t suggest to the OP the awesome “cooler” (weather-wise) pads (some with 1/2 AC+ lots) he could consider in South County in his price range because we’re far too “blue” down here for his taste, lol … I didn’t want to suggest anything to him which would raise his blood pressure ;-P

The listing I suggested to him in semi-rural East County (EC post office) is 19.33 miles to the vicinity of the SD REI store, according to Mapquest and takes 23 minutes (44 minutes based upon current traffic). Apparently, it is still technically rush hour at the time of this post.

http://mapq.st/1lajDVi

This is entirely doable for what he can get, imho. I haven’t checked Esco zip codes but this location is likely a few miles closer to work for him and certainly has less traffic to/from as East County was not developed like the rest of the county. There are very, very few CFD’s out there as it was mostly all developed by 1992 (acc to the County Master Plan). 95% of the CFD’s out there were formed within the City of Santee. My suggested listing is undoubtedly another “spec home.”

If I was raising kids all over again, I’d either raise them out there or stay in South County because I need “space” between neighbors :=0

edit: I just noticed from the map that if Mast Blvd in Santee is used (in lieu of the bottlenecked moon crater that is the SR-52) and the driver reconnects to the fwy before MCAS Miramar, it shaves 10-11 minutes off the drive in rush hour, making it 33-34 minutes.

[bearishgurl]

Well, I just took the online video tour of the listing I just posted and it DOES appear to have new backyard fencing. And what a fantastic backyard for kids! It just needs landscaping and touching up on those honey-colored kitchen cabinets that you so detest (this young family was a bit hard on the property, it seems).

If refinishing/refacing kitchen cabinets and installing landscaping is all you have to do to make it yours, I say you will be lucky. You get a LOT of bang for your buck out there, yuhtey. IIRC, a Ralphs shopping center and several banks are just a 3 minute drive from there. It’s the best of the city and the country … combined in one area.

Just think about it. And make a trial run to your workplace from out there early on a weekday morning to check out the time/hassle factor from this location.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=yuhtey][quote=bearishgurl]I’ll bite.

[/quote]

fantastic, thank you![/quote]

You’re welcome yuhtey!

Why don’t you consider viewing this listing? I came within a hair of making an offer on a spec home on Vista Grande in the very early nineties. This listing is newer (but needs landscaping and fencing) and sits on one acre. I love this area and feel its an excellent place to raise a family with room for many toys, big and small!

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-150051823-2106_Canta_Lomas_El_Cajon_CA_92019

This listing is in a fantastic area with excellent schools K thru 12! It’s not heavily populated out there so your daily commute to/from the Jct 805/52 area shouldn’t be too bad if you can figure out a quick way to get on the 52 through the back roads out there! I would put it at 30-40 mins one way (a little longer on Friday afternoon).

Oh, and as a plus, this area tends to be a little “redder” than those “hip” City parts of the county (if you know what I mean). But it is NOT Santee by any stretch of the imagination. It is quite a bit more upscale and “sophisticated” than Santee.

Good luck in your search …. I haven’t checked any outstanding encumbrances on this listing but feel there could be some wiggle room in the price due to lack of landscaping/fencing …. that is, IF it is truly a “traditional sale” and not a short sale.

Edit: It has no MR or HOA. Public schools are Vista Grande Elem, Hillsdale Middle and Valhalla High … all excellent!

[bearishgurl]

I’ll bite.

yuhtey, if you want “quality construction” of 2000 sf or more on a well-located bigger than city-standard lot in SD County (over 5K sf city, over 6K sf county) in your price range, you should be prepared to do some work on it after COE. Or be prepared to live in the home while working on one room at a time.

I think your posts are spot on except for a few caveats. Santee hasn’t been “Clantee” in over 20 years. There are likely few to zero 80+ yo longtime owners in CV as this area’s development originally broke ground in the mid-eighties. 60+ yo longtime owners …. yes … but a proliferation of 80+ yo longtime owners … uhh, no. Sorry you didn’t like the decor of the furniture of the listings you viewed in CV but those furnishings weren’t actually for sale :=0

I get the impression from your posts that you may have grown up in SD County, left at one point (for college and/or work) and are now considering returning here or already renting here (for work?) with kids in tow. If this is the case, where does the bulk of your family live? You will undoubtedly need their help with your kids and living more than 45 minutes away from them will make your lives hardscrabble when it doesn’t have to be … especially if both parents in your household work.

I agree with XBoxBoy. I think you would be most happy with a custom built home which is adorned with “real” hardwoods and travertine and the like. Age is entirely inconsequential! If you have 2 kids or less and your limit is 2 kids, then you don’t need more than 2000 feet to raise them in and could get by with 1650 sf if the lot is ample, imho. Within the City, these homes tend to be more expensive, hence you will need to lower your size expectations. Within the County (and most of its cities), I believe you could find a suitable custom home to buy, even on a 1/2 AC (or slightly larger) lot in your price range. It may very well need work but you don’t have to do all the work at once. The land will be all yours and you won’t have to constantly listen to your neighbor’s toilet flush or put up with their overflowing trash/recycle bins blowing into your yard on trash day. OR pay Mello Roos.

Out in the county, I would suggest you check out 92028, 92019 and 91902.

And for G@d’s sake, stay OUT of the PUSD! That District’s debt bomb will likely implode before all your kids get out of the public school system there. If you think the taxes + MR within the PUSD are high now, just wait! There are provisions within CA law enabling county assessors to raise taxes (in this case, add accelerated bond payments) to the ad valoream portion of each affected parcel’s tax bill (irrespective if it is located within a CFD … or not). See:

http://piggington.com/powaythe_real_debt_bomb

http://piggington.com/poway_school_bonds

Future property tax hikes will undoubtedly affect resale value of homes within the PUSD, ESPECIALLY within those CFD’s which already have exorbitant MR (ex: Del Sur).

Expect a mass dumping of properties within the PUSD beginning three years BEFORE their (sub-prime) school bond comes due.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]That’s if you want a stagnant boring economy, made up of asset rich boring people, and service workers who can’t really afford to make ends meet.

You need new building to increase the tax base. Otherwise, how will municipal employees get pay raises?[/quote]

LOL! This in the first time I’ve ever heard of my “brethren” referred to as “boring.” I’m a lot of things, but “boring” is not one of them :=0

I’m taking that comment personally, brian ;=0

That will be at least one point against you … haven’t decided yet :=P

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]sprawl occurred in CA because density was restricted. So developers went to neighboring cities and out to unincorporated areas.

People have the right to build on their lands. You can only restrict them so much. So building spreads out.[/quote]

A local government can restrict building density as much as it feels it needs to preserve the quality of life for its inhabitants/constituents.

Mendocino County is situated far from urban centers yet its density has been permanently restricted. South Lake Tahoe (an El Dorado County city of approx 52K permanent residents) has had a residential building moratorium in place since the very early eighties.

So “people” (Big Development, perhaps??) do/does NOT necessarily have the “right” to build what they want to on “their” land (or any land they’re considering “acquiring” for that purpose).

Certainly, you must be aware, brian, that local government (cities and counties) call the shots here . . . always.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]bG, see how people do it around the world. Vancouver, Canada is an example.
Beautiful environment and plenty of high rise buildings like the Bosa buildings downtown.[/quote]

You’ve pointed this out before in a recent thread, brian. Again, it was infill which modernized Vancouver and created more living units . . . NOT sprawl.

In some (lesser-desirable) districts, SF in recent years has been permitting infill projects for 12+ units on 1-2 (adjacent) lots where 2-6 older “flat-style” units could be demolished. This also accomplishes more ADA-compliant bldgs which are also built with earthquake supports.

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