[PKMAN]

SEH Mello Roos is too ridiculous

I thought long and hard about buying in SEH but ultimately looked elsewhere. This house, for example:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-080071528-740_Hollowbrook_San_Marcos_Ca_92078

It looks great and at $480K is within my reach. However it’s MR is $5,400 semi-annually, with $84/mo. HOA and $9,211 of property tax. Do a quick math ($5,400×2 + $84×12 + $9,211) and I realized that I’d have to pay about $1,750 per month…before mortgage! This is too crazy.

As much as I love the “town within a town” concept of SEH, paying upward of $3,800 per month (mortgage + HOA + MR + property tax) is far from my affordability range. I think any family with combined annual income of less than $140K should stay away from SEH.

[PKMAN]

SEH Mello Roos is too ridiculous

I thought long and hard about buying in SEH but ultimately looked elsewhere. This house, for example:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-080071528-740_Hollowbrook_San_Marcos_Ca_92078

It looks great and at $480K is within my reach. However it’s MR is $5,400 semi-annually, with $84/mo. HOA and $9,211 of property tax. Do a quick math ($5,400×2 + $84×12 + $9,211) and I realized that I’d have to pay about $1,750 per month…before mortgage! This is too crazy.

As much as I love the “town within a town” concept of SEH, paying upward of $3,800 per month (mortgage + HOA + MR + property tax) is far from my affordability range. I think any family with combined annual income of less than $140K should stay away from SEH.

[PKMAN]

SEH Mello Roos is too ridiculous

I thought long and hard about buying in SEH but ultimately looked elsewhere. This house, for example:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-080071528-740_Hollowbrook_San_Marcos_Ca_92078

It looks great and at $480K is within my reach. However it’s MR is $5,400 semi-annually, with $84/mo. HOA and $9,211 of property tax. Do a quick math ($5,400×2 + $84×12 + $9,211) and I realized that I’d have to pay about $1,750 per month…before mortgage! This is too crazy.

As much as I love the “town within a town” concept of SEH, paying upward of $3,800 per month (mortgage + HOA + MR + property tax) is far from my affordability range. I think any family with combined annual income of less than $140K should stay away from SEH.

[PKMAN]

SEH Mello Roos is too ridiculous

I thought long and hard about buying in SEH but ultimately looked elsewhere. This house, for example:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-080071528-740_Hollowbrook_San_Marcos_Ca_92078

It looks great and at $480K is within my reach. However it’s MR is $5,400 semi-annually, with $84/mo. HOA and $9,211 of property tax. Do a quick math ($5,400×2 + $84×12 + $9,211) and I realized that I’d have to pay about $1,750 per month…before mortgage! This is too crazy.

As much as I love the “town within a town” concept of SEH, paying upward of $3,800 per month (mortgage + HOA + MR + property tax) is far from my affordability range. I think any family with combined annual income of less than $140K should stay away from SEH.

[PKMAN]

SEH Mello Roos is too ridiculous

I thought long and hard about buying in SEH but ultimately looked elsewhere. This house, for example:

http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-080071528-740_Hollowbrook_San_Marcos_Ca_92078

It looks great and at $480K is within my reach. However it’s MR is $5,400 semi-annually, with $84/mo. HOA and $9,211 of property tax. Do a quick math ($5,400×2 + $84×12 + $9,211) and I realized that I’d have to pay about $1,750 per month…before mortgage! This is too crazy.

As much as I love the “town within a town” concept of SEH, paying upward of $3,800 per month (mortgage + HOA + MR + property tax) is far from my affordability range. I think any family with combined annual income of less than $140K should stay away from SEH.

[PKMAN]

The future of Santee looks brighter than many other cities in the County. Comparing to Escondido, it has no mega auto dealerships to lose tax revenue. Comparing to San Marcos (where I used to live) it has no over-supply inventory of homes. Comparing to Oceanside and Carlsbad, it has no tourism-dependent economy. It’s already the city with the biggest potential in the East County and now its future looks brighter than the above-mentioned North County cities, not to mention lower crime rate too.

Retail segment of Santee focuses on stuffs that average people need/want to buy, whether in good time or bad. Stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and supermarkets are here to stay and will continue to generate steady revenue for the city. Most restaurant cater to middle-class so even though they will take a hit in this economy, their long term prospect is still quite positive. Santee is a good place to call home because it has all the shopping & dining options that middle class Americans need/want, without the feeling of being too big or too “touristy”, and it’s a relatively safe neighborhood.

I’ve been on overseas assignment for the past 5 years but have been keeping up with news of SD on a daily basis, and see that numerous cities are in distress with falling revenue and necessary cut-backs, including SD, Escondido and Oceanside and San Marcos. However it’s my understanding that the city of Santee is still financially sound. I’m not aware of any cut-back, layoff, postponement of city projects that has already started or withdrawal of any major big-box store. The Fanita Ranch housing development will probably be postponed but that’s actually good for existing homeowners and the value of their home.

Santee will probably never be the “La Jolla of East” and it shouldn’t. It has its own character and value that are closely in-tune with middle-class families. As a soon-to-be homeowner of Santee, I wouldn’t mind seeing the value of my home goes up in time but it should not be the next “rich people’s playground” community.

If one day I start seeing Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin on the street regularly, that’d be the day I sell my home…for a killer profit, of course… and look for the next up-and-coming middle-class community.

[PKMAN]

The future of Santee looks brighter than many other cities in the County. Comparing to Escondido, it has no mega auto dealerships to lose tax revenue. Comparing to San Marcos (where I used to live) it has no over-supply inventory of homes. Comparing to Oceanside and Carlsbad, it has no tourism-dependent economy. It’s already the city with the biggest potential in the East County and now its future looks brighter than the above-mentioned North County cities, not to mention lower crime rate too.

Retail segment of Santee focuses on stuffs that average people need/want to buy, whether in good time or bad. Stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and supermarkets are here to stay and will continue to generate steady revenue for the city. Most restaurant cater to middle-class so even though they will take a hit in this economy, their long term prospect is still quite positive. Santee is a good place to call home because it has all the shopping & dining options that middle class Americans need/want, without the feeling of being too big or too “touristy”, and it’s a relatively safe neighborhood.

I’ve been on overseas assignment for the past 5 years but have been keeping up with news of SD on a daily basis, and see that numerous cities are in distress with falling revenue and necessary cut-backs, including SD, Escondido and Oceanside and San Marcos. However it’s my understanding that the city of Santee is still financially sound. I’m not aware of any cut-back, layoff, postponement of city projects that has already started or withdrawal of any major big-box store. The Fanita Ranch housing development will probably be postponed but that’s actually good for existing homeowners and the value of their home.

Santee will probably never be the “La Jolla of East” and it shouldn’t. It has its own character and value that are closely in-tune with middle-class families. As a soon-to-be homeowner of Santee, I wouldn’t mind seeing the value of my home goes up in time but it should not be the next “rich people’s playground” community.

If one day I start seeing Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin on the street regularly, that’d be the day I sell my home…for a killer profit, of course… and look for the next up-and-coming middle-class community.

[PKMAN]

The future of Santee looks brighter than many other cities in the County. Comparing to Escondido, it has no mega auto dealerships to lose tax revenue. Comparing to San Marcos (where I used to live) it has no over-supply inventory of homes. Comparing to Oceanside and Carlsbad, it has no tourism-dependent economy. It’s already the city with the biggest potential in the East County and now its future looks brighter than the above-mentioned North County cities, not to mention lower crime rate too.

Retail segment of Santee focuses on stuffs that average people need/want to buy, whether in good time or bad. Stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and supermarkets are here to stay and will continue to generate steady revenue for the city. Most restaurant cater to middle-class so even though they will take a hit in this economy, their long term prospect is still quite positive. Santee is a good place to call home because it has all the shopping & dining options that middle class Americans need/want, without the feeling of being too big or too “touristy”, and it’s a relatively safe neighborhood.

I’ve been on overseas assignment for the past 5 years but have been keeping up with news of SD on a daily basis, and see that numerous cities are in distress with falling revenue and necessary cut-backs, including SD, Escondido and Oceanside and San Marcos. However it’s my understanding that the city of Santee is still financially sound. I’m not aware of any cut-back, layoff, postponement of city projects that has already started or withdrawal of any major big-box store. The Fanita Ranch housing development will probably be postponed but that’s actually good for existing homeowners and the value of their home.

Santee will probably never be the “La Jolla of East” and it shouldn’t. It has its own character and value that are closely in-tune with middle-class families. As a soon-to-be homeowner of Santee, I wouldn’t mind seeing the value of my home goes up in time but it should not be the next “rich people’s playground” community.

If one day I start seeing Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin on the street regularly, that’d be the day I sell my home…for a killer profit, of course… and look for the next up-and-coming middle-class community.

[PKMAN]

The future of Santee looks brighter than many other cities in the County. Comparing to Escondido, it has no mega auto dealerships to lose tax revenue. Comparing to San Marcos (where I used to live) it has no over-supply inventory of homes. Comparing to Oceanside and Carlsbad, it has no tourism-dependent economy. It’s already the city with the biggest potential in the East County and now its future looks brighter than the above-mentioned North County cities, not to mention lower crime rate too.

Retail segment of Santee focuses on stuffs that average people need/want to buy, whether in good time or bad. Stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and supermarkets are here to stay and will continue to generate steady revenue for the city. Most restaurant cater to middle-class so even though they will take a hit in this economy, their long term prospect is still quite positive. Santee is a good place to call home because it has all the shopping & dining options that middle class Americans need/want, without the feeling of being too big or too “touristy”, and it’s a relatively safe neighborhood.

I’ve been on overseas assignment for the past 5 years but have been keeping up with news of SD on a daily basis, and see that numerous cities are in distress with falling revenue and necessary cut-backs, including SD, Escondido and Oceanside and San Marcos. However it’s my understanding that the city of Santee is still financially sound. I’m not aware of any cut-back, layoff, postponement of city projects that has already started or withdrawal of any major big-box store. The Fanita Ranch housing development will probably be postponed but that’s actually good for existing homeowners and the value of their home.

Santee will probably never be the “La Jolla of East” and it shouldn’t. It has its own character and value that are closely in-tune with middle-class families. As a soon-to-be homeowner of Santee, I wouldn’t mind seeing the value of my home goes up in time but it should not be the next “rich people’s playground” community.

If one day I start seeing Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin on the street regularly, that’d be the day I sell my home…for a killer profit, of course… and look for the next up-and-coming middle-class community.

[PKMAN]

The future of Santee looks brighter than many other cities in the County. Comparing to Escondido, it has no mega auto dealerships to lose tax revenue. Comparing to San Marcos (where I used to live) it has no over-supply inventory of homes. Comparing to Oceanside and Carlsbad, it has no tourism-dependent economy. It’s already the city with the biggest potential in the East County and now its future looks brighter than the above-mentioned North County cities, not to mention lower crime rate too.

Retail segment of Santee focuses on stuffs that average people need/want to buy, whether in good time or bad. Stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and supermarkets are here to stay and will continue to generate steady revenue for the city. Most restaurant cater to middle-class so even though they will take a hit in this economy, their long term prospect is still quite positive. Santee is a good place to call home because it has all the shopping & dining options that middle class Americans need/want, without the feeling of being too big or too “touristy”, and it’s a relatively safe neighborhood.

I’ve been on overseas assignment for the past 5 years but have been keeping up with news of SD on a daily basis, and see that numerous cities are in distress with falling revenue and necessary cut-backs, including SD, Escondido and Oceanside and San Marcos. However it’s my understanding that the city of Santee is still financially sound. I’m not aware of any cut-back, layoff, postponement of city projects that has already started or withdrawal of any major big-box store. The Fanita Ranch housing development will probably be postponed but that’s actually good for existing homeowners and the value of their home.

Santee will probably never be the “La Jolla of East” and it shouldn’t. It has its own character and value that are closely in-tune with middle-class families. As a soon-to-be homeowner of Santee, I wouldn’t mind seeing the value of my home goes up in time but it should not be the next “rich people’s playground” community.

If one day I start seeing Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Aston Martin on the street regularly, that’d be the day I sell my home…for a killer profit, of course… and look for the next up-and-coming middle-class community.

[PKMAN]

No I buying the Stoney Creek home.

Stoney Creek has only about 70 homes and of these, only a handful are left (2 Plan 1, 2 Plan 2 and no Plan 3). It’s to the east (or right) of the existing Canopy Park homes but we’ll share the same entrance (fountain). Originally another phase of Canopy Park, to the east, effectively sandwiching Stoney Creek in the middle is scheduled after the build-out of Stoney Creek homes. But now with housing market still very bad, don’t know when, or if ever, these homes will be built.

You can also consider Plan 1 of Stoney Creek. It’s not as big as Plan 6 of Canopy Park but it does have its own yard, for some people (like me) that want it. Plan 1 is asking for about $430K but you can probably get it down to about $380K. Plus both available homes are move-in ready with numerous upgrades. HOA is the same for all Riverwalk homes and also no mello roos as well.

I didn’t look at Priest Homes’ properties but drove by the community. It’s a nice small single family community but too close to 52. In fact I’m pretty sure that the 52 extension currently being built to connect to 67 will cut through just north of the neighborhood so there’ll be construction hassles for the next few years.

I’ve also looked at townhomes in Sky Ranch by William Lyon and Lennar (single family was beyond my price range) but felt that they’re too isolated. Climbing steep hill will also hurt fuel mileage and accelerate car’s aging. I think both the HOA and Mello Roos there are quite high as well.

I’ve also looked at the Morningside community on Cottonwood Ave, just south of Mission Gorge. It’s OK but a bit too small both the homes and the community (no green area at all). As it turned out, just about the entire community is on sales, whether it’s distress, short, bank-owned or foreclosure. If you want bargain on nearly-new homes, that where you’d go. Many homes sold for almost $500K 2 years ago are now offered at less than $300K. But I would advise against it, as I think a community with so many homes on sales is just bad Fengshui, regardless if it has fountain, mountain or whatever other stuffs.

I’ve stood by the sideline and studied SD real estate (only the areas within my affordability) for nearly 5 years and have focused almost exclusively on Santee for the past year. I believe I made the right move by buying at Riverwalk. I know there’s a high chance that the value of my home could drop somewhat within the next 2 years but firmly believe that in the long run it will be a good investment and a good place to raise a family.

[PKMAN]

No I buying the Stoney Creek home.

Stoney Creek has only about 70 homes and of these, only a handful are left (2 Plan 1, 2 Plan 2 and no Plan 3). It’s to the east (or right) of the existing Canopy Park homes but we’ll share the same entrance (fountain). Originally another phase of Canopy Park, to the east, effectively sandwiching Stoney Creek in the middle is scheduled after the build-out of Stoney Creek homes. But now with housing market still very bad, don’t know when, or if ever, these homes will be built.

You can also consider Plan 1 of Stoney Creek. It’s not as big as Plan 6 of Canopy Park but it does have its own yard, for some people (like me) that want it. Plan 1 is asking for about $430K but you can probably get it down to about $380K. Plus both available homes are move-in ready with numerous upgrades. HOA is the same for all Riverwalk homes and also no mello roos as well.

I didn’t look at Priest Homes’ properties but drove by the community. It’s a nice small single family community but too close to 52. In fact I’m pretty sure that the 52 extension currently being built to connect to 67 will cut through just north of the neighborhood so there’ll be construction hassles for the next few years.

I’ve also looked at townhomes in Sky Ranch by William Lyon and Lennar (single family was beyond my price range) but felt that they’re too isolated. Climbing steep hill will also hurt fuel mileage and accelerate car’s aging. I think both the HOA and Mello Roos there are quite high as well.

I’ve also looked at the Morningside community on Cottonwood Ave, just south of Mission Gorge. It’s OK but a bit too small both the homes and the community (no green area at all). As it turned out, just about the entire community is on sales, whether it’s distress, short, bank-owned or foreclosure. If you want bargain on nearly-new homes, that where you’d go. Many homes sold for almost $500K 2 years ago are now offered at less than $300K. But I would advise against it, as I think a community with so many homes on sales is just bad Fengshui, regardless if it has fountain, mountain or whatever other stuffs.

I’ve stood by the sideline and studied SD real estate (only the areas within my affordability) for nearly 5 years and have focused almost exclusively on Santee for the past year. I believe I made the right move by buying at Riverwalk. I know there’s a high chance that the value of my home could drop somewhat within the next 2 years but firmly believe that in the long run it will be a good investment and a good place to raise a family.

[PKMAN]

No I buying the Stoney Creek home.

Stoney Creek has only about 70 homes and of these, only a handful are left (2 Plan 1, 2 Plan 2 and no Plan 3). It’s to the east (or right) of the existing Canopy Park homes but we’ll share the same entrance (fountain). Originally another phase of Canopy Park, to the east, effectively sandwiching Stoney Creek in the middle is scheduled after the build-out of Stoney Creek homes. But now with housing market still very bad, don’t know when, or if ever, these homes will be built.

You can also consider Plan 1 of Stoney Creek. It’s not as big as Plan 6 of Canopy Park but it does have its own yard, for some people (like me) that want it. Plan 1 is asking for about $430K but you can probably get it down to about $380K. Plus both available homes are move-in ready with numerous upgrades. HOA is the same for all Riverwalk homes and also no mello roos as well.

I didn’t look at Priest Homes’ properties but drove by the community. It’s a nice small single family community but too close to 52. In fact I’m pretty sure that the 52 extension currently being built to connect to 67 will cut through just north of the neighborhood so there’ll be construction hassles for the next few years.

I’ve also looked at townhomes in Sky Ranch by William Lyon and Lennar (single family was beyond my price range) but felt that they’re too isolated. Climbing steep hill will also hurt fuel mileage and accelerate car’s aging. I think both the HOA and Mello Roos there are quite high as well.

I’ve also looked at the Morningside community on Cottonwood Ave, just south of Mission Gorge. It’s OK but a bit too small both the homes and the community (no green area at all). As it turned out, just about the entire community is on sales, whether it’s distress, short, bank-owned or foreclosure. If you want bargain on nearly-new homes, that where you’d go. Many homes sold for almost $500K 2 years ago are now offered at less than $300K. But I would advise against it, as I think a community with so many homes on sales is just bad Fengshui, regardless if it has fountain, mountain or whatever other stuffs.

I’ve stood by the sideline and studied SD real estate (only the areas within my affordability) for nearly 5 years and have focused almost exclusively on Santee for the past year. I believe I made the right move by buying at Riverwalk. I know there’s a high chance that the value of my home could drop somewhat within the next 2 years but firmly believe that in the long run it will be a good investment and a good place to raise a family.

[PKMAN]

No I buying the Stoney Creek home.

Stoney Creek has only about 70 homes and of these, only a handful are left (2 Plan 1, 2 Plan 2 and no Plan 3). It’s to the east (or right) of the existing Canopy Park homes but we’ll share the same entrance (fountain). Originally another phase of Canopy Park, to the east, effectively sandwiching Stoney Creek in the middle is scheduled after the build-out of Stoney Creek homes. But now with housing market still very bad, don’t know when, or if ever, these homes will be built.

You can also consider Plan 1 of Stoney Creek. It’s not as big as Plan 6 of Canopy Park but it does have its own yard, for some people (like me) that want it. Plan 1 is asking for about $430K but you can probably get it down to about $380K. Plus both available homes are move-in ready with numerous upgrades. HOA is the same for all Riverwalk homes and also no mello roos as well.

I didn’t look at Priest Homes’ properties but drove by the community. It’s a nice small single family community but too close to 52. In fact I’m pretty sure that the 52 extension currently being built to connect to 67 will cut through just north of the neighborhood so there’ll be construction hassles for the next few years.

I’ve also looked at townhomes in Sky Ranch by William Lyon and Lennar (single family was beyond my price range) but felt that they’re too isolated. Climbing steep hill will also hurt fuel mileage and accelerate car’s aging. I think both the HOA and Mello Roos there are quite high as well.

I’ve also looked at the Morningside community on Cottonwood Ave, just south of Mission Gorge. It’s OK but a bit too small both the homes and the community (no green area at all). As it turned out, just about the entire community is on sales, whether it’s distress, short, bank-owned or foreclosure. If you want bargain on nearly-new homes, that where you’d go. Many homes sold for almost $500K 2 years ago are now offered at less than $300K. But I would advise against it, as I think a community with so many homes on sales is just bad Fengshui, regardless if it has fountain, mountain or whatever other stuffs.

I’ve stood by the sideline and studied SD real estate (only the areas within my affordability) for nearly 5 years and have focused almost exclusively on Santee for the past year. I believe I made the right move by buying at Riverwalk. I know there’s a high chance that the value of my home could drop somewhat within the next 2 years but firmly believe that in the long run it will be a good investment and a good place to raise a family.

[PKMAN]

No I buying the Stoney Creek home.

Stoney Creek has only about 70 homes and of these, only a handful are left (2 Plan 1, 2 Plan 2 and no Plan 3). It’s to the east (or right) of the existing Canopy Park homes but we’ll share the same entrance (fountain). Originally another phase of Canopy Park, to the east, effectively sandwiching Stoney Creek in the middle is scheduled after the build-out of Stoney Creek homes. But now with housing market still very bad, don’t know when, or if ever, these homes will be built.

You can also consider Plan 1 of Stoney Creek. It’s not as big as Plan 6 of Canopy Park but it does have its own yard, for some people (like me) that want it. Plan 1 is asking for about $430K but you can probably get it down to about $380K. Plus both available homes are move-in ready with numerous upgrades. HOA is the same for all Riverwalk homes and also no mello roos as well.

I didn’t look at Priest Homes’ properties but drove by the community. It’s a nice small single family community but too close to 52. In fact I’m pretty sure that the 52 extension currently being built to connect to 67 will cut through just north of the neighborhood so there’ll be construction hassles for the next few years.

I’ve also looked at townhomes in Sky Ranch by William Lyon and Lennar (single family was beyond my price range) but felt that they’re too isolated. Climbing steep hill will also hurt fuel mileage and accelerate car’s aging. I think both the HOA and Mello Roos there are quite high as well.

I’ve also looked at the Morningside community on Cottonwood Ave, just south of Mission Gorge. It’s OK but a bit too small both the homes and the community (no green area at all). As it turned out, just about the entire community is on sales, whether it’s distress, short, bank-owned or foreclosure. If you want bargain on nearly-new homes, that where you’d go. Many homes sold for almost $500K 2 years ago are now offered at less than $300K. But I would advise against it, as I think a community with so many homes on sales is just bad Fengshui, regardless if it has fountain, mountain or whatever other stuffs.

I’ve stood by the sideline and studied SD real estate (only the areas within my affordability) for nearly 5 years and have focused almost exclusively on Santee for the past year. I believe I made the right move by buying at Riverwalk. I know there’s a high chance that the value of my home could drop somewhat within the next 2 years but firmly believe that in the long run it will be a good investment and a good place to raise a family.

[Author]

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