[Ren]

Yeah, what he said. You’ll get FAR more for your money buying a house, and even more later this year. I’m seeing 1,700-2,000 sq ft detached houses in the mid 200’s, many built only a few years ago. My wife and I will be pulling the trigger this winter on a newer 4/2.5 in Redhawk, which we’ll live in for a few years, and then rent at about $400-$500/mo positive cash flow, assuming 11 month/year occupancy. Not bad at all.

That said, good condos do exist. The key is to make sure they were built to “condo specs” with thick walls between units (although this doesn’t ensure you won’t hear the neighbors – some are more soundproof than others) and get in a multi-level townhome style so you don’t have upstairs or downstairs neighbors. We currently rent a solid 2/2.5 in Carmel Valley and we CANNOT hear our neighbors, ever, on either side. We also have a 3-month-old baby and they can’t hear him.

[Ren]

Yeah, what he said. You’ll get FAR more for your money buying a house, and even more later this year. I’m seeing 1,700-2,000 sq ft detached houses in the mid 200’s, many built only a few years ago. My wife and I will be pulling the trigger this winter on a newer 4/2.5 in Redhawk, which we’ll live in for a few years, and then rent at about $400-$500/mo positive cash flow, assuming 11 month/year occupancy. Not bad at all.

That said, good condos do exist. The key is to make sure they were built to “condo specs” with thick walls between units (although this doesn’t ensure you won’t hear the neighbors – some are more soundproof than others) and get in a multi-level townhome style so you don’t have upstairs or downstairs neighbors. We currently rent a solid 2/2.5 in Carmel Valley and we CANNOT hear our neighbors, ever, on either side. We also have a 3-month-old baby and they can’t hear him.

[Ren]

One thing about San Marcos, dharmagirl – it might be a good compromise as far as location between Temecula and downtown, but there is very little to do there, and cultured it is NOT. It’s a 30-40 minute drive downtown depending on traffic. When you think about going there, you may end up saying “it’s not worth it” more often than not.

I spent many years living and working in San Marcos (grew up in Esc) and was VERY happy to finally be out of inland north county. You might want to look into the Temecula scene more carefully and see what it has to offer.

[Ren]

One thing about San Marcos, dharmagirl – it might be a good compromise as far as location between Temecula and downtown, but there is very little to do there, and cultured it is NOT. It’s a 30-40 minute drive downtown depending on traffic. When you think about going there, you may end up saying “it’s not worth it” more often than not.

I spent many years living and working in San Marcos (grew up in Esc) and was VERY happy to finally be out of inland north county. You might want to look into the Temecula scene more carefully and see what it has to offer.

[Ren]

One thing about San Marcos, dharmagirl – it might be a good compromise as far as location between Temecula and downtown, but there is very little to do there, and cultured it is NOT. It’s a 30-40 minute drive downtown depending on traffic. When you think about going there, you may end up saying “it’s not worth it” more often than not.

I spent many years living and working in San Marcos (grew up in Esc) and was VERY happy to finally be out of inland north county. You might want to look into the Temecula scene more carefully and see what it has to offer.

[Ren]

One thing about San Marcos, dharmagirl – it might be a good compromise as far as location between Temecula and downtown, but there is very little to do there, and cultured it is NOT. It’s a 30-40 minute drive downtown depending on traffic. When you think about going there, you may end up saying “it’s not worth it” more often than not.

I spent many years living and working in San Marcos (grew up in Esc) and was VERY happy to finally be out of inland north county. You might want to look into the Temecula scene more carefully and see what it has to offer.

[Ren]

One thing about San Marcos, dharmagirl – it might be a good compromise as far as location between Temecula and downtown, but there is very little to do there, and cultured it is NOT. It’s a 30-40 minute drive downtown depending on traffic. When you think about going there, you may end up saying “it’s not worth it” more often than not.

I spent many years living and working in San Marcos (grew up in Esc) and was VERY happy to finally be out of inland north county. You might want to look into the Temecula scene more carefully and see what it has to offer.

[Ren]

I have a very similar question. My wife and I are 90% decided on buying in Temecula this winter. We first want a newer 4/2.5 like this one:
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1566749

But closer to $100-$110 sq ft (is that a reasonable price for something like that?). A year or so after that, when we suspect prices will be even lower, we’ll buy a 5/3 (maybe with a pool), and turn the first one into a rental. We have 20% down for both.

I’m wondering if even the neighborhoods built in 2003 and later will “go bad”. We’ve seen them and they honestly look great – it’s hard to imagine them going to hell…

[Ren]

I have a very similar question. My wife and I are 90% decided on buying in Temecula this winter. We first want a newer 4/2.5 like this one:
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1566749

But closer to $100-$110 sq ft (is that a reasonable price for something like that?). A year or so after that, when we suspect prices will be even lower, we’ll buy a 5/3 (maybe with a pool), and turn the first one into a rental. We have 20% down for both.

I’m wondering if even the neighborhoods built in 2003 and later will “go bad”. We’ve seen them and they honestly look great – it’s hard to imagine them going to hell…

[Ren]

I have a very similar question. My wife and I are 90% decided on buying in Temecula this winter. We first want a newer 4/2.5 like this one:
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1566749

But closer to $100-$110 sq ft (is that a reasonable price for something like that?). A year or so after that, when we suspect prices will be even lower, we’ll buy a 5/3 (maybe with a pool), and turn the first one into a rental. We have 20% down for both.

I’m wondering if even the neighborhoods built in 2003 and later will “go bad”. We’ve seen them and they honestly look great – it’s hard to imagine them going to hell…

[Ren]

I have a very similar question. My wife and I are 90% decided on buying in Temecula this winter. We first want a newer 4/2.5 like this one:
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1566749

But closer to $100-$110 sq ft (is that a reasonable price for something like that?). A year or so after that, when we suspect prices will be even lower, we’ll buy a 5/3 (maybe with a pool), and turn the first one into a rental. We have 20% down for both.

I’m wondering if even the neighborhoods built in 2003 and later will “go bad”. We’ve seen them and they honestly look great – it’s hard to imagine them going to hell…

[Ren]

I have a very similar question. My wife and I are 90% decided on buying in Temecula this winter. We first want a newer 4/2.5 like this one:
http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1566749

But closer to $100-$110 sq ft (is that a reasonable price for something like that?). A year or so after that, when we suspect prices will be even lower, we’ll buy a 5/3 (maybe with a pool), and turn the first one into a rental. We have 20% down for both.

I’m wondering if even the neighborhoods built in 2003 and later will “go bad”. We’ve seen them and they honestly look great – it’s hard to imagine them going to hell…

[Ren]

So there’s no way to PM (private message) someone on this board? Can you say “Flintstones”?

Rich, if you’re reading this, please give serious thought to implementing vBulletin. It’s shockingly cheap for what you get: http://www.vbulletin.com/

This part of the site is a bulletin board, not a blog, and it should run real bulletin board software 🙂

[Ren]

So there’s no way to PM (private message) someone on this board? Can you say “Flintstones”?

Rich, if you’re reading this, please give serious thought to implementing vBulletin. It’s shockingly cheap for what you get: http://www.vbulletin.com/

This part of the site is a bulletin board, not a blog, and it should run real bulletin board software 🙂

[Ren]

So there’s no way to PM (private message) someone on this board? Can you say “Flintstones”?

Rich, if you’re reading this, please give serious thought to implementing vBulletin. It’s shockingly cheap for what you get: http://www.vbulletin.com/

This part of the site is a bulletin board, not a blog, and it should run real bulletin board software 🙂

[Author]

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