[Scarlett]

[quote=bearishgurl]I read somewhere (but wouldn’t be able to find it now) where you posted that your former commute from RB to LJ area was really frustrating for you both. PQ is just across the fwy from RB. Have you factored in an extra $100+ a month for A/C for part of the year?[/quote]
Oh, I am certain my utilities will be less than what I pay now. I rent in UTC and boy, this house is SO drafty and loses heat in winter like crazy. We don’t have AC, but we pay an arm and leg in heating costs. And somehow still overheats in summer (we don’t have A/C and wish we had one).

I owned a townhouse in North Rancho Bernardo right near Lake Hodges off Pom erado Rd. – in terms of commute, exact location in RB matters. PQ is really just a little above half-way of my original commute from old place. Even CMR is ok for me – but that’s about the limit.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, from this thread, you sound like what you REALLY want is UC and these other areas are just lesser alternatives. IMHO, if UC is what you REALLY want, then you should GET IT. While the interest rates are this low, why “settle” when it comes to location? I believe UC is within reach for you (with a few temporary sacrifices).

If I were you, I would focus on what I REALLY wanted, location wise, and worry about putting a walk-in closet in the MBR later, for example. Once you buy, I don’t believe you will be able to easily sell in the next few years and come out “cash-positive,” (unless possibly you have rehabbed a below-market fixer situated in a very good area).

You can never fix inconvenient locations but you can fix everything else, given an adequate-sized lot.

Why don’t you just do a drive-by on Ramsay and report your property and immediate-area impressions back here, keeping in mind its “prized” school attendance area?? Don’t automatically assume it will sell for near its listed price unless it has been heloced.[/quote]
I am not so sure it’s UC I want – but I must admit though I am not familiar with it, even though it’s very close to where I live – mainly because I thought it’s out of our range. Yes, commute-wise is ideal, good neighbors, shopping, good schools.

I am pretty familiar with PQ though, viewing a lot of properties there and I liked the area quite a bit. I went to see a few properties a while back in Scripps Ranch and in Mira Mesa so I have a little knowledge/feel for those areas, but not for UC, strangely enough. I guess it’s just a little more inventory in PQ, SR, MM with equally good schools and good neighborhoods, therefore great locations, with less fixing and only a little longer commute. I don’t think they would be ‘lesser’ alternatives by any stretch. I am a little more like sdr, in that I like some time sans kids in the car to think about the day and listen to music and such – but within reason – so I don’t mind it that much.

I’ll try to drive by that Ramsay property sometime this month after I am done with all my tasks for December… I think that property looks quite nice, reasonably updated and being a single story (I am used to looking at only 2-story house) that square footage might just be enough with a decent floor plan – the room sizes seem ok. And it has a good-sized yard. What it may not have is storage, and the 2nd car garage (where you can have more storage :)). Those are not major drawbacks from my perspective and I could live with those. Location is great.

[Scarlett]

Ok, so it seems that the general opinion is commute time is more precious that age. So it’s seems that Carlsbad is out – unless at least one of us gets a job there.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, my opinion is that you won’t find everything your heart desires in one package in your price range. [/quote]

Are you talking about UC? Because I am aware of that, I know for what I want there is extremely little there, so I don’t even look much anymore in UC. Commute and/or schools made us give up on places in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee – that I mentioned before on this site.

I believe that there are places in PQ, MM, CMR, Scripps Ranch that will have everything in one package. ~$200 limit on the monthly fees is doable in many of those places. I said I am ok with a 30-35′ commute – which those areas would provide – AN had his/her limit at 20′.

[quote=bearishgurl] You have severely limited yourself against very recent construction (2003 forward) because of your HOA/MR constraints. [/quote]
Ok, Carlsbad is out because of the commute but there you have newer properties (years 2000s) with only ~100$ HOAs and no MRs – at least according to SDL…
(…)
[quote=bearishgurl]
I’ll throw in some more free advice here. For NCC locations, think of your evening commute when you might have to pick up kids by a certain time. Remember that the 5 bottlenecks really bad during rush hour where the 805 joins it. And you’re already familiar with the I-15 corridor commute because you already lived there. [/quote]

I understand, Carlsbad would really tax us with the commute. Since I am familiar with CMR and PQ I know how we’ll juggle/split the commute to avoid the most congested times.
[quote=bearishgurl] If you seriously want a 20-30 minute commute (most likely a surface-street commute [or <2 mile jaunt on the 52] within this time frame), then concentrate on those areas that offer you this. The inventory existing in those areas is what you have to work with, nothing more. You must accept what is, commute at the mercy of the freeway or change your work locations. UC inventory, for the most part, is 35-50 years old. Upper Clairemont inventory is 35-55 years old.

I’m telling you these things only to help you. I’ve picked up kids from daycare/after-school care by 6:00 p.m. most of my life and am a 35-year resident of this county. so I understand all your concerns. I’ve only been reading this board regularly for about 8 mos, but in that time frame, you have been all over the map in considering the purchase of a primary residence for your young family. There are many tradeoffs in this life and with young kids, your time is certainly worth more than any other consideration.

Really give these points some consideration, scarlett, and try to think out of the box a little. How else do you think you will you get an equivalent school attendance area so close to work with the resources you have??[/quote]

We simply don’t have the financial reserves to get a fixer-upper like the one on Stadium way. If it would be like, at 300K, then yes. I agree that it has good bones, that it could be made nice and increase its value, but it’s simply not in the cards for us. And besides the money, there is a lot of time invested to make that property livable – time that one may not want to live there with kids until it’s done. There is a value on that time and comfort too.

[Scarlett]

Ok, so it seems that the general opinion is commute time is more precious that age. So it’s seems that Carlsbad is out – unless at least one of us gets a job there.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, my opinion is that you won’t find everything your heart desires in one package in your price range. [/quote]

Are you talking about UC? Because I am aware of that, I know for what I want there is extremely little there, so I don’t even look much anymore in UC. Commute and/or schools made us give up on places in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee – that I mentioned before on this site.

I believe that there are places in PQ, MM, CMR, Scripps Ranch that will have everything in one package. ~$200 limit on the monthly fees is doable in many of those places. I said I am ok with a 30-35′ commute – which those areas would provide – AN had his/her limit at 20′.

[quote=bearishgurl] You have severely limited yourself against very recent construction (2003 forward) because of your HOA/MR constraints. [/quote]
Ok, Carlsbad is out because of the commute but there you have newer properties (years 2000s) with only ~100$ HOAs and no MRs – at least according to SDL…
(…)
[quote=bearishgurl]
I’ll throw in some more free advice here. For NCC locations, think of your evening commute when you might have to pick up kids by a certain time. Remember that the 5 bottlenecks really bad during rush hour where the 805 joins it. And you’re already familiar with the I-15 corridor commute because you already lived there. [/quote]

I understand, Carlsbad would really tax us with the commute. Since I am familiar with CMR and PQ I know how we’ll juggle/split the commute to avoid the most congested times.
[quote=bearishgurl] If you seriously want a 20-30 minute commute (most likely a surface-street commute [or <2 mile jaunt on the 52] within this time frame), then concentrate on those areas that offer you this. The inventory existing in those areas is what you have to work with, nothing more. You must accept what is, commute at the mercy of the freeway or change your work locations. UC inventory, for the most part, is 35-50 years old. Upper Clairemont inventory is 35-55 years old.

I’m telling you these things only to help you. I’ve picked up kids from daycare/after-school care by 6:00 p.m. most of my life and am a 35-year resident of this county. so I understand all your concerns. I’ve only been reading this board regularly for about 8 mos, but in that time frame, you have been all over the map in considering the purchase of a primary residence for your young family. There are many tradeoffs in this life and with young kids, your time is certainly worth more than any other consideration.

Really give these points some consideration, scarlett, and try to think out of the box a little. How else do you think you will you get an equivalent school attendance area so close to work with the resources you have??[/quote]

We simply don’t have the financial reserves to get a fixer-upper like the one on Stadium way. If it would be like, at 300K, then yes. I agree that it has good bones, that it could be made nice and increase its value, but it’s simply not in the cards for us. And besides the money, there is a lot of time invested to make that property livable – time that one may not want to live there with kids until it’s done. There is a value on that time and comfort too.

[Scarlett]

Ok, so it seems that the general opinion is commute time is more precious that age. So it’s seems that Carlsbad is out – unless at least one of us gets a job there.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, my opinion is that you won’t find everything your heart desires in one package in your price range. [/quote]

Are you talking about UC? Because I am aware of that, I know for what I want there is extremely little there, so I don’t even look much anymore in UC. Commute and/or schools made us give up on places in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee – that I mentioned before on this site.

I believe that there are places in PQ, MM, CMR, Scripps Ranch that will have everything in one package. ~$200 limit on the monthly fees is doable in many of those places. I said I am ok with a 30-35′ commute – which those areas would provide – AN had his/her limit at 20′.

[quote=bearishgurl] You have severely limited yourself against very recent construction (2003 forward) because of your HOA/MR constraints. [/quote]
Ok, Carlsbad is out because of the commute but there you have newer properties (years 2000s) with only ~100$ HOAs and no MRs – at least according to SDL…
(…)
[quote=bearishgurl]
I’ll throw in some more free advice here. For NCC locations, think of your evening commute when you might have to pick up kids by a certain time. Remember that the 5 bottlenecks really bad during rush hour where the 805 joins it. And you’re already familiar with the I-15 corridor commute because you already lived there. [/quote]

I understand, Carlsbad would really tax us with the commute. Since I am familiar with CMR and PQ I know how we’ll juggle/split the commute to avoid the most congested times.
[quote=bearishgurl] If you seriously want a 20-30 minute commute (most likely a surface-street commute [or <2 mile jaunt on the 52] within this time frame), then concentrate on those areas that offer you this. The inventory existing in those areas is what you have to work with, nothing more. You must accept what is, commute at the mercy of the freeway or change your work locations. UC inventory, for the most part, is 35-50 years old. Upper Clairemont inventory is 35-55 years old.

I’m telling you these things only to help you. I’ve picked up kids from daycare/after-school care by 6:00 p.m. most of my life and am a 35-year resident of this county. so I understand all your concerns. I’ve only been reading this board regularly for about 8 mos, but in that time frame, you have been all over the map in considering the purchase of a primary residence for your young family. There are many tradeoffs in this life and with young kids, your time is certainly worth more than any other consideration.

Really give these points some consideration, scarlett, and try to think out of the box a little. How else do you think you will you get an equivalent school attendance area so close to work with the resources you have??[/quote]

We simply don’t have the financial reserves to get a fixer-upper like the one on Stadium way. If it would be like, at 300K, then yes. I agree that it has good bones, that it could be made nice and increase its value, but it’s simply not in the cards for us. And besides the money, there is a lot of time invested to make that property livable – time that one may not want to live there with kids until it’s done. There is a value on that time and comfort too.

[Scarlett]

Ok, so it seems that the general opinion is commute time is more precious that age. So it’s seems that Carlsbad is out – unless at least one of us gets a job there.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, my opinion is that you won’t find everything your heart desires in one package in your price range. [/quote]

Are you talking about UC? Because I am aware of that, I know for what I want there is extremely little there, so I don’t even look much anymore in UC. Commute and/or schools made us give up on places in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee – that I mentioned before on this site.

I believe that there are places in PQ, MM, CMR, Scripps Ranch that will have everything in one package. ~$200 limit on the monthly fees is doable in many of those places. I said I am ok with a 30-35′ commute – which those areas would provide – AN had his/her limit at 20′.

[quote=bearishgurl] You have severely limited yourself against very recent construction (2003 forward) because of your HOA/MR constraints. [/quote]
Ok, Carlsbad is out because of the commute but there you have newer properties (years 2000s) with only ~100$ HOAs and no MRs – at least according to SDL…
(…)
[quote=bearishgurl]
I’ll throw in some more free advice here. For NCC locations, think of your evening commute when you might have to pick up kids by a certain time. Remember that the 5 bottlenecks really bad during rush hour where the 805 joins it. And you’re already familiar with the I-15 corridor commute because you already lived there. [/quote]

I understand, Carlsbad would really tax us with the commute. Since I am familiar with CMR and PQ I know how we’ll juggle/split the commute to avoid the most congested times.
[quote=bearishgurl] If you seriously want a 20-30 minute commute (most likely a surface-street commute [or <2 mile jaunt on the 52] within this time frame), then concentrate on those areas that offer you this. The inventory existing in those areas is what you have to work with, nothing more. You must accept what is, commute at the mercy of the freeway or change your work locations. UC inventory, for the most part, is 35-50 years old. Upper Clairemont inventory is 35-55 years old.

I’m telling you these things only to help you. I’ve picked up kids from daycare/after-school care by 6:00 p.m. most of my life and am a 35-year resident of this county. so I understand all your concerns. I’ve only been reading this board regularly for about 8 mos, but in that time frame, you have been all over the map in considering the purchase of a primary residence for your young family. There are many tradeoffs in this life and with young kids, your time is certainly worth more than any other consideration.

Really give these points some consideration, scarlett, and try to think out of the box a little. How else do you think you will you get an equivalent school attendance area so close to work with the resources you have??[/quote]

We simply don’t have the financial reserves to get a fixer-upper like the one on Stadium way. If it would be like, at 300K, then yes. I agree that it has good bones, that it could be made nice and increase its value, but it’s simply not in the cards for us. And besides the money, there is a lot of time invested to make that property livable – time that one may not want to live there with kids until it’s done. There is a value on that time and comfort too.

[Scarlett]

Ok, so it seems that the general opinion is commute time is more precious that age. So it’s seems that Carlsbad is out – unless at least one of us gets a job there.

[quote=bearishgurl]scarlett, my opinion is that you won’t find everything your heart desires in one package in your price range. [/quote]

Are you talking about UC? Because I am aware of that, I know for what I want there is extremely little there, so I don’t even look much anymore in UC. Commute and/or schools made us give up on places in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee – that I mentioned before on this site.

I believe that there are places in PQ, MM, CMR, Scripps Ranch that will have everything in one package. ~$200 limit on the monthly fees is doable in many of those places. I said I am ok with a 30-35′ commute – which those areas would provide – AN had his/her limit at 20′.

[quote=bearishgurl] You have severely limited yourself against very recent construction (2003 forward) because of your HOA/MR constraints. [/quote]
Ok, Carlsbad is out because of the commute but there you have newer properties (years 2000s) with only ~100$ HOAs and no MRs – at least according to SDL…
(…)
[quote=bearishgurl]
I’ll throw in some more free advice here. For NCC locations, think of your evening commute when you might have to pick up kids by a certain time. Remember that the 5 bottlenecks really bad during rush hour where the 805 joins it. And you’re already familiar with the I-15 corridor commute because you already lived there. [/quote]

I understand, Carlsbad would really tax us with the commute. Since I am familiar with CMR and PQ I know how we’ll juggle/split the commute to avoid the most congested times.
[quote=bearishgurl] If you seriously want a 20-30 minute commute (most likely a surface-street commute [or <2 mile jaunt on the 52] within this time frame), then concentrate on those areas that offer you this. The inventory existing in those areas is what you have to work with, nothing more. You must accept what is, commute at the mercy of the freeway or change your work locations. UC inventory, for the most part, is 35-50 years old. Upper Clairemont inventory is 35-55 years old.

I’m telling you these things only to help you. I’ve picked up kids from daycare/after-school care by 6:00 p.m. most of my life and am a 35-year resident of this county. so I understand all your concerns. I’ve only been reading this board regularly for about 8 mos, but in that time frame, you have been all over the map in considering the purchase of a primary residence for your young family. There are many tradeoffs in this life and with young kids, your time is certainly worth more than any other consideration.

Really give these points some consideration, scarlett, and try to think out of the box a little. How else do you think you will you get an equivalent school attendance area so close to work with the resources you have??[/quote]

We simply don’t have the financial reserves to get a fixer-upper like the one on Stadium way. If it would be like, at 300K, then yes. I agree that it has good bones, that it could be made nice and increase its value, but it’s simply not in the cards for us. And besides the money, there is a lot of time invested to make that property livable – time that one may not want to live there with kids until it’s done. There is a value on that time and comfort too.

[Scarlett]

AN, Thank you for the excellent info on MM, and especially about elementary school(s).

[Scarlett]

AN, Thank you for the excellent info on MM, and especially about elementary school(s).

[Scarlett]

AN, Thank you for the excellent info on MM, and especially about elementary school(s).

[Scarlett]

AN, Thank you for the excellent info on MM, and especially about elementary school(s).

[Scarlett]

AN, Thank you for the excellent info on MM, and especially about elementary school(s).

[Scarlett]

[quote=sdrealtor]Scarlett
Here is my advice and take it for what you paid for it. IMO, Casting such a wide net tends to be more of an impediment than a benefit. My best results typically come when someone has a laserlike focus. When we know what and more importantly where we are trying to be the results always seem to be better.

I’d spend my time getting more familiar with the areas you are interested. Take a good hard look and decide where you really want to live be it NC Inland (PQ/RB), central (MM/SR/Tierrasanta) or NCC (Carlsbad/Encinitas). Then get yourself the best help you can find to help you identify and capitalize on the perfect opportunity when it pops up.[/quote]

I think that’s an excellent advice, sdr. I will get myself more familiar with the areas to see which one(s) fit better with our lifestyle. It is CRAZY when you want to follow many zipcodes. I agree that once you zoom in and become intimately familiar with an area/zip/neighborhood you are much more likely to get there a great deal.

[Scarlett]

[quote=sdrealtor]Scarlett
Here is my advice and take it for what you paid for it. IMO, Casting such a wide net tends to be more of an impediment than a benefit. My best results typically come when someone has a laserlike focus. When we know what and more importantly where we are trying to be the results always seem to be better.

I’d spend my time getting more familiar with the areas you are interested. Take a good hard look and decide where you really want to live be it NC Inland (PQ/RB), central (MM/SR/Tierrasanta) or NCC (Carlsbad/Encinitas). Then get yourself the best help you can find to help you identify and capitalize on the perfect opportunity when it pops up.[/quote]

I think that’s an excellent advice, sdr. I will get myself more familiar with the areas to see which one(s) fit better with our lifestyle. It is CRAZY when you want to follow many zipcodes. I agree that once you zoom in and become intimately familiar with an area/zip/neighborhood you are much more likely to get there a great deal.

[Scarlett]

[quote=sdrealtor]Scarlett
Here is my advice and take it for what you paid for it. IMO, Casting such a wide net tends to be more of an impediment than a benefit. My best results typically come when someone has a laserlike focus. When we know what and more importantly where we are trying to be the results always seem to be better.

I’d spend my time getting more familiar with the areas you are interested. Take a good hard look and decide where you really want to live be it NC Inland (PQ/RB), central (MM/SR/Tierrasanta) or NCC (Carlsbad/Encinitas). Then get yourself the best help you can find to help you identify and capitalize on the perfect opportunity when it pops up.[/quote]

I think that’s an excellent advice, sdr. I will get myself more familiar with the areas to see which one(s) fit better with our lifestyle. It is CRAZY when you want to follow many zipcodes. I agree that once you zoom in and become intimately familiar with an area/zip/neighborhood you are much more likely to get there a great deal.

[Scarlett]

[quote=sdrealtor]Scarlett
Here is my advice and take it for what you paid for it. IMO, Casting such a wide net tends to be more of an impediment than a benefit. My best results typically come when someone has a laserlike focus. When we know what and more importantly where we are trying to be the results always seem to be better.

I’d spend my time getting more familiar with the areas you are interested. Take a good hard look and decide where you really want to live be it NC Inland (PQ/RB), central (MM/SR/Tierrasanta) or NCC (Carlsbad/Encinitas). Then get yourself the best help you can find to help you identify and capitalize on the perfect opportunity when it pops up.[/quote]

I think that’s an excellent advice, sdr. I will get myself more familiar with the areas to see which one(s) fit better with our lifestyle. It is CRAZY when you want to follow many zipcodes. I agree that once you zoom in and become intimately familiar with an area/zip/neighborhood you are much more likely to get there a great deal.

[Author]

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