[SDEngineer]

Historically (going all the way back to the Great Depression), housing recovers before unemployment has peaked.

Housing is a leading indicator of an economy recovering. In all previous recessions/depressions that had a housing component, housing has recovered before the economy has bottomed, and generally while unemployment was still trending down.

Unemployment is a trailing indicator. It hasn’t ever recovered until well after the economy is back to being solidly productive.

There are probably some good reasons for this: during a housing led recession, even though jobs may be being lost left and right, there will still be a large proportion of people with jobs that are safe – and who KNOW their jobs are safe (many classes of government employees, necessary service professionals like doctors, highly rated white collar professionals in large companies that are not in any danger of failing, etc). It’s a good time to bargain hunt for these people. In addition, the government tends to step up and subsidize stuff during these phases (for example, both now and in the 70’s housing recession, buying property produced an immediate tax break), which adds to the “bargain”.

Note: I don’t think the economy or housing has bottomed yet. I just think they’re close enough (especially housing) that it’s a reasonable proposition to buy now.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=sunny88]PKMAN,

Thank you for your very detailed comments about your own experience. We really liked the development and think it’s a great value given the quality of the homes and convenient location. However, one concern is the quality of schools in Santee. This issue has not been discussed and your input is appreciated (if you’re familiar with the schools). Thank you! [/quote]

Santee schools actually are quite well rated statewide.

Rio Seco (K-8) has an API score of 846, putting it in the top 15% of all elementary schools in the state.

Santana High isn’t as highly rated, but is still better than average (725 API rating) putting it in the top 30% or so of high schools.

Overall school district is comparable to San Marcos. Definitely below the gems in San Diego like the La Jolla, Poway, San Dieguito, or Carlsbad systems, but substantially better than the average.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=sunny88]PKMAN,

Thank you for your very detailed comments about your own experience. We really liked the development and think it’s a great value given the quality of the homes and convenient location. However, one concern is the quality of schools in Santee. This issue has not been discussed and your input is appreciated (if you’re familiar with the schools). Thank you! [/quote]

Santee schools actually are quite well rated statewide.

Rio Seco (K-8) has an API score of 846, putting it in the top 15% of all elementary schools in the state.

Santana High isn’t as highly rated, but is still better than average (725 API rating) putting it in the top 30% or so of high schools.

Overall school district is comparable to San Marcos. Definitely below the gems in San Diego like the La Jolla, Poway, San Dieguito, or Carlsbad systems, but substantially better than the average.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=sunny88]PKMAN,

Thank you for your very detailed comments about your own experience. We really liked the development and think it’s a great value given the quality of the homes and convenient location. However, one concern is the quality of schools in Santee. This issue has not been discussed and your input is appreciated (if you’re familiar with the schools). Thank you! [/quote]

Santee schools actually are quite well rated statewide.

Rio Seco (K-8) has an API score of 846, putting it in the top 15% of all elementary schools in the state.

Santana High isn’t as highly rated, but is still better than average (725 API rating) putting it in the top 30% or so of high schools.

Overall school district is comparable to San Marcos. Definitely below the gems in San Diego like the La Jolla, Poway, San Dieguito, or Carlsbad systems, but substantially better than the average.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=sunny88]PKMAN,

Thank you for your very detailed comments about your own experience. We really liked the development and think it’s a great value given the quality of the homes and convenient location. However, one concern is the quality of schools in Santee. This issue has not been discussed and your input is appreciated (if you’re familiar with the schools). Thank you! [/quote]

Santee schools actually are quite well rated statewide.

Rio Seco (K-8) has an API score of 846, putting it in the top 15% of all elementary schools in the state.

Santana High isn’t as highly rated, but is still better than average (725 API rating) putting it in the top 30% or so of high schools.

Overall school district is comparable to San Marcos. Definitely below the gems in San Diego like the La Jolla, Poway, San Dieguito, or Carlsbad systems, but substantially better than the average.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=sunny88]PKMAN,

Thank you for your very detailed comments about your own experience. We really liked the development and think it’s a great value given the quality of the homes and convenient location. However, one concern is the quality of schools in Santee. This issue has not been discussed and your input is appreciated (if you’re familiar with the schools). Thank you! [/quote]

Santee schools actually are quite well rated statewide.

Rio Seco (K-8) has an API score of 846, putting it in the top 15% of all elementary schools in the state.

Santana High isn’t as highly rated, but is still better than average (725 API rating) putting it in the top 30% or so of high schools.

Overall school district is comparable to San Marcos. Definitely below the gems in San Diego like the La Jolla, Poway, San Dieguito, or Carlsbad systems, but substantially better than the average.

[SDEngineer]

[quote=PKMAN]
I do experience some bottleneck and slow down driving to work (near Montgomery Field) and back via 52. However it’s nowhere near as bad as the I-15 commute to/from San Marcos, where I used to live. It takes me just 15-20 minutes each way.
[/quote]

This was something I was fairly worried about, since I’ve heard horror stories about the 52 commute, and it would be the shortest distance to my work (I work in Sabre Springs). I was hoping that it would improve once they had the third lane all the way from Mast through to 15 (which was recently completed). I take it that from your experience it is significantly improved over what it used to be?

If it’s too bad, the alternate route that some of my coworkers take is the 67 north and cut through Poway, but I was definitely hoping that the new improvements would help the 52 commute. It’ll be even nicer once they have the offramp to Cuyamaca open (though I don’t know whether they’ll open that early or whether we have to wait til the entire leg to the 67 is completed late next year).

[SDEngineer]

[quote=PKMAN]
I do experience some bottleneck and slow down driving to work (near Montgomery Field) and back via 52. However it’s nowhere near as bad as the I-15 commute to/from San Marcos, where I used to live. It takes me just 15-20 minutes each way.
[/quote]

This was something I was fairly worried about, since I’ve heard horror stories about the 52 commute, and it would be the shortest distance to my work (I work in Sabre Springs). I was hoping that it would improve once they had the third lane all the way from Mast through to 15 (which was recently completed). I take it that from your experience it is significantly improved over what it used to be?

If it’s too bad, the alternate route that some of my coworkers take is the 67 north and cut through Poway, but I was definitely hoping that the new improvements would help the 52 commute. It’ll be even nicer once they have the offramp to Cuyamaca open (though I don’t know whether they’ll open that early or whether we have to wait til the entire leg to the 67 is completed late next year).

[SDEngineer]

[quote=PKMAN]
I do experience some bottleneck and slow down driving to work (near Montgomery Field) and back via 52. However it’s nowhere near as bad as the I-15 commute to/from San Marcos, where I used to live. It takes me just 15-20 minutes each way.
[/quote]

This was something I was fairly worried about, since I’ve heard horror stories about the 52 commute, and it would be the shortest distance to my work (I work in Sabre Springs). I was hoping that it would improve once they had the third lane all the way from Mast through to 15 (which was recently completed). I take it that from your experience it is significantly improved over what it used to be?

If it’s too bad, the alternate route that some of my coworkers take is the 67 north and cut through Poway, but I was definitely hoping that the new improvements would help the 52 commute. It’ll be even nicer once they have the offramp to Cuyamaca open (though I don’t know whether they’ll open that early or whether we have to wait til the entire leg to the 67 is completed late next year).

[SDEngineer]

[quote=PKMAN]
I do experience some bottleneck and slow down driving to work (near Montgomery Field) and back via 52. However it’s nowhere near as bad as the I-15 commute to/from San Marcos, where I used to live. It takes me just 15-20 minutes each way.
[/quote]

This was something I was fairly worried about, since I’ve heard horror stories about the 52 commute, and it would be the shortest distance to my work (I work in Sabre Springs). I was hoping that it would improve once they had the third lane all the way from Mast through to 15 (which was recently completed). I take it that from your experience it is significantly improved over what it used to be?

If it’s too bad, the alternate route that some of my coworkers take is the 67 north and cut through Poway, but I was definitely hoping that the new improvements would help the 52 commute. It’ll be even nicer once they have the offramp to Cuyamaca open (though I don’t know whether they’ll open that early or whether we have to wait til the entire leg to the 67 is completed late next year).

[SDEngineer]

[quote=PKMAN]
I do experience some bottleneck and slow down driving to work (near Montgomery Field) and back via 52. However it’s nowhere near as bad as the I-15 commute to/from San Marcos, where I used to live. It takes me just 15-20 minutes each way.
[/quote]

This was something I was fairly worried about, since I’ve heard horror stories about the 52 commute, and it would be the shortest distance to my work (I work in Sabre Springs). I was hoping that it would improve once they had the third lane all the way from Mast through to 15 (which was recently completed). I take it that from your experience it is significantly improved over what it used to be?

If it’s too bad, the alternate route that some of my coworkers take is the 67 north and cut through Poway, but I was definitely hoping that the new improvements would help the 52 commute. It’ll be even nicer once they have the offramp to Cuyamaca open (though I don’t know whether they’ll open that early or whether we have to wait til the entire leg to the 67 is completed late next year).

[SDEngineer]

I believe Unixed isn’t talking about buying the actual model of the Plan 6 homes – there was one left of the Plan 6 homes in the original phase (the final home in that half of the development available). Pretty sure that’s the one he’s talking about. We looked at it before we decided to wait for the new phase, and it’s got a really nice location in the complex, however, we decided that the interior space was more important to us than the nicer view that unit had.

We looked at the Model 1’s in the SFR development as well, but decided that a small driveway and back yard weren’t worth it to us in comparison to the much larger “family area” in the Plan 6’s. That’s the big reason we’re buying the Plan 6 ourselves is that we really liked the layout of the main living floor – tons of space to entertain in, and my wife loves the huge kitchen.

BTW, we are going to be doing what you were thinking of doing – our entertainment center will be along the small wall in the family room, which allows us to lay out the rest of the room with a nice home theatre style loveseat and sofa along the back and side walls, and still be open to the kitchen/nook area. We think that’ll give it a much more “open” feel than the model has in that area of the home.

We’ve gone back and looked through our unit a couple of times over the past month, and have been quite impressed with the build quality going into them – all copper plumbing, with the exception of waste pipes, which are cast iron, and the sprinkler system (CPVC, which we don’t mind, since it’s only carrying cold water at constant pressure). Subflooring seems excellent – even with only just the plywood in, there’s no squeaks or give in the upper floors.

Cheers,

SD Engineer

[SDEngineer]

I believe Unixed isn’t talking about buying the actual model of the Plan 6 homes – there was one left of the Plan 6 homes in the original phase (the final home in that half of the development available). Pretty sure that’s the one he’s talking about. We looked at it before we decided to wait for the new phase, and it’s got a really nice location in the complex, however, we decided that the interior space was more important to us than the nicer view that unit had.

We looked at the Model 1’s in the SFR development as well, but decided that a small driveway and back yard weren’t worth it to us in comparison to the much larger “family area” in the Plan 6’s. That’s the big reason we’re buying the Plan 6 ourselves is that we really liked the layout of the main living floor – tons of space to entertain in, and my wife loves the huge kitchen.

BTW, we are going to be doing what you were thinking of doing – our entertainment center will be along the small wall in the family room, which allows us to lay out the rest of the room with a nice home theatre style loveseat and sofa along the back and side walls, and still be open to the kitchen/nook area. We think that’ll give it a much more “open” feel than the model has in that area of the home.

We’ve gone back and looked through our unit a couple of times over the past month, and have been quite impressed with the build quality going into them – all copper plumbing, with the exception of waste pipes, which are cast iron, and the sprinkler system (CPVC, which we don’t mind, since it’s only carrying cold water at constant pressure). Subflooring seems excellent – even with only just the plywood in, there’s no squeaks or give in the upper floors.

Cheers,

SD Engineer

[SDEngineer]

I believe Unixed isn’t talking about buying the actual model of the Plan 6 homes – there was one left of the Plan 6 homes in the original phase (the final home in that half of the development available). Pretty sure that’s the one he’s talking about. We looked at it before we decided to wait for the new phase, and it’s got a really nice location in the complex, however, we decided that the interior space was more important to us than the nicer view that unit had.

We looked at the Model 1’s in the SFR development as well, but decided that a small driveway and back yard weren’t worth it to us in comparison to the much larger “family area” in the Plan 6’s. That’s the big reason we’re buying the Plan 6 ourselves is that we really liked the layout of the main living floor – tons of space to entertain in, and my wife loves the huge kitchen.

BTW, we are going to be doing what you were thinking of doing – our entertainment center will be along the small wall in the family room, which allows us to lay out the rest of the room with a nice home theatre style loveseat and sofa along the back and side walls, and still be open to the kitchen/nook area. We think that’ll give it a much more “open” feel than the model has in that area of the home.

We’ve gone back and looked through our unit a couple of times over the past month, and have been quite impressed with the build quality going into them – all copper plumbing, with the exception of waste pipes, which are cast iron, and the sprinkler system (CPVC, which we don’t mind, since it’s only carrying cold water at constant pressure). Subflooring seems excellent – even with only just the plywood in, there’s no squeaks or give in the upper floors.

Cheers,

SD Engineer

[SDEngineer]

I believe Unixed isn’t talking about buying the actual model of the Plan 6 homes – there was one left of the Plan 6 homes in the original phase (the final home in that half of the development available). Pretty sure that’s the one he’s talking about. We looked at it before we decided to wait for the new phase, and it’s got a really nice location in the complex, however, we decided that the interior space was more important to us than the nicer view that unit had.

We looked at the Model 1’s in the SFR development as well, but decided that a small driveway and back yard weren’t worth it to us in comparison to the much larger “family area” in the Plan 6’s. That’s the big reason we’re buying the Plan 6 ourselves is that we really liked the layout of the main living floor – tons of space to entertain in, and my wife loves the huge kitchen.

BTW, we are going to be doing what you were thinking of doing – our entertainment center will be along the small wall in the family room, which allows us to lay out the rest of the room with a nice home theatre style loveseat and sofa along the back and side walls, and still be open to the kitchen/nook area. We think that’ll give it a much more “open” feel than the model has in that area of the home.

We’ve gone back and looked through our unit a couple of times over the past month, and have been quite impressed with the build quality going into them – all copper plumbing, with the exception of waste pipes, which are cast iron, and the sprinkler system (CPVC, which we don’t mind, since it’s only carrying cold water at constant pressure). Subflooring seems excellent – even with only just the plywood in, there’s no squeaks or give in the upper floors.

Cheers,

SD Engineer

[Author]

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