Jamul and/or La Mesa Relocating from Canada (Los Angeles, San Diego: real estate, foreclosure)

[juleone]

Hello all.
I am a Canadian (London Ontario) looking to move my young family down to the San Diego area. Two areas we are looking into right now are Jamul and La Mesa. Would love to hear from anyone who can provide insight into quality of life, quality of schools for young children, pediatricians, real estate, even restaurants and shopping!

Anyone prefer one area over the other? Why?

Many thanks for your thoughts.

[KQSellsHomes]

Juleone,

Jamul and La Mesa are very different communities. Jamul is rural, with one stop light, a couple stores and restaurants. It has a true sense of community, great schools and a small town atmoshpere. La Mesa is much more urban. It has great charm but the population is denser. There are malls and public transportation. While there is one primary school, one intermediate school, one middle school and one high school in Jamul, there are a number of different schools in La Mesa and some are better than others depending on which neighborhood you choose within La Mesa. I hope this helps.

[juleone]

Thanks KQSellsHomes
That does help immensely! Between your post and some more research I do think La Mesa is more our speed. We would like a choice of school for our kids, access to pediatricians and a coffee house or two wouldn't hurt!
I will have to start researching the different neighborhoods within La Mesa. Mt Helix is one that I have found that appears nice on paper. I will have to try and find out about the schools in that area.
Love to hear other suggestions for areas with top rated schools within La Mesa.
Thanks again

[KQSellsHomes]

If you go to the La Mesa/Spring Valley School district website they will have information regarding state test scores. Mt Helix is a good area. Some of the homes have awesome views. You would be close everything. They definately need a starbucks in Jamul

[AFTERSHOCK]

I think you should forget both and go for Santee. La Mesa is crowded and a lot of crime (three murders there last year). Santee is more quiet and the schools would be better. It would be like Jamul except with a shopping center and restaurants close by.

[WWWatchdog]

I was born in San Diego and lived there until I was 9.

Then I was raised in LA MESA from age 9 until I left at 18.

Lived all over San Diego before moving back to LA MESA at age 30.

Finished raising my children in LA MESA. It is urban without being big city.

Did not leave LA MESA again until age 38 when I moved to the Hillcrest region of San Diego and, after 5 years there, I moved to Little Italy in San Diego.

Less than 6 months after that I was visiting my new boyfriend when we had the Northridge Earthquake, January 17, 1994! Ended up living THERE and in Burbank, CA.

In 2001 we moved to Wrightwood, CA, 6000 feet up in the San Gabriel Mountains, 90 minutes from Los Angeles and 120-180 minutes to San Diego.

My parents still live in LA MESA so I am still there for a few days almost every month.

A nephew of mine and his new wife (in their late 20's) also live in LA MESA and they love it there.

Jamul IS very rural, out in the boondocks... great if you have horses.

I don't know about current Santee, but...

I would move back to LA MESA or GRANITE HILLS if I ever come back to San Diego.

Mt. Helix is very PRICEY and most of the homes are older now.

ALL OF SAN DIEGO is pricey, but now is the time to bring your Canadian dollars down and buy with our foreclosure crises.

I think you will love San Diego and I wish you all the luck in the world there!

I might move back again sometime in my life, but am very happy right where I am here and now.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[juleone]

Thanks so much for your opinions! I love reading every one of them.

[AFTERSHOCK]

Hi juleone,
I would also add that La Mesa IS a nice place though, u will like it...I just have to rag on it once in a while because I live in neighboring Lemon Grove, and we always get called "ghetto" here lol.

[juleone]

So aftershock.....were there 3 murders there last year?? That's seems s little scary for asafe little suburb of 60 000 people.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by juleone

So aftershock.....were there 3 murders there last year?? That's seems s little scary for asafe little suburb of 60 000 people.

La Mesa is contiguous with San Diego next door, where there are over a million people.