Oceanside or San Elijo Hills (San Diego, Vista: real estate, foreclosures, rent)

[evieamie]

Hi my husband and I are moving to SD in May and are currently looking at homes to buy. We ideally would love to be in Carlsbad as I'm from Sydney Aus. and love the Ocean and city life etc. But we're a young family with 1 daughter and our budget only allows us to buy a home around $350-$375k at this point without changing our lifestyle. So anyway we've found 2 homes we really like so far, one's a beautiful townhome in San Elijo Hills and the other a house in Oceanside 92056. Which would be better overall? We're looking for safety, good schools and easy commute to beaches etc. Luckily we don't have to deal with daily commutes as we both work from home. I like that the house in Oceanside is only 5 miles to Carlsbad but am concerned with the schools. Our daughter is only 2 so we have a few years to go, but education is a priority for us. Or would it be better to just bite the bullet and buy a much smaller (and probably dated) townhome in Carlsbad itself?? Thanks!

[esmith143]

The usual advice: don't buy right away, rent for a while, look around, home prices are falling, etc.

Oceanside, for the most part, isn't great (weak schools, largely Mexican population) but there are some livable parts. All else equal, a house in Oceanside will be cheaper than anywhere else because of its relative remoteness from jobs in San Diego. You can get something like this

5128 MAPLEWOOD CIR, Oceanside, CA 92056 | $359,950 | Oceanside Real Estate

If I didn't have to commute, I'd rather live in a real house in a good part of Oceanside or Vista than in a townhouse without any backyard in San Elijo Hills for the same money. SEH schools are above average for San Diego County but they aren't extraordinary.

[CrissCT]

I've know a lot of people have moved from San Elijio hills frustrated because the retail portion has never been built as promised. There was an article on it in the Union Tribune, October 2007. I could only find a letter to the editor referencing the article, "Developer has failed on town center" but I remember reading it.

Letters to the editor: North Edition | The San Diego Union-Tribune

[Sampaguita]

I know that a lot of people love living in SEH but one of our friends who lives there (for last 5 yrs) wants to move because it is a) extremely hot during the summer months and b) at least 20 minutes to the 5 fwy. They are hoping to eventually sell & buy in Encinitas. As far as I know, SEH has completed building their 2 schools (elem & middle).

[Woof]

From what I've read, there have been a large number of foreclosures in Oceanside, so if you rent for a month or two you would have many options. It's not the safest area, but neither is it terrible, and the beach is quite nice from what little I've seen of it.

[kimmer]

You might try looking over the hill from San Elijo Hills at Discovery Hills (in San Marcos). It has the same great schools as SEH, but most neighborhoods don't have Mello-Roos taxes.
We have some detached condo's in Discovery Hills that are stand-alone, with attached 2 car garages that are well within your price range. All have yards - fairly small ones, but yards. Family friendly people, safe neighborhood. The ocean is about 20 minutes straight down Palomar Airport Road, but not within walking distance. Lots of restaurants/shops, but not generally within walking distance of most neighborhoods.

SEH has finally started building the Albertson's (grocery store). It should be finished fairly quickly. There's a pastry shop & gas station so far. There were/are plans for a day care center, dry cleaners, and a few other shops, but I don't know when those will be built.

Oceanside will be cheaper, but the schools are bad. Lots of gang activity in certain areas. Beach is OK, Carlsbad beaches are nicer.

Given the choice, especially with a family, I'd either pick the old attached condo in Carlsbad (if walking to the beach is the most important thing for you), or a detached condo in Discovery Hills.