affording san diego (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange: appointed, rentals, home owners insurance)

[skpatel73]

As a displaced and proud south Georgian who has lived in SD for 5 years, and is about to move to Austin TX due to the kick in the teeth our financial future has gotten from this expensive state, I just have to give you fair warning on moving here....yes, the weather is good, but many other states have nice weather without the exorbitant price tag. I would think very, very carefully before moving out here. That's what everyone told us before we moved here, and how I wish we had listened. Where there's smoke, there's fire, as they say......JMHO......

[rkb0305]

My sister and her husband live in SD. They paid $400,000+ for a 900 sf condo. Selling it and moving to a house is not an option because of the current market. They are double income, no kids, but would like to start a family. Now, they are trying to figure out how to fit a baby and all the baby stuff into their tiny place, and being a stay at home mom is not an option due to the high mortgage. Might be just as well. All the suburbs they wanted to move to were on fire last fall anyway.

[austin_or_sd]

San Diego is good for two types of family:

1. Both husband and wife work with total income over $2300K
2. Retired with good savings or don't mind living in a small condo. You can fully enjoy their weather without the traffic part.

[adreher]

Thanks all who replied! I did drive around sd in jan and found ramona and escondido to be more reasonable. I have a realtor sending me info on houses for sale in those towns for under $475,000 with at least .5 acre. There is about 16 houses and they all were just reduced! I will consider your comments....

[DawnW]

What do you mean an income of $2300K? Do you mean per week? Per month? Per year? That seems awfully low, even for a monthly income.

Dawn

Originally Posted by austin_or_sd

San Diego is good for two types of family:

1. Both husband and wife work with total income over $2300K
2. Retired with good savings or don't mind living in a small condo. You can fully enjoy their weather without the traffic part.

[kimmer]

adreher,
Glad you found a few places that work for you.

Just remember to take those warnings about cutting back brush & keeping anything flamable away from your property and house seriously. We've had some horribly large, destructive fires in the past few years, and it still amazes me how many houses burn because they had shake-shingle roofs or brush &/or patio furniture right up against the house.

[esmith143]

I'm not sure what's harder: commuting anywhere from Ramona or finding a well-paying job there.

If you're planning to retire in San Diego, look at San Diego Country Estates (or what's left of it after the recent round of wildfires hehe)

Larger properties in Ramona and Escondido fall into three general categories:
- Agricultural (fruit trees, avocadoes)
- Horse properties (empty land, barns, access to horse trails)
- Canyon lots (technically a lot of acreage but most of it is unusable)

Which one do you prefer?

BTW fire your realtor: I see 55 properties matching your description in Ramona alone.

Redfin - Unsupported Browser.

[kimmer]

Is anything in Ramona left after the fires? Maybe some of the main street?

Oh, and a message for everyone who is moving to San Diego, please please get earthquake insurance. We're overdue for the Big One (as they call it). We do have some major fault lines in the county, and it's not a question of if, but when.

Sorry to be so negative, but both fire & earthquake threats are a fact of life in So. Cal.

[austin_or_sd]

Originally Posted by DawnW

What do you mean an income of $2300K? Do you mean per week? Per month? Per year? That seems awfully low, even for a monthly income.

Dawn

My mistake; $200K, everyone makes at least $100K.

[BigBoy]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

My wife was born and raised in Logan Heights, I think she'd strongly disagree with what you consider "acceptable"

I know many natives as well and they seem to be very picky. A friend of mine grew up in El Cajon and would never consider living in the East county anymore. His choice of course, but I can see where the person that made the statement came from.

Of course after Logan Heights, pretty much any community in San Diego is acceptable.