Condo 2 bdrm. $450,000 Budget Chicago to San Diego (El Cajon, Carlsbad: apartments, condominium)

[Walkaboutcreek]

Exactly, if someone wants A/C they do. Not for me to have an opinion.

[someguy10]

Random other things to think about from a guy and gal who also work remotely. Construction in San Diego will pale compared to Chicago (or anywhere with four real seasons). Many windows are single pane and nowhere near airtight. They let a lot of noise in. If you're a normal 9-5 office desk jockey, it's no big deal given the temperate climate. But if you work from home and need quiet -- either to hear yourself think or to be on calls -- that can be a lot more of an issue. Also because lots of loud work is intentionally done during the M-F 9-5 times because most people are away at work. Same issue with shared walls/floors/ceilings. Old, thin everything is more the norm so barking dogs and other neighbor noises can intrude.

That said, it's amazing to have a two-hour schedule gap and use it to walk the dog or run along the beach.

[Walkaboutcreek]

I work with so many people that work remotely it's a given that someone has noise going on all the time on a call be it kids, pets, traffic, planes etc. Not a huge issue. But yes with windows closed and there all day at times A/C will be necessary.

My boss is actually in San Francisco and the time gap works well for us so I can see that.

[Walkaboutcreek]

Any thoughts on the River Colony Condos on Camino De La Reina? Not too familiar with that area though I can picture it.

Also in genral in my mind, there is really not a "bad" area West of 805 from Pacific Beach on the North down to Ocean Beach on the South which would include the downtown neighborhoods. Given where I am from crime is not even on my radar. By "bad" I mean not desirable for whatever reason. Recalling commute and schools are not variables for me. Is that a fair assessment?

[sfosyd]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

Any thoughts on the River Colony Condos on Camino De La Reina? Not too familiar with that area though I can picture it.

I don't think you would like this area coming from the West Loop. Mission Valley is full of strip malls and not walkable in any traditional urban sense. It's also a real pain to get in and out of and I think that is only going to get worse.

I also agree with you about the A/C. It's been getting hotter in San Diego and more humid (nothing like what you are used to) but I think it's needed especially if you work from home.

I'm not familiar with Chicago but took a quick look at condo listings in the west loop due to your post. Wow. It is much less expensive than San Diego. 300k for a modern, 2 bedroom with a 100 walkscore. You won't find that here.

[spoonman1]

I believe hardly any major city has crime as bad as Chicago, but not everywhere west of the 805 is good. 5, yes. 805, not so much.

Places like Logan Heights, skid row, National City, parts of Linda Vista, etc are west of 805.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

Any thoughts on the River Colony Condos on Camino De La Reina? Not too familiar with that area though I can picture it.

Also in genral in my mind, there is really not a "bad" area West of 805 from Pacific Beach on the North down to Ocean Beach on the South which would include the downtown neighborhoods. Given where I am from crime is not even on my radar. By "bad" I mean not desirable for whatever reason. Recalling commute and schools are not variables for me. Is that a fair assessment?

There are some areas that have larger and more visible homeless populations. I'd include the East Village (downtown), the Gaslamp (downtown) and the Marina District (downtown) and also parts of OB in that category. Probably won't bother you if you're used to that in your area in Chicago, but it can be a turn off for some, especially when they're paying almost half a million for a condo that has homeless folks camping on the sidewalk below.

You no doubt already know this, but when looking at ads, some times agents will try to "spin" the location. They'll say a place is in "Point Loma" or "Ocean Beach" conjuring images of being ocean front but it's really more the less desirable Midway area (and yes, I know *some* might consider that part of OB or Point Loma).

This probably isn't much different in Chicago, but worth mentioning any how: there are some older condo complexes here (especially older ones in Mission Valley) where the condo associations had some financial issues for a number of years after the last recession. That made it harder to sell units. So, as a result, some complexes have ended up being more renter-occupied than owner occupied and sometimes maintenance has been a bit deferred. That would be something to think about, although it wouldn't necessarily prevent me from buying if I loved the unit. A good real estate agent should be able to fill you in on that though.

Also, if you're looking any where close to the beach be sure to ask about condo association restrictions on short term vacation rentals. Most people don't want to end up in a complex full of apartments that are being flipped every few days through airbnb, and it is a real issue in some areas.

Good luck with your move!

[Walkaboutcreek]

Thanks for the tips. Yes we score 100 for walkability. $300 is about bottom for anything you'd want in West Loop 2 bedroom. But I digress.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by spoonman1

I believe hardly any major city has crime as bad as Chicago, but not everywhere west of the 805 is good. 5, yes. 805, not so much.

Places like Logan Heights, skid row, National City, parts of Linda Vista, etc are west of 805.

Not everywhere west of the 5 is good. Bario Logan & Nestor are two that come to mind within the city of San Diego. There’s some sketchy parts of IB and Oceanside that are west of the 5 too.

[spoonman1]

Very true. Hell, even walking around industrial areas in the Midway area can be sketchy.