How is Lakeside? (San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa: apartments, renting, crime)

[WTBhome]

Hi everyone,

Over the years I've stayed in various areas of SD county: El Cajon, Little Italy, La Mesa, Serra Mesa, Normal heights, Tierrasanta, Mission Valley..!

I'm now looking to finally stop renting and purchase a home. I found a home I like in Lakeside for a price I can afford but know nothing of the area.

I've driven by and thought it has more rural feel that what I'm used to but that's about all I could tell.
How are the people? Crime? Anything I should know or keep in mind about the area?

The area I'm looking at is below Woodside, above Pepper, west of Winter Gardens blvd.

Please share any insight you may have.

Thank you kindly in advance.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by WTBhome

Hi everyone,

The area I'm looking at is below Woodside, above Pepper, west of Winter Gardens blvd.

Please share any insight you may have.

Thank you kindly in advance.

This area is at the city limits of Santee/Lakeside/El Cajon. I would say its semi rural but you won't need a propane tank like you would in the the area north of the 67 in Lakeside called Eucalyptus Hills.

Since 2011, I've live in a neighborhood on the other side of Winter Gardens Blvd. My driveway is longer and has a gate so I live away from the street and I've never experienced any theft or crime of my home or of our vehicles.

The area is a sort of a hodge podge of different types of houses, some really nice and well kept, others not so nice and then apartments and mobile home parks closer to the main street Winter Gardens Blvd which is where most of the ethnic diversity is.

I suspect that many of the ratty looking homes belong to folks that have lived here for years and others who have inherited their homes from family. That's not to say that all the the old timers are like this, I know a few personally who take very good care of their property. Alot of the old timers are selling and moving out so many folks from other parts of the County are moving. I suppose this is why diversity in the single family homes (outside of the apartments) is on the rise, for instance, my two new neighbors as of 2018 are Asian and Ukranian. We are Hispanic. It's the younger newer families moving in that are really helping to fix up alot of the older ugly looking homes.

The homes are mostly on hills, so don't be surprised if you get a clear view of your neighbors backyard and such. I too mostly lived in city of San Diego before moving out here, I like it out here and have no complaints but most of all I love our home which is where 3 of my 4 young kids have lived their entire life.

[WTBhome]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it!