San Marcos, CA ? (San Diego, Oceanside, Escondido: for sale, to rent, condos)

[mattnorris]

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could give me some information on San Marcos, CA. A possible job offer could give me a chance to relocate there from Toronto ON, Canada. Im just trying to get some advice on what the area is like. Any information on cost of living and saftey in the area would be great.

Thanks so much and Take Care

Matt Norris

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

We live in San Marcos, so I have first-hand knowledge of the area. The town was small, and fairly insignificant, until about 10 years ago. Then, new, master-planned developments started in the northwest (Santa Fe Hills), south (by Cal State San Marcos), southwest (Discovery Hills) and southeast (San Elijo Hills). The middle is to be avoided for its crime and poor housing stock, but each of the newer areas has pleasant housing options. Of course, the prices are much higher than they were even five years ago but are leveling. Lots of new retail but not particularly upscale; that's in Carlsbad, next door. Beach is 10 minutes away, and the weather is almost perfect. Traffic is iffy, and there aren't a lot of high-paying jobs; those are closer to San Diego, which is about 30 miles south. Cal State is growing, and the community college is good. Elementary schools are very good, but the secondary schools leave something to be desired.

[AnotherBravesFan]

...and I can't tell you how many times I've muttered under my breath, "Whoever designed this town ought to be shot!" The traffic is awful. I've sat in bumper to bumper traffic at 6:45 am on San Marcos Blvd. many times. Most mornings Westbound hwy 78 slows down to 40-45 mph through the Eastern part of town even at this early hour. The infrastructure has not kept up with the large influx of big box retailers (Fry's, Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot). Trying to get out of the city at night is tough as well. My office used to be located 1 mile from the San Marcos Blvd. onramp to 78, and many nights it took me over 10 minutes just to get onto the freeway. The community recently voted down a 2nd Wal-mart in the Southern part of the city, partially due to traffic concerns. One positive comment: San Elijo Hills has won awards and seems a popular place for people to move to. Thumbs up to the previous poster's good overview of the different parts of town.

[kimmer]

I agree with the last 2 posters. I've seen it grow a lot. Traffic on San Marcos blvd. is bad during the day. Mostly worse now because of the new Fry's, and Lowe's shopping center, access to 78.
It is centrally located in the county, though. If you can get through traffic on surface streets, you'll have fast access to all major freeways in the area - 15, 78, and the 5. And, shhhhh, in a few areas, some houses even have an ocean view! (some San Elijo Hills houses, and the houses off Rancho Santa Fe Road). The area itself is nestled in a small valley with hills/mountains around it.

Most areas of the city are safe. Stay away from the houses/areas west of Rancho Santa Fe road to the 78. That is gang area. Some of the areas off So. Santa Fe north of the 78 aren't great, either.
The nicer areas include Santa Fe Hills, Discovery Hills, and San Elijo Hills. They're newer areas. Generally, the houses north of the 78 are less expensive (Santa Fe Hills). The schools are a bit dicey/hit-or-miss in that area, but most of the houses are nice. The schools in Discovery Hills are good. Not sure yet about the schools in San Elijo Hills. They're pretty new, so I don't know the stats on those yet.
In general, if you can afford it, try to rent or own south of the 78, especially if you have kids (for the schools). (That's San Elijo Hills or Discovery Hills).

San Marcos' population is fairly diverse. Lots of great taco shops!

The city doesn't have a huge amount of shopping within it's borders, so some end up having to shop outside the city limits (usually within 10-15 miles). For instance, there's no Target, but there is a Wal-Mart (barf), a Kohl's, Costco, and a newly opened Nordstrom Rack, Petsmart. There's "restaurant row" with a TON of good restaurants, a big movie theatre. There are plenty of grocery shops, dry cleaners, fast-food joints here. Many of the businesses in town are light industrial. I think another poster already mentioned CSU San Marcos. There's also Palomar Community College. Train service from Escondido to Oceanside (with stops in San Marcos) will start fairly soon.
Basically, it's a nice community that's growing. Not a lot of night life. Mostly families and some college students.
Traffic out into San Diego can be bad if you have to commute from north to south in the AM.
San Diego in general has a high cost of living. San Marcos was more affordable in the 90's, but like every other location has appreciated dramatically. Even rents have gone up a lot.
I'm seeing prices for single family homes ranging from around $600K - $900K. Some smaller detached condos are going from the high 400K's - low 500K's. I really don't know what rents are like there.

As far as other bills/expenses. For a small house, gas & Electric bills range depending on how often you use AC/heat. (San Marcos does get hot, so you will use your AC). In the warmer winter months, the bill averages around $80.00 per month. During the brutally hot summer months (July - October), it skyrocketed to $260.00 per month.

[littleao]

I'm about to relocate to San Marc. and I found a 2br condo to rent on s. rancho santa fe rd. Its just south of san marcos blvd. I have not gone there yet can you tell me what I can expect?

[esmith143]

Does anyone have an opinion of Laurels (west of RSF road, south of San Marcos Blvd) and surrounding areas? Any "icebergs" (non obvious problems)? What about gang activity / proximity of the trailer park? I like the fact that it's an established neighborhood with real trees and such and I'm considering it as an alternative to San Elijo Hills.

[kimmer]

littleao & esmith143,
There's a small shopping center with a great taco shop and an Albertson's grocery store close by. A good Japanese restaurant as well. The intersection of Rancho Santa Fe and
San Marcos Blvd. is busy. But you would both be well located to easily reach Carlsbad, freeways, etc.

littleao, if I'm correct in where I'm picturing those condos, they appear nice. They are just off the busy intersection of Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos Blvd. San Marcos High School is on the other side of the street. The Albertsons and other shops are right next door. Other side of the street is another strip mall with a CVS drug store, and a few other good eateries.
They tried to convert them for sale a few years ago, and that never happened.

The trailer park is not a problem. It has always appeared to be well kept up. No raging seniors out and about.

Gangs aren't a problem right there. Gangs are located more north, roughly from La Mirada up to the 78, and west of Rancho Santa Fe.

esmith143, if schools are important to you, check with the district on the boundaries. They're slightly changing because of a new school opening, so your area might be affected. In the 11 years I've lived here, the only thing I've ever heard in the news about that development was before the third traffic lane was added on San Marcos Blvd/Palomar Airport Road, people would use the Laurels entrance to try and complete u-turns, which made residents mad.

Sorry, I don't have any more info for you both, but I hope this helps

[littleao]

Great. Thanks Kimmer My wife will be please to hear that. She's extremely paranoid.

[GratefulDeb]

If you go to googlemaps and type in the address in the maps area, it will give you an overview. Then if you click on street view, it looks like you are driving down the street. Its really cool and you can see what the area looks like.

[kimmer]

Not sure what happened with traffic today, but I drove up Palomar Airport road/San Marcos Blvd. at 4:30, and THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC??!!! Where was everyone? Stuck on the 5?

Maybe the rain kept everyone off the roads.