30 yr old business professional, where to live?? (San Diego, Encinitas: apartments, rentals)

[buttacup79]

Hi all, I have searched many postings, and want to see what anyone else thought.

I am moving to San Diego next week, and am looking for an area to call home. So far I have: Del Mar, Encintas, Cardiff, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Scripps Ranch.

Which areas would best fit my lifestyle?

I am 30, single, female, business professional, like socializing with intelligent people ( i have a couple degrees), like quietness, outdoor activities are good, and above everything safety is a big issue for me.

I lived in NYC before, and was able to pinpoint areas after living there a while i.e. Williamsburg Brooklyn - artsy, Upper East Side, NYC - business professionals.

Thank you in advance!

[72degreeboredom]

All of these areas are generally quiet, affluent and safe. What part of the city/county would you be working? Traffic/commute will be a consideration. Based on the areas mentioned, budget will not.

[buttacup79]

Thanks for the reply! I will be working from home, but will eventually be working probably in the sorrento valley area.

I have a car, but I am totally open to public transportation (if it is quicker and reliable)

[Encinitan]

There's certainly nothing wrong with Solana Beach, if you can afford it. There are a good number of younger professionals in the city. Technology, medical research, workers in those sorts of fields. Encinitas is also very nice, but very family oriented. Cardiff by the Sea, which you mentioned, is a community in Encinitas, and it has a very beachy, laid back vibe. It sure isn't New York City!! But if you're willing to hang out with a fair number of people wearing flip flops and board shorts, who call in sick to work when the surf if up, then you might like it. Cardiff might suit you better than the rest of Encinitas (Village Park, Olivenhain, etc.), which tend to be families, soccer games, etc. Del Mar, again, very nice. Pricey too. Carmel Valley is again family oriented, not a whole lot of coummunity out there, but it's closest to Sorrento Valley. Overall, I'd say you've identified some of the nicest cities and communities in San Diego County. Good luck with your search.

[aacole]

The La jolla area is very nice and has many art galleries and restaurants. In fact, we would go on the La Jolla Art Walk every year when we lived in University City.

Used to go to the children's cove all the time before the seals came.

[buttacup79]

Thanks so much for the info!

How far would the commute be from encinitas/solano beach to sorrento valley? In a car or by public transportation

So, do the younger business professionals (in their late 20s to early 30s) live only near the beach, and more inland is families? I def. dont want to live near too many kids if possible. (I did that in my last apartment, and it was very noisy!)

Would i be able to ride a bike to do shopping? I have a car, but i also like to bike.

How is the University City Area? If it is all students, than I prob. would feel too old

Is there any great discount shopping too? In NYC, for discount designer stuff I went to Century 21, and for cheap, fresh fruits and veggies, I went to 3 guys from brooklyn

[aacole]

University City is a bit further from the beach (La Jolla). It is a mix of students and professionals. UTC and La Jolla Village Square are there for shopping and UTC has become more upscale than it used to be.

If I could afford to move back to that area I would. Its close enough to the beach (4 or so miles), so bicycling there is possible. One great thing about San Diego is there are dedicated bike lanes everywhere (Which are not available here in Atlanta) so it is definitely accessible by bike.

I'm not saying University city is the best match for you, but it has a lot of options. Towards the higher end of housing you probably wouldn't be dealing with a lot of students and it isn't really known as a family neighborhood. Clairemont is there for that.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by buttacup79

Thanks so much for the info!

How far would the commute be from encinitas/solano beach to sorrento valley? In a car or by public transportation

So, do the younger business professionals (in their late 20s to early 30s) live only near the beach, and more inland is families? I def. dont want to live near too many kids if possible. (I did that in my last apartment, and it was very noisy!)

Would i be able to ride a bike to do shopping? I have a car, but i also like to bike.

How is the University City Area? If it is all students, than I prob. would feel too old

Is there any great discount shopping too? In NYC, for discount designer stuff I went to Century 21, and for cheap, fresh fruits and veggies, I went to 3 guys from brooklyn

The commute from Solana Beach to Sorrento Valley is about 15 minutes, depending on traffic of course. From Encinitas, again depending on traffic, add 10-15 minutes. But again, traffic can be bad during rush hour. There would be the Coaster commuter train option. There are stations in Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Sorrento Valley.
There are some beach rentals and condos in Solana Beach, mostly where Lomas Santa Fe dead ends at the ocean, but a lot of that area is either homeowners or very pricey rentals. Like thousands of dollars a month pricey. But as you go inland a bit, there are more "affordable" rentals, and you're still a long walk or short bike ride/drive to the beach.
North County is very family oriented. So avoiding children may be a challenge.
I think you might enjoy Cardiff or downtown Encinitas better than Solana Beach. Younger vibe, more shopping and nightlife. And just 5-10 minutes north of Solana Beach.

[buttacup79]

Wow! thanks again for all that great information! This is so helpful!

Are there any areas in Encinitas to avoid?

Any bargain shopping around Encinitas? Trying to find cheaper grocery stores, discount designer

Any other websites to find rentals besides craigslist, and apartment buildings' websites?

[aacole]

apartments.com
forrent.com

Craigslist is one of the better ones, but watch out for scams. The old saying is right, if its too good to be true...

Remember to check apartmentratings.com to see the complaints. Remember, though most people go to these sites to complain rather than give positive comments.