Looking for newer upscale community with lots of kids (San Diego: middle-class, new home)

[Axxlrod]

My wife, 3 young children and I are moving to SD from northern CA. We are looking for upscale communities/developments to purchase a home in. Santaluz, Crosby and Del Sur have been suggested to us, but we haven't had the chance to visit those yet. What other developments would be comparable to those? Preferably with lots of young families.

Traffic patterns or commute time do not matter as I work from home, but a good school district is important. We are looking to spend $1.5M - $2M.

Thanks.

[Daf898]

May want to move a little west and get into Carmel Valley Area or Del Mar and move into the San Dieguito / Del Mar Schools. Poway schools are great as well. Prices have definately come down quite a bit and you should have no problem finding something nice for your price points.

A few other ideas. If you go east into Poway you can get a little more land for your price. Your other option might be to check the coastal corridor from Del Mar north to Southern Carlsbad. You'll get the better the weather and beaches and plenty of kids.

Good Luck

[sdlife619]

Stay in Northern Cali, we got enough rich people here as it is

[xperry]

I'd recommend stonebridge estates in Scripps Ranch. You can buy a really nice brand new home with a larger lot for under 1.5M. Landscaping is extra. This community is in the poway unified school district.

[Axxlrod]

Originally Posted by sdlife619

Stay in Northern Cali, we got enough rich people here as it is

I'm not rich. I'm middle class. Thanks for your contribution.

[esmith143]

If you're looking to spend 1.5M on a house, you're not middle class, no way no how.

Also, the idea of spending 1.5M is fundamentally incompatible with getting into a community with lots of young children, because communities in that price range are populated by wealthy retirees and people in their 40's and 50's, whose kids are in college or on their own. If you want many young kids around, you might want to rein in your spending and look in areas with prices under 750K.

[treedonkey]

If you have 1.5 - 2 mill to spend, why don't you just hire a buying agent and let them help you find what you need? And 1.5 - 2 million $$ homes are not for the middle class. You will not find an abundance of normal, middle class kids in such neighborhoods...

[Sassberto]

If you're spending 1.5-2MM you won't be in a middle class area. The areas you mentioned are where the elite of San Diego typically live. And it's true that a million dollar home does not mean necessarily mean rich, but that's how everyone else will see you, so get used to it

If you want upscale / luxury and you want young families stick to new construction i.e. Santaluz or Del Sur, Carmel Valley. Places like Stonebridge or Scripps Ranch will fit the bill but are more like islands of wealth in more upper-middle-class areas, that will be the case for much of inland north county east of 5. Closer into the city you have more mixed areas where million-dollar homes and modest middle-class housing are usually fairly close together. The older parts of the city, i.e. La Jolla, have less young children and an older population.

Suburban San Diego is very segregated by income so if you want to live in a rich area you will be living with rich people and sending your kids to school with them, mostly. Living in an upscale development like those you've mentioned... you might never see your neighbors let alone your kids. They are geared towards privacy and not community. Personally if I had that kind of money to spend I am not sure I would want to live on top of my neighbors in an upscale tract development. I agree with esmith, 700k is where the people with young kids are in San Diego. Those areas tend to be very focused on family amenities like parks and walking trails where you can meet other families.

[Axxlrod]

Thank you for your response, Sassberto. Maybe I'm coming across wrong judging by some of the posts in this thread. We were lucky to buy a house in 2001 and ride the equity wave up, and sell at the top of the market. While we have the ability to spend over $1M for a house, I'd rather not if we can find a neighborhood with the amenities we desire for less. I don't consider myself rich or wealthy by any means. Those people have mansions with Rolls-Royce or Ferraris in the garage; I have a Toyota and a Chevrolet.

Santaluz, Del Sur and 4S Ranch were recommended to us by some friends. There are many homes in those developments that are in the $600K - $800K range, where "normal" people probably live. I am just seeking some feedback on these communities; not trying to start a political debate about socio-economic class.

I will use a realtor when we are ready to buy. Right now I am still in the research phase; hence my asking for advice on this website. I want to know about different communities for myself, not just listen to some realtor tell me where they think I should live.

What would be some communities in the Carmel Valley area that would fit our bill?

[Encinitan]

If I were in your situation, I'd buy a big ol place in Olivenhain and have access to all the great family activities (youth sports, YMCA, beach, etc)in and around Encinitas. There's nothing wrong with Carmel Valley, but there aren't as many amenities for kids from school age into high school there, IMHO. There are also good schools in the area, clear through high school. Good luck to you in your search.