Military Move/Dilemma (San Diego, Oceanside, Irvine: lease, condos, broker)

[bostonbella]

My husband has orders to Camp Pendleton for next spring, and we are trying to figure out our housing options. We are sick of base housing and renting and have saved long and hard and have plenty for a down payment. He will be working at the northern part of Pendleton, so San Clemente would be optimal for him. However, (assuming I get accepted), I will be starting a Master's Program at SDSU, and eventually working closer to San Diego, and the commute from San Clemente to SDSU seems just way too hellish for me to handle.

We know in San Clemente that even with a big downpayment we can't afford anything but a condo. But we started considering buying a smaller single family in one of the nicer subdivisions in Oceanside because 1) we can get so much more for our money and 2) it would be more fair to split the hellish commute.

So I have a few questions.

How awful will the commute be for my husband up the 5? Is it even worth considering buying in Oceanside? Anything further south down the 5 will just be too far for him.

What do you think is better for resale - a condo in San Clemente or a single family in a nicer subdivison in Oceanside? We're probably only going to be there for four years and we don't want to get stuck where we CAN'T sell a house. There have been some condos in Talega listed for a year or more, and that scares me. It seems to me that when/if the market bounces back it'd also be more likely the value would appreciate on a house in say the Rancho Del Oro neighborhood moreso than a condo in Talega. But I'm really not that familiar with the local demographics/market so that is really an uneducated guess. I've had a few people suggest some of the nicer areas of Oceanside, but what do you all think the best subdivions are?

Are there any other areas near San Clemente that we can look at that will be less than 30 minutes to Camp P and have comparable or even less expensive housing options? I'm guessing no, since it's technically the OC, but every listing I've looked at outside of San Clemente seemed really far from the Camp P north gate.

Thanks so much to anyone who provides some insight! We're feeling pretty lost right now!

[htnspz]

I think the issue will be less about his commute which should stay pretty decent on the 5 and more about your commute because of the drive into San Diego. SDSU is easily a 40 minute drive and if you want to find YOUR employment (if you'll be working), then traveling down South can be pretty taxing.
Also, I would think twice about buying because you could be in trouble in 4 years unable to sell if property values continue to go down. However, if you have the cash down and you can be okay at selling lower than you bought, maybe you would still consider buying.

[oldisnew]

Assuming that today's accepted way of life as a 2some is 50/50 [all-encompassing. right? let's give fairness a chance here for the sake of a lasting marriage], granted you both will be working outdoors [him @ Camp, you in S. Diego] once you're settled, meaning, post OR during masters programme, hun you have only 1 thing ro do: find a place 1/2 way between San Clemente and San Diego. San Clemente is 60 miles north of San Diego. Encinitas is 25 miles north of S Diego. There is your answer.

Encinitas, California.

Also, Camp Pendleton "north" is very close to Pendleton "south" and NOT close to San Clemente as much as it is close to Oceanside or Carlsbad (which, last I was living in L.A. county I witnessed... bad news for fires, take heed!). So, just look into Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-sea. Even Solana Beach, which is about the same distance to the camp as San Clemente is, however to the south, which would be advantageous to you dearest.

I know military wives tend to prioritize hubbie's needs, understandably but the stress will DEFINITELY be on you if you two move to San Clemente and you see yourself working in the heart of San Diego (where most job ops are in the southernmost part of California). I don't care what freeway: rush hour traffic in So Cal is HELLISH when it's hot outside. This ain't Boston, bella. Ciao, e buona fortuna a te.

Oh, and IMHO, moving cross-country? Lease for a year, tell your broker you intend on buying something later. Feel the waters during that first year, check out neighbouring villages, areas, et al. Why purchase right off the bet? Seems impulsive in this situation where you need be "situated" first. We can NEVAHR (attempting an electronic Boston accent *blush*) be too carefull with purchases these days.
Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association | Welcome to Downtown Encinitas California

[bostonbella]

Thanks so much for your replies! We are actually in Hawaii now, not in Boston... we're originally from Boston. And we have been to Camp Pendleton several times and Camp Pendleton North is NOT close to Camp Pendleton South by any means. From where we stayed on Camp Pendleton, it's easily a 35 minute drive to where my husband will be working, that's either by driving on base (which has insanely slow speed limits) or by hopping on the 5 and driving north.

We can't move any more south than Oceanside. We'd both love to, just for the sake of being closer to the city, but we really can't. We'd love to be in Carlsbad but we can't afford anything, and if we're going to buy a condo it will be in San Clemente. I can handle the stress of a long commute and traffic (as I do now), he CANNOT. He will also be more likely to have to go in at bad hours and more than once a day, and as long as I'm in school, I'll only have to make the commute 2-3 times a week. I'll also be likely taking night classes and not driving at rush hour times.

I know we need to be wary of buying but we CAN stay in California if we can't sell or the market is worse than it is now. But we've "thrown away" more than 200k in rent and we'd rather own and then stay in CA or rent it out if we can't sell than continue to rent. We will move into base housing and if we can't find something we love in the first 6 months we intend to just stay in base housing.

So I guess my main concern is still whether it will more likely be easier to sell a condo in San Clemente or a single family in a better subdivision in Oceanside. I know there isn't a straightforward answer but if anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated!

[htnspz]

If you considered Carlsbad, consider Shadowridge Vista as well. I know when I was looking, I checked out the Rancho del oro neighborhoods. My hubby (who wrks at Camp Pendleton as well) and I ultimately decided on this area because it borders Carlsbad and I spend half my time in Carlsbad for shopping etc. The schools in the area are good too if that's up for consideration.

[bostonbella]

I also just looked on Google Maps and what is considered Camp Pendleton North on Google Maps is not what is actually Camp Pendleton North. My husband will be using the Cristianita gate to get to work which goes directly into San Onofre/San Clemente.

Htnspz, I would love to live in Vista.. if my husband wasn't working so far north that is definitely where we would live. I haven't seen all areas of Vista but our friends live there and I just love their area. Their area is too far, but I just looked up the area you suggested and it's showing a 37 minute commute. That would be doable if 37 minutes didn't really translate into an hour and 20 lol. We definitely need to get to CA and drive around and see what's what, I'm just trying to do as much research as possible.

[cruitr]

Any chance of you going to a different school? With your situation, a school almost anywhere in Orange County would be better.

Originally Posted by bostonbella

I also just looked on Google Maps and what is considered Camp Pendleton North on Google Maps is not what is actually Camp Pendleton North. My husband will be using the Cristianita gate to get to work which goes directly into San Onofre/San Clemente.

Htnspz, I would love to live in Vista.. if my husband wasn't working so far north that is definitely where we would live. I haven't seen all areas of Vista but our friends live there and I just love their area. Their area is too far, but I just looked up the area you suggested and it's showing a 37 minute commute. That would be doable if 37 minutes didn't really translate into an hour and 20 lol. We definitely need to get to CA and drive around and see what's what, I'm just trying to do as much research as possible.

[bostonbella]

I'm applying to UC Irvine and considering Fullerton but SDSU is the only school that has the program I really want.

[Sassberto]

Commuting to SDSU from Orange County, even San Clemente, is a non-starter. Adjust your planning accordingly. 40 minutes is absolute best case, realistically you could spend 60-90 minutes+ trying to get to an 8AM or 4PM class.

[bostonbella]

Yeah I know. I never said it was going to be easy or I was going to like it, but I only have so many options because unfortunately, where I go and what I do revolves around my husband's orders. That's why I really wanted to live in Oceanside and am trying to weigh the pros and cons of the whole thing. I still have to be accepted so I want to try not to base our decisions off where I'll be going to school... but either way, I will be avoiding classes at those times at all costs.