Areas in SD similar to SB? (Chula Vista, Santa Barbara: foreclosure, skateboarding, rental)

[Jujube_Vet]

Hi all, our family will be relocating to the SD area this summer. DH will work in Kearny Mesa. I will work between Mission Hills and PB. Are there any areas on the coast that would accommodate both commutes (within reason, especially mine, as his hours are not traditional)? We prefer family-oriented (i.e. kids playing in streets), excellent schools (elementary through high school) and need to keep the rental budget below $2700/mo for 3 bR/2BA? Also, we'd like to purchase a house in the same school district within the year (for continuity for the kids) and can't go higher than $625K, so we need to consider that. I spent a summer in SB and loved the feel of it, so any areas reminiscent of SB would be lovely (large paved path along the water for skateboarding/rollerblading/biking). I've heard good things in the forums about Encinitas. How about PL? Thanks in advance.

[lrmsd]

Carmel Valley (just south of Del Mar) and Torrey Hills (just south of CV).
Schools are among the most desireable in the County. [San Dieguito School district, which includes Torrey Pines H.S.]; area is very safe, quiet, close to the beach [no freeway needed] and you have views to the east of hills, though not the same as SB, have a similar coloring. However, keep in m ind that CV/TH are very new in architecture (SD has nowhere that has similar 'feeling/vibe' to SB, with old hacienda style or mission housing...parts of old SD do have that type of housing/architecture, and are cool areas [Mission Hills, South Park have some], but they are not similar to SB overall, and in fact are not tops for children/families.

For your budget, you will have to look around,as CV has alot of condos/townhomes, and then jumps straight into 4 bedroom/larger homes. But look around, as I said. For buying, 625k would def. be in condo range-though you may find a very nice, large, 2 story condo.

CV is walking distance to everything you'd need, as well. Movie theater, health food store and regular grocery store, drug store, some boutique sh opping, restaurants of different types and styles, hardware store, etc. It's just off the 805/5/56 freeways, and the 15 is several miles away=fantastic location...you can get to north county or central SD/downtown/airport, very easily.

As far as paved paths along the water, torrey pines state reserve is 3 miles away (some paved roads that bikers use often), and CV is designed with large, wide sidewalks and some bike paths. Lots of cul de sacs and children playing and scooting/biking outdoors. in fact, i've known pre- teens [11/12 yrs] to scoot with a backpack to the beach for the day, alone. But for water and a trail, you'd have to head to Mission Bay, which is off clairemont drive. Yes, pacific beach has a boardwalk/pier, but that's not similar to SB lifestyle wise, nor would I suggest it for children.

Encinitas is really nice, for the most part. You'd have to visit it to see-as it's not similar to SB, IMO. Though it is very nice. CV puts you closer to your work than encinitas, by several exits, and this does matter for commute times.
Personally, I'd choose SD over SB for raising a family...not that you are choosing, but just saying, I think you will be happy with the locale in one of the above neighborhoods.

[Encinitan]

I'm assuming SB means Santa Barbara, and I'd say Encinitas or Del Mar are much more like what you seem to be looking for than Carmel Valley, which is mostly newer tract housing and big wide arterial roads. Downtown Encinitas has a lot of the charm of SB, although it is much funkier and not as clean and polished as SB. SB is truly one of the nicest places to visit on the West Coast, so I'm not sure you'll find a carbon copy of it anywhere, SD included.

[Jujube_Vet]

Thanks Irmsd and Encinitan for your views. They were very helpful. I know I will not duplicate SB, nor do I really need to, I just used it as a starting point since we really enjoyed in there. We loved that fact that you could be looking at the ocean and the mountains at the same time (something we didn't have when living in FL). We also really enjoy the coastal weather and lack of humidity. We'll be leaving a very green (in the spring & summer) east coast area and I'd love to have mature trees too. A tall order, I know. So all views are welcomed. I've heard that Poway has good schools, but I'm not overly impressed with the homes I see online that I can afford. I also hear some good things about Chula Vista (Eastlake/Otay Ranch) as far a family-oriented areas. I realize there is mostly track housing and foreclosure issues. Would this be a good consideration too?