Affordable Scenic Forest Area for Future Homeowners (San Diego, Ramona: for sale, new home)

[JustinandLisa]

We are a couple looking to relocate somewhere more inexpensive (than San Diego county) in order to afford a home in the next few years. We prefer a smaller town, preferably not too far from the coast. We've been looking into Humboldt County but are curious to learn about other options or specifics in that area. We don't care much for nightlife but access to at least some local live music would be a plus. Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you!

[RosieSD]

Why not just keep going until you get to Oregon or Washington? Oregon has no sales tax, Washington has no state income tax.

No need to limit your search to California.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Why not just keep going until you get to Oregon or Washington? Oregon has no sales tax, Washington has no state income tax.

No need to limit your search to California.

Not if they care about property taxes.

[tstieber]

Have you considered Julian? It's an hour from San Diego, the town is admittedly very small but has stuff like community theater, or you could head down the mountain into Ramona for more stage acts in a small city environment. And you'd get four seasons up in the mountains. Not sure if you wanted snow, but it's a nice bonus. Just another thought.

[futbol]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Have you considered Julian? It's an hour from San Diego, the town is admittedly very small but has stuff like community theater, or you could head down the mountain into Ramona for more stage acts in a small city environment. And you'd get four seasons up in the mountains. Not sure if you wanted snow, but it's a nice bonus. Just another thought.

Julian is an hour or more from the coast. Other than that, it fits the OP's plan: affordable, small California town.

Ramona has live music, but is not close enough for a casual night out... certainly a day trip is doable.

Note to those unfamiliar with Julian: it is more than what you can see from the 78 or 79.

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by futbol

Julian is an hour or more from the coast. Other than that, it fits the OP's plan: affordable, small California town.

Ramona has live music, but is not close enough for a casual night out... certainly a day trip is doable.

Note to those unfamiliar with Julian: it is more than what you can see from the 78 or 79.

maybe. filled up gas there on our way to Anza-Borrego at 8am and seems all were asleep yet. just like a scene from a movie, abandoned, like before aliens will attack

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by futbol

Julian is an hour or more from the coast. Other than that, it fits the OP's plan: affordable, small California town.

Ramona has live music, but is not close enough for a casual night out... certainly a day trip is doable.

Note to those unfamiliar with Julian: it is more than what you can see from the 78 or 79.

Great suggestion. Once you get off the tourist daytripper route, there are lots of great areas in Julian (unfortunately, it's not as cheap as it used to be).

There are also many other areas in eastern San Diego County that have lower cost housing than closer to the coast --- Descanso, Pine Valley, Warner Springs, Mount Palomar, Santa Ysabel, Wynola, Lake Cuyamaca, Jamul, Crest, Alpine and although they're at lower elevations, Harbison Canyon, Dehesa, Campo, Lake Morena, Dulzura, Portrero, etc.

Heck, I just saw a small house with property listed for sale in Ramona for $350,000 and I've seen brand new homes listed in Campo for under $300,000. If you're OK with desert living, you can buy a house in Shelter Valley or Banner for $150,000 and Borrego Springs isn't much more expensive.

Some (not all) of these areas are well within an hour of the coast and job centers, but as someone who lives "out East" in San Diego County, I can tell you that there is so much to do and explore out this way that the beach isn't a huge priority for me.

Sometimes, what you're looking for may be right in your own backyard.