Considering a move to northern San Diego County (Los Angeles, Oceanside: for sale, apartments)

[photogirlla]

Hi everyone, my husband and I own a condo in Los Angeles that we bought in 2006. But we are very sick of Los Angeles people, traffic, noise and crowds, and wish to get out. We are considering San Diego, as I have been down there to visit friends in the past year and really really liked it, less congested, same weather, much cooler vibe, less Hollywood fake.

I am renting a couple of guesthouses for the summer to check out the areas : one in Vista, and one in Fallbrook. I would love some input on a good neighborhood to live in for middle-aged people, no kids, possibly having a friend or two move in with us as we are working on an artistic project together. we would rent something down there, and rent our place up in Los Angeles, because we would lose too much of our down payment if we tried to sell it now. What we would like is a house with four bedrooms, 3+ ba, and some land space, which leads me to Fallbrook for the most part. Also I don't need to live at the beach, but I do like the cooler ocean breezes if possible. Work wise, our friend is an architect, he drives everywhere for projects( no commute) my husband would either work downtown or get a job at a landscape design place, as that is what he and the architect are doing, starting a business. I am a photographer/ writer so I can work anywhere...only 1 person might be commuting to downtown regularly.

What we are looking for is quiet, first and foremost, not too close to neighbors, we have lived in apartments and condos our whole life and are so very tired of noise. Second, green pretty area. Possibly a pool, although if the weather is cool enough that's not necessary. A big enough house for three adults + to live in w their own rooms, sort of an upscale art commune. we don't have children so we don't care about school districts. Ive seen many houses for sale in Fallbrook that are nice and that would be the same price as my two bedroom condo in Los Angeles. Other nice areas where you get some land ( 2 acres)?? Since we are older, we do not need to be right in the center of things, did that our whole lives, over it.

I do not see many houses for rent in Fallbrook. Are there areas in Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, that have a little more house and land space? The houses seem so close together in those communities, and probably full of kids, which is fine but we would like a little more peace and quiet since we are old and crabby, lol. Also will be working at home, thus the need for space and quiet. Rent wise we can do 3-4k for a house.

Any helpful thoughts appreciated!

[janineg]

Vista has lots of areas you'd probably like. No sidewalks, pretty rural. I know you're not looking to buy, but look at this example of a very artsy house for sale in a nice area: 647 Rudd Rd, Vista, CA 92084 | MLS# 110028933 Just look at the map for an idea of a good area to look. I think it's referred to as the Warmlands. I'm sure Fallbrook is great, but I don't have any experience with it.

[oddstray]

A commute from Fallbrook to downtown is quite extensive. And it won't have ocean breezes.

Ocean breezes suggest something along I-5. The furthest inland the ocean breezes come is to funnel though Penasquitos Canyon into Rancho Penasquitos.

A green, pretty area? Not during the summer, not anywhere here (unless you have lots of irrigation and a resulting large water bill).

For a house that's not too close to neighbors, has an ocean breeze, and is close enough to the commuter train into downtown, I second the suggestion of northern Vista. Vista just north of I-78 is quite run-down and seedy. But north of there are some nicer neighborhoods.

[photogirlla]

Good call, thank you! That's actually pretty near where the first guest house I'm staying is, the Warmlands Vista Way area. The house I'm staying in has horses, a pool, and the guesthouse. That's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, so I will certainly check out Vista while I'm down there as well as Fallbrook. Thanks!

[photogirlla]

[quote=oddstray;24766293]A commute from Fallbrook to downtown is quite extensive. And it won't have ocean breezes.

Ocean breezes suggest something along I-5. The furthest inland the ocean breezes come is to funnel though Penasquitos Canyon into Rancho Penasquitos.

A green, pretty area? Not during the summer, not anywhere here (unless you have lots of irrigation and a resulting large water bill).

For a house that's not too close to neighbors, has an ocean breeze, and is close enough to the commuter train into downtown, I second the suggestion of northern Vista. Vista just north of I-78 is quite run-down and seedy. But north of there are some nicer


The second guest house I'm staying in Fallbrook supposedly does get ocean breezes, it's in the Gird Valley above a golf course?

I certainly do not want a seedy area, as I will often be home alone working on my photos, so a nice safe area is crucial. It seems like the Vista place I'm staying at is in a nice safe area, are there neighborhoods within each jurisdiction that you know for sure are suitable?. Of course they're not on a map, you have to talk to people to figure that stuff out. How about Rancho P, what is that like?

We need a lot of space, but it doesn't have to be one of those incredibly fancy faux Tuscan mini castles that Rancho Sante Fe seems to be full of for insane rental prices...why is that area so expensive? It seems kind of land locked.

A Nice 70s A-frame, or ranch, with good natural light, some land and a pool, that isn't falling down and is in a safe area would be quite good. Husband can landscape so that's helpful.

Here is a house I love
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/35...52503927_zpid/
Thanks for the input

[marcjohntel]

I live in fallbrook moved here to help my aging parents. Plus.. We are off the 76 about 12 miles from Oceanside. Beautiful here. Quite, safe, unique landscapes.
But you will do a lot of driving for any commercial products or entertainment. Rents high in area. North Vista or Bonsall also excellent choices. Golf, & casinos nearby for dining & depositing your entertainment $$$. I personally like PALA. My father & I sold over 25 million in lots & land over the yrs. This area is about 60 sq. Miles of unicorporate NSDC.
Air conditioned by nature saved about 2-3 hundred Summer months. Each mile east can be 1 degree till you hit valley center. High desert hot hot. Lol

[oddstray]

Rancho Penasquitos has houses with yards. Many of them are small lots, but some have sizeable lots that extend up/downhill. Whether anyone is selling one of those, I don't know. RP a bedroom community. Lots of families. No 'community center'.

Rancho Santa Fe is all about money - old money.

If you can give up the ocean breezes, look at the south part of Poway and into Ramona for houses on sizeable lots.

South of downtown, maybe Rancho San Diego? I don't know whether that's close enough to get any ocean cooling, but it's older and might have larger lots.

[makingcoffee]

I agree, Northern Vista is nice and somewhat rural (somewhere near or along the 76). But not south Vista (along the 78). A commute downtown would be a chore. But the Coaster train might be an alternative.

Fallbrook is beautiful too, but really is far away from downtown (maybe an hour or more?).

Poway can be nice -- it's a little more countrified than a lot of SD. I like Poway.

Rancho Santa Fe is where all the old-money people live and ride their horses.

I live in Carlsbad, and it can get busy with tourists and weekend visitors. It sometimes drives me nuts. Plus I would think it would be hard to find a place with a lot of space.

San Marcos might be a good alternative too. It's got people, but you might have a better chance of finding a place with space than Carlsbad. Maybe towards south San Marcos?

[Dr. Vox]

^ Rancho Santa Fe is about as safe as it gets in San Diego. I remember I went to a home for one of my Dad's friends a few years back. Not only was their a 24 hour guard at the gate who took the plate number down, and throughly checkes us out(even though we are as clean cut as you get), and then after getting in, there is a second gate that you had to enter a code to get through the second gate. I would feel very safe walking around these parts at 3am-4am.