Neighborhood recommendations please (San Diego, Carlsbad, San Marcos: rental, house, neighborhoods)

[kacla]

We will be relocating to San Diego in about 6 months. My husband's job will be in Carlsbad. Here's what we are looking for.
1. renting a home for $3,000-$5,000/mo,
2. @ 4,000 sq ft., min. 5 bedrooms,
3. very family friendly neighborhood with lots of trees, sidewalks, green, and close to parks where I can let my kids go play and not have to worry (maybe people don't do that in San Diego?),
4. close to biking, jogging trails,
5. somewhat close to the beach,
6. and somewhat close to shopping, farmers market, organic food.

Also, we don't mind the suburbs or cookie cutter homes as long as they are a little varied and the neighborhoods are lush and green and beautiful. I realize San Diego is a desert but I don't really like brown and barren.
Any such place in San Diego?

Thanks in advance

[bloom]

Carlsbad - we are not a desert.

[Think4Yourself]

The only deserts in this county are east of the coastal mountain ranges way out in east county. Also just about everyone lets their kids play outside here because the weather is so good. I'm not sure where you got the idea that no one lets their kids outside.

[kacla]

Thanks! Ya, I've only been to San Diego once about 15 years ago, so I'm not at all familiar with it.

[oddstray]

We are in a desert-like climate, and many people are taking out their lawns and xeriscaping to save on water bills. But in Carlsbad maybe less so, since it's closer to the coast. I haven't noticed along I-5, but along I-15 (further inland) everything goes brown over winter.

[bigdaddy5]

$3k to $5k can get you a nice rental along the coast. Take your pick. You can also look eastward, down the 78 fwy towards San Marcos also.

[Axxlrod]

Sounds like the La Costa area of Carlsbad would be perfect for you.

[SDrelocate]

Hey Kacla,

Here's sample rental in south Carlsbad, I'm not the owner. Just did a simple search.

6706 Limonite Ct, Carlsbad, CA 92009 - Zillow

probably wont be available in 6 months, but decent example of newer house in newer area, but looks like nice one though smaller than your 4k sq ft criteria, looks like Carlsbad school district. In general, newer neighborhoods have more kids if that is important to you. Probably about 5 min drive to beach. Lots of parks and stuff nearby, they are building a huge Alga Norte park nearby with olympic size pool, dog park, ball fields, etc right down the street.

City of Carlsbad - Alga Norte Community Park

There's bunch of farmers markets, CSAs going on all around......organic, this is California after all.

If you have the time, take a trip out here to scope out the scene, make a vacation out of it, some recommendations.

//www.city-data.com/forum/san-d...-visiting.html

Also here's post about relo to Carlsbad from few months back.

//www.city-data.com/forum/san-d...-ca-child.html

Good idea to rent before buy when coining in cold to new area, but look into buying if you can, if you think you will be there for a while. interest rates seem to be hitting all time lows again.

Good Luck,
SDRelocate

[Encinitan]

Have you checked out Leucadia? If you like your neighborhoods funky and not cookie cutter development, you might like Leucadia. Or Olivenhain. Same thing, but more country than beachy.

[kacla]

I haven't checked out those areas yet, but I will. Thanks