one year in san diego (La Mesa, Santee: apartments, lease, car insurance)
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My husband will work at UCSD for one year. We are coming from europe so not only san diego but also usa is new for us. We are family with 2 small children 3 years and 1 year old. Do you have some advice where we can live in san diego? Not far from UCSD. Max. 20 min drive, nice, safe, family neighborhood, parks where we can go and play, close to the shops, so we can walk and buy some ice cream :-) would be nice with some restaurants. Is the craigslist the best place to find ads? Is there many places where we can rent appartment/house with community pool?
I will stay home but I want to study or do some voulenteer work, not just sit home with children so we would like to have some daycare for the kids, I know it is expensive but is it easy to find? How long before we need to start finding something?
And do you have some advice on how we can get to know other people so we can find some friends and our children have other children to play with. Is it difficult to get to know people i san diego?
Closest to UCSD and popular with visiting scholars are UTC (apartments) and University City (homes).
But options in 20 minute radius include more coastal areas: Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach
Many pools in above but also many YMCAs. Look for nearby parks if you have kids.
Also downtown neighborhoods: Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, Normal Heights, University Heights
La Mesa,Santee,Clairemont Mesa and Rancho Bernardo are all pretty close to UCSD and family Friendly.
La Mesa, Santee, and Rancho Bernardo are too far for a 20-minute commute.
UCSD is in the neighborhood named La Jolla. The neighborhoods that surround La Jolla are Clairmont Mesa, UTC, and Del Mar. A bit farther north is Carmel Valley.
If it were me, I would look first in UTC and then in Carmel Valley and then in Clairmont Mesa. In Clairmont Mesa, avoid places on Clairmont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa (those are wide streets with a lot of noisy traffic).
I guess the important question is what is your maximum monthly budget for your rental? First that needs to be determined. Or is there no maximum budget?
La Jolla, Del Mar, Carmel Valley are all GREAT areas close to where your husband is going to work.
I've found that you have to make a bit more effort here to meet people but if you make a bit of effort then it's very easy to network and meet a great group of people here. Heck, I've even met several people from this message board and they were all wonderful people and I've made some good friendships. A few of us meet up almost weekly for lunches/dinner.
Don't be afraid to invite people for coffee or lunch or dinner, etc. One example, the guy that sold me my car when I first moved here 2 years ago I invited out for lunch one day and we're really close friends now and meet up each week and even have taken an international vacation together.
eeple, I have a 3 year old as well. Feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to meet up for a playdate with our kids. We have a big park in our development and we're members at the club here so if you like the pool, our kids can play together here at the pool. I'll send you a PM.
Daycare is very easy to arrange here and widely available in the area. Even for the 1 year old you have options. It typically runs about $1,000 - $1300 per month for the 1 year old. For the 3 year old you have options like half day options for around $600/$700 per month or full day options around $1,000 per month. Obviously this is per child. It can get expensive. You might even look into a nanny option if you have 2 kids. It can be more cost effective in some cases.
Several of our neighbors have young kids and both parents work so they have a nanny. Most of the nannies in our area are USCD college students that watch them part time. We don't have a nanny but use a babysitter (USCD student) for date nights.
Will both you and your husband have a car?
Last edited by earlyretirement; 03-11-2013 at 04:49 PM..
I guess the important question is what is your maximum monthly budget for your rental? First that needs to be determined. Or is there no maximum budget?
La Jolla, Del Mar, Carmel Valley are all GREAT areas close to where your husband is going to work.
I've found that you have to make a bit more effort here to meet people but if you make a bit of effort then it's very easy to network and meet a great group of people here. Heck, I've even met several people from this message board and they were all wonderful people and I've made some good friendships. A few of us meet up almost weekly for lunches/dinner.
Don't be afraid to invite people for coffee or lunch or dinner, etc. One example, the guy that sold me my car when I first moved here 2 years ago I invited out for lunch one day and we're really close friends now and meet up each week and even have taken an international vacation together.
eeple, I have a 3 year old as well. Feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to meet up for a playdate with our kids. We have a big park in our development and we're members at the club here so if you like the pool, our kids can play together here at the pool. I'll send you a PM.
Daycare is very easy to arrange here and widely available in the area. Even for the 1 year old you have options. It typically runs about $1,000 - $1300 per month for the 1 year old. For the 3 year old you have options like half day options for around $600/$700 per month or full day options around $1,000 per month. Obviously this is per child. It can get expensive. You might even look into a nanny option if you have 2 kids. It can be more cost effective in some cases.
Several of our neighbors have young kids and both parents work so they have a nanny. Most of the nannies in our area are USCD college students that watch them part time. We don't have a nanny but use a babysitter (USCD student) for date nights.
Will both you and your husband have a car?
Thank you so much that you took your time to answer me:-)
Of course we have a maximum budget:-) we was thinking about $2500 for rent and we had heard that daycare for children is about $1800 per months per child so if it the prices you wrote we have more money for rent :-) we was thinking maybe 3 days in a week in daycare.
We was also thinking to have one car. I do not like to drive in big cities.:-) I have my driving linsenses for only one year:-) It is also the reason why we want to live in a place were I can go to daycare and parks and shopping :-)
Do you have some suggestions about the car, it is probably the best to buy a car not to rent for one year. Is it easy to sell the car after one year? What kind a car is it easiest to sell after one year? We was thinking about used car. And where can we buy it?
Yes I know so many questions :-) and sorry for my english :-)
it is probably the best to buy a car not to rent for one year. Is it easy to sell the car after one year? What kind a car is it easiest to sell after one year? We was thinking about used car. And where can we buy it?
Yes I know so many questions :-) and sorry for my english :-)
Whatever you do, don't buy a new car. Also, watch out for scams with old cars. Go to a reputable dealership or site (ie. not craigslist). Insurance is much cheaper on used cars as well.
It might be easier to lease. What if you can't sell the car when you want to leave? What if there are problems with the car you bought?
Simple sedans are fairly easy to sell. Any car that is a similar style/size to the toyota camry or corrolla. Japanese cars used to have one of the best resale values, but the toyota fiasco might have hurt the resale market.
Whatever you do, don't buy a new car. Also, watch out for scams with old cars. Go to a reputable dealership or site (ie. not craigslist). Insurance is much cheaper on used cars as well.
It might be easier to lease. What if you can't sell the car when you want to leave? What if there are problems with the car you bought?
Simple sedans are fairly easy to sell. Any car that is a similar style/size to the toyota camry or corrolla. Japanese cars used to have one of the best resale values, but the toyota fiasco might have hurt the resale market.
Do you know how much does it cost to lease the car? And can you recomend reputable dealership? And how much does the insurance cost?
It is so much we need to organize and know but I hope it will be worth it and we will have a nice year at san diego :-)
You're welcome. No, daycare shouldn't be that much unless maybe you are sending them to some more elite daycare agency or school. From the sounds of your posts, I don't think you need anything like that.
For your 3 year old you can definitely enroll them into a pre-school. Even Poway Unified preschools which are very good are only $900 per month. PUSD Preschool Program Your 3 year old would be eligible and you don't have to be living within Poway Unified School District for the preschool. That's only when they start Kindergarten when they are 5 years old. If you're willing to drive a bit you can even explore a half day preschool from 9 AM to 1 PM and those are as affordable as $600 per month and they are Monday through Friday. But they only have them at certain schools so you have to see if the drive is doable for you.
You will DEFINITELY need a car in San Diego. If you will only have one you will have to consider if your husband will take it to work. Keep in mind public transportation is NOTHING like Europe. Europe has really excellent public transportation networks (buses, train, subway, etc). San Diego doesn't for the most part.
You won't spend nearly $1,800 per child on daycare/preschool so use the extra for rent or to possibly lease another car. I got your PM. I'll send you the name and email of one of my friends. He is the General Manager of one of the largest car dealerships in San Diego. He can definitely help you and a super nice guy. Prices will widely vary depending on what kind of car you get and the length of the lease.
Car insurance isn't typically expensive here in San Diego. I'm not sure how it would work if you have an international driver's license but car insurance is typically no more than about $125/month on a higher end car with clean driving records with two drivers. I'm sure more affordable cars would be much less.
If you need to get a California driver's license you will need to pass the written test and also you need to take the actual driving test. But both aren't difficult. For the written test, practice these: Samples of Driver License Written Tests
The driving test is very easy. Once you pass both, you will get your California license within 10 days in the mail. VERY quick and easy.
Some areas you might want to look if you want to be near things you can walk to is either near the UTC area in La Jolla or La Jolla Village area. Or you could live near the Del Mar Heights shopping area in Carmel Valley which has plenty of things you can walk to if your husband has the car. There is even a Kindercare day care center near the Del Mar Heights shopping center in Carmel Valley. Ice cream store, restaurants, movie theatre, grocery store, etc.
I'd say any of those areas would be great for you and at the same time not far of a drive for your husband.
You're welcome. No, daycare shouldn't be that much unless maybe you are sending them to some more elite daycare agency or school. From the sounds of your posts, I don't think you need anything like that.
For your 3 year old you can definitely enroll them into a pre-school. Even Poway Unified preschools which are very good are only $900 per month. PUSD Preschool Program Your 3 year old would be eligible and you don't have to be living within Poway Unified School District for the preschool. That's only when they start Kindergarten when they are 5 years old. If you're willing to drive a bit you can even explore a half day preschool from 9 AM to 1 PM and those are as affordable as $600 per month and they are Monday through Friday. But they only have them at certain schools so you have to see if the drive is doable for you.
You will DEFINITELY need a car in San Diego. If you will only have one you will have to consider if your husband will take it to work. Keep in mind public transportation is NOTHING like Europe. Europe has really excellent public transportation networks (buses, train, subway, etc). San Diego doesn't for the most part.
You won't spend nearly $1,800 per child on daycare/preschool so use the extra for rent or to possibly lease another car. I got your PM. I'll send you the name and email of one of my friends. He is the General Manager of one of the largest car dealerships in San Diego. He can definitely help you and a super nice guy. Prices will widely vary depending on what kind of car you get and the length of the lease.
Car insurance isn't typically expensive here in San Diego. I'm not sure how it would work if you have an international driver's license but car insurance is typically no more than about $125/month on a higher end car with clean driving records with two drivers. I'm sure more affordable cars would be much less.
If you need to get a California driver's license you will need to pass the written test and also you need to take the actual driving test. But both aren't difficult. For the written test, practice these: Samples of Driver License Written Tests
The driving test is very easy. Once you pass both, you will get your California license within 10 days in the mail. VERY quick and easy.
Some areas you might want to look if you want to be near things you can walk to is either near the UTC area in La Jolla or La Jolla Village area. Or you could live near the Del Mar Heights shopping area in Carmel Valley which has plenty of things you can walk to if your husband has the car. There is even a Kindercare day care center near the Del Mar Heights shopping center in Carmel Valley. Ice cream store, restaurants, movie theatre, grocery store, etc.
I'd say any of those areas would be great for you and at the same time not far of a drive for your husband.
Once again. Thank you so much:-)
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