Oceanside the only logical choice? (San Diego, Chula Vista: short sales, rent, loan)

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by tycoon85

Thanks for posting all the links. I would definitely want a detached home and a semblance of a yard. Geeze... some of those yards are tiny.

You're welcome and I'm sorry that the discussion drifted off onto condos with postage stamp sized yards.

Actually, at least in many near-coastal parts of Orange County, people pretty much expect small yards for both SFH's and townhomes. That's due to land costs. They are probably larger in Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch.

It's not completely bad though, since we have plenty of parks in South County, with about 21 in tiny Aliso Viejo alone; and we are minutes away from the ocean (10-15 min to the beach for AV).

If you are at all interested in OC, then you might want to look at MV and LR. I may have scared you off from OC with the links.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by Cardiff Kook

really strange...i didn't know something like this existed until now (freestanding/detached structure that was actually a condo)

It shared part of a car port and fence.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by tycoon85

Thanks for posting all the links. I would definitely want a detached home and a semblance of a yard. Geeze... some of those yards are tiny.

She was showing you what you get in South OC for 600. You want a big yard, we have that too. Bring the routing number to your account. It won't be 600.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by Cardiff Kook

Do you share any sort of common wall with anyone else in these townhouses? Or are they literally freestanding structures with no shared walls and still considered condos? So strange if the latter..

Cardiff, I need to take you for a drive around in OC in my convertible some time.

These types of properties are common in the newer areas of OC. Land here is too precious and everyone wants a detached home.

For example, they have a tiny development of small SFHs coming to Laguna Niguel (by Sunpointe) in one of the last parcels of undeveloped land. It will feature 3k square foot "detached" homes (that's the lot size, not home size). There will be no driveways and the access to the garages is to be shared. Your "front yard" will be taken care of by the HOA, but it will be all of a foot or two. But darn it, they are detached.

Now you know why I am so happy to have a huge lot here.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

There will be no driveways and the access to the garages is to be shared.

Wow!

[Cardiff Kook]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Cardiff, I need to take you for a drive around in OC in my convertible some time.

These types of properties are common in the newer areas of OC. Land here is too precious and everyone wants a detached home.

For example, they have a tiny development of small SFHs coming to Laguna Niguel (by Sunpointe) in one of the last parcels of undeveloped land. It will feature 3k square foot "detached" homes (that's the lot size, not home size). There will be no driveways and the access to the garages is to be shared. Your "front yard" will be taken care of by the HOA, but it will be all of a foot or two. But darn it, they are detached.

Now you know why I am so happy to have a huge lot here.

Land is gold here in coastal CA...lot size is just as important as house size, if not more so.

Crazy about those "detached" homes you mention. My lot is bigger than that and my house isn't completely detached. I also own the exclusive rights to the land my home sits on, don't have a condo association, no HOA fees, driveway parking, and direct access garage that isn't shared. I think I'd prefer my house even if those are detached..

[Bakeneko]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Cardiff, I need to take you for a drive around in OC in my convertible some time.

These types of properties are common in the newer areas of OC. Land here is too precious and everyone wants a detached home.

For example, they have a tiny development of small SFHs coming to Laguna Niguel (by Sunpointe) in one of the last parcels of undeveloped land. It will feature 3k square foot "detached" homes (that's the lot size, not home size). There will be no driveways and the access to the garages is to be shared. Your "front yard" will be taken care of by the HOA, but it will be all of a foot or two. But darn it, they are detached.

Now you know why I am so happy to have a huge lot here.

That's pretty much the norm here for the recent (last 5 - 7 years) here in Otay Ranch -

It's horrible in that everyone is in the same boat, parking limited to your garage. The developments will have a limited amount of street parking but good luck finding it when you need it. I have a friend who can't walk long distances and a few elderly relatives - if they are coming over, I have to take my car out of the garage and drive around looking for somewhere to park my car so they can use the garage. Same thing when I had a painter in to do a couple rooms and a new water heater being installed. Extra fun when you have get the kid in and out of the car seat and then walk a couple blocks back to your house.

And if you do find street parking - the streets are so narrow, you've got a pretty good chance of the car getting dinged. Ours once had a fender totaled by a real estate agent trying to drive around and look for some house. We had no idea - he left his card and a note. The cynic in me thinks he might have just kept going if he hadn't been with clients.

[tycoon85]

Is Chula Vista a horrible area? I found the link below and it shows brand new bigger homes in the $400k range.

Baldwin and Sons New Home Sales - Corta Bella - Otay Ranch

[Axxlrod]

Originally Posted by tycoon85

I have found a bunch on Zillow, but like you, I am not sure how up to date it is. And I would certainly have to change some things, but saving $400k gives me plenty of options. Here are 2 I pulled up pretty quickly.

1057 Village Ct, Oceanside, CA 92057 | Zillow

359 Franciscan Way, Oceanside, CA 92057 | Zillow


When we came out there I liked that Oceanside was adjacent to Carlsbad and that was really the appeal. You got a cheaper City that was next to a very nice area. Driving thru Oceanside you could tell it wasn't as nice as Carlsbad or Encinitas. My primary concern was schools and safety. I just figured there was a trade off for living in paradise if you didn't want to have to buy a million dollar house.

For me, I prefer to live a simpler life. I don't really need a Ferrari or a $5 million house to be happy. In fact, I can argue it will do the opposite for you. However, my girlfriend doesn't necessarily share my point of view. She balances me out, because she knows how frugal I am.

Interesting thread.

If schools and safety are truly your primary concern, then why are you looking for the cheapest places to live? The cheapest areas will, for the most part, have substandard schools and crime. This is real estate 101. Areas with good schools and low crime are expensive.

Since you keep saying how successful you are, and how your son's education/safety is primary, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and buy in a safe area with good schools. And guess what! It's gonna cost you at least double what all those $400K dumps would cost.

My advice for you is to rent for a year in Carlsbad or Encinitas, and try to get your gf to get a job at either Scripps hospital in Encinitas or the new Palomar Hospital in Escondido, although Vista/San Marcos/San Elijo Hills might be a better living location for that commute.

[tycoon85]

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

Interesting thread.

If schools and safety are truly your primary concern, then why are you looking for the cheapest places to live? The cheapest areas will, for the most part, have substandard schools and crime. This is real estate 101. Areas with good schools and low crime are expensive.

Since you keep saying how successful you are, and how your son's education/safety is primary, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and buy in a safe area with good schools. And guess what! It's gonna cost you at least double what all those $400K dumps would cost.

My advice for you is to rent for a year in Carlsbad or Encinitas, and try to get your gf to get a job at either Scripps hospital in Encinitas or the new Palomar Hospital in Escondido, although Vista/San Marcos/San Elijo Hills might be a better living location for that commute.

I didn't meant to come across as cocky, someone asked me my budget. My issue is if you buy a home at say $800k + there isn't a lot of room for that investment to go up in my opinion. The window of people being able to afford that homes seems slim and imagine if the real estate market crashes. You just lost a ton of money. Conversely, if you can get a nice home in a decent area at $400k to $500k range then that house is going to go up in value and a broad spectrum of people could buy that home if you ever decide to sell.

I don't believe the only safe place is an area with $800k + homes. That's my logic behind all this. I never said it would be easy to find a cheaper home in a nice area. That's why I am working on this problem now and not 5 minutes before the moving truck leaves.