Will my salary be enough to live in San Diego comfortably for a single 20s something professional? (Chula Vista: house, to buy)

[hasnaisx]

Originally Posted by TacoSoup

Live in Pacific Beach, there’s no better place if you’re young, or young at heart. Don’t waste your time with those other places mentioned, they’re all bland or suburban, not that’s there’s anything wrong with them.
You’ll be able to find a good roommate, in a nice place, very easily in PB. There’s a social Facebook group with quality people looking for roommates. I see people I know personally, shopping rooms in their places all the time.

I would, at your income level, look to buy down the road, once you get your bearings with our city. My wife has a similar income, with a car payment & student loans, and still qualified ~ 400K towards our home. You might even be able to swing a 2 bedroom at the beach. Then you can get yourself a roommate to knock 1K off your mortgage every month. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for your insight. Hopefully within a couple years I can buy (depending on housing market fluctuations). And yes I am definitely looking into getting roommates for the first year and was thinking Pacific Beach I am def a saver and like to not spend too lavishly and I love having company around me as I'm fairly outgoing. Pacific Beach def seems to have that young vibe that I'm looking for as well as Downtown/East Village and Northpark/Hillcrest.

[4SR]

First of all, congrats on the offer. As someone similar in age, I would strongly advise you to check out PB before you move there. I think it’s a fun place to go out in every once and a while, but living would be a bit too much for me personally. It’s college party town kind of vibe. If that’s you, then go for it, but if it’s not, check out Hillcrest and NP where there’s still bars and fun things to do

[eastcoastbias]

Originally Posted by 4SR

First of all, congrats on the offer. As someone similar in age, I would strongly advise you to check out PB before you move there. I think it’s a fun place to go out in every once and a while, but living would be a bit too much for me personally. It’s college party town kind of vibe. If that’s you, then go for it, but if it’s not, check out Hillcrest and NP where there’s still bars and fun things to do

This ^^^

Even if you party - do you want to live in the party? Its also an area that is pretty ripe for theft and crime as well. You could also live with in a 10 dollar uber/lyft ride from areas like PB and the Gaslamp rather than live in the areas and either pay a premium for parking or constantly fight for parking.

[TacoSoup]

I know I’m biased because surfing is my passion, but there’s more than the party, or living in the party in PB. My wife loves coming home from work and going rollerblading, or we just go for bike ride, or a walk down the beach. Every transplant, and I mean every, that moved to the beach after living somewhere else in San Diego has told me they regretted not doing it sooner. Granted most people I speak of were in their 20’s or 30’s. Unless you’re going to the suburbs, every “hip” area is gonna have issues with petty crime, homelessness, and parking. Good luck with whatever area you choose, it’s tough to go wrong.

[lostsoul359]

Originally Posted by hasnaisx

Thanks for your insight. Hopefully within a couple years I can buy (depending on housing market fluctuations). And yes I am definitely looking into getting roommates for the first year and was thinking Pacific Beach I am def a saver and like to not spend too lavishly and I love having company around me as I'm fairly outgoing. Pacific Beach def seems to have that young vibe that I'm looking for as well as Downtown/East Village and North park/Hillcrest.

I disagree with all of these locations. Why?

PB is ok if you are on the Very North end, but it is still going to be very congested. And PB floods like crazy when it rains. Lot's of drunks in PB also, which equals crime.

Every single City you mentioned is congested.

Downtown is infested with bar brawls resulting in deaths, a Ghostlike Mall, and the homeless who will pee on your doorstep. Hillcrest is for the GLBT, and getting more homeless as I type this, as well as North Park.

I recommend South of the 54 Freeway.

[hasnaisx]

Good options. Thank you all for your insight. As of now, I accepted the offer and will be staying in a long term AirBnb so I can look around and check out areas in person before signing any leases. It will hopefully give me time to see places that I like and are close to my office

[hasnaisx]

Originally Posted by lostsoul359

I disagree with all of these locations. Why?

PB is ok if you are on the Very North end, but it is still going to be very congested. And PB floods like crazy when it rains. Lot's of drunks in PB also, which equals crime.

Every single City you mentioned is congested.

Downtown is infested with bar brawls resulting in deaths, a Ghostlike Mall, and the homeless who will pee on your doorstep. Hillcrest is for the GLBT, and getting more homeless as I type this, as well as North Park.

I recommend South of the 54 Freeway.

I'm obviously not a native so I'm unfamiliar with the area. These were just areas that were suggested to me and sparked my interest. I will able to see places in person once I go out there

[loveautumn]

Check out the UTC area, I think it’s similar to Reston.

[TacoSoup]

Originally Posted by lostsoul359

I recommend South of the 54 Freeway.

I can’t imagine anyone new to our city, in their 20’s, or any age for that matter, wanting to live anywhere south of the 54. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it. If they had kids and were looking to buy an inexpensive new(er) house then I would, but not to someone single.

Don’t get me wrong I really like South Bay. My wife works in Bonita, I have several friends that have bought in the new developments east of the 805 in Chula Vista, and have some old surf buddies that have never left IB. I would have no problems living in any of them, I just wouldn’t recommend them to the OP.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by hasnaisx

Good options. Thank you all for your insight. As of now, I accepted the offer and will be staying in a long term AirBnb so I can look around and check out areas in person before signing any leases. It will hopefully give me time to see places that I like and are close to my office

This is a really smart plan. Congratulations on the new job, and welcome to San Diego!