Moving from MN To San Diego (Kensington, Mission Hills: for rent, houses, job market)

[Sun_Country_Greg]

I'm a 21 year old male with a degree in Finance from a very good school. I've only been out of college a year and am planning to move in mid July 2009.

I currently work at Sun Country Airlines, a small airline in the Minneapolis area. By the time I'm ready to move I'll have just under two years experience in financial analysis and will be looking for a similar job in SD.

I'm going to be moving with another 21 yo male who looks to continue his career in cancer research at UCSD before entering medical school. He's in the top 1% of his class at the U of Minnesota, and has a year of cancer research already so we believe he shouldn't have trouble finding a job with UCSD or a surrounding research facility.

I'm told that the job market in San Diego is not very good and with my limited amount of experience I worry about getting a job. The good thing about working for an airline is that I can fly out there for interviews/house hunting very easily.

My biggest concern is finding a job (field doesn't matter) as long as my position is in Finance/Accounting. After I've secured a job I'd like to find (preferably but not exclusively) a 2-3 Bedroom house with 1.5-2 Bathrooms in or close to the downtown area. I'd prefer to not be south of downtown.

We're both slightly introverted, enjoy gardening and the outdoors, and would prefer to have a green back lawn. I am not opposed to buying, but do not know if I'll be accepted considering the economic times.

What would be a decent area to look for a place with the following traits:

---Close to Downtown, more of a city feel
---Privacy, Green yard
---Open-minded diverse neighborhood
---Culture, I do not want to be around a college campus or hardcore party neighborhood. I'd like to be close to museums, libraries and parks
---My price range for renting is $1800-$2300 (total, not for me individually)

Any input is really appreciated, if you need more information please ask.

Thanks in advance for the hopefully positive responses!

[Encinitan]

I'm a North County native, and admittedly not all that familiar with residential areas closer to downtown SD, but I'd guess some place like North Park or that area might give you all or most of what you're looking for. Of course, actual downtown (East Village, etc.) has really taken off since Petco Park opened about 5 years ago, so that may be an option you would want to look into. Congrats on the pending move. I guess there's room for one more transplant out here.

[BRinSM]

your biggest concern shouldn't be where you live, but where you will work. CA is a tough place to find a job right now, especially for younger, less experienced workers.

[Mugsy]

Try looking for work for MTS mass transit. They are always hiring. They also have headquarters downtown.

MTS Human Resource

[NYSD1995]

I don't think you'll have a problem finding a job, but the job you find will probably not be one that takes advantage of the "very good school" you went to.

[Bella52]

Today's paper..........unemployment in the State at it's highest since the early 90's, now at 8.2% San Diego County @6.8%. Sorry I can't be positive, only giving you the figures. A lot of locals will be ahead of you that also have a "good school" behind them.

[sav858]

The nicest neighborhood closest to downtown is Mission Hills. Lots of nice older homes and close to the urban core. I just quickly looked at Craigslist and there are 2 and 3 bedroom HOUSES in your price range although its a little on the low end for a detached house.

Some other neighborhoods I would check out would be Hillcrest (gay neighborhood), North Park, Bankers Hill, South Park, Normal Heights, and Kensington. Kensington seems like the nicest urban neighborhood after Mission Hills and rents seem more reasonable. But MH and Kensington would be my first choices then followed by the others which are all relatively good. These all would be the best urban neighborhoods that have homes with yards to look at in San Diego, everything else is either not urban, too urban (no houses), or too ghetto.

[Sun_Country_Greg]

thanks for the advice, I'll check out kensington and mission hills next time i fly down