CS

Melissa,
Do not...I repeat do not buy in Perris. Its run down/dusty and generally miserable with no redeeming qualities other than its cheap to live there.
Believe me, my mother in law moved from Perris to Moreno Valley (not much difference) and we always roll our windows up and lock the doors when we travel there.
and thats in the DAY time.
You will be MUCH better off looking in Murrieta, if you can make the extra 5 minute drive and check out Temecula, south of Murrieta.
My brother in law works in Temecula and lives of Clinton-Keith Road in Murrietta. Both are great places to live.
Good Luck! - Sun Jul 6 2008, 13:06

first of all, good call on moving from NYC to San Diego.

since youre working in Vista, check out Carlsbad or Encinitas, if you can - Carlsbad 92011 zip or 92009 zip.

should be plenty of places in your range.

yeah, Poway is nice, great schools and all and Rancho Bernardo is great too. Carmel Valley is beautiful but theyre all inland.

if you want the complete So Cal lifestyle, youve got to be near the beaches.

in your range, Del Mar/Solana Beach is not likely but you can find a nice home in Carlsbad or Encinitas.
the reason I say Carlsbad over Encinitas is, well, you work in Vista. Carlsbads a little closer.
Encinitas is nice but there are lots of hippie-surfer spots, eye sore apartment complexes and run down areas.

GL - Mon May 19 2008, 20:18

"looking in the del mar area"...
400k?
really?
I recently moved to Carlsbad and if Del Mar homes ever go for $400k, I'll buy two.
sorry if Im being insensitive but I'd hate to see you come all the way out from NC, only to be disappointed.
No, no, you cant get into Del Mar. try 2 to 15 million and you might be on to something...
whatever you do, dont buy in Oceanside, Escondido or Chula Vista.
and dont give up on SD and go north to Riverside/Inland Empire.
youre from NC, right? well, San Diego is the Tarheels and Riverside is NC State.
You might want to consider San Marcos (Discovery Hills) just make sure to look at the 92078 zip code not 92069.
its nice and family friendly and reasonably close (15 minutes) to the beaches.
you should be able to find a few houses there in your range.
if you like newer developments, check out San Elijo Hills. its a newer cookie cutter neighborhood with lots of different mini-communities. not sure if 400k will get you much though.
wherever you go, ask about Mello Roos and HOAs. they can get pricey.
GL- - Mon May 19 2008, 19:45