It is easy to see why people love living in San Diego so much. As the second largest city in California and the eighth largest in the United States, San Diego has much to offer in terms of real estate. From some of the most magnificent oceanfront estates to smaller, more modest condominiums in an outlying city in the metro area, there is definitely property to fit every budget.
Many areas in the San Diego metro are filled with history and character which is frequently found in much of the architecture and feel of neighborhoods. Other areas showcase newly developed communities with modern amenities that draw homeowners to them. For any homeowner living in or moving to San Diego, the ideal home is waiting in one of the desirable communities in the metro area.
San Diego at a Glance
The San Diego metro area is divided into six locales in an effort to make the whole area more navigable. Each area features residential property within a broad spectrum of price ranges to accommodate most any budget.
North County Coastal: This region of the metro area is located in the northern most part and is closer to the western side of the area along the shore. The largest city in this region is Oceanside with a population of 180,000 and communities with list prices anywhere from just over $50K for condominium homes and $100K for single family homes to over $4 million. Other areas in this region have homes similarly priced well into the multi-million dollars such as Carlsbad and Del Mar. The median sale price for single family homes is about $400K and $255K for condominium homes with the number of days on the market (DOM) at 86 and 92 days, respectively.
North County Inland: North of downtown but more inland is the region known as “North County Inland.” The communities in this section are small to medium sized communities and feature more widely known towns like Escondido and San Marcos. Single family homes have a median sale price of about $345K while that of condominiums about $193K. The number of days on the market for each is right at about 95 days. List prices start just below $50K to the very large multi-million dollars.
San Diego Central: This area is just east of the major downtown area of San Diego with small communities like Mission Valley, Mission Hills and others. List prices start at just over $50K for condominium homes and climb to almost $5 million for homes in more affluent communities.
San Diego Coastal: This area includes downtown to La Jolla along the coast. All of the communities and towns in this region are smaller in size and are part of the City of San Diego. Much of the area is made up of military families as two bases are located in this area and south of the city. Additionally, there are home priced in affordable communities as well as high end luxury estates. List prices start as low as the mid $80s in Clairemont to almost $30 million in La Jolla.
East County: East County is the more rural area of the San Diego metro area. The largest city is El Cajon with over 100,000 people living there. Overall, the most recent sale price of in this region of the metro area is about $295K for single family homes and just under $150K for condominium homes. List prices start under $100K in areas like El Cajon and climb to over $2 million in areas like Alpine and La Mesa.
South County: Also referred to as South Bay, this is the southernmost part of the San Diego metro area and includes Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City and other small communities. This region has a very diverse population. Homes start around $50K and climb to over $2 million. The median home price in South Bay is about $335K for single family homes and $205K for condominium homes with the number of days on the market at about 88 days for single family homes and 101 for condominiums.
Something for Everyone
This area has something to offer every homebuyer’s budget. The most notable characteristic about each region is that although one or two regions may be more heavily populated with a certain demographic, every area has real estate in all price ranges. San Diego real estate has it all.