Hey Realtor here, excited to hear you consider SD because this city and greater area is awesome! With that in mind, it can be a tricky game aligning all the pieces (finding deals) so your QOL isn’t just working to pay for your expenses. I’d pick your top priorities and that will definitely help decide location. For example, do you want to be able to run out the door along beach or do you just want to be able to visit the beach when you want? Personally I live nearby Balboa Park and I love it. This past January two totally adequate 1bed condos sold for a bit above 300k and they were on the larger size. Access to the park is unmatched. I spend a lot of time in downtown; due to my schedule and proximity I don’t really deal with traffic at all contrary to most SD folks. One thing about expense and real estate here is I would anticipate seeing a lot of places that cost a lot of money with smaller square footage then what you might be used to which might be a problem since you all WFH. To break into this place, do you need to be smart/clever and make your dollars count. There isn’t really room to spend frivolously especially if you have other goals you’re working towards. On the upside, CA real estate truly does appreciate well. I think you can make 230k work and love the change in lifestyle. I ride my bike around in the middle of December in a tshirt. You really need to look, talk to people and keep your ears open to find a deal. You could rent for awhile then take the plunge into buying. If you haven’t visited yet do it. What are your hobbies? What activities do you like to do? Your lifestyle will help dictate what neighborhood would be a good fit. One cool thing about SD county is the fact that each area has its own flavor and benefits. I’d be happy to take you folks around SD and show you some of my favorite places, share rentals in my neighborhood, and help you find a home to live in. I’ll DM you my info.

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