Relocating to San Diego...Need advice!!!!

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hello fellow RNs!!!

Relocating back to California ---specifically San Diego. Was planning on moving to Oceanside but after reading negative views about it...am now more confused on where exactly are the nice areas.I don't want to live too far south. what cities and esp. which good schools for my kids(from elementary to high-school). That is my main concern...finding the right schools for my kids. I've even thought of placing them in private schools but it can be sooo costly with all 4. The cities that I am looking at are Poway , Encinitas, Carlsbad. I don't mind driving a distance to work ( not more than 30 min!). We will start out renting ...but I can't decide on where unless I decide on the schools first. Please Help!!!I await for any advice you can give! Thanx!!!

"....Plan is to work at Scripps on the 'island'. "

Sharp is the parent co for Coronado Hospital. Unfortunately, $650,000 probably won't buy a garage in Coronado, much less a tear-down!

I really, really want to live in Coronado, too. I'm not holding my breath!!! Dang it.

Sharp, Scripp, you know what I meant. :lol2:

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Check out this link:

http://sdhomessearch.signonsandiego.com/Rentals/Search.asp?CType=A&CountyIds=11

You might do better trying to live in Imperial Beach. It's waaayyy more affordable than Coronado (or any other "Beach" community in San Diego), and you're in easy commuting distance to Coronado.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Check out this link:

http://sdhomessearch.signonsandiego.com/Rentals/Search.asp?CType=A&CountyIds=11

You might do better trying to live in Imperial Beach. It's waaayyy more affordable than Coronado (or any other "Beach" community in San Diego), and you're in easy commuting distance to Coronado.

IB makes sense from a COL perspective, but if good schools are what you're looking for, plan on requesting an interdistrict transfer. If you work at Sharp Coronado, you could use that as your rationale for making the request. A co-worker lives in IB and sends her teenaged son to Coronado High. His Dad is the Navy and based at North Island.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I would agree w/that. My son went to the schools in IB, but Spec Ed. We had very good luck w/that (South Bay Union is the Elementary district).

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Specializes in NICU.

IB is more affordable than Coronado, but to give an example... I just bought a house in IB for $450K with no down payment and my mortgage is over $3000. And $450K is toward the low end of what houses go for here. We have 2 incomes and are house-poor.

A 1 bdr apt in Coronado probably goes for $1500 or so.

So why exactly does Coronado appeal to you so much, Bethin?

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I would hate to live on Coronado! It's beautiful to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. I need to be near a Target.

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Specializes in NICU.

That's right! There's no Target anywhere close!

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No, unfortunately I won't have much of a down payment. When I move I'll be fresh out of nursing school. When I did the math for the monthly house payment I was very dismayed. How can anyone afford that? The $650,000 house was a bit run down but it was a house. I wouldn't mind an apt. but I'm not used to living in one. But, if I'm living in Coronado I'll be happy.

How much do apartments go for - 1 bedroom?

Kiddo have you been to Coronado? It's just a small bridge rid across from downtown San diego and there isnt much there...its close to one of the run down areas of Imperial beach, etc too... ya coronado beach is nice but you can easily drive over the bridge to get there. Everything on coronado is expensive, there isn't alot to do and it's basically just a place with a naval base (small one) and not alot else but maybe a few restaraunts.... live inland where you can more easily afford it - and plan on roomates. I grew up in So Cal and I dated a guy in the Navy so spent alot of time on Coronado and it's not everything it's cracked up to be...you can drive there ;)

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IB is more affordable than Coronado, but to give an example... I just bought a house in IB for $450K with no down payment and my mortgage is over $3000. And $450K is toward the low end of what houses go for here. We have 2 incomes and are house-poor.

A 1 bdr apt in Coronado probably goes for $1500 or so.

So why exactly does Coronado appeal to you so much, Bethin?

I love the small town feel but love knowing that a large city is a trip across a bridge. I have always dreamed of owning a house walking distance from the ocean (NOT the bay - big difference to me). I could care less where the closest Wal-Mart or Target is. Right now, I go to Wal-Mart about once every 2 months. I do most of my shopping online.

I have heard several people say that in Coronado that they are cash poor but house rich. Maybe after school, and after I do a year or two in Med/Surg to get experience I will try to do travel nursing. And hopefully, that with my nice inheritance will help with a down payment.

Coronado has been one of those things I have not been able to get out of my mind. I've been thinking of it since I was a child and first saw the Hotel Del on TV. Then, just recently I had an opportunity to visit briefly there and I fell in love with it. Give me the ocean and I'm a happy lady.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I really love Coronado. My grandmother bought a house there in the '30s, and our family has lived there since--first grandparents, then parents, now just mom. It's a small Spanish style house, and she owns another small property across the alley w/an apartment over a garage.

And, if you've ever been there on the 4th of July and DIDN'T have a good time, check for a pulse.

No dissing Coronado. ;)

All that said, it is a very expensive place to live.

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Specializes in NICU.

I don't think you find a house within decent walking distance from the ocean in Coronado for under a million if not 2 million dollars.

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This whole post has been a trip down memory lane... ahhh... I loved in SD for about 14 years, 9 years in Poway and 5 years in Allied Gardens near San Carlos. I think. Pretty young then but anyway.

I lived in Poway before moving to the central Midwest. It's gotten pretty ritzy from what I've heard. The house my parents paid $35K for has sold recently for $650K (it was built in '75). We had a beautiful view of the Penaquistos, all the mountains and sunsets SD has to offer. I did my first training flight out at Ramona, flying over those mountains and the view of San Diego and the Pacific. Wow.

OK. I'll get back on topic.

I went to a private school in Escondido so I didn't go to the Poway schools. Outside of Escondido might be a good place to live, but it is considered North County. There's Palomar Hospital and knew a lot of people who worked at Palomar.

Then Poway has Pomerado Hospital, a very nice hospital.

Downside? Cost of living, traffic, everything so rushed. You know, I go out there and honestly, I say to myself for the first few days I think "Why did I want to leave here?" Day 3, I'm thinking, "I remember now."

But people like it out there. Oh yeah, expect inland to be 10F hotter than downtown. The temps you hear for San Diego are for a small, COLD area of San Diego and don't adequately reflect the city.

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