La Jolla and Carmel Valley are consistently ranked as the best neighborhoods for families due to their excellent school systems, low crime rates, and family-friendly amenities. The Del Mar Union School District serves both areas and is one of the top-ranked districts in California.

Based on current median home prices ($1.25M), you would need an annual income of approximately $250,000 to comfortably afford a median-priced home in San Diego. For luxury properties ($2M+), we recommend an annual income of at least $400,000.

San Diego County's average property tax rate is approximately 1.1% of assessed value. However, with voter-approved bonds and local assessments, the effective rate typically ranges between 1.1% and 1.3%. For a $1.5M home, this translates to $16,500-$19,500 annually.

North County coastal communities like Encinitas and Carlsbad have shown consistent appreciation. Emerging areas like East Village in downtown San Diego and Liberty Station are also seeing rapid growth due to new developments and infrastructure investments.

The $2M+ market currently has a 3.2 month supply of inventory (balanced market), while the $5M+ segment has a 5.8 month supply (buyer's market). Well-priced properties in prime locations like La Jolla and Del Mar often receive multiple offers within the first two weeks.

HOA fees in luxury condominiums typically range from $800-$2,500/month, covering amenities like 24/7 security, concierge services, and resort-style pools. For single-family home communities, fees are generally lower ($300-$800/month) and cover landscape maintenance and community amenities.

San Diego offers excellent options for both. Top private schools like The Bishop's School and Francis Parker rival the best public schools academically but offer smaller class sizes (10:1 vs 24:1 average) and more extracurricular options. Annual tuition ranges from $25,000-$40,000.

In the current market, properly priced luxury homes (under $5M) sell in an average of 42 days. Higher-end properties ($5M+) may take 90-120 days. With our premium marketing program, we typically sell homes 27% faster than the local average.

Major projects include the Midway redevelopment ($2B mixed-use project), the NAVWAR redevelopment in Old Town, and the expansion of the UC San Diego campus. These are expected to increase property values in surrounding areas by 8-15% over the next 5 years.

Our most successful buyers: 1) Get pre-approved with a local lender, 2) Are prepared to make quick decisions, 3) Work with an agent who has off-market connections, 4) Consider writing personal letters to sellers, and 5) Are flexible on closing timelines when needed.