Buying first house, San Diego or Seattle?

New
mCgj36

New

mCgj36
Nov 28, 2021 36 Comments

Me:
- TC 205 (startup, so all base)
- 30 years old
- Nest egg of $130k
- Paying >3k rent in SF right now and want to own for variety of personal reasons

I'm planning to buy and live in a (strongly prefer a detached) home #housing for 700-830k, around 6-8% down. I've seen some houses in that range in both cities, usually 1100-1400 square feet which is fine. Any opinions on what I'd be missing out in this range, I'm all ears.

Can't afford much more without a jumbo loan. Numbers line up though it'd be bit high monthly payments until I get rid of private #mortgage insurance.

I've been looking at variety of west coast cities and have settled on either Seattle or San Diego. Any opinions on which city is better?

I'm open to areas surrounding the city, e.g. La Mesa, CA. Want to try sticking to sub-30 minute commute to downtown.

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TOP 36 Comments
  • Detached house for 800k in san diego. I would say its a very very long shot.
    Nov 28, 2021 0
  • 800k is impossible for a “decent” single family home in San Diego. Do your own research. Its a very very very long shot.
    Nov 28, 2021 3
  • Wish
    makeA

    Go to company page Wish

    makeA
    Detached house for 800k in Seattle I would also say is a very very long shot
    Nov 28, 2021 4
    • Amazon
      CHLI63

      Go to company page Amazon

      CHLI63
      “Not a good one” is about what you’d find next to Bart stations in Oakland.
      It’ll be a tiny dive that needs a lot of work.

      Having lived in both places, San Diego wins by a mile.
      Nov 28, 2021
    • Snap
      $snap$

      Go to company page Snap

      $snap$
      I mean in Seattle you can find pretty decent houses in north Seattle, bothell areas for around that price range. Just don’t expect turnkey house.
      Dec 1, 2021
  • Hi OP, this is super funny to read but I have almost the exact same specs as you (TC & age)

    I just moved FROM Seattle to San Diego and can honestly say it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, but I’m also a surfer. So being around waves and year round sun is all I need to be happy.

    My budget was 800k, north county (Oceanside, Encinitas, Carlsbad).

    Encinitas quickly got taken off the list bc 800 k just like Seattle, will get you NOTHING. But it’s not impossible depending on where you want to live.

    I eventually switched realtors and got one that specialized in north county. It was really important that I found a home with room to grow in value and that wasn’t a dump (I saw a lot), and I actually landed in Oceanside 10 min from the beach, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1500 sq ft (huge huge fenced yard) for 750k!

    Oceanside isn’t really San Diego, but it’s in a market that is destined to grow. A lot Bc it’s beachside.

    Feel free to DM me if you have any questions Bc I’ve lived and (now) bought in both places.

    Also I can give you my realtors name Bc they scored me this needle in a haystack and escrow only took 19 days.
    Nov 28, 2021 2
  • Boeing
    ePecRApH20

    Go to company page Boeing

    ePecRApH20
    You can get a house at 800k in Seattle but not in primary locations such as Kirkland, Redmond or Bellevue, probably a small, old house or townhome in some growing areas such as Bothell etc, but it might take you a lot of time and effort, plus you need to start shopping like right now because no one knows how much money you have to pay for the same house in a few months.
    Nov 28, 2021 1