San Diego Real Estate - Big Fish, Little Fish

Are San Diego real estate prices high? It depends on where you're coming from. My clients from the San Francisco Bay Area are like kids in the candy store when the see the homes here. "You mean I can buy this beautiful home in Oceanside with a nice view that's 10 minutes from the beach for only $500,000?" they exclaim. "This house would be double that where we live now," they tell me. So they're thrilled with how far the dollar goes in our area.

On the other hand, I get the calls from Texas. "Well, we have 3,000 square feet now, it's an all brick house on an acre of land, fully fenced. Oh, and that doesn't include the full basement. We're going to sell here in Texas for around $180,000 and move to the beach in Carlsbad. We're looking for coastal San Diego real estate and we're prepared to pay up to $200,000 for it." That's when I know I'm in trouble. They probably won't move to San Diego because their expectations are too far out of line with reality.

Now depending on where you're coming from, moving to San Diego can be moving to a better situation, like our Bay Area folks, or stepping down, like our Texas people. If you're coming from a less expensive area, you will have to make a mental adjustment down in order to do it. Some people cannot accept this and choose not to move here.

Let's say you come from an area where homes are $200,000, but you've worked your way up and live in a grand $500,000 home. It's impressive, it's upscale, and you're proud of what you've achieved. Now when you visit to San Diego, you find that a $500,000 home is quite an ordinary, average home. In fact, there are plenty of homes that cost much, much more, and you suddenly feel small. Where you live now you're the "big fish", but in moving to San Diego you would become the "little fish". Can you live with that?

This is a key question if you're coming from a less expensive area. You have to have a compelling reason to move here. Perhaps you desire the mild climate, or you have a job opportunity that you can't refuse. These positives have to be stronger in your mind than the negative feeling of moving down in stature. I've seen many people who can't make it over this mental hurdle.

Look at it this way, you'll be living with the brightest minds, the most successful entrepreneurs, the best of the best. This area attracts these kinds of people from all over the world. Will that stimulate you to become better yourself, or will you feel intimidated or inadequate? Is it better to be the big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond? Your answer may be a good indication of your readiness to make the move here. And if you do decide to come, it would be my pleasure to help you become San Diegans!