Fab house and crap commute, or ok house and fab commute? (Los Angeles: renting, vacation home)

[Euseys]

Hi all,

We're a US Navy family, coming on orders.

Now the major decision we face:

Get that brand new, custom built home in the planned community outside Fallbrook, (complete with 75-90 min. commute to the Naval pier every day)

OR, Pick a smaller home somewhere inside the actual city to get a healthy, short commute and live in a smaller house, but closer to city ammenities and action, and fellowship of Navy families while the hubby is deployed?

WHICH do you pick?
THE dream house with the nightmare commute
...or the dream commute in a house that will make do?

(Believe me, we cannot afford the identical home from Fallbrook within a closer distance to Naval pier!)

[ranzchic]

It depends on what you want and is more important to you. I would persoanlly choose the smaller house with all the action, etc. than deal with all that commute way out of the ways in an isolated place.

But that's just me.

I've already said it, but location will always be the other half of the cost for me.

[NYSD1995]

Personally I would pick the location over the property any day.

When gas hits 6 bucks a gallon, that 90 minute commute will become a complete disaster.

[Euseys]

Does it help to know the wonderful dream house is outside Fallbrook-- the K.Hov community... and work is Naval Pier, so Mapquest says 58 minutes for 43 miles.

I know traffic can be bad, but is outside Fallbrook to Downtown S.D. really such a hassel?

The hubby is optimistic and keeps downplaying it. Anyone ever drive it before and have actual experience to comment on?

Thanks for your postings, and good point about gas...

[TomSD]

Wow tough call. I would shop around for a nice medium between the two. I don't so much hate driving as I hate traffic so I try to get somewhere I'm going opposite of the rush hour traffic. Anything longer than thirty minutes or so, not counting traffic, would kill it for me though.

[ranzchic]

Again, it depends on what you both want and the compromise between the two. Is the size of the house the most important part? Or is it the walkbility of the location?

You have to set a goal first, and then start from there.

[kcda]

I would choose location over the larger home. You can get nice homes in Eastlake at a reasonable cost. Many Navy families choose this area. Nice amenities, nice new homes, good schools.

Navy pier would be about 20-25 minutes from here.

Location is much more important to me than the actual home. We could have bought in Temecula, Murrietta, Fallbrook but would never do that commute. Infact, if we didn't have kids, we would live downtown or on the beach. We live in the suburbs for the schools and sense of community for the family.

[Mira-Mesa-Resident]

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
You can save the gas money to go on lavish vacations and save the time you spend on the commute by laying down on the nearby beach relaxing. Perhaps, with the gas money you save, you can even purchase a time-share or vacation home somewhere.

We were going to live in Wildomar with a daily commute to San Diego for work. It would have been a disaster and a waste of money, gas, and life commuting each day. Not worth it.

[Beth56]

Driving that distance day after day will wear you down. And it leaves no time for family. I would choose a lesser house with a short commute. I use to drive 22 miles into downtown Los Angeles every day. On most days it took me anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half each way. It's no fun. And Mapquest isn't always accurate on the driving time.

Have you thought of renting for a year? Perhaps you will get a better idea of what is really important to all of you if you wait to buy.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Euseys

I know traffic can be bad, but is outside Fallbrook to Downtown S.D. really such a hassel?

YES!!! Traffic on the 5 to and from SD, particularly when you start getting down around La Jolla, will easily make that a 70-90 minute drive each way during rush hour. And getting in and out of Fallbrook on the 76 isn't that much more pleasant either.

Depending on your car, you'll be burning through 2 - 3 tanks of gas per week...Cha-Ching $$$$

Fallbrook gets HOT in the summer...100+

How long are you guys going to be stationed in SD? Are you planning on living there permanently? Housing prices in Ca are in freefall right now, particularly in the new box houses out in the middel of nowhere with lousy commutes. Do you really want to buy into that now?

Need I continue?...