San Diego is a great town with lots of friendly people. However, if you’re thinking about buying a home in San Diego, you should ask yourself a few questions to make sure you’re ready for the big move, including:
1. Are you ready for the commute? Buying a home in a neighborhood with lower home prices may save you money, but you’ll need to prepare for a slightly longer commute if you’re planning to work downtown. San Diego congestion can be frustrating – the city consistently ranks among the worst in the country for traffic jams.
2. Which neighborhood do you want to live in? Before you make the big move, you should research different neighborhoods to decide where you want to live. In addition to thinking about home price, you should consider how close you’d like to be to the beach and other major attractions in the area, as well as local amenities.
3. How much are property taxes? Property taxes are around 1.25% of the purchase price of the home each year. Different areas in the city have special assessments that may cause you to pay slightly more taxes, so it’s worth asking about before you make the purchase.
4. When was the home built? Although most homes in San Diego are fairly new, it’s always worth making sure you know when the home was built. You may be able to avoid potential problems down the road by checking on its age. You’ll also want to check on the age of the roof and any major renovations before buying a home.
5. Is the home prepared for earthquakes? When you move to San Diego, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for earthquakes. Southern California has around 10,000 earthquakes each year, so you’ll want to make sure you – and your home – are prepared.
6. What does the housing market in your neighborhood look like? Houses in San Diego are known for being pricey. However, this is largely because land values are so high in the area. Before buying a home in San Diego, make sure you know what the market in your neighborhood is like, in case you decide to move down the road.
If you want to be close to the beach and be around tons of diverse cultures, San Diego is a great city. Of course, any big decisions are worth thinking about – so ask yourself these six questions before you move to San Diego.
