Is San Diego a good place to live? What is it like living in San Diego? Being in the real estate business, I get this question from time to time and someone actually asked me this the other day. It got me thinking. I like it here. I mean I think I like living here? Is it really a good place to live? I decided to break it down, I spent some serious time on this, talking pen to paper, burning the midnight oil, the works. I came up with a bunch of reasons San Diego is good but I was able to put together this list of the top 9 reasons I think San Diego is a great (not good) place to live.
The Weather
Reason number 1 is going to be so painfully obvious but I have to say it. The climate and the weather. Get this, we average 266 days on sunshine a year. The US average is 205 days… and that’s if they are lucky. We average 12 inches of rain a year, the US average is 38 inches. Our snowfall average comes in with a big fat goose egg. The nation averages 38 inches of snow. We are technically a Mediterranean climate like many Southern California cities and counties but we tend to be more uniquely arid and dry than typical cities in the classification because it’s basically a desert with beaches. It amazing. August is the hottest month for sure. I say it gets humid although my east coast friends say I’m crazy and I don’t know what humidity is. December is the coolest which once again my fellow east coasters say I have no idea what cold even is. Any day in any month can be a potential beach day. It’s a great way to love.
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The Beaches
Reason number 2 is the beaches. San Diego has over 70 miles of coastline, most of which is open to the public. We not only have great sandy beaches, we have rocky beaches, beaches with cliffs that are great for diving and snorkeling, we have beaches that are dog friendly, we even have beaches you can camp and stay overnight. It’s not uncommon to go the beach in lets say Mission Beach and see a kite surfer, a hang glider, surfers (look closely it could be me), walkers and bicycles on the boardwalk, volleyball players on the sand, you will see it all. The beach life is amazing in San Diego.
The Beer
Reason number 3 is going to be the craft beer scene. If you like beer, you like to talk hops, or you just love the taste San Diego’s craft beer scene is one of the best in the nation. At last count, there were already over 150 local San Diego breweries available to visit and try out the latest libations. Probably the biggest and most famous is going to be stone brew. The have several locations. Their two biggest are going to be in Escondido and in Liberty Station. I’ve been to both, highly recommended for a super relaxing weekend day trip. Just make sure to figure out driving arrangements before you go. Other great breweries that I enjoy are going to be Ballast Point in Little Italy and Green Flash up in Sorrento Valley. There are so many great ones to try, to many to list.
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Thriving Job Market
Reason number 4 is going to be a thriving job market. I broke down the stats and its interesting. San Diego actually much lower annual unemployment rates than the rest of the nation while at the same time averaging much higher as far a salaries and wages paid. The job fields that are in especially high demand in San Diego are going to be technology, healthcare, education, research, tourism, and military industries. Major employers in the area include Sharp Healthcare, Qualcomm, Scripps Health, San Diego Unified School District, and the United States Navy. Obviously we are in the midst of the virus and the early start of the vaccine so some industries are hit harder than others but soon they will come back.
Outdoor Activities
Reason number 5 is going to be that San Diego has got to be one of the best places to live if you enjoy outdoor activities. Whether it be for yourself, yourself and your significant other, or the entire family. It’s actually amazing how many outdoor activities you have to choose from on any given week. Maybe a hike with the family up Cowles Mountain to enjoy nature and the views. Possibly taking the kids to Legoland for the day, maybe the world famous San Diego Zoo to check out the bears (the bears I my favorite) and the rest of Balboa Park. Head down to Seaport Village and hop on the Coronado Ferry. Maybe take a walk along sunset cliffs for some of the best ocean views you have ever seen. If you like the outdoors, San Diego is going to be for you. The best part is these activities are available just about anytime year round (thank you weather).
Dog Friendly
Reason number 6 is that San Diego is a very dog friendly. I mean extreme. Like you will see dogs everywhere. Yes everywhere their humans go. Nothing surprises me anymore. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love having the option of bringing my two best friends with me if I want. Dog beach in Ocean beach was actually one of the very first off-leach dog beaches in the entire country. We have several dog friendly beaches in San Diego.
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Property Tax
Reason number 7 is going to be going to be taxes. What you might be thinking? This is going to apply to the entire state but it’s worth mentioning. California has a tax for everything. That might be true but I’m specifically talking about property tax. Thanks to prop 13, there is any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 2 percent. This may not seem like a big deal at first but think about what the San Diego real estate market is doing now. The median price for a home rose over 14%. Can you imagine what your annual property tax bill would look like if you were reassessed and calculated that increase each year. Some states are don’t have this protection and homeowners having this extract problem. Luckily we can thank prop 13. At least they got it right somewhere.
Weekend Getaways
Reason number 8 is going to be that San Diego is just a quick drive away from fun, popular destinations such as Mexico, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, and Disneyland. I love heading up to Big Bear for the day or for the weekend to snowboard. It’s just over 2 hours away. LA and Orange County are super easy. You just hop on the train for those. Beautiful scenic views along the way for a good portion of the way. If you are feeling lucky, La Vegas is about 5 hours away by car. If you are over the age of 23, hop a plane for $89. You get there in less than an hour. Awesome location for quick weekend getaways.
Friendly People
An reason number 9 is going to be just the fact that people in San Diego are pretty much some of the nicest people you will find in a community. I don’t know if it’s the weather, if it’s the beach, or what but people just seem to be happy, helpful;, friendly. Its pretty amazing. San Diego is always near the top on quality of life rankings (remove the cost of living portion). It’s a lower stress and happy place to be. I highly recommend it.
Alrighty, so those are my top 9 reasons I think San Diego is a great place to live. I really love it here.
Don’t forget, if you are thinking about moving to, from, or inside San Diego, hit me up anytime. I love to help and I’m always here for you!
