San Diego real estate blog - Peter Toner

Did a phone interview with a journalist from San Diego Magazine - the following will appear in the next issue of this prestigious glossy monthly -

Peter Toner, a transplant from Central London, honed his real estate skills across the pond before moving here nine years ago. He now heads Team Toner, and in a study on where the best values are in the San Diego housing market has identified five best bets:

o Sorrento Valley. “It’s a good alternative for Carmel Valley, if you’re not concerned about schools,” Toner says. Carmel Valley is in the Del Mar school district, while Sorrento Valley is part of the San Diego Unified School District. Other than that, “the houses are virtually identical, but the prices are significantly less,” Toner says. A single level detached home just sold for $742,500 on Pacific Ridge. A similar home just off East Ocean Air in Carmel Valley sold for $865,000 in July.

o Northern Bay Ho. Just east of Interstate 5, tucked behind Costco, is a quiet neighborhood of single-family and condos homes that routinely sell for less than comparable homes to the south. “It’s just a little harder ot get to - you have to wind your way up the hill - but it’s a nice, quiet location,” Toner says. Among the listings Toner considers good deals: A house on Luna, just under 1500 sq ft 4 bedrooms, oversize canyon lot with a pool at $549,000.

o Del Cerro. “It’s always been considered upscale for its general location, with some really nice homes,” Toner says. “And it’s convenience to downtown is pretty good. I’ve been recommending people get as near to downtown as they can for the last five years, even before gas really started going up.” Current sales in Del Cerro indicate that you can buy a decent 1100 to 1200 sq ft detached home between $400,000 and $450,000, around 1500 sq ft will cost from $475,000 and up.

o North Park, north of Adams Avenue. “You can buy a house as cute as any in Mission Hills, but for a lot less,” Toner says. A pretty 2 bedroom Craftsman built in 1923 with 800 sq ft for example on Idaho Street recently changed hands for $472,500

o And for condominiums, the University Town Center area has been “saturated” by condo conversions, Toner says, “so prices are soft there.”

At one development, La Paz in La Jolla Colony, prices have gone from around $345,000 the middle of last year to current asking prices ranging from $293,000 to $327,500 for a one-bedroom with a loft, while 2 bedroom units can be picked up for as little as $385,000. A year ago, Toner estimates, that same condo would have fetched about $430,000.

Search all of the listings in San Diego with listing agents comments, virtual tours, multiple photos and much more …