San Marcos, in San Diego's North County, is located about 5 miles inland from the ocean and about 30 miles from the downtown San Diego. The community covers about 24 square miles and, as of the 2000 census, had about 55,000 residents and almost 18,700 household units. Census data also indicate a fairly diverse population.
San Marcos, because of its inland location, tends to offer a somewhat warmer climate than adjacent Carlsbad, although the west side of San Marcos gets some of the coastal climate (marine layer, ocean breezes, cooler temperatures).
The town is a healthy mix of residential and commercial areas, as well as undeveloped space, and due to Route 78 provides easy access inland to Escondido and the 15 (north to Riverside County, south to San Diego) and west to Oceanside, the 5 freeway, the coast and the beaches. San Marcos is also home to California State University - San Marcos and Palomar College.
The largest, and newest, housing area in the San Marcos real estate market is the master planned community of San Elijo Hills (established in 2000), located on the southwestern edge of town, bordered by Rancho Santa Fe Road and Carlsbad to the west and south. Located high on rolling hills (actually the highest point in North County), this community is a town in and of itself, with schools, post office, gas station, and a few shops, with more retail establishments planned including a grocery store, and a true Town Center. There are over 1100 acres of open space, 18 miles of hiking trails and a large park for the residents. San Elijo Hills was voted one of the top master planned communities in the US a few years ago, and some areas are still under development. Once completed, San Elijo Hills will have around 3,400 homes.
Some of the other well known neighborhoods of San Marcos include Santa Fe Hills, Discovery Hills, Discovery Meadows, Twin Oaks Valley, Rancho Dorado and the self-contained golf resort/residential community of Lake San Marcos. There are many other small neighborhoods and gated communities as well.
New construction is available as well as more established housing (both rentals and for purchase).
San Marcos real estate offers a range of housing including apartments, condos, attached and detached homes, several 55+ communities, and assisted living facilities. The median price of a detached home in San Marcos as of the end of February 2007 was $595,000 (down 1% from 1 year ago); the median for an attached home was $372,495 (a drop of almost 7% from a year ago, but an increase of 2% from January 2007).
As of this writing, there are 361 detached San Marcos homes for sale, ranging in price from $295,000 up to $1,895 million; average marketing time was 93 days, with 129 homes currently pending. There are 163 attached homes for sale, ranging in price from $146,900 up to $735,000; average days on market was 84, with 34 homes currently pending. Current inventory, about 37% less than the peak in August of 2006, is about 6.5 months for detached homes for sale, and 9.5 months for attached homes for sale. See my earlier post on market data for January and February for San Marcos homes for sale, inventory, days on market, and more.
San Marcos is known for having a large commercial component, with numerous shops, shopping centers, restaurants, and a host of other retail establishments. While you won't find much high-end shopping, you can pretty find find whatever you need here, with lots of choices - home improvement/remodeling, electronics, appliances, landscaping, clothing, furniture (residential and office, especially along Furniture Row), gardening, cars/trucks, wines and liquor, and much more, as well as numerous small businesses and non-profit organizations. Much of the shopping is located along Grand Avenue, Rancho Santa Fe Road, and San Marcos Boulevard, the main thoroughfare running roughly east and west.
San Marcos is not known as an eating mecca, however there are many restaurants and fast food eateries here covering a wide array of foods and styles, from extremely casual to relaxed upscale, and to fit every budget. Old California Restaurant Row, on San Marcos Boulevard, has about 18 restaurants, as a good example. If you like a variety of food and are not looking for expensive restaurants, you will be very happy with the broad range of places to dine.
And more upscale eating is nearby in Carlsbad (visual tour with music) and further south.
There are 3 golf courses located in San Marcos; Twin Oaks Valley toward the east, and two courses at Lake San Marcos. All are public. Other nearby courses include La Costa and Aviara in Carlsbad, and the soon to open (summer 2007) public golf course, The Crossings, also in Carlsbad.
There is a man-made lake at the Lake San Marcos Resort that offers boating. The Chamber of Commerce publishes a list each monthof the activities going on in San Marcos. Nearby Carlsbad provides a wealth of other things to do, including Legoland, The Flower Fields, and wonderful beaches along the coast.
Students in San Marcos attend a number of schools in the San Marcos Unified School District, depending on location and grade level; there are a number of schools at all levels: elementary, middle, and high school. A number of students in the eastern side of Carlsbad also attend the schools in San Marcos. There is great enthusiasm regarding the new superintendent that was recently hired.
While San Marcos is not on the coast, the community offers a wide range of housing, home prices, and neighborhoodsto suit most budgets. The climate is a mix of coastal and inland, with moderate temperatures much of the year.
There are lots of amenities near to many of the neighborhoods, and it is relatively easy to get to the beach or to the business communities of San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties, given the proximity to the 15, the 5, and the 78.
For home buyers, San Marcos is a more affordable community than those along the coast, and with the range of home available, there are lots of opportunities for first time, as well as move up, buyers. Compared to communities like Carlsbad, you get a lot more for your money in San Marcos.
If you are planning a relocation, check out Relocation A to Z to learn all you need to know. If you are a first time buyer, San Marcos may be an ideal community given the housing options, prices, and amenities. If I can provide more information about this community, or answer general questions about market conditions in San Marcos and surrounding areas, please don't hesitate to ask.
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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com
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I wish i were somewhere near the place. it really is awesome and great to feel to be near to such places as you have featured in this wonderful site of yours.
I am from the Philippines but i love looking at wonderful places like this one you have featured here.
thanks a lot.
Monika - Thanks for visiting california! I imagine it looks pretty good comapred to what is happening there. Are you getting snowed in?
Master Casuncad - thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed it.
Jeff
Oooh, I feel for you I recall those snowy days all too clearly. Stay warm!
Jeff
Hey Brian. Not yet but I am working on it. I have some pics but need to get more information - I'm not the expert yet!! Thanks for stopping by (and when I do Solana Beach in ther near future, I will be in touch with you - lunch? share your expert opinions?). You can be my interview!
I have been focussing on the community profile first for each town, then doing the neighborhoods.
Jeff
I hear the schools in San Marcos are pretty bad and the gangs are tough too.
Don - I'm not sure that you can say that about the schools in general. Buyers who have looked at some of the school research sites find otherwise. I have also gheard that the high school continues to improve, scores are going up, and it is now on the Newsweek Top 1500 schools report.
Jeff