Santee, incorporated in 1980, is a large suburb of San Diego located in East County, just east of El Cajon. Over 52,000 call Santee home, and that number s growing as the city expands business opportunities as well as amenities for its residents. Located approximately 25 minutes from Downtown San Diego, or 16 miles from Lindbergh field, the Trolley line that runs from Downtown gives residents options on how to get around. With the trolley, locals can access areas like Downtown, Tijuana, Mission and Fashion Valley Malls, Qualcomm Stadium, Pet Co. Park and SDSU. The 52 and 125 freeways have connected in Santee making travel more efficient than ever before.
Real Estate in Santee is affordable by Southern California standards, although some of the newer, larger homes can get pricey. Fanita Ranch, a master planned community that encompasses 2600 acres, is focused on providing a high quality of life mixed with recreational opportunities. New condominium communities such as Morningside offer tremendous value as well as modern and luxury amenities. The rolling topography of Santee creates beautiful views from hillside lots.
Santee offers a myriad of outdoor activities. The Santee Lakes, dubbed the “Best Backyard in San Diego”, are a community recreational focal point offering fishing, pedal-boating, mountain biking, dog walking and more. There are also two fishing piers, and a handicap accessible pier for fishing enthusiasts. Canoes are rentable, and there are also 5 playgrounds with adaptive mobility equipment and a cushioned play surface. On hot days, the Kiwanis playground is complete with a 1300 square foot water play area with potable water treated similar to a swimming pool. It also has water pumps for play activity. The preserve also offers an abundance of wildlife such as deer and many species of birds. RV camps are available for extended stays. There are several other city run parks in Santee.
The Carlton Oaks Golf Course remains one of the nicest, most challenging courses in the county and is conveniently located off the 52 freeway.
Recent redevelopment has brought state of the art shopping centers to Downtown Santee. The newly constructed mixed use development at the edge of the San Diego River includes commercial centers, high tech office space, residential space and a 55 acre community park for recreational activities. The Santee Trolley Square is the local hub of activity.
Santee, like El Cajon, also has a strong manufacturing sector. Wheatland’s Industrial Park has over 90,000 square feet of industrial zoned space.

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San Marcos is steadily growing city in the Inland North County of San Diego. Located along the I-15 and 78 Freeways, San Marcos is an approximate 35 minute drive to downtown, though it is easily accessible from other parts of North County. Some 54,000 call San Marcos home. With 40% of the land undeveloped, that number is sure to grow. San Marcos is close to both Camp Pendleton and Miramar military bases, making it an excellent choice for civilian contractors and military personnel alike.
San Marcos real estate expansion is already in site, with plans to grow San Elijo hills to 3400 homes across 2000 acres. There are affordable real estate opportunities here. Many neighborhoods are middle class, though recent additions have brought more high end, custom, luxury homes to the area. Rolling topography, canyons and valleys give many residents views from their lots.
The business climate is friendly in San Marcos. Many large retailers of electronics and home furnishings call the area home. The local shopping draws people from all over the County.
Recreation activities focus on the outdoors. Fishing, hiking, and enjoying a picnic at Lake San Marcos are all popular activities.
Old California Restaurant Row has great dining, including a wine bar, where residents can relax and sample varietals.

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Rancho San Diego is a master planned community that stretches over parts of Spring Valley, La Mesa, and El Cajon. Approximately 20,000 people live in 4800 acres that make up Rancho San Diego.
Residents here enjoy rural living with modern amenities and a tight knit community. Rancho San Diego real estate is made up of mostly newer, moderate to large tract homes, some apartment homes, condos and townhomes. Many of the homes in Rancho have views of the valley due to the rolling topography of the area. Residents enjoy brilliant sunsets and near perfect weather year round from their backyards.
Hiking jogging and equestrian activities are popular in this part of the county. A definite favorite of the locals, though, is golf. Rancho San Diego Golf Course, formerly Cottonwood Golf Course, offers challenging golf on a beautifully manicured course. Singing Hills and Steele Canyon golf courses are also nearby.
Businesses are thriving in Ranch San Diego, with a mix of large retailers and independent stores filling out the new malls. Overall, Rancho San Diego is a great place to raise a family.

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Rancho Penasquitos is a master planned community located in the Inland North County of San Diego. “PQ” as locals call it, is full of country charm in a suburban area. Downtown San Diego is approximately 25 miles away. Mira Mesa is to the South of PQ, and Poway is to the east. The newly connected 56 runs right through Rancho Penasquitos, making it much easier for residents to get to the coast, which is approximately 10 minutes away. Rancho Penasquitos is made up of 10,000 acres, of which 34% is open area and 51% is residential development. There is very little commercial space in the community.
Rancho Penasquitos real estate is made up of nice homes, mostly upscale tract homes built 15 to 20 years ago. Most home owners keep their landscaping nice and the power lines are underground, making Rancho Penasquitos a very pleasant area.
PQ is part of the Poway school district making it a great place to raise a family. One of the nation’s largest little leagues can be found here.
Small shopping centers provide for the necessities, but for other items residents travel the short distance to one of the neighboring cities.

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Rancho Bernardo is a master planned community built between the 60’s and 80’s in the Inland North County region of San Diego. Built around Lake Hodges and area golf courses, Rancho Bernardo is now one of the safest places in Southern California to live. 49,000 call this unincorporated residential community in the San Pasqual Valley home.
The area locals know and refer to as simply “RB”, older, upscale tract homes built on winding roads in the rolling hills of North County. Real Estate can be moderately affordable, with condominiums and townhome opportunities dotted throughout single family tracts. Some larger Estate properties on hilltops often claim beautiful views of the mountains, valleys and lakes.
Residents enjoy six community centers, an annual Art, Wine and Food Festival, and 4 star cuisine at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Recreation activities are plentiful, especially for kids. Lake sports and hobbies, hiking, and golf are favorite pastimes of RB locals.
The commute to Downtown San Diego can be quite ruthless at times, so many residents take advantage of the strong business environment of the region and find work locally at places like Siemens, HP, and Sony.

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Poway is located in Inland North County San Diego. Known as “The City in the Country”, Poway is home to over 50,000 that enjoy the rural ambience with all the amenities of the big city. The 15 freeway is the closest north/ south freeway and the 56 and 52 freeways both connect the 15 to the west. Outlook Magazine recently rated the area #6 for business growth in California. It is approximately 20 minutes to Downtown San Diego, though during rush hour it can take much longer.
Poway real estate offers many different options for the home buyer. Many homes are on large lots, with some homes in the eastern portion of the community offering excellent horse property. There is a mix of condominium and apartment homes, though Poway is made up of mostly single family homes. Single family homes range from small tract homes to to larger estate homes as well as private, gated communities with large, custom luxury estates. Many professional athletes reside in Poway.
Poway has both one of the lowest crime rates in the county as well as some of the best scores for its schools.
Shopping opportunities increase as more and more large retailers make their way to Poway and neighboring Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Penasquitos.
Recreational activities are plentiful. Lake Poway offers fishing and picnic areas, as well as boating and hiking. There are also city run parks and traditional sports like baseball and soccer.
Poway’s community events include a weekly craft show and farmers market at the Old Poway Park. Poway has also completed a new public library.

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Point Loma is a peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean from the San Diego Bay. Point Loma lies adjacent to Ocean Beach to the north and the Old Town / Middletown area to the east. The next body of land to the south is Coronado. It is only a few minutes drive to Downtown San Diego, which is in view across the bay from the point. Just over 18,000 call Point Loma home.
Point Loma real estate offers some of the best views in the county. Many homes have fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean while the east side of the peninsula looks back east toward the Bay, the Downtown skyline, and the Cuyamaca Mountians in the eastern portion of the county. Point Loma has a wide array of architectural styles. The majority of homes are upscale, with lots varying in size. Condominium opportunities are available, mostly in the Loma Linda center of town.
Point Loma is part military town, harbor town, and beach community. Military installations occupy most of the east end of Rosecrans, the main thoroughfare on the east side of town. Shelter Island is a mostly commercial portion of town, home to the San Diego Yacht Club, America’s Cup, several marinas, hotels and restaurants. Many of the area restaurants have a distinct seafood theme.
Point Loma Nazarene University is one of two private universities in San Diego, along with USD. The views from the baseball diamond are of the Pacific Ocean.
There are several excellent surf breaks along the point, including some breaks only accessible by boat.
Exploring the tide pools are a favorite hobby of locals and tourists alike. Other recreation activities that aren’t ocean-centric are available. Traditional sports like baseball and football are the pride of the local high school.

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Nestled in the hills in South East San Diego is Paradise Hills. Located between Lemon Grove and National City, Paradise Hills is a 10 to 15 minute drive to Downtown San Diego.
Paradise Hills is very affordable, by San Diego standards. Neighborhoods include Lomita, Skyline, South Bay Terrace, North Bay Terraces and Paradise Hills. Canyons and valleys define the topography, giving lots on the top of the hills wonderful views of the County. Most homes are single family homes, though there are many apartment buildings and condominiums too.

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