People love coming to San Diego. In fact, this city gets over 35 million visitors every year.
Vacations are great, but have you considered living here?
Why wouldn’t you…great weather, outstanding landscapes, sea breezes, and all the culture, entertainment, and recreation that southern California has to offer. It’s a fantastic place to call home.
If you’re looking for a change, and you’ve thought about moving to San Diego, we have some great reasons for why you should. Check these out, and then call us when you’re ready to start looking for a home.
San Diego’s Economy is Strong and Supportive
It’s never a good idea to move to an area where the local economy is flailing. Luckily, the economy and the job market in San Diego is thriving. The unemployment rate is consistently below state and national averages, and the jobs here pay well. The military makes up a lot of the industry in San Diego, and we also have a lot of companies and jobs in healthcare, tourism, education, technology, and research. Some of the largest employers here are the U.S. Navy, the University of California, and Sharp Healthcare.
Great Education Opportunities in San Diego
If you’re moving to the area with school-aged children, you’ll be happy to know that there are more than 40 local school districts, including the San Diego Unified School District. San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of top-rated public schools in the state of California.
When it comes to higher education, the San Diego area has 23 colleges and universities, including several that rank in the top 100 for national university rankings.
University of San Diego is a private college that has NCAA-Division I sports and a variety of graduate programs, including a Tier 1 law school. There’s also the University of California-San Diego, which is found in the desirable La Jolla neighborhood. Here, you’ll find six undergraduate colleges, highly respected medicine and engineering programs, and lots of student-led activities and associations. San Diego State University has a number of competitive programs – 95 bachelors, 78 masters, and 22 doctoral degree programs.
Enjoy 266 Sunny Days per Year
San Diego is no place for darkness-seeking vampires. If you’re a fan of the sun, this might be the best place for you. The climate is one of the things people love most about living here. You get year-round golf, plenty of time to relax at the beach, and an abundance of outdoor recreation and activities.
What can you do with all this outdoor time and space?
New residents tend to gravitate towards the beach first. San Diego’s beaches are astonishing in their beauty. Walk on the boardwalk at Mission Beach, where you can also join a beach volleyball game or hope on a whale watching tour. At Pacific Beach, there’s always surfing to be found and lots of people watching on Crystal Pier. For some swimming and sunbathing, set yourself up at La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove. You can also kayak and scuba dive or take a dozen selfies with the sunbathing elephant seals. You can find dog-friendly beaches and plenty of spots to enjoy a sunset.
There’s more to outdoor fun in San Diego than just the beach.
There’s hiking and camping, fishing and boating, bike riding and golf. Some of the prettiest parks have water views, and others are perfect for letting the kids run around. Outdoor festivals, fairs, art shows, and farmers markets are always happening around San Diego.
Culture, Diversity, and History
San Diego is home to more than 1.5 million people, so you can expect some diversity. This leads to fun, culturally varied neighborhoods and customs throughout the city.
People who love art and music and culture and museums will feel very comfortable living in San Diego. Balboa Park, for example, is the largest urban park in the country. In San Diego, you’ll find more than 25 museums, dozens of art galleries and botanical gardens, and of course the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Live music, performing arts, and professional sports can also be found. Cheer on the San Diego Padres or visit the Museum of Photographic Arts.
There’s a lot of history in San Diego, and it’s waiting to be explored at the San Diego History Center located along the Prado as well as the Cabrillo National Monument, where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to arrive in California in 1542. Explore the Hotel del Coronado, which was built in 1888, and all of the local San Diego missions.
Military service members are especially fond of living in San Diego. There’s lots of military history here, which can be found at the USS Midway Museum, where you can board an aircraft carrier. Over 30 historical aircraft from World War II to present day are on display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.
Surfing history is also celebrated in San Diego.
Drive along historic Highway 101, where you’ll get an occasional glimpse of high waves and blue surf. Surfing is huge in San Diego, as evidenced by the exhibits and displays at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside.
Foodies and Craft Beer Fans Unite
People don’t usually move to a city just because they like the food there.
In San Diego, you’ll have other reasons to move here, but you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the great culinary scene.
There are some thriving farms outside of San Diego, allowing the city to enjoy fresh food that’s locally grown. The proximity of Mexico’s border also introduces a lot of delicious flavors and regional dishes. People in San Diego love brunch and happy hours. There’s access to every type of cuisine you can imagine, from casual pizza restaurants to Michelin-starred restaurants.
With food comes drink.
San Diego is home to more than 150 breweries, and the craft beer scene has really grown. New restaurants are popping up every week with a jaw-dropping menu of craft cocktails. If wine is more your thing, there’s plenty to toast in your new hometown. Urban wineries are making a name for themselves and there’s also a tasting or two to be found in many of the local wine bars.
San Diego’s Perfect Location
Whether you like a basic road trip or something more international, living in San Diego makes travel possible. Local escapes might include Catalina Island, Los Angeles, Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. If you really want to get away, San Diego’s international airport flies all over the world and you can also hop on a cruise ship at the B Street Pier.
Within just a few hours, you can be in the mountains or the desert. You can drive up the coast and visit Monterey and Big Sur or you can go south and cross the border into Mexico.
Where to Live in San Diego
Once you decide to make the move, you’ll need to establish where you want to live.
San Diego is full of diverse neighborhoods and homes. You can choose a sprawling single-family home in a gated community or a small, easy-to-maintain home in an older, established neighborhood. Perhaps you’d prefer a condo close to the beach or a high-rise loft downtown.
The point is, you’ll find what you’re looking for because San Diego has a lot to offer in terms of housing and neighborhoods.
Some of the most popular places to live in San Diego include Carmel Valley, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, downtown San Diego, Coronado, and Encinitas.
San Diego residents love where they live. They don’t take it for granted, and they make a point of enjoying the laid back lifestyle, the beach atmosphere, and the abundance of things to do. When you’re looking for a San Diego home, choose a neighborhood and a property that’s going to help you live the lifestyle you want.
Your ideal neighborhood will depend on whether you want to be close to the water or in a suburban community with amenities and good schools. Maybe you want an urban area where you can walk to work.
San Diego offers all the things you expect from a large city, including world-class dining, professional sports, and constant entertainment options typical of a large metro area, but the variety of unique neighborhoods helps to create a strong and intimate feeling of community from place to place.
If you’re going to buy in San Diego, get some help from a local real estate agent who can show you the best properties available and help you negotiate the best deals. If you want to rent for a while before you buy something, you’ll want to find a well-maintained rental in a neighborhood that you’re thinking might make a good permanent home.
We are always excited to work with people who are relocating to San Diego, and our experience in both the sales market and the rental market allow us to work with you no matter where you find yourself as you’re preparing to move. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Chase Pacific Property Management & Real Estate Services. We can’t wait to welcome you to San Diego.