There is a lot more to San Diego than the beach and the zoo. These are some of the lesser known but still amazing parts of San Diego County.
A lot of people don’t realize how big San Diego County is. But it extends north up to San Clemente, CA. To the east the county includes Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Jacumba Hotsprings. That is about 4,526 square miles that includes the coastal and inland communities. Most of the area is chaparral or desert.
If you are thinking about buying real estate property, be sure to research all of the available communities in the county. Because you might stumble upon a hidden gem. You may be surprised what you can find, including luxury real estate listings, ranch houses with land, artists retreats, and other types of houses.
Alpine
- Average Sale Price: $635K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $314
- Average Days on Market: 17.5
- Homes Sold This Month: 29
Located east of El Cajon, Alpine is best known for the Viejas Casino and Resort. The community shares a border with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians Capitan Grande Reservation. There are outdoor activity opportunities nearby on Viejas Mountain, and at El Capitan Reservoir, and Loveland Reservoir.
Borrego Springs
- Average Sale Price: $250K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $172
- Average Days on Market: 102
- Homes Sold This Month: 7
Borrego Springs is an out of the way oasis in the Anza-Borrego Desert that is east of North County San Diego. It is the home of the Galleta Meadows iron animal sculptures. The neighborhood is designated as a Dark Sky Community because there are no street lights, making it an ideal place for stargazing.
Boulevard
- Average Sale Price: $435K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $183
- Average Days on Market: 122
- Homes Sold This Month: 1
In the south east corner of San Diego County you will find the rural desert community of Boulevard, CA, located off Old Highway 80. It is about an hours drive to the US-Mexico border via El Centro/Calexico/Mexicali. Boulevard is also known as the headquarters of the Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians.
Descanso
Slightly north east of Alpine is Descanso, CA. To get there you have to get off of Interstate 8 and head north. ‘Descanso’ is Spanish for ‘rest’ or ‘break’ so there is time to relax. The area is home to many firefighters who work for the Forest Service, or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
- Average Sale Price: $488K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $264
- Average Days on Market: 111
- Homes Sold This Month: 3
Fallbrook
- Average Sale Price: $653K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $272
- Average Days on Market: 31
- Homes Sold This Month: 60
North east of Camp Pendelton North, and west of Interstate 15, is the community of Fallbrook. Fallbrook is known as the Avocado Capital of the World, and there are many farms and nurseries there. Downtown there are family owned antique stores, art galleries, gift shops, cafes, and local produce vendors to enjoy.
Jamul
- Average Sale Price: $683K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $274
- Average Days on Market: 18
- Homes Sold This Month: 13
Jamul is best known as the place where Border Patrol checks cars for illegal drugs and immigrants. But it is also a lively rural community. Local attractions include the Jamul Casino. Jamul shares a border with the Jamul Indian Village, which is part of the Kumeyaay (Mission Indian) Nation of Southern California.
Julian
- Average Sale Price: $425K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $300
- Average Days on Market: 94
- Homes Sold This Month: 12
East of North County San Diego is Julian, CA. Julian has been designated as a California Historical Landmark because it used to be a gold mining town. It is the home of the Julian Apple Days Festival, the Julian Pie Company, and apple orchards. To visit from San Diego take State Route 79, as there are no major interstates.
Pine Valley
- Average Sale Price: $521K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $313
- Average Days on Market: 75
- Homes Sold This Month: 2
Pine Valley is east of Descanso and Alpine off Interstate 8. As you may have guessed there are pine forests. It is named after the endemic Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) that is found along Pine Valley Creek. Snow sometimes falls during winter storms in this area, however it usually melts before it can cover the ground.
Ramona
- Average Sale Price: $546K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $282
- Average Days on Market: 23
- Homes Sold This Month: 46
Ramona, CA is located east of Poway and Escondido, north of Lakeside, and south west of Julian. The town is an agricultural area filled with farms and vineyards. There are a lot of hiking trails and open spaces to explore. Downtown there are a lot of quaint shops and family owned businesses, as well as major chain stores.
San Pasqual Valley
San Pasqual Valley is not technically a town. It is more of an open area of space in the middle of Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Ramona. It is the home of the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, and the San Pasqual Battlefield Historic Park. The valley is named after the Kumeyaay Indian pueblo that used to be there.
Valley Center
- Average Sale Price: $749K
- Average Sale Price / Sq. Ft.: $266
- Average Days on Market: 46
- Homes Sold This Month: 16
The rural community of Valley Center is another open space, north of Escondido. The area is largely agricultural with a few gated communities. Valley Center is close to the Harrah’s Rincon and Valley View Casinos. There are opportunities for outdoor activities at Daley Ranch, Hellhole Canyon Preserve, and Lake Wohlford.
Statistics via Realtor.com, accessed on May 27, 2020.
