Long-time residents of the San Diego area may know Encinitas by many different names. That's because it's a relatively recent development of a city. In 1986, four communities—Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff and Leucadia—decided to come together under one name. But this development is still new enough that each area has its own unique character. So whether you're looking in Encinitas for a laid-back surfing community, a quiet home on the beach or a rambling home with acres of yard, you're looking in the right place.
Along six miles of beach, you'll find homes ranging from tiny beach cottages to expanded, modern homes. Tract homes are nowhere in sight, and the smell of the ocean breezes drift through every window. This is the Old Encinitas, where lovers of the coast have made their homes for decades.
Across the freeway are the newer homes, predominantly occupied by families drawn to the area for its safe environment, its top-quality schools and its uncluttered, convenient neighborhoods. Here, the homes are more modern, with creative vantages and yards designed for families. Golf course communities have sprung up here in recent years as well, tucking executive mansions within the rolling hills and providing a secluded lifestyle mainly to retirees.
The business community is active in Encinitas. Many homeowners commute into downtown San Diego (or even Los Angeles) daily via the comforts of the Coaster, a commuter rail train that glides along with views of the ocean and the cliffs much of the way. The camaraderie you'll find on the Coaster carries over into the community at large, where parents have worked to develop activities and outdoor play spaces for their children. The result has been exceptional park and recreation facilities, and the organized sports that draw kids there. In addition, the Encinitas area boasts one of the best hiking facilities in the greater San Diego area—Encinitas Ranch.
The community also meets every weekend at the farmer's market or at the area's famous greenhouses, where summer concerts draw local families and tourists alike.
The real estate market in Encinitas had held steady as parents move towards the great schools in the area, investors snap up the ocean-influenced properties and current homeowners improve on their land. The average price of a single-family home is just over $1 million. The average price of the condos that are beginning to develop in the area is about $470,000. The average sales price in February 2006 for a single famly home or condo was $925,752. An investment in this area is a strong one.
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