Mission Beach Real Estate - One of San Diego's Terrific Beach Communities

San Diego has a number of beach communities north of downtown along the edge of the continent, each with its own feel, personality, and temperament. While they share the coast line, beach, and sunset views, they each have qualities that endear them to residents and visitors alike.

Mission Beach is a unique community. It is a narrow spit of land - a sandbar - just south of Pacific Beach and trendy, affluent La Jolla, much longer (perhaps 2 miles) than it is wide (about 700 feet at its narrowest). And Mission Beach water views comprise both the blue Pacific to the west and the serenity of Sail Bay (and extension of Mission Bay) including San Juan Cove, Santa Barbara Cove on the east. Indeed, one can stand in the middle of Mission Boulevard (well, not recommended except on the median where it exists) and easily see both.

Because of this narrow piece of land sandwiched between Mission Bay and the ocean, Mission Beach is the most densely developed community in San Diego, and it has the smallest lot sizes. Many of the original properties were built as summer cottages in the 1930s and 1940s, but there is plenty of new contemporary architecture, recently built as well as under construction. Most of the streets are small narrow one-way road through the residential area, and some are literally pathways for residents. Mission Boulevard is the main road heading north and south roughly cutting the community in half.

Shopping, restaurants and bars/nightlife tend to be located more toward the south end of town, with the hub about in the middle where Belmont Park (the amusement park) is located and across the street from Mission Bay Park. Much more shopping and dining is located just a short distance up the road in the heart of Pacific Beach, a much larger community of about 40,000.

The Mission Beach real estate market is eclectic, and many homes have water views or are within a stone's throw of the water. Not surprising, prices are steep and homes are small, in general.

Currently there are 88 Mission Beach homes for sale on the market (29 detached homes, from $695,000 up to $6,745,000. The most expensive home has hydraulic lifts in the 2-car garage allowing you to park 4 cars; there are 59 attached homes for sale, ranging in price from $594,900 to $3,750,000). The average price of an attached home sold in 2008 is $1,288,636; interestingly, for the 9 detached homes the average sold price is less at $1,074,777.

Students in Mission Beach attend schools in the San Diego Unified School District (Crown Point Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, and Mission Bay High School).

READ MORE ABOUT SOME OF SAN DIEGO'S BEACH COMMUNITIES:

Carlsbad

Encinitas (including Leucadia)

Cardiff (a.k.a. Cardiff-by-the-Sea)

Solana Beach

Del Mar

La Jolla

Pacific Beach

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If I can provide more information about San Diego, including Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360
or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits