San Marcos, California

A masterplanned community, San Elijo Hills is a San Marcos favorite. It’s known for its rolling hills and scenic vistas. The neighborhood features a variety of housing options, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The architectural styles blend traditional and contemporary designs. One of the great characteristics of San Elijo is it is the only community in the city with its own town center. The San Elijo Hills Town Center, offers shops, restaurants, and gives the neighborhood an energy the others lack. Locals can also access miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through the natural landscapes.

The single-family homes are large custom builds, many with 4-5 bedrooms, and generally starting in the $1.5m range.

Lake San Marcos is an unincorporated area of San Diego, situated around a private lake which offers scenic views, boating, fishing, and paddleboarding. The lake is surrounded by walking trails, picnic areas, and parks. There’s also a private country club and golf course. Residents have access to the championship golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, and a fitness center, that gives locals a resort-like lifestyle. Lake San Marcos also offers retirement living options, including age-restricted communities and is not appealing for young families. Median home prices are ~$852k.

The area also has a strong community association that runs year-round events for families and retirees, and gives the residents a strong community vibe.

Santa Fe Hills is located in a hilly area, with spacious single-family houses and modern townhouses. The neighborhood has both open and luxury gated communities, if you're looking for upscale and private. The median home price is $855k.

The nearby Double Peak Park, with its hiking trails and views, is beloved by local nature enthusiasts and picnickers. Santa Fe Hills is close to the San Elijo Hills community which has its own town center that provides shopping, restaurants and cafes within just a few minutes drive. Local children are zoned for Carrillo Elementary School, San Elijo Middle School, and San Marcos High School -- all A rated schools. ****

This hilly neighborhood is perhaps the choice most appreciated by outdoor lovers. It's surrounded by open spaces and hiking trails, and Discovery Hills Children's Park, a dreamy green space with tons of outdoor play structures for the kiddos. The nearby Discovery Lake is a also hugely popular with families and parents looking to take a break, offering opportunities for fishing, picnicking, and walks along the pretty shoreline.

Discovery Hills is primarily single family homes, with a median home price of ~$1m. They're typically 3-4 bedrooms, newer builds, and at least 2k but also up to 4k sq feet. The neighborhood also has some townhomes for sale in the ~$500k range.

Old Creek Ranch is another San Marcos neighborhood with a focus on giving locals nature-centric experience. Outdoor living is the lifestyle here and there is an extensive network of walking, running and biking trails with beautiful views of the surrounding hills and green spaces. Old Creek Ranch features a mix of single-family houses and townhouses, with the median home price at $1.5m and townhomes in the ~$600k range.

The neighborhood has wonderful community parks, including Old Creek Park and Al Bar Ranch Park, both with open green spaces, sports courts, trails, playgrounds for the kiddos and doggo areas for Fido. Additionally, residents have access to a community pool, clubhouse, and fitness center, and top-rated schools such as San Elijo Elementary School, San Elijo Middle School, and San Marcos High School.