First of all I have to say that I love Del Mar. I have lived here on and off for 30 years and have seen the many changes and faces it has gone thru. When I moved to Del Mar, California I was still in college and felt like I was going on an “outing” driving here from my rental in Point Loma. North County seemed like the end of the world, or at least the end of San Diego. We were looking for a property in what seemed to us at the time a huge price range- $50,000. We got to know Del Mar well as we rode with a realtor thru the beautiful hills up to Crest Canyon at the top of what we discovered was called Old Del Mar”. At that time the area of Carmel Valley pretty much was comprised of “tomato growers” and open field horse ranches. There was no home in sight! There was no reason to visit that area unless you wanted to go on a hike!
Making the story short, years later after living in Los Angeles and coming back to the Del Mar and Carmel Valley was amazed to find a few new housing communities and that the area was now called “east Del Mar” . Single family homes dotted the rim of the canyon directly across from Crest Dr. on the Del Mar side, with homes having distant but decent ocean views. Families with children were allowed to attend Del Mar schools and life was good for what seemed quiet a bit less money than the homes selling in Del Mar. Within a very short time builders like Pardee who seemed to own a LOT of tomato fields were putting up homes like crazy as they had already built out what is called Del Mar Heights area. Not the greatest of construction – but again with much less price point than their neighbors across the freeway all of 8 minutes or so away.
Schools were built and then the first “Carmel Valley Shopping Mall” with its own grocery store and few shops. All the tomato farm and horse owners were clapping their hands as they got richer and richer selling their land. What is now Pacific Highlands was literally Evergreen Nursery considered to be the end of the world! What has become interesting to me is comparing Del Mar to Carmel Valley is still almost like talking about the red headed step child when some buyers think of Carmel Valley. I have had clients that have said they rather live in a “cave” than buy a home in Carmel Valley . Yes, there are neighborhoods without huge Torrey Pines and no views of the ocean. But not all of Del Mar offer ocean views from each house. Comparing prices today the cheapest home in Del Mar if not even in my opinion in Del Mar. Located next to the Flower Hill Shopping center it does share the 92014 zip code. That home is listed at $889,000 for 2300 square feet. The cheapest property in Carmel Valley is $699,000 at 1628 square feet — the next one is $749,000 at 2200 square feet which is a really lovely home compared to the 2300 square foot one that is NOT in Del Mar.
Buying in Del Mar for $889,000 puts you in Del Mar Heights and 6 minutes or so to the water. Buying in Carmel Valley for $749,000 puts you 5 minutes from the Highlands Shopping Theater with amazing shops, Cineopolis, varied great restaurants and top rated schools and maybe 10 minutes from the water. Del Mar offers a beautiful Plaza overlooking the ocean which is sadly almost half empty for many reasons that are not relevant here. Bottom line is Del Mar is our Beverly Hills zip code orientation. But if you want a lot more for your money with access to everything that Del Mar has to offer come on down to my office (yes located in DEL MAR) and let me show you both areas so you can decide for yourself!
