I am often asked by people considering a move to our fine county why prices are lower the farther east one travels from the beach.

One of the primary reasons is that the climate warms as you move inland, even if only by a few miles.  If you watch the evening news on any San Diego TV channel you'll notice that there are several "micro-climates".

Areas on or within a mile or two from the beach are the coolest temperatures year-round.  They are also the most likely to experience fog or low clouds, especially as our days and the ocean grow warmer.  Typical day time highs could be in the mid-60's in the winter and mid-70's in the summer.  These areas include Chula Vista, National City, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carmel Valley/East Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad and the eastern parts of Oceansidel

A mile or two farther inland the temperatures are usually a few degrees higher than on the coast.  This also means less chance of foggy days or nights and the sun might appear hours before it does on the coast in the summer.  Areas included in this group would be Mission Valley, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Rancho Santa Fe, Santaluz, Olivenhain, Vista and San Marcos.

The next step inland includes Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, La Mesa, El Cajon, Poway, Escondido, Santee, Valley Center and Lemon Grove where summer temps can hit 100 degrees occasionally.  Air conditioning is an important benefit here, where it might not be so important in the areas above.  Home prices are lower in these areas, in part because of the possibly higher utility bills created by use of cooling systems.

The long and short of it all...coastal temperatures are usually in the mid to high 70's in the summer and the inland temps can hit 100!   Another difference is that the lush greenery seen in the coastal areas thins as you move east and turns to near desert landscapes the farther east you travel.