Downtown & Little Italy
High-rise and mid-rise condos near the waterfront, Petco Park, the Gaslamp and Little Italy's restaurants and Saturday farmers market.
Good for: Buyers who want to walk everywhere and skip the yard work
Coastal Metro / Uptown.
Downtown, Uptown and the beaches.
The city's most walkable neighborhoods, from downtown high-rises and Uptown craftsman streets to the beach communities and La Jolla.
Coastal Metro / UptownDrive to downtown0–20 min
ClimateMild, coastal, with a marine layer in late spring
Main routesI-5, I-8, SR-163, trolley and bus lines
School districtsSan Diego Unified; Coronado Unified in Coronado
Who it suits
Buyers who want to walk to dinner, condo buyers and downsizers, and investors looking at the beach markets.
Housing mix
High-rise and mid-rise condos, historic craftsman and Spanish revival homes, and coastal properties in La Jolla and Point Loma.
Getting around
Trolley and bus lines downtown, I-5 and I-8 for everything else, and the ferry or bridge to Coronado.
Where to look
in Coastal Metro / Uptown.
Each community has its own character. Here's how they compare, and who they tend to suit.
Hillcrest & Mission Hills
Hillcrest is a lively hub of restaurants and nightlife next to Balboa Park. Mission Hills is quieter, with historic homes and canyon views.
Good for: Buyers who want character homes close to the park and downtown
North Park & South Park
Craftsman bungalows, independent shops and some of the city's best-known breweries and restaurants along 30th Street and University Avenue.
Good for: Buyers who love historic homes and a neighborhood main street
Point Loma
Bay and ocean views, Shelter Island, Liberty Station and Cabrillo National Monument, with neighborhoods from Loma Portal to the Wooded Area.
Good for: Buyers who want views, boating and a quieter coastal setting
Pacific Beach & Mission Beach
Boardwalk, bay and ocean living with a younger, active crowd, plus quieter streets in North PB.
Good for: Beach lovers and investors
Ocean Beach
A laid-back beach town with a pier, dog beach and Newport Avenue's shops and restaurants.
Good for: Buyers who want an unpretentious beach community
La Jolla
A village above the cove, with UC San Diego, Torrey Pines and some of the county's most prized coastal homes.
Good for: Luxury buyers and anyone who wants ocean views and walkable dining
Coronado
An island-like city across the bay, home to the Hotel del Coronado, Naval Air Station North Island and wide, flat beaches.
Good for: Families, military households and buyers who want a small-town feel
Discover listings
around Coastal Metro / Uptown.
Active, pending and recently sold homes from the team in this region.
New listings coming soon, contact us.
Tell us the price range and neighborhoods you want in Coastal Metro / Uptown, and we will send matches as they come up.
Life in
Coastal Metro / Uptown.
What weekends, errands and getting around actually look like.
Walkability
Downtown, Little Italy, Hillcrest, North Park, La Jolla Village and Coronado are among the most walkable places in the county.
Balboa Park and the bay
Museums, gardens and the zoo in Balboa Park, plus Mission Bay, Shelter Island and the downtown waterfront.
Food and nightlife
The densest mix of restaurants, bars and breweries in the county.
Beaches
From La Jolla Shores and Windansea to Ocean Beach and Coronado, each beach has its own personality.
Top schools
to know.
Public high schools serving Coastal Metro / Uptown. Elementary and middle schools feed into them by district.
School assignment follows exact boundaries, not city names, so confirm the schools for any address with the district. For current ratings and test results, see the California School Dashboard or GreatSchools.
- La Jolla HighSan Diego Unified
- Point Loma HighSan Diego Unified
- Mission Bay HighSan Diego Unified
- San Diego HighSan Diego Unified
- School of Creative & Performing ArtsSan Diego Unified
- Coronado HighCoronado Unified
Local advice
before you commit.
The things we check for every client buying or selling in Coastal Metro / Uptown.
- HOA dues and condo rules. Condo dues, reserves, rental limits and pending special assessments vary a lot between buildings. Read the HOA documents carefully.
- Historic districts. Parts of North Park, Mission Hills, Kensington and other neighborhoods are historic districts, which can limit exterior changes.
- Coastal height limit. West of I-5 in the City of San Diego, buildings are generally limited to 30 feet, which protects views but limits additions.
- Airport noise and short-term rentals. Point Loma, Mission Hills and parts of Little Italy sit under San Diego International Airport's flight path. The city also licenses and limits short-term rentals.
Coastal Metro / Uptown
market report.
Prices move month to month, so we send a fresh report instead of posting numbers that go stale. Here's what's in it.
Median sale priceBy community, last 30 and 90 days
Days on marketHow fast homes are going under contract
InventoryHomes for sale and months of supply
Sale-to-list priceWhether buyers are paying over or under asking
Get the Coastal Metro / Uptown market report
01
Tell us your interest
Buying, selling or just watching the market.
02
We send the numbers
Recent sales, prices and inventory for the communities you pick.
03
Ask us anything
We know these streets and we're happy to talk.
Questions about
Coastal Metro / Uptown.
Is downtown San Diego good for condo buyers?
It's the county's biggest condo market, with everything from older lofts to full-service high-rises. HOA dues and building finances vary a lot, so we review them with you building by building.
Can I rent my home out short-term?
In the City of San Diego, whole-home short-term rentals need a license, and the number of licenses is limited outside Mission Beach. Coronado has its own rules. Check before you buy with rental income in mind.
Which neighborhood is quietest near the beach?
North Pacific Beach, the La Jolla Shores area, Point Loma's Wooded Area and Coronado tend to be quieter than the busiest beach blocks. We'll show you a few streets in each.
Other regions.
Compare nearby areas before you decide.
South Bay
North County Coastal
North County InlandBuying or selling
in Coastal Metro / Uptown?
We'll show you what's selling, what it's selling for, and what that means for you.