My Neighborhood
Welcome to My Neighborhood, Swell Property’s free concierge service that gives you the inside track on everything from local restaurant reviews to nearby school districts. Each part of San Diego has its own unique features and since we’ve been in the area for decades, we know them all like the back of our hand!
Click through the tabs below to find out about the area’s latest and greatest!
Encinitas is a vibrant, bohemian, laid-back beach town with truly the best of everything! Coastal beach pads mix with sprawling acres of ranch property in this highly desirable location with perfect weather, pleasant people, tasty restaurants, and cool shops. The city consists of five different communities that each have their own unique flavor:





Carlsbad is the fusion of business and pleasure, work and home, city and beach with its coastal location, scenic beauty, thriving commercial sector, and variety of upscale housing, this city has it all. Try new fresh tastes from Carlsbad Village’s bi-weekly farmer’s market or treat yourself to total relaxation at La Costa Spa & Resort; dive into a new book from the new Carlsbad City Library or join the city’s very own flying club at nearby Palomar Airport. With over 100,000 residing in this bustling coastal city, there is enough activity to keep you busy, and enough space to keep you feeling there’s enough room to feel right at home.
Downtown Carlsbad has quite a few regular village-sponsored events including an Annual Art Street Faire, Flavors of the Village Restaurant Week, a Carlsbad Village Clothes Show, and The Carlsbad Village Street Fair, the largest single day street fair in North America. New parts of the city include a new kid-friendly amusement park Legoland and the beautiful blooming of the Flower Fields of Carlsabd Ranch. If you’re into high speed adventure, K1 Speedway might be your new favorite hangout, and for those interested in a tour of music making through the centuries, the Museum of Making Music might be a wonderful way to enjoy the afternoon. Shoppers will appreciate the convenience of nearby discount retailers like Costco and Target, and the wonderful array of the latest fashions at Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
Carlsbad’s booming business sector is fueled by a number of nationally recognized corporations such as 24 Hour Fitness, Life Technologies, K2 Sports, Jenny Craig, Reef, and Upper Deck. A few of the top names in golf including Callaway, Cobra, and TaylorMade also call Carlsbad home.
Carlsbad’s housing developments are some of the most beautiful and expensive in Southern California. Bressi Ranch, one of the area’s newer upscale communities boats 623 new homes with architectural diversity, tree-lined streets, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. At the heart of the community is Bressi Village, complete with Stater Bros. and Trader Joe’s grocery stores, and Bressi Commons, a tranquil getaway with private clubhouse, Olympic-sized swimming pool, wading pool, oversized spa, barbeque and picnic areas, lush landscaping, and terrace-covered walkways. Also integrated into the community are the prestigious, new Pacific Ridge School, Poinsettia Elementary School, and the Tri-City Wellness Center. Plans for the future include a new $7 million Boys and Girls Club and a 32-acre mega park. Communities with similar resort-like amenities include La Costa Greens, La Costa Oaks, La Costa Valley, and Rancho Carrillo. Aviara is also one of Carlsbad’s prestigious resort communities which includes the five-star Park Hyatt Aviara resort.
Ponto represents Carlsbad’s beach community and includes an assortment of charming, single family homes. With it’s convenient beach access, Ponto’s “local” feel harkens back to older, single story architectural styles that remind you of “back then”.
With over twenty quality elementary, middle, and high schools in the high performing Carlsbad School district, including La Costa Canyon high school, Carlsbad High School, and Aviara Oaks Middle School, and seven unique options for private schooling, Carlsbad’s youth are provided the opportunity to be challenged and develop in educational and social environments where they can thrive.
Carlsbad has the community’s elderly in mind as well. The beautiful new La Costa Glen provides state of the art facilities and service for the retirement community.
For all these reasons and more, Carlsbad might just be the place for you and your family, young or old, for today and the many fun years to come.
Back doors that step down onto the sand. Great rooms that provide panoramic views of the Pacific. Giant Torrey Pines that sway in the ocean breeze. Welcome to Del Mar, an upscale beach town with every luxury you can imagine. From grassy parks and playgrounds overlooking the water at Powerhouse Park to the exhilarating thrill of summertime horse races at the Del Mar fairgrounds; from the casual elegance of oceanfront L’Auberge Hotel to the California Modern tastes of award-winning Market Restaurant, this little town of just over 4,000 has everything to impress even the largest of luminaries.
One of Del Mar’s most attractive attributes is the Del Mar Beach colony which features some of San Diego’s most coveted homes with backyards that double as beaches. A coastal rarity, these “walk-out-on-the-sand” homes are some of North County’s most architecturally unique and conveniently located gems. Each of them offers nearly every modern convenience and comfort one could imagine including warm sand just steps away. Del Mar’s beaches are kept in pristine condition throughout the year, offer snack shops, volleyball courts, and restrooms, and are regularly monitored by lifeguards. Pods of dolphins can also be spotted in the spring and summer months right along the Del Mar coast.
Amidst all the glitz and glitter, Del Mar’s quaint little downtown makes it a place that feels like home. With Starbucks, Bruegger’s Bagels, Board and Brew Specialty Sandwiches, and Pacifica Del Mar all within walking distance, plus shops like Banana Republic and boutique arts and craft shops, this little beach town with a big name just might be right for you.
Solana Beach is an eclectic blend of beach town bluffs and design district streets. Located just south of Encinitas and just north of Del Mar, the small town of 13,000 is a world where beach-loving surfers and trendsetting fashionistas combine. Anyone looking for a tranquil, non-touristy, coastal town with style would find conveniently-located and easily-accessible Solana Beach a perfect spot to call home.
One of the city’s most frequented streets is Cedros Avenue, an enchanting stretch of smaller city blocks filled with trendy boutiques and historical art galleries. Enjoy hot coffee and cool gelato while perusing the local storefronts; stroll the streets before hopping into a local spa, all the while enjoying the sounds of live jazz music wafting through the air. This city sector is truly something magical. And while cafés, salons, and snack shops line this chic street by day, a number of local dives including The Belly Up Tavern start to show their face around the later evening hours. As it looks now, Solana Beach just might be sounding more and more like home!
The vibrant beach community is also a valuable asset of Solana Beach. In the early 1920’s, hydraulic water was used to erode away tons of earth in order to create beach access at Fletcher Cove. The erosion project was completed by just one man over a three month period of time using nothing more than, you guessed it, a fire hose. Since then, the city has ensured the protection and upkeep of the coastline’s natural beauty by becoming the first city in the Continental U.S. to ban smoking on public beaches.
Some of the tastiest local eateries include Fidel’s, Pizza Port, Pacific Coast Grill, Pamplemousee Grille, Naked Café, Beach Grass Café, and Station Sushi. If you golf, play tennis, or like to swim, Lomas Santa Fe Country Club is one of the area’s finest. And if you like to shop, be sure to check out Solana Beach Towne Centre. The Solana Beach School District includes Skyline Elementary School, Solana Vista Elementary School, Earl Warren Middle School, and San Dieguito Academy High School. If you’re looking for private school education, Santa Fe Christian Schools and Saint James Academy fit the bill.
To top it all off, Solana Beach also has a train station which services the Coaster so that you are never more than a train ride away from Carlsbad, Encinitas, or Downtown. But with a city like Solana Beach, you might never need to leave home!