North City Keeps San Marcos Ahead of North County on Housing Targets
San Marcos is on track to hit three of four state housing categories by 2029, and North City is the reason. Voice of San Diego reported in April that the city has already permitted 2,765 of the 3,116 homes assigned this cycle, and it has already beaten its moderate and above-moderate targets. The lag is very-low-income units.
What is being built
The 200-acre University District plan, adopted in 2009, is building toward 3,400 homes, about 15 percent deed-restricted, plus parks and retail next to Cal State San Marcos. 222 North City, a 12-story, 458-unit apartment building, was the largest housing project completed in the county last year. A 100% affordable building at 337 Carmel Street is also under construction. If you are shopping San Marcos, the new downtown is where density, HOAs, and street life are concentrating. Single-family pockets farther out are not the growth engine.
Why it matters
- This is the one North County city that planned a downtown before the state forced the issue.
- Inventory, traffic, and school demand will keep stacking in North City through the end of the decade.
- If you want a house in San Elijo Hills, you are shopping a different market than a North City apartment or condo. Price them separately.
Sources: Voice of San Diego on San Marcos housing goals; The Coast News on North County housing progress; Voice of San Diego morning report.
More San Marcos mortgage help and the San Marcos news board.
Buying or refinancing in San Marcos?
Get clear numbers from a local San Diego mortgage team.
Get Pre-ApprovedLeft Coast Leaders, Inc. · NMLS #2394495 · DRE #02191517 · Equal Housing Lender. Local news briefings are for general information and are not formal appraisals or loan commitments.