Homes Under $700K in San Diego: What Each Suburb Offers

First-time buyers in San Diego can secure a two-bedroom condo near El Cajon Boulevard in College Area for $525,000 or a 1,100-square-foot townhouse off Rosecrans Street in Point Loma for $685,000, according to July 2026 listings from the San Diego Association of Realtors.

The range matters now because the San Diego Housing Commission increased its first-time homebuyer down payment assistance to $40,000 per household this spring, yet inventory in the $500,000-$700,000 segment has dropped 12 percent since January. Buyers must act before the commission’s next funding cycle closes in September.

Neighborhood breakdowns

In Clairemont, $550,000 buys a 950-square-foot unit in a 1970s complex along Clairemont Drive with shared parking and no yard. The same budget stretches to a 1,050-square-foot condo with a private patio in Linda Vista near the University of San Diego campus. Further north, $675,000 in Mira Mesa secures a three-bedroom townhouse built in 2018 off Mira Mesa Boulevard that includes a two-car garage.

East of Balboa Park, $625,000 in North Park purchases a 1920s bungalow needing cosmetic updates on 30th Street, while the same amount in South Park yields a smaller one-bedroom with no parking. Buyers checking the San Diego Housing Commission’s online portal can pair these purchases with the city’s 2026 first-time buyer grant that covers closing costs up to $8,500.

Grant timing and next steps

Median condo prices in the College Area sat at $512,000 last month, while Point Loma townhomes averaged $692,000, data from the Multiple Listing Service shows. The commission requires applicants to complete a HUD-approved counseling course by August 15 to qualify for the current round of assistance.

Prospective buyers should attend the commission’s next virtual workshop on July 22 and pull comps from the listings on 30th Street and Rosecrans Street before submitting offers. Checking flood zones and HOA fees on each property remains essential before locking in financing.