Single story. 4 bedrooms. Former model home with a stunning hilltop view! 36 years in the same family. Just reduced to $1,699,000, below appraisal (was in escrow but 2 buyers could not perform/qualify). This is the only single story, 4 bedroom house in Encinitas under $2,295,000 (MLS 9/21/25). Be in before the holidays, and before we take it off the market to await selling season and 'schools-out spring/summer move' demand. It has a 180-degree hilltop view of La Costa, and doesn't require CA Fair Plan fire insurance. The HOA is a low $67 per month, with pools, pickleball, and tennis courts. The builder clearly selected the best lot for this former model home and sales office, which is one reason why it has not been on the market in 36 years. It has been proudly owned and maintained by a Purple Heart Medal awarded POW and WWII U.S. Air Force B-29 pilot and his wife, who cherished sitting on the back patio and taking in the spectacular view and ocean breeze. This house has over a 17% larger lot than the same model two doors down, which sold for $1,750,000 in March and which does not have the open-fence panoramic view and added windows in the master bedroom. Research shows that in San Diego, views of preserved open space are capitalized into home values; greenbelt/open-space view premiums are commonly in the high single digits to low-teens, with exceptional panoramas higher. Recent peer-reviewed work on scenic views reports 8–31% differentials for top-quality vistas versus otherwise similar non-view homes (sources: Trust for Public Land San Diego Report; City of San Diego Master Plan Property Value & Open Space report; The Appraisal Journal on scenic non-ocean view premiums). The buyers of this house will have a unique advantage over most other homeowners in the area: single story, panoramic view, low HOA, and enhanced privacy. And single story homes are safer; CDC studies show that falls on stairs are a leading cause of injuries, especially for older adults and children, and falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for adults over 65. Also, single story homes are usually more efficient (i.e., heat rises upstairs, leaving it hot in warm months, and the downstairs cold in winter). Situated on a larger-than-average lot with no neighbors in front or behind, this home has been lovingly maintained by the same family for decades and lightly lived in over the past 3 years. The listing broker, who also represented his grandparents on their purchase in 1989, is familiar with the property and has a folder of receipts (including the maple flooring used), permits, and user guides, and may represent both buyer and seller. Interior upgrades include maple wood floors, dual-pane windows, expanded window design, upgraded kitchen countertops, central heat and A/C; the owner had a new heater moved to the attic so she wouldn't hear the fan noise, which has the added benefit of opening up an extra closet in a hallway. There's also a permitted oversized patio cover which provides shade from the sunny backyard, a gardeners dream. The primary suite features a large walk-in closet. The roof has been professionally redone (approx. $20,000) with new underlayment and tile replacements (extra tiles included). The home is located in one of Encinitas' most desirable neighborhoods, just minutes from beaches and award-winning schools such as Flora Vista Elementary and La Costa Canyon High. The interior of the house is a perfect blank slate for buyers to customize to their taste; all wallpaper was removed, and much of the carpet was replaced with high-end wood floors, rather than today's "luxury vinyl." The "popcorn ceilings" were also resurfaced. No more stairs to climb! And the fourth bedroom is a game changer for anyone with a home-based business and/or large family. Interest rates are at the lowest since 2024, and the Fed just cut rates on Sept 17th some more! Open house on weekends from 11 to 3.
