Carmel Valley is a planned development, east of Del Mar and I-5 and on either side of Del Mar Heights Road - the area slopes gently up into the hills. This town has excellent neighborhood shopping. There is quick access to I-5 with Downtown San Diego about 18 miles distance, but a long haul on congested days. Commuter train service is available from Sorrento Valley station a couple of miles to the south. Easy access to the ocean, beaches, Del Mar shopping and racetrack. Other activities include horseback riding, walking/hiking trails, movie theatres, many four star restaurants, and a new community center with pools and tennis courts.

Carmel Valley home building started in 1980 and continues now – a mix of single family homes, apartments and condos with parks, schools and neighborhood shopping centers installed as the new subdivisions evolved. Carmel Valley real estate has sub divisions that are well spaced out and joined by wide access roads. Many of Carmel Valley’s homes at the top of the hill are larger 4/5 bedroom detached homes with 3 car garages and there are of course opportunities to buy a home with a view. These single family neighborhoods have been built with business professionals in mind, who can afford the amenities this new development is designed to offer. Roofs are tiled with fire-resistant shingles, kitchen areas are large, as are walk-in closets, natural light is plentiful, utility lines are buried, and most homes have a Mediterranean style.

Elementary schools are split between the Del Mar and Solana Beach districts, both upper class neighborhoods where parental attention is core. The middle and high schools (including the highly respected Torrey Pines High School) are part of the San Dieguito school district, which covers Encinitas, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach and Carmel Valley. A strong support for education is shown by 80th to 90th percentile rankings in state scores, among the top 3 percent in the state.

Most of the jobs in the area are in research, medical and business centers. Sorrento valley is close by with many high-tech jobs. Also populating this area are students at the University of California, which is close by in La Jolla. This attracts the activities of intellectuals; movies, plays, galleries, great restaurants, and great shops, and night life, The beaches and the Del Mar race track are both within 15 minutes of this area. Schools rank among the top 3 percent in the state.