1. Consult with specialists about how much real estate you can afford to buy or rent.
   
   
2. In choosing an area, consider such things as safety, school districts and traffic conditions affecting your commute and shopping centers. Some school districts such as Poway, La Jolla and Del Mar have superior reputations.
   
   
3. Choose a condominium or a house and make your conditions clear; location, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, the floor plan, size of storage areas, size of yards, size of garage, etc. Make a list. With the list, you can evaluate the property when you see it. If the property meets over 80% of your requirements, it can be considered satisfactory.
   

The points mentioned above are for real estate as residence.
For investment, the important point is whether of not it will rise in value. On the point, residential environment and school districts are essential. Shopping, floor plan and a nice view are also important to renters.