Nenad Sapungin, San Diego Real Estate Agent

San Diego's weather can change quickly as you move away from the water. A summer day can be mild at the beach and 15 to 20 degrees hotter inland. Spend time in both at different times of day, and think about how you'd use the home year-round.

May Gray and June Gloom are real. Marine clouds can sit along the coast through the morning, and some days they don't clear at all, while it's sunny a few miles inland. If you're buying near the beach, try to visit during those months so you know what to expect.

A 25-minute drive on Sunday can look very different on Monday morning. Test your route on a weekday at the time you'd actually leave, and drive it both ways. A few extra miles on the map can change your day more than you'd expect.

Wildfire risk can affect both the cost and availability of coverage, especially near canyons and open space. Quotes can vary from one home to the next, even in the same area. Get a real quote while you still have time to act on it, so there are no surprises before you close.

Mello-Roos taxes and HOA dues can add a meaningful amount to your monthly cost, especially in newer communities. Mello-Roos can last for years, and the amount varies by neighborhood. Ask for exact figures up front so you can compare homes by their true monthly cost.

Many older homes near the coast were built without it because ocean breezes usually keep them comfortable. That can be fine by the beach, but it matters much more inland, where summers run hotter. If a home doesn't have it, ask what adding it would cost.