In my opinion, no other area of San Diego offers you as much bang for your buck as Eastlake and Otay Ranch.  Being that these communities were developed at the height of the housing boom, you're able to find some screaming deals on homes that were built in recent years.  What also makes this area attractive is its community amenities, which includes a multitude of parks, hiking trails, and shopping.  One thing to be conscious of, however, is that you'll most likely be paying higher property taxes (close to 2% in some areas) as a result of Mello-Roos.  This is a supplemental tax that's used to finance infrastructure improvements (roads, schools, parks, etc.) in newly built communities.