Citrus groves once blanketed the hills of Lemon Grove, a compact city between San Diego and La Mesa that turned suburban after World War II. Its downtown village grew up along the rail line, now served by the trolley, beside the oversized lemon sculpture at Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue.

County: San Diego County · East County
Type: City
ZIP codes: 91945
Report options: Desktop from $299 · Standard from $699

The Lemon Grove housing market

The bulk of Lemon Grove's houses date from the 1940s through the 1970s, ranging from small ranch houses and cottages on the flatter central streets to hillside homes with canyon views in the Mount Vernon area. Lots are often larger than in comparable parts of San Diego, which has encouraged companion units, garage conversions and rear-yard additions. The Downtown Village plan provides for mid-rise mixed-use buildings near the trolley, and a few newer small-lot subdivisions such as Vista Azul have added recent construction. Buyers include first-time purchasers and households looking for a yard within a short commute of downtown San Diego.

Neighborhoods and communities

Downtown Village
Main Street Promenade
Monterey Heights
Mount Vernon
San Altos Terrace
Vista Azul

Property types we commonly appraise here

1940s to 1970s single-story homes
hillside view homes
larger lots with ADUs or converted garages
small apartment complexes
newer small-lot subdivision homes

What shapes value in Lemon Grove

Appraisals here frequently need to separate permitted living area from older additions and garage conversions and to confirm whether a second unit is legal before giving it credit. Homes near State Routes 94 and 125 can be affected by freeway noise, while hillside parcels in the Mount Vernon area may earn a premium for views and privacy. Parcels within the Downtown Village plan area can carry land value tied to their higher-density zoning.

Around Lemon Grove

The Big Lemon, the Main Street Promenade, Berry Street Park and the Lemon Grove Depot and Massachusetts Avenue trolley stations are fixtures of the city, which also holds a place in civil rights history through the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, a successful challenge to school segregation.

Appraisals we prepare for Lemon Grove properties

Desktop appraisals start at $299; Drive-By and Standard appraisals with a visit to the property start at $649 and $699. See pricing for every report type.

Lemon Grove Home Appraisals