The Greater El Cajon Area is located in the heart of San Diego's East County, approximately 17 miles east of Downtown San Diego, and includes the City of El Cajon as well as the surrounding unincorporated communities of Rancho San Diego, Granite Hills, Fletcher Hills, Bostonia, Crest, Harbison Canyon, and Dehesa. El Cajon is bordered by La Mesa to the west, Spring Valley and Jamul to the south, Santee/Lakeside to the north, and Alpine to the east.
The City of "El Cajon", which translates to "the Box" is a generally flat valley surrounded by foothills and mountains, featuring an arid Mediterranean climate with micro-climates that can vary considerably depending on the topography.
El Cajon offers a wide variety of housing options, ranging from lower-priced condominiums and starter homes to expansive luxury homes. In general, homes in the East County are built on larger lots than those within the City limits of San Diego. Because of the larger lots, homes in the East County often feature amenities like RV parking and swimming pools.
