San Diego Real Estate

San Diego New Years Eve Activities

December 29th, 2007 Categories: San Diego Activities, San Diego Events

by Roberta Murphy

Many know that our family spent a number of years in Big Bear Lake, and there began our annual New Year’s Eve party tradition.

In those days, our home was large enough to accommodate not only our on-and-off-the-mountain friends, but all their kids as well. There was always snow on the ground–and the celebration remained indoors.

These days, the home is smaller, but many of the same friends–and their now-grown children–still attend the Murphy New Year’s Eve gathering. And with our balmy San Diego weather, at least half the revelry occurs outdoors.

For those in San Diego who aren’t planning to attend our New Year’s Eve party, there are plenty of other venues which offer (or so we hear) some outstanding ways to ring in 2008–with or without children.

Some favorites:

La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad is hosting dual events at both its Blue Fire Grill ($80 to $95 for adults, $35 for children 5-12, under 5 FREE) and the newly reopened La Costa Legends Bistro ($65 adults, same as Blue Fire for children). Blue Fire offer includes pre fixe dinner and complimentary glass of champagne at midnight. The Legends Bistro New Year’s Eve event offers entertainment and a pre fixe dinner served until 11 p.m. Midnight toasts, though, can be made in the La Costa Bar upstairs. For information and reservations, call 800-854-5000 and press option 6.

Four Seasons in Aviara offers three different venues. Their signature Italian restaurant Vivace offers a 5-course pre fixe dinner for $180. Their more casual Argyle Steak House offers a 4-course $180 pre fixe dinner with entertainment from 7 to 11. Aviara Four Seasons California Bistro is presenting a 4-course pre fixe dinner for $110 with a separate children’s menu. Local residents, diners and Four Seasons hotel guests may also wish to pay a $60 cover charge per person for music, dancing and midnight ball drop–with festivities ending at 1 a.m. No host bar. For more information or reservations, call 760-603-6800.

2008 Escondido First Night has to be the best family New Year’s Eve bargain in San Diego County. The tickets ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) for this alcohol-free celebration include activities for all ages, live entertainment all night, storytellers, ventriloquist, face painting, puppet shows,, fireworks and more. Food available from great restauranats and local vendors. This famous annual event is held in the historic Grape Day Park, Escondido City Hall and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. For additional information, call 760-715-4448.

New Year’s Eve Jazz Spectacular held at the La Jolla Hyatt Regency has to be a list topper. Billed as San Diego’s favorite New Year’s Eve Party (almost–don’t forget the Murphy party), the event may already be sold out, and Countdown at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla returns with an incredible line up of Smooth Jazz performers, which include Euge Groove, Peter White, Richard Elliot and Oli Silk in the Grand Ballroom. You can also dance the night way in Michael’s Lounge. Champagne toasts, noisemakers and the indoor countdown to 2008 will take place in Barcino’s Grand Foyer. Tickets are $135 per person for admission, $150 for reserved table seating, and $249 for premier dinner seating Call (858) 552-6000 for event details.

91X Big Night at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina promises to be a rocking New Year’s Eve for 3500 San Diego revelers. It’s an enormous event that includes all drinks and food, 12 unique party areas, 6 dance floors, 11 party bands and DJ’s–all for ticket prices that start at around $130 and range up to $180 (and possibly more). Discount rooms at the Sheraton may also be available (if not already sold out). For additional information call 877-77-CLICK.

Peartrees’ New Years Eve Gala Aboard the Midway Aircraft Carrier promises to be a memorable event. After all, how many non-Naval people can say they’ve rung in a New Year aboard a famous aircraft carrier? The San Diego skyline views will be fabulous, as will be Peartree’s catered dinner stations and the entertainment provided by the Big Daddy Orchestra. Black tie optional. Cost is $159 per person and includes hosted bar, dining, entertainment and dancing. For additional information and reservations, call 619-575-5500.

New Year’s Eve at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego (One Market Place) promises to be a glitzy and yummy affair. Dine at Sallys Seafood on the Water ($125 per-person for a prix-fixe, four-course menu) or a New Year’s Eve dining extravaganza at Lael’s for just $65 per person. BIG BONUS: There will be a no-cover charge party in the Grand Lobby Bar with the Keith Jackson Jazz Trio performing from 4 to 8 p.m. –and the lively Uncle Boogie Band performing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. For reservations and information, call 1 619 232 1234.

This short list by no means covers all the New Year’s Eve celebrations taking place in greater San Diego. The Gaslamp District will be full of festivities as will hotels and night clubs throughout the county.

Our advice: Drive safely, soberly and defensively.

Our goal for all: A safe arrival into 2008!

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Otay Mesas Ocean Hills: Hot Ticket or Hot Potato?

December 22nd, 2007 Categories: Otay Mesa, San Diego Communities

by Blake Cory and Taylor Summers

Is the Ocean View Hills subdivision of Otay Mesa (east of 805 off Palm Avenue) what the press would call a ‘down community’ or an incredible investment?

San Diego real estate investors seem to be hovering over this lovely community, which currently has 45 homes for sale. Seven are bank- owned foreclosures and 16 are short sales. That puts almost half of Ocean View Hill’s inventory into the bargaining basement.

Some of the homes in this 1500-home South Bay community had sold at close to a million dollars during San Diego’s frothy real estate market in 2004 through 2005 and early 2006. Those same homes today may be on the market for something in the low to mid $700’s. Other smaller homes are available in the low $500’s. With median pricing close to $215 per foot for homes built by Pardee starting in 2001, Ocean View Hills offers some of the best real estate buys in San Diego County.

More than anything, Ocean View Hills seems to be a San Diego community that simply got ahead of itself in pricing. None of that, though, takes away from its beautiful views, fine neighborhood school (Sweetwater School District) or central community park.

We see this lofty Ocean View Hills area of Otay Mesa as possibly the most luxurious community near the US/Mexico border, with the border crossing as little as 10 minutes away.

If you would like any additional information about this beautiful San Diego neighborhood, or a list of area homes and bargains for sale, just give us a call at 760.277.5055 or email Blake@SanDiegoPreviews.com

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Where to Ice Skate in San Diego?

December 20th, 2007 Categories: San Diego Activities

It might seem unseemly that balmy and sunny San Diego would have much to offer in the way of ice skating, but it’s an active place and there are several places you may wish to give a twirl.

In fact, there are many cities in Northern climates that might envy San Diego’s offerings for ice skaters. Included also are San Diego area roller rinks that may appeal to those who prefer the stability of four wheels.

Ice Chalet Ice Skating Rink
4545 La Jolla Village Dr # E23
San Diego, CA 92122

(858) 452-9110
http://www.icetown.com/

Iceoplex Ice Skating Rink
555 N Tulip St
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 489-5550
http://www.isoplex.com/

Salvation Army Kroc Center

6845 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 287-5762
http://www.KrocCenter.org

San Diego Ice Arena
11048 Ice Skate Place
San Diego, California 92126, USA
858-530-1825
http://www.sdice.com

San Diego Roller Rinks

Ups ‘n Down’s Roller Rink Roller Skating Rink
862 N Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-5966

Escondido Sports Center Roller Skating Rink
Bear Valley Parkway

Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 839-5425
www.escondido.org/sportscenter

San Diego Skateworld Roller Skating Rink
6907 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 560-9278

Skate San Diego Roller Skating Rink
700 East 24th Street

National City, CA 91950 (map)
(616) 474-1000
www.skatesandiego.net/

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San Diego Real Estate in the Tank: Fact or Fiction?

December 19th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego Market Trends

by Roberta Murphy

Yesterdays Union Tribune headlined a story about San Diego home prices tumbling, and again I had to read below the headline and between the lines.

Last month, they report, San Diego median home prices dropped 15 percent from their all-time high in 2005. This two-year drop is larger and more precipitous than the 11.8 percent drop in San Diego prices that occurred in the four years between June, 1992 and November, 1996.

In those earlier years, the San Diego economy was in the tank, and home prices followed suit.

This time, San Diegos economy remains strong, but home prices in certain neighborhoods and communities are falling at an even heavier rate than this UT story describes. We have seen 30 to 40 percent price drops in certain South Bay neighborhoods.

Homes that sold in the mid $900s in 2005 are now on the market in the $500s as short sales or foreclosures.

A home on Agate Creek in Chula Vistas Eastlake sold for $900,000 in early 2005 now offers a starting price of $600,000 on short sale terms. Another Chula Vista home on Hunters Pointe that sold for $725,000 in mid 2006 is now listed as a foreclosure at $469,000 and may close at an even lower price than that. And then theres the beautiful home on Chula Vistas Silver Hawk that sold for $1,057,000 in December, 2005 that is now offered as a short sale at $579,000-$595,900.

I could go one and on, because there are dozens and dozens of offerings like this and most of them are coming from newer inland San Diego tract subdivisions that lured unwitting buyers with easy money and the promise of real estate riches. And the plethora of so-called bargains are what skews the stats for San Diego real estate. Trust me, you will not find bargains or price slashes like these in San Diegos coastal neighborhoods. Prices there, while not really rising, currently remain relatively stable.

For example, we have a seemingly impossible listing in Encinitas Ranch. It was likely a fraudulent sale that occurred late last year when the home sold at $1.2 million (with 100 percent financing), and had a value of something less than $900,000 (because the listing had gone off market with that price). Today, we have a tenant that will not allow the home to be shown and yet we still have multiple offers from highly qualified buyers in the mid to high 800s. With cooperative showing ability, would this home sell for $900,000 today?

In a flash.

Why? Because it is in a prime coastal Encinitas neighborhood that has suffered nothing near the 15 percent drop reported in the newspaper. But just as babies proverbially get thrown out with dirty bath water, so do certain prime neighborhoods (at least with bubble bloggers and the news media). Anyone familiar with San Diego real estate knows you cant lump Chula Vista and Encinitas together, anymore than Otay Mesa could be compared to La Jolla or Del Mar.

Euros are competing with Yen and Loonies to buy pieces of paradise West of 5 in San Diego County, and that is just one reason why San Diegos coastal real estate market is as close to blue chip real estate investing as one can get.

It is also the reason that in these times of real estate uncertainty we encourage our clients and investors to stay as close to the coast as possible. That is where you will find the greatest shelter from the economic storm that is pelting the San Diego real estate market today.

San Diegos typical sunny skies are predicted to return late next year. Doesnt that make you wonder what smart money is doing (like those who buy fur coats in August, and bikinis in winter).

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