San Diego is My Home

15
Apr

Homes Facts

Author: HelenKay, Category: Housing, Neighborhoods, News

It’s a fabulous day to be a San Diego resident.  The sun is out.  Then weather is lovely, as usual.  It’s spring.  And…your house is worth almost nothing.  Well, that’s not true.  It’s worth a lot less than it was at this time last year.  There’s that’s better.  Uh-huh.

A new report says the County’s median home price has dropped below $400,000 for the first time since 2003.  That’s great news for buyers.  Really bad news for anyone who purchased a home in the County since 2003.   Yeah, that would be me.  The culprit is the foreclosure crisis. 

There are a whole bunch of horrifying statistics about how the median was $517,000 in November 2005.    In case you’re mathematically challenged, that’s a decrease of more than $100,000 in two years.  I will refrain from passing on any additional bad news.  But is anyone else feeling queasy?

05
Apr

Home Expo

Author: HelenKay, Category: Events & Happenings, Exhibits, Housing

This weekend the Convention Center plays host to the Home Design and Landscape Expo. If you’re thinking about decorating, remodeling or otherwise fixing up the inside or outside of your house, this is the place to be. There will be exhibitions and designers. Loads of folks ready to give you information and advice.

The event runs through Sunday. The hours today (Saturday) are 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. There is a price to get in the door.  Order online through the link above to get discounted tickets.

01
Feb

It’s Money Time

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Housing, Neighborhoods, Politics

A panel recently recommended raises for our Mayor and for the City Council members.  The proposal suggests increasing the Council members’ salaries from their current $75,386 level to $125,000 next year, and from $100,464 to $150,000 for the mayor.  More than likely this will not be approved.  Kind of a bad political move to increase their income while many in San Diego are losing their homes.

And speaking of that…you may be entitled to a temporary break in your real estate taxes.  The idea is to give relief to those who purchsed their homes during the housing boom and now find themselves sitting in a house that’s worth a lot less than it was last year.   In other words, this is a benefit for everyone who purchased a home during the last five years.  You fill out a form with the Assessor’s Office and you’ll find out if you qualify. 

Now, there are companies offering to check into this relief for you for a fee.  There’s no need to pay it.  Just fill out the form through the County.  There’s nothing to lose.  For more information, check here.

20
Nov

Mini-Dorms Redux

Author: HelenKay, Category: City Council, Housing, SDSU

The City Council met last night to discuss the always divisive issue of mini-dorms.  For those who have missed the lawn signs and vocal arguments, mini-dorms happen when a group of students move into a residential neighborhood, rent out a house and turn what was a nice little cottage on a quiet neighborhood into a home for 50 partying college kids. 

Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. 

The real problem is the serious lack of housing options for local students.  The result is the mini-dorm mess and a bunch of angry non-student neighbors.  Two proposed ordinances addressing these issues went before the Council.  One passed.  It requires $1000 yearly permits for homes with more than six occupants.  The idea is to provide an economic disincentive…I think.  The second was a rooming house proposal relating to the number of leases allowed and required per house.   That one did not pass due to wording issues.  The expectation is that is will be rewritten and re-submitted.

The end result?  No one is happy.  The proponents of the ordinances feel as if no one is listening or willing to do anything.  The opponents think the yearly permit fee is overkill.  The issue of insufficient student housing  - ie, the underlying problem - remains unaddressed, so the students are no better off either.

Kind of makes you wonder what the “right” answer is, doesn’t it?

16
Oct

No Place Like Home

Author: HelenKay, Category: Housing, Neighborhoods, Politics, SDSU

The housing battle between students and residents continues in the area around SDSU.  Mini dorms - those fabulous living arrangements where too many students try to live in a too small place - have long been a touchy issue.  This year is no different.

The problem usually arises when a neighborhood home in a residential area is rented out to students.  A two-bedroom house becomes a home for ten as every available inch of inside space, sometimes including the family room,  is used for beds.  The result being noise, partying and parking problems.    

Enter a developer who wants to turn a heap of rubble on El Cajon into a multi-level dorm with retail on the ground floors.  The developer has made this work in university areas across the country.  The developer argues that with this new dorm there will be ample parking, residential staff and the eyesore will be gone.  Students say they need to live somewhere and it’s not their fault SDSU does not have enough living space.   Some also point out that living next to SDSU you should expect to see students everywhere.  Area residents sense a bait-and-switch coming where the developer promises an okay situation and, instead,  leaves behind a bunch of college party animals, no parking and bad retail.

So, what’s the answer?  No idea.  But, if you care about this issue and live near SDSU you may want to check out the Rolando Community Council Meeting tonight at 7:00pm at the Methodist Church (4855 Seminole Drive).