Landon Jackson Real Estate Group Client Testimonial - Maureen Sullivan
August 3rd, 2008 Categories: Client Testimonials, Landon Jackson Real Estate
Hiring Andrew Boes from Landon Jackson Real Estate was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Knowing that I had limited free time and that I am very particular, Andy listened carefully to my preferences and also observed my life style to determine my real estate needs. In every case, he presented pre-screened homes that matched what I was looking for. He was patient, knowledgeable and smart and did not hesitate to point out deficiencies that I may not have noticed. Not only did he make the process simple, he made it fun.
The bottom line is that Andy made my search for a new home incredibly easy, he handled my transaction with knowledge and confidence.
I have been settling into my new home for about a month. For the firstfr time in my life, I can honestly say that I could live in this home forever.
Maureen Sullivan
Publisher
San Diego Magazine
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$395,000 Live/Work Loft in The Heart of Little Italy! Lusso Lofts Little Italy.
July 29th, 2008 Categories: Buy San Diego, Landon Jackson Real Estate, Little Italy
Versatile live/work loft in the heart of Little Italy. Street access from Kettner Blvd. 2 private patios. Designed by local architect Jonathan Segal. Private parking spot. Lowest HOA Fees Downtown San Diego. This wonderful location offers the best downtown San Diego has to offer. Take a quick stroll to wine bars, sidewalk cafes, espresso bars, shops and galleries, the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Petco Ball Park, Seaport Village, Midway Aircraft Carrier, Museums, the Financial District, the Embarcadero and Waterfront.
Address 1601 Kettner Blvd #7 San Diego Ca 92101 “Lusso”
1 bedroom 1 bath
798 Square feet Virtual Tour - Lusso Loft Tour
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Opt for a staycation in Little Italy San Diego instead of crossing the pond.
July 28th, 2008 Categories: Travel
My husband and I recently returned from the arch and heal of the boot of Italy. We had been to the north years ago and soaked in the beauty, culture and of course became two of the thousands of tourists snapping shots of David, canals, leaning tower, etc,etc,etc.
We decided to explore the part of Italy not in the tourist’s guide books. We stayed at a beach resort or lido as they call an area by the beach named Metaponto. This part of Italy has thousands of acres of picturesque olive groves and vineyards. The major cities are on the Adriatic Sea and the Gulf of Taranto. They are industrial, no one speaks English, no tourist and definitely no Americans renting a car and driving around that region at $10.80 per gallon for diesel fuel!
A high light of our motor exploration was the trip north to Napoli and the crazy drivers in that congested city, currently having a very bad garbage problem. We took the ferry to the isle of Capri and encountered more tourist and higher prices than we had experience all week. So back south with a stop in Pompeii and a drive down the incredible splendor of the Amalfi coast.
The drive south is spattered with hill-top cities glittering in the Italian June sun. The highways were very comfortable for us to navigate, a pleasant surprise for our California psyche.
Also, not on our itinerary was a stop at an Italian hospital when my husband had a slight accident in the resort pool.
We were in and out of the hospital in less than three hours with just a signature from my husband. The hospital was clean and the doctors very competent (with an interpreter). Again, we were there to get to know the people not to be part of the masses on a tour. We certainly achieved that!
We spent the last week in Rome and became one of the tourists and did appreciate the city’s splendor.
We spent an evening attending a concert at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. It was an Italian music festival and truly amazing being at a rare archeological discovery hearing music from such happy people.
The trip was superb…….people, food, sights, experiences, no need to go on!
However, back to the $10.80 per gallon and the cost for us to travel with the rate of exchange from dollars to Euros, I think our next trip will be to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
Loretta and Greg Staycationers for now!!
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Face Value Boutique in Little Italy Serves up More Than Just Meatballs and Gelato.
July 25th, 2008 Categories: Little Italy
Located in the heart of Little Italy amidst the restaurants and coffee shops you will find Face Value Boutique. Face Value has the best selection of limited edition sneakers and apparel that Little Italy has to offer. The very unique Collection of shoes consist of names like Common Projects, Tretorn, Limited New Balance and PF Flyers. They also sell KZO, Apolis Activism, and Evisu Denim and a few other hard to find brands. Usually Boutiques like Face Value are only found in San Francisco, New York and Europe. Shane and Vince opened Face Value a little over a year ago and the neighborhood has embraced their presence. The shop is located in the trendy Doma building and was outfitted by Mixture located just north of the shop on Kettner Blvd.
The next time you are headed to the mall to fight the crowds and limited parking think about making your way to Little Italy instead. Let the boys at Face Value outfit you head to toe with the latest fashion!
Face Value - 1760 Kettner Blvd San Diego, CA. 92101 619-231-1943 www.facevalueshop.com
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Is Your Home Worth Less Than You Paid For It? Great Time To Lower Your Property Tax In San Diego.
July 24th, 2008 Categories: Financial Trends, Real Estate News
It might be a good time to get your property tax lowered. Depending on when you purchased your property you might be able to get a lower assessment of value. An assessment is used by local government to assess the value of your property for tax purposes. Example: If you paid $500,000.00 for your home and there are similar homes selling for $400,000.00 then it might be a good time to have your property re-assessed at the lower value. This service is absolutely free and could save you thousands of dollars in property taxes in San Diego County. I have recently had success in lowering my clients property tax based on the recent home sale comps that pertain to their home.
Application For Changed Assessment
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Glamour on Rosecrans Steet? The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma shines bright.
July 21st, 2008 Categories: Point Loma
Driving down Rosecrans amidst the inns, hotels, motels and lodges you find a pearl. I drove by the old mid-century Sportsman’s Inn for years and last year I witnessed a metamorphosis. It’s now a trendy 23 room hotel with a number of offerings such as a unique “dive-in” movie night, a evening dining with California growers of produce paired with California wines( all organic), a sumptuous brunch menu and finally a place where the young chic people can go to mix and mingle in this area.
If you are going to stay at this hip and modern hotel, they offer various distinctive rooms, comfy mattresses and a personalized fish as a roommate. (My favorite is Zas Zas). I liked the complimentary rental of cell phones, computers, and bicycles available to their guests. If you decide to take off on a bike, it’s just a short ride to the breathtaking view on San Diego’s Shelter Island. This two mile stretch on a man-made island is eye candy for anyone who loves to watch the activity of the entrance to San Diego’s famous harbor. You’ll see everything from naval ships, yachts, cruisers, fishing boats to just about any other seagoing vessel known to man. From this vantage point you can also see downtown San Diego with a jaw dropping view. As a local I receive a discount for my guests who would stay there when visiting us from out of town. Not only would they enjoy a rare experience in the hotel’s glamorous retro atmosphere but we could meet them for drinks and board games lounging on shag carpet and flash back to the 70’s. I say “bring on the glitz” and will try to book the mirrored ceiling room for my next out of town friends. If we bike to meet them for brunch at The Pearl (bike to brunch deal) it’s half price. Can’t beat exercise and a discount!
So if you want a refreshing change from the Rosecrans Street humdrum, try The Pearl. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Pear Hotel - 1410 Rosecrans St. San Diego, CA. 92106 - 619-226-6100
Loretta Cass
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Life, Death and the Maldives - R.I.P Tony Hussein Hinde
July 10th, 2008 Categories: Surf San Diego, Travel
It all started with a phone call from my good friend Eddie Baker. His voice sounded a little more enthused than normal and he said “you are going”. I didn’t know how to respond to that so I played along and said, sounds good but where are we going? “The Maldives,” he said. The Mal what I replied. “The Maldives” he said again. It’s in Southern Asia, a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India. I still had no idea what Eddie was talking about until he mentioned the Maldives have some of the best waves in the world. I told Eddie I would look it up on a map and get back to him by the end of the week. After my research of this exotic destination I was sold. Eddie, myself and a good friend of ours James Neal booked our trip through Waterways Travel based out of Irvine Ca. Apparently we were very lucky to get this trip based on the fact that it is usually booked years in advance and spots rarely become available. The only problem now was we had 7 months to think about this trip and what this paradise island would have to offer us. I forgot to mention the only negative aspect of this trip to paradise was the flight duration of 32+ hours one way to get to our destination. I knew it would be long but once reality set in and we made our way to LAX, I had a feeling this was easier said than done.
05/20/2008 Eddie and I made our way to Huntington Beach to pick up James then over to Los Angeles International Airport. Once we arrived to the airport we lugged 3 surfboard bags, suitcases, and 3 backpacks to the Singapore Airlines check-in terminal. We ended up waiting 3 hours for the check-in to open. A few hours later we boarded the plane headed for Singapore with a one layover in Taipei, Taiwan (141/2 hour flight). We had a 2 hour layover in Taipei then re-boarded the same plane to Singapore (5 hour flight). Once we arrived in Singapore the boys and I were exhausted. We had an 8 hour layover before our final flight to Male, Maldives. We decided to check in to the transit station and take showers. James and I ended up getting massages as well. The massage was very good considering we were in an airport. Eddie decided to pay $30.00 and take a nap for a few hours. The thought of paying to sleep on a cot next to strangers did not resonate with James and I. Maybe Eddie was on to something because his jet lag was not as bad as ours.
We departed Singapore and landed 4 hours later in Male. The airport in Male didn’t have a terminal bridge so we walked off the 2 story Boeing 777. Once we cleared customs there was a Maldivian man holding a sign for our resort the Chaaya Island Dhonvele.(11pm, 12 hour time difference) We walked 40 yards from the airport to an old dock where a boat was waiting to take us to the island. The ride over to the island was magical. I felt like we were on a Chuck Norris mission. The boat had one light in the front but otherwise it was pitch black in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We could see faint lights from some of the other island resorts but if it wasn’t for the full moon I don’t know how our driver would have found the resort.
We arrived at the resort around 12pm Maldivian time and we were greeted with friendly staff and a welcome fruit drink. Not sure what was in the drink but is was pretty good especially after the 32 hour journey. Our Maldivian surf guide Mike showed us the way to our room which happened to be right around the corner from one of the best surf breaks called Pasta Point discovered by legendary Tony Hussein Hinde. It is a left hander that breaks right in-front of the resort. We didn’t see much white water out there that night but we woke up to decent swells and an Island that was breathtakingly beautiful. Our accommodations were not worth the 4+ star rating but out room did have a bidet. The island on the other hand should be a 10 star based on beauty and the crystal clear water surrounding it. You could walk around the island in 20 minutes or less. The lagoon side of the island was just as breath taking as the ocean side. We didn’t spend much time in the lagoon because it lacked the solid 3-5 foot swells that were located right around the corner.
Once on this amazing island the days consisted of waking up at 5am and checking the waves at Pasta Point, going back to the room and making instant coffee and deciding if we wanted to paddle out front or catch the 6am boat to one of the other surf spots located just off the island. We usually asked our surf guides which break would be the best based on the tide and the time of day. I am not sure it ever really made a difference asking which break to go to because there was always a current that pulled very hard early in the morning. Our favorite break was Pasta Point (located in-front of our resort). There is only one way to be able to surf this amazing wave and that is to book your stay through Atoll Surf Adventures. Our travel agency Waterways Travel books the surfing part of the trip through Atoll Adventures which is owned by Tony Hussein Hinde(the man that discovered the break back in the 70’s). Atoll Adventures only allows 25 surfers to stay on the island at any given time. If you are not part of the Atoll Adventure then you are not allowed to paddle out to the break. They are very strict about this policy and will have any violators removed from the water within minutes. We were very thankful for this procedure based on the fact we counted 50 or so people out in the line up at the near by surf breaks.
5/27/2008 - I didn’t know that this day would forever change my life. I rolled out of bed that morning and stumbled my way over to Pasta Point to check the waves. My eyes immediately opened wider from the size and perfect conditions of the waves that were rolling over the shallow reef. I ran back to the room and told Eddie and James that it’s time to take care of some business. I paddled out before the others could get their gear on. I got some of the best waves I have had in my life. I remember riding a completely glassy transparent wave and thinking to myself now I know why I traveled half way around the world for this. Ten minutes later the morning sun got swallowed by thick black clouds and the monsoon rains hit. I stayed out in the water and watched this incredible nature show. The rain drops seemed to be the size of quarters which made it difficult to see and I knew it was time to come in when the wind started to blow me out to sea. I went back to my room and caught up on some sleep. I awoke in time for lunch and the arrival of Tony Hussein Hinde. I had heard the camp owner and founder of this surf break was on the island getting ready for the QS Surf Contest that was taking place next week. I remember seeing Tony at the restaurant and there was a buzz in the room because he had been away from the island for a few months dealing with the loss of his wife. As we left the restaurant we noticed that the monsoon show was over and the surf was a solid 2 foot over head and perfect. Eddie ran back to the room and grabbed his board in hopes of beating the after lunch crowd. James and I followed 20 minutes or so behind him. I walked up to the rocks where you jump into the water and I hesitated to go in. Our surf guide Sam looked at me and was telling me to get in the water because he was getting really good photos of the guys out there. For some reason I decided not to get in the water and just watch for a while (not like me to do so). The next thing I remember is seeing Tony ride a wave and sitting on the inside right near the impact zone where the waves break. There was a surfer on the wave behind Tony’s wave and he didn’t see Tony laying there on his board. There was a slight collision and we noticed that Tony was laying face down in the water. We all started to panic and yelled at the surfer that was tangled up with him to flip him over and drag him to shore. A group of us walked on the reef and brought what seemed like a lifeless legend to the shore. We laid him down on the ground and one of the surfers out in the water with Tony happen to have just completed his life guard credential and knew the proper CPR techniques. He gave Tony CPR but I noticed that his skin was still a dark violet color. I was on the right side of Tony and I saw his eyes open for a brief moment. I looked at him and told him everything is going to be alright and you are going to make it.
Tony was pronounced dead later that evening. The entire island was quiet and nobody could believe what had just happened. There is some speculation as to the cause of Tony’s death but the truth is Tony died doing what he loved most. He died at the same place he ship wrecked back in the 70’s. The same place he made a name for himself in this enormous world. I can honestly say that while watching this tragedy I was convinced that Tony is now in a better place. It was his time to go and he did not hold back!
I look at life in a much different way now. We all need to leave a legacy like Tony did. I guess I need to start working on mine!
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“The Q” by Jonathan Segal is coming to Little Itlaly
June 18th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
Living across the street from a construction site can take its toll on you after a while. From my balcony on the 7th floor of Doma I can see Jonathan Segal’s construction site for his projected 7 story mixed use development called ”The Q”. I could let the noise bother me but instead I anxiously await the completion of this development. For years I have looked down on a not so attractive parking lot with faded parking lines and weeds. Little Italy is in need of mixed use development and “the Q” might be a start of good things to come.
Currently, the Little Italy district of Downtown San Diego has an over-abundance of restaurants and residential construction. To achieve a 24-hour neighborhood, a mix of office space needs to be included.
The Q, a seven-story fully sustainable office/residential/retail building, will fill this void.
The Q will integrate Little Italy’s oldest house, a 1889 historically designated Gothic Victorian structure into its plans. The 316 square foot residence will be integrated into the overall design scheme, leaving a twelve-foot separation between it and the new structure. The residence will be moved from its current locale on the site’s western elevation to the eastern more commercial street and utilized as a small café.
The Q will be completely photovoltaic driven with an abundance of high performance floor-to-ceiling glazing and operable windows for cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for air-conditioning for a carbon-less building.
The Q will become the new benchmark for green, sustainable office development in Downtown San Diego. Photovoltaic panels, abundance of glazing and cross ventilation will become ubiquitous once the development community understands the civic and financial virtues of good, sustainable design.
For more information please visit http://www.architectasdeveloper.com/index.html
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A look into America’s riskiest real estate markets. San Diego did not make the list and we are not supprised.
April 14th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
Here is great article I recently came across featured in Forbes.
There’s roulette and there’s skydiving. Then there’s investing in Detroit and Cleveland real estate.
That’s especially risky because those markets are in free-fall. Lenders have fled, foreclosures are on the rise, homes aren’t selling and local economies have stalled.
Given the state of the country’s housing market, it wasn’t hard to find others like them. To do so, Forbes.com looked at the country’s 40 largest metros and combined data on foreclosures, from RealtyTrac, a foreclosure listing service; job growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; transaction volume data from Radar Logic, a New York real estate research firm; and vacancy and current inventory rates from the U.S. Census Bureau and ZipRealty, an aggregator of multiple listing service data.
In Pictures: America’s Riskiest Real Estate Markets
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The riskiest were those that had the highest foreclosure rates, slow job growth (or job loss) and a rash of listed homes. By these measures, Orlando has everything working against it. Other spots, Denver, for example, exhibit negative characteristics like foreclosures, lending problems and vacancies, but are adding jobs, a sign that the local economy can better handle these difficulties.
Before “write-down” entered the national lexicon, the biggest risk facing real estate markets was the prevalence of sub-prime loans and adjustable rate mortgages. Last year, before the shoe-drop of the credit crunch and the dropping value of banks’ loans and debt, we identified ARM-heavy Miami, Fla., Orlando, Fla., and Sacramento, Calif., as the markets most at risk of further fall.Sub-prime still matters, as do the concentration of adjustable rate mortgages. Transaction volume, however, especially over the next 12 months is becoming an increasingly important gauge of a market’s health. This month the National Association of Realtors reported that sales volume of existing homes was up 2.9%, the first such month-to-month rise since July.
In cities like San Diego, one of five major metros where transactions rose, that’s good news, assuming it’s sustained. What makes transaction volume a good indicator is that it shows how easy it is for people to get loans and how much confidence there is in the market. If mortgages are available and buyers have some faith in the value of the home, they’re more likely to buy.
San Diego’s present conditions suggest that over the next half-year, prices may start to rise. That’s because “there’s usually a three- to six-month lag between when transactions go up and prices go up,” says Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel, a Manhattan real estate appraisal firm.
Another good sign for the coming year? Increased credit availability.
We took into account increased Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSE) loan limits. The new legislation will open up credit in markets such as Sacramento and San Diego by boosting the GSE loan limit by 125% of the median price. That’s a huge deal for San Diego, where 18% of the market will see improved lending conditions, based on projections by Radar Logic, a New York-based real estate research firm.
Not as fortunate are hard-hit foreclosure markets such as Denver, which saw 50,000 foreclosure filings last year, according to RealtyTrac, which comes out to a 2.6% foreclosure rate, ninth in the nation behind the likes of Las Vegas and Detroit. Here, GSE loan limits won’t change to boost liquidity, though at the beginning of this year the local economy had added jobs at a rate of 2%, which is triple the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The availability of jobs gets at the critical question of how much money is available within a market. A market with money on the sidelines has better recovery prospects because it means potential buyers are out there. A market without economic activity to generate buyers is simply sinking.
“People aren’t pulling the trigger right now,” says Steve Cesinger, vice-chairman at Dewberry Holdings, an Atlanta-based real estate investment group. “But it’s a big difference if they’re not pulling the trigger because the prices haven’t declined enough or because they’re waiting to catch the bottom.”
I have great confidence in our San Diego market. We have heard mainly negativity regarding our current market condition and rightfully so. I have personally seen more of an upside than a downturn in the areas I have been monitoring. I have been keeping a close eye on the Point Loma (92106) area of San Diego and have found that most Single Family listings are going into escrow within days of being listed and the values have not dropped as much as you think. I realize other areas do not have the same results but its safe to say that San Diego is a great place to own real estate.
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Landon Jackson Real Estate Group Client Testimonial - Greg & Cheri Sorensen
April 14th, 2008 Categories: Client Testimonials
It was the start of the same conversation my husband and I have had for years. While walking along the streets of Little Italy, we were dreaming about how wonderful it would be if we could own a place of our own. We knew the “where”, we just didn’t know the “when” and the “how”. It was one of these days that we met Andy Boes, the realtor who turned our dreams into a reality. Andy helped us understand our options, showing us how we could take advantage of the current market and purchase a condo within our price range. Throughout the process, Andy kept us informed and up to date on how things were progressing. Andy kept such a close eye on the transaction that he was able to anticipate some hesitation from the bank (this was a short sale) and suggested we submit another offer. With the guidance from Andy, we are now the proud owners of a second home in San Diego. We were able to get a great condo, at a great price and without any stress!
Andy, thank you for everything!
Greg and Cheri Sorensen
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