If you have the financial means to take on the endeavor of remodeling your Downtown San Diego Condo or Loft or preparing your home for sale take a look at this article in the CNNMoney.com called “Get A High Quality Remodel For Less“. The article explains a way to renovate at a lower cost during an economic slump. Most contractors are willing to bargain and cut a few deals just to be able to acquire the work. The article goes on to provide a brief overview of three other ways to cut the overall costs of a remodel.

Combining small jobs, tax deductions and sweat equity are all great ways to save some money at the end of the day. If you think of doing the more feasible, smaller jobs around the house yourself you can always seek help from the Ace Hardware Store in Downtown San Diego get some advice or maybe by taking a few classes at Lowe’s. Either way a remodel is always an arduous task and you should always find ways to make the process easier and cheaper.

Just the thought of New Year’s Eve in the Gaslamp is enough to make me want to crawl in a hole (give me a break, I’m 40) but the thought of New Year’s Eve in downtown San Diego with live music might make me crawl right back out. It depends. If you are in the same boat as I am, regardless of age, check out these parties. Maybe one of them will call to you.

Big Night Out-Hilton San Diego Bayfront

• 12 themed party zones
• music for every taste
• all inclusive, $149-$219

Hard Rock Cafe

• a rooftop nightspot, Woodstock, means party under the stars
• 11 DJs + 5 venues
• $60 a pop

Casbah

• indie music fills the air
• band on a hot streak, Transfer, is headlining
• $25

USS Midway

• ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
• live band for dancing
• $159, all inclusive
• black tie optional

Downtown Countdown

• 15,000 sq foot venue
• 3 rooms with 2 DJs
• NRG Adept…best cover band ever, I’ve heard
• $119, all inclusive

We’ve lived in a downtown San Diego loft for 6 years now and every once in awhile I find that I need a reminder of just what an amazing city it is to live in-I tend to take that for granted sometimes. After watching the east coast get slammed with blizzards and snow, I am so very grateful for this city which we call home. Witnessing the way others see downtown San Diego conjures up even more gratitude. Take a look:

Feel free to mute the music on the following video (I’m not connecting with it when I watch it-maybe you will) and feast your eyes on some more fantastic shots of downtown San Diego…fills me with gratitude, that’s for sure.

Once again in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, a battle of the bands will take place two days before the big Poinsettia Bowl. This year, San Diego State University Aztecs and the US Naval Acadamy Midshipmen will go head to head-as well as their marching bands in a musical showdown on 5th Avenue.

Text a $5 vote for your favorite band (to 90999-NAVY or SDSU) and that money goes to the Make a Wish Foundation-that’s cool. So, mark your spot early on the sidewalks of the Gaslamp Quarter because at 6pm on December 21st, it’s gonna be packed!

The reality that there are homeless children stinks but the thought of homeless children at this time of year-that’s just heartbreaking. The San Diego Coalition for the Homeless is, once again, providing these children with just what they deserve-a magical holiday event.

On December 18th at 1pm, Golden Hall Community Concourse (202 C Street) will open it’s doors to over 6,000 low income and homeless children from downtown San Diego (and other San Diego neighborhoods as well). Face painters, craft and book tables, on stage entertainment, gifts and a holiday meal to take home will be provided to each family and child.

Living in a downtown San Diego loft or condo is a luxury and if you are interested in sharing your blessings with San Diego’s homeless children, volunteers are still needed. You can go here to see how you can help.

photo via www.sdhomeless.org

The Port of San Diego’s new Broadway Pier in the Columbia District in Downtown said welcome to its first cruise ship yesterday on Wednesday, December 22, 2010, when Holland America’s a 1,400 passenger Rotterdam docks at the $28 million new port.

The grand opening of the Port Pavilion was on Saturday, December 18, 2010. A day long public open house was held, allowing community members to become familiar with the region’s newest environmentally-friendly, building.

To read more about the pier click on www.portofsandiego.com.

I learned something new today about downtown San Diego-we host America’s LARGEST balloon parade. Did you have any idea? The Big Bay Balloon Parade is a kickoff to the Holiday Bowl and this parade takes place on our very own Harbor Drive. The parade showcases marching bands, floats, drill teams and, of course, balloons!

With over 100,000 bayside spectators, this is a BIG event. Once the parade ends (oh, and there is a race beforehand), Broadway Pier hosts games, entertainment and a free Family Festival. Think Rock Wall, Field Goal Kick, Game Truck, carnival, Battle of the University Bands and don’t forget…crowds!

But, you should see for yourself whether those crowds are worth it to you. Check this here video out to get an idea about one of downtown San Diego’s claims to fame: 

Did you guys know that 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego is known as one of America’s greatest streets?

The nonprofit community development organization, APA, did put this official title on 5th Avenue in 2010 through the APA’s Great Places in America program. This program was founded in 2007 where they mentioned 10 neighborhoods, public spaces and street in this year’s program…and 5th Ave took the spot out of the 180 streets nationwide. Historic heritage, revitalization, pedestrian orientation and vibrancy are what the street got chosen for. A lot of history…a lot of character and a lot of architecture!

To read San Diego Newsrooms article about 5th Ave…click on Fifth Avenue, a Great Street in 2010: From red-light district to historic Gaslamp district.

This graph is showing us the average sales price by month from January 2008 to September 2010 for Condos & Lofts in Downtown San Diego.

In June of 2009 a huge dip occurred and it might be becauase of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit started and that Bayside in the Columbia District, Atria in the Marina District and The Mark in the East Village/Ballpark District were closing out. The other dip that happened in April of 2010 is most likely because the First Time Home Buyer Tax credit ended and also because the Developer sales are almost sold out.

To compare and read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs on the Downtown San Diego Real Estate Market see Downtown San Diego Condos & Loft Sold by Month October 09 to September 2010, Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Price Range - 3rd Quarter 2010, Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Neighborhood - 3rd Quarter 2010,  Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Type of Sale - 3rd Quarter 2010 and Downtown San Diego Condos Sold - Cash vs. Financing - 3rd Quarter 2010.

This is a comparison chart for Downtown San Diego Condos & Lofts sold from January - September 2009 to January - September 2010. 

Looking at the Short Sales and the REO’s…a +01% change occured in the average sales price. For Resales a huge -24% happened and for the Developer sales a -14% occured. Once again…the Developer sales at Bayside in the Columbia District, Atria in the Marina District and The Mark in the East Village/Ballpark District are showing there trends. 

To compare and read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs on the Downtown San Diego Real Estate Market see Downtown San Diego Condos & Lofts - Average Sales Price by Month, Downtown San Diego Condos & Loft Sold by Month October 09 to September 2010, Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Price Range - 3rd Quarter 2010, Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Neighborhood - 3rd Quarter 2010,  Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Type of Sale - 3rd Quarter 2010 and Downtown San Diego Condos Sold - Cash vs. Financing - 3rd Quarter 2010.