Downtown San Diego Feb. 10

FEATURED PROPERTY

Downtown San Diego’sHot Real Estate Listings

Feeling Stressed?Simple Tips for Relaxation

Contemporary Coastal CuisineMorton’s Grilled Halibut

Home Staging A Successful Strategy in Today’s Market

February 2010

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The properties on this list have been listed/sold by various participants in the MLS.

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing. Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.com

800.588.7382 • www.DowntownSanDiegoProperties.com

SANDRA MELVILLERealtor, CRS, GRI

Sandra@ MelvilleAndAssociates.com

619.454.5464

Park Place Unit TH113 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 1,776 SF $699,000Ultra sophisticated Urban Townhome exuding hip elegance boasts three generous bedrooms and 3.5 baths all graced with a

custom designer touch. Enjoy six patios/terraces for privacy or soaking in the captivating views of the Harbor. Custom finishes abound in this Chic Downtown Residence. Gleaming Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, granite counters, upgraded lighting throughout, huge private rooftop patio, guest suite with private full bath and two prime location s/s parking spaces. Terrific opportunity!

HORIZONS Bed / Bath Est. SF List Price

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

2 / 2 1,245 $495,000

2 / 2 1,245 $648,000

2 / 2 1,245 $649,000

2 / 2 1,301 $689,999

2 / 2 1,263 $699,500

2 / 2 1,215 $749,999

2 / 2 2,007 $1,195,000

3 / 4 2,516 $1,295,000

3 / 3 2,260 $1,395,000

3 / 4 2,752 $1,550,000 - $1,750,000

SALE PENDING

2 / 2 1,770 $679,000

SOLD SOLD PRICE

1 / 2 1,036 $460,000

PARK PLACE Bed / Bath Est. SF List Price

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

2 / 2 1,374 $639,000 3 / 3.5 1,776 $699,000

2 / 2 1,353 $739,000

1 / 2 1,268 $755,000

2 / 2 1,545 $789,000

2 / 2 1,374 $1,120,000

SALE PENDING

2 / 2 1,545 $699,900

CURRENT REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN HORIZONS & PARK PLACE

ARG-Abbott Realty Group435 4th Ave. • San Diego, CA 92101

CAROLYN BOWHAYBroker Associate, CRS, GRI

[email protected]

619.944.5478

Super Run 2010Mission Bay Park, Feb. 6th619.298.7400 or kathyloperevents.comGet outdoors for some great exercise, all for a good cause! This 10K & 5K run is in support of many great foundations such as Water for Children in Africa, Compassion for African Villages and Giving Back Athletics Organization. Bring the whole family for fun and a day in the sun. Trophies are awarded to the first three winners in each age division.

Family DayMaritime Museum, Feb. 7th619.234.9153 or sdmaritime.orgGet ready for some sea-bound fun at the Maritime Museum and on this day, children 12 and under will be admitted free. Many activities and crafts will be set up to get the whole family involved. For an additional fee, hop aboard the Historic Bay Cruise as it takes you around the beautiful San Diego Bay.

Valentine’s Day at the PopsCopley Symphony Hall, Feb. 14th619.235.0800 or sandiegosymphony.orgBring your sweetie to the symphony on this day of love as Conductor Matthew Garbutt brings to life a special tribute of music for lovers. The featured artist for the evening is Crystal Jarrell, an American mezzo-soprano and a two-time regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council. Jarrell has performed in many operas such as Romeo and Juliet and Madame Butterfly. Let the romance begin!

Mardi Gras in the GaslampGaslamp District, Feb. 16th619.233.5227 or gaslamp.org Also know as Carnivale, Mardi Gras is a day for great food, fantastic drinks and fun, fun, fun! Head down to the Gaslamp District and celebrate the festivities like only San Diego can. There will be two spectacular parades on Fifth Avenue and a fabulous block party featuring many great musical acts and plenty to eat and drink.

Share Your Heart Celebration and ConcertAnthology, Feb. 20th858.541.2277 or burninstitute.orgJoin with friends for the 18th annual Share Your Heart event with proceeds benefitting the Burn Institute. Held at the premier supper club Anthology, this classy evening promises live music, great food and amazing auction items you don’t want to miss.

Vintage: Rare Wine TastingPrivate Home, Feb. 20th619.238.7559 or mopavintage.orgWhether you are a true wine connoisseur or just love a good glass of vino, this fabulous event is for you. This wine tasting takes place at a quintessentially “California” home and will feature the world’s highest-rated wines along with a selection of French, Spanish, Italian and American wines curated from some of San Diego’s most exclusive and private cellars.

FEBRUARY 2010

As the saying goes, you get one chance to make a first impression and it better be good. Just ask your Realtor – they know that the homes that are selling today are those that stand out from the competition. Because your Realtor is well-versed on what’s on the market, what’s selling, who’s buying and what properties YOUR home is competing with, they are your best resource to determine if and how you should stage your home. Some homeowners are reluctant to spend the additional money it costs to stage. Who can blame them? However, factor in the cost of having your home sit on the market longer; and figure the higher price you may earn by staging and it is usually a worthwhile investment. Statistics show that a staged home far outsells one that is not. Your Realtor can give you seasoned advice on home staging and can recommend a professional home stager that will understand what appeals to a buyer looking in your specific neighborhood and price range.

TO STAGE OR NOT TO STAGE Why is staging so effective? According to Dorothy Lubey with Parker Rose Design, a

professional staging firm in San Diego, properly furnished homes appeal to the buyer’s emotions and eliminate any doubt in space planning. “Staged homes sell faster and for more money by creating that impactful first impression,” she says. If your home is already furnished, it needs to have the “wow” factor. If your property is vacant, giving potential buyers a “sense of possibility” with furnished and decorated spaces is critical to your success. A staged home makes it easier to imagine living there and adds value to the sale. Some luxury home buyers want to purchase a turn-key property – furnishings and all. If you can offer them the total package up front, you’ve met the needs of many potential buyers. In today’s market, any advantage your property has over its competition can mean the difference between languishing on the market or a successful sale!

MODEL LIKE A MODEL Fashion designers dress models to sell their clothes, so dress your home to sell the house. Tour model homes and you’ll always notice “well-clothed” rooms. Since model homes are strategically designed to sell, you can find

great hints for staging. Most model homes have a dream kitchen. Experts know that it’s the kitchens that sell homes. Resurfaced cabinets, modernized knobs and those little designer model home touches work wonders. Pay attention to countertops. You rarely see appliances sitting around in a model. If you do, they are high-end and shiny. Mirrors sparkle, closets are organized, tattered paperbacks are hidden, flowers are fresh and no toys or dirty laundry are visible. Making your home appeal to a buyer isn’t easy. Most of us have too much stuff. Parting with belongings and prepping your home to appeal to strangers can be daunting, so it’s best to hire a home staging professional. To save on costs, many home stagers recommend staging only the high impact areas such as the living space, kitchen and dining area, and master bedroom.

The lifestyle of a Downtown San Diego home is as important as the property itself. Buyers are often from other parts of the country and choose to buy here because of the great weather and ability to spend time outdoors. Coupled with the terrific amenities they’re able to enjoy, potential buyers are “tuned in” to that lifestyle component. Pay special attention to entertaining areas and take care to stage your property to highlight such amenities. Creating that often-illusive emotional connection for the homebuyer is a key to selling these types of units.

Intellectually we know what Gandhi means by this, but not many of us have his discipline. He was a man who practiced a simple existence but was far from a simple man. He accomplished more than most and managed to exhibit calm and peace even when facing the biggest challenges. We may not come close to the Gandhi-like persona, but we can certainly aim for a more calm and peaceful approach to life. The key is to reduce stress from our lives, find inner joy and practice relaxing behaviors.

GOOD/BAD STRESS Stress is your body’s reaction to any real or imagined threat. Some stress is unavoidable and some is actually helpful, especially in emergencies. The right amount of stress is a good thing but too much isn’t good for anyone. When working properly, the body’s response to stress enables it to perform well under pressure. When a person’s stress response overreacts or doesn’t allow the body to return to its normal state, serious physical problems can occur.

STRESS BE-GONE You can’t eliminate stress completely but you can learn to deal with it. The well-known activities proven to reduce stress include exercise, meditation, massage, yoga and adequate sleep. But there are even more tactics to helping your body overcome stress and its harmful effects – some that take effort and some that are quite simple. Healthy eating is critical to dealing with stress. We often overeat or eat poorly under stress. When our bodies are stressed, the digestion system begins working lethargically and doesn’t allow you to burn calories effectively or absorb nutrients properly. Keep a positive attitude. Reducing stress isn’t easy but is necessary to a happier and healthier life. Little steps help. Throughout the day make an effort to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. Avoid stress-inducing media reports, surround yourself with happy people, remind yourself of all the good things you are experiencing each day. Many people

swear by a “gratitude journal” in which they record things that make them happy. Staying positive even in today’s tough times is one of the most important things you can do for your well-being. Below are some additional methods to keeping stress at bay:

1. Manage Time – set reachable goals, keep a calendar, say “no”2. Self Encouragement – be positive about and toward yourself3. Scalp Massage – thumbs behind ears and palms on scalp4. Intimacy – cuddle, kiss, hug someone, hold hands5. Visualization – close your eyes, focus on something beautiful6. Laughter – read a comic, watch a funny movie, pass along Internet jokes7. Stretch – reach for the sky, the floor, twist, turn8. Walk – walk the dog, to the mailbox, around your desk… just walk9. Breathe – inhale deeply, exhale slowly

GRILLED NORTHWEST HALIBUT

Featuring Morton’sThe Harbor Club • 285 J Street619.696.3369 or mortons.com

Ingredients:Tangerine Salsa6 tangerines1 serrano chile, minced (about 3/4 Tbs.) 1/4 cup finely chopped roasted red bell pepper1/4 cup finely chopped shallots (about 4 shallots)3 Tbs. fresh lime juice2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil1 1/2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh chives2 tsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley1/2 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro1/8 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

HalibutFour 6-ounce halibut fillets or similar flaky, white fish such as sea bass, grouper, or codvegetable oil cooking spray, for the grill rack 1 Tbs. vegetable oil1/4 tsp. kosher salt1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Procedure:* To prepare the salsa: Extract and strain the juice from four of the tangerines. You should have about 3/4 cup of juice. Transfer the juice to a small nonreactive saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for six to eight minutes or until the liquid reduces by half and the flavors concentrate. Set aside to cool. * Peel the remaining two tangerines, divide them into segments, and add them to the juice. Stir in the chile, roasted red pepper, shallots, lime juice, olive oil, chives, parsley, cilantro, salt, and pepper and mix well. * To cook the fish: Prepare a charcoal or gas grill or preheat the broiler and position a rack about four inches from the heating element. Before igniting the grill, lightly spray the grill rack with vegetable oil spray. The coals should be medium- hot for the charcoal grill. The burners should be on medium-high for the gas grill. * Brush the fish with the oil and season each fillet with salt and pepper. Grill or broil the fish for three to five minutes or until lightly golden. Carefully turn the fillets over and grill for three to five minutes longer until cooked through and the fish flakes. * Divide the salsa among four serving plates. Put a fish fillet on top of the salsa. Enjoy!

Serves Four

The Good Ol ’ DaysAs kids, we released stress naturally. As adults, we are consumed by it. Go back to your childhood pastimes and relearn some basic stress relief strategies.

NAP – sometimes a little respite in a busy day is all we need to recharge

DAYDREAM – make up stories in your mind, imagine perfect places

SING – sing out loud, listen to music, dance

PLAY – start a hobby, play games on your computer, do something fun

DRAW – doodle, sketch, create a picture

SPORTS – ride a bike, take a swim, try something new

YELL – belt it out when you need a release

“There is more to life than increasing its speed ” ...Gandhi