Thursday, May 22, 2008

Stockton Real Estate

Stockton is the 13th largest city in the state of California. Stockton is an agricultural center, being the seat of one of the biggest agricultural counties in the entire United States, the San Joaquin County. It also boasts of the biggest inland seaport in the whole of the states of California. The California Delta runs throughout the entire city, separating into numerous rivers and canals around the city of Stockton.

Aside from agriculture, Stockton also has a booming industrial sector. Various companies, such as the Diamond of California and the Dur aflame Log factory have headquarters in Stockton.

Stockton is home to the Haggin Museum, the Children’s Museum of Stockton and Pixie Woods. The Stockton Symphony and Orchestra is also based in Stockton. The Weber Point Events Center also features various events, such as musical concerts and an extravagant celebration every 4th of July.

There are a number of festivals occurring in Stockton throughout the year, which celebrate the diverse culture and history of the residents of Stockton. These include the Greek Festival, the Filipino Barrio Fiesta, the Stockton Festival of Lights and Boat Parade, and the Stockton Obon Bazaar, among others. The Stockton Asparagus Festival, which is celebrated every April, brings more than 100,000 visitors to Stockton.

There are several educational institutions catering to Stockton residents. These include the University of the Pacific, the San Joaquin Delta College, the Weber Institute of Science and Technology and the California State University Stanislaus, to name a few.

Stockton residents also enjoy a variety of sports. Minor league franchises, such as baseball’s Stockton Ports, football’s Stockton Lightning and hockey’s Stockton Thunder, all have their bases in the city. Stockton sports venues include Banner Island Ballpark and the Stockton Arena.

Great finds are available in various corners of the city. Stockton malls, such as Weberstown and Sherwood, have loads of unique offers. For the high-end shopper, North Stockton’s Lincoln Center is a boutique haven.

At present, development projects are underway for the restoration of the Downtown area of Stockton. Buildings in the area are being built and renovated, such as the Bob Hope Theater, Hotel Stockton, the Banner Island Ballpark, the Stockton Arena and the Sheraton Hotel. New real estate options are also being considered. Investors are spending millions of money on these projects, such as the creation of housing in the south shores and sizable condominium units.

In recent years, Stockton has been experiencing a population boom. At present, there is an estimated more than 250,000 individuals living in Stockton. The increase in the number of Stockton residents has been attributed to the migration of people from the San Francisco Bay Area, who are unable to afford the high cost of living there. Lying approximately 80 miles to the east of the Bay Area, Stockton is a prime location for people working in the San Francisco area who are looking for less expensive real estate options.

For those who are looking for affordable real estate in a budding community, try Stockton real estate!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

San Diego Real Estate

The coastal city of San Diego is the second largest city in California. It is made up of several canyons, producing natural parks all over the city. San Diego boasts of a warm climate throughout the year.

San Diego is composed of 8 divisions. Popular areas include Bay Park and La Jolla in Northern San Diego; Miramar in Northeastern; Serra Mesa in Eastern; Hillcrest and Old Town in Western; Balboa Park and Downtown San Diego in Central; Kensington in Mid-City; Alta Vista in Southeastern; and Otay Mesa and Palm City in Southern.

There are numerous places to visit in San Diego. Popular spots are scattered throughout the city, enjoyed by both tourists and residents alike. Children enjoy meeting Shamu in SeaWorld San Diego and love the more than 100 acres of the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Other places include Belmont Park and Legoland. The Point Loma Lighthouse is also a hotspot, where one can get a wonderful view of the distant mountains and the Naval Air Station. Museums abound all throughout the city. These include the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Man and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, to name a few. For the culturally-inclined, they will most likely appreciate San Diego’s symphony and repertory theater. The Gay Pride Parade is also a popular event happening yearly.

When in San Diego, one will never run out of things to do. The coastal location of the city allows for a variety of water activities, including surfing, whale watching in February, scuba diving in Wreck Alley and Yukon, and hanggliding over the Pacific Ocean. The vast Seaport Village complex is also a must-see, where individuals can enjoy a one-of-a-kind shopping and dining experience. Wineries around San Diego also allow wine-tasting tours.

For sports enthusiasts, San Diego is a wonderful place to be. San Diego has various sports teams, such as football’s San Diego Chargers and basketball’s San Diego Wildcats. Extreme sports, such as skateboarding, are popular throughout the city.

For those who are planning to study in San Diego, there are several public and private universities in the area, including the University of California San Diego and the San Diego State University. San Diego also has a medical school and several law schools in the area.

Employment in San Diego is focused mostly on biotechnology and defense. Research facilities, such as StressGen and Pfizer, are located in the city. The US Navy and General Atomics are two of the companies working for national defense.

San Diego is one of the safest places to live in. The overall crime rate of San Diego has been decreasing since the 1990s. There are various military bases in San Diego, including the US Navy, the Coast Guard and Marine Corps bases.

Sales for high-end properties in San Diego remain strong. The high real estate prices in the area allow you to take advantage of luxury homes in several high end communities, such as Del Mar, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla. High sales rates have also been noted on investment properties, such as office complexes and apartments.

The continued increase in sales in the real estate market in San Diego has prompted a dramatic increase in the prices of real estate, to the point that the San Diego real estate market has been labeled as one of the least affordable markets in the United States, as reviewed by Forbes. In spite of this, San Diego has maintained a good standing in the real estate market.

For a sunny, fun-filled place, look for real estate in San Diego now!

Chico Real Estate

The city of Chico in the state of California is located at the edge of the Sacramento Valley. With a population of approximately 85,000 individuals, the city of Chico is considered as the most populated city in its county, Butte County.

Chico is composed of several neighborhoods. Downtown Chico is the city’s commercial area. On the other hand, the residential area is known as the Barber neighborhood. The high-end neighborhood in Chico is known as Mansion Park. Most students stay in the South Campus area, where a number of fraternity and sorority houses can be found. Several neighborhoods in Chico are also in the process of development, such as Doe Mill and California Park.

When staying in the city of Chico, there are a number of fascinating places to visit. Bidwell Park is one of the biggest municipal parks in the entire country. One can do a number of activities there, such as swimming, hiking and biking. A number of other parks are also in the area, such as Depot Park, Hooker Oak Recreational Area, Martin Luther King Park, Oak Way Park, City Plaza and Rotary Park, among others. Two brewing companies are also based in Chico, namely the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and the Butte Creek Brewing Company. Other notable attractions include the Whitney Hall, the Meriam Library, the Chico University Arboretum, the Mechoopda Maidu Indian Tribe, the Chico Museum, the Madison Bear Garden, the Chico Creek Nature Center, and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, to name a few.

A number of elementary and secondary schools exist in and around the city of Chico. Colleges and universities in Chico include the California State University Chico, University of Phoenix, Butte College, Chico Beauty College and the Cal Northern School of Law. The California State University Chico is also one of the largest employers in the area.

Aside from the university, another major employer in the city of Chico is the Enloe Medical Center. The medical center is a general acute care hospital, equipped with basic medical services. Other industries that provide employment opportunities include social services, retail trade and entertainment services.

For real estate in the city of Chico, the decent areas to check out are the areas Downtown and the Barber neighborhood. For luxury homes, Mansion Park is a good place to start. In low seasons, such as the summer season when sales are down, one can save even more than 10% in the prices of homes in the area.

Along with Redding, the city of Chico provides one of the most affordable real estate markets among the metropolitan areas of the state of California. For the first quarter of the year 2007, more than 35% of the homes that were sold in Chico were within the median family income of the city. This report was according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index.

For affordable California real estate, with complete amenities and a wide variety of entertainment options, search for real estate in Chico!