S an Diego, California, highly praised for its 70 miles of stunning beaches and dazzling array of world-class family attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND is the state's second largest city and the seventh largest city in the United States. San Diego is often touted as the only city in the US with a perfect climate. High temperatures rarely exceed 77 degrees and low temperatures rarely dip below 50 degrees. With slightly more than 10 inches of rainfall annually, San Diego has many days of sunshine to enjoy its famous beaches and the warmest ocean waters along the California coast.

With approximately 5,000 businesses and 75,000 people working downtown, San Diego has a dynamic and robust business climate. Manufacturing, defense, tourism and agriculture remain the top industries, but in recent years, San Diego has become the nation's center for the wireless industry. Telecommunications, software and biotech are among the city's fastest growing business sectors. Median household income is approximately $49,000 annually.

Downtown San Diego offers eight distinctive neighborhoods - Core, Columbia, Cortez Hill, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Little Italy and Marina - each with its own history, character and lifestyle. More than 24,000 people live downtown, drawn by the ability to live in a scenic, safe and vibrant atmosphere with homes within walking distance of workplaces, shopping, schools, recreation, entertainment, public transit and more. There are over 75 residential projects now either under way or on the drawing board. By 2008, Downtown San Diego is expected to have an additional 9,000 new condominiums, apartments, townhouses, row houses and loft homes. The median cost for a home in the downtown area is $490,000.

The neighborhood of downtown San Diego is made up of the area between the waterfront and Union Ash, and F streets. Broadway, downtown's main street, begins at the Broadway Pier and runs through the center of this bustling area. Though predominantly a commercial neighborhood, downtown San Diego is the site of growing and diverse development of all kinds. Over 1,800 residential units, 1,009,000 square feet of commercial space and hundreds of parking spaces have been slated through 2006. Downtown San DIego is also home to the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, the Federal and County courthouses, and the State Office Building.

Downtown's Core neighborhood stretches from A Street to Broadway and Union and 12th Avenue. As its name reflects, the Core is the visual and physical hub of downtown. The successful revitalization of this area began in 1975, and the development of the Core has been a crucial element to stimulating San Diego's downtown area. Many old buildings have been renovated for new residential and commercial uses, attracting people into the neighborhood to live and work. The Core now serves as the San Diego region's government and corporate nucleus, housing the Civic Center, City Hall, the Small Business Administration and the World Trade Center.

North of downtown's Core and south of I-5 between Tenth Avenue and Union Street, the Cortez district is one of San Diego's oldest and most illustrious residential neighborhoods. The focal point, Cortez Hill, is a 111-acre landmark that has drawn residents for over a century. The original Victorian style dwellings of the first settlers have now become part of its appeal as well as a perfect blend of modern housing development that began in 1992. Cortez Hill boasts views of urban San Diego, Balboa Park, the bay and the Pacific Ocean. The warm neighborhood feeling, diverse housing, proximity to the center of downtown and Balboa Park, along with waterfront and mountain views make Cortez Hill a highly desirable location.

East Village is San Diego's largest and fastest growing neighborhood due in large part to the development of Petco Park, Major League Baseball San Diego Padres' newest home. Schools, a central police station, commercial services and industry balance the residential land use. This center of modern urban development is also San Diego's arts district, woven with artists' homes, studios, galleries and shops. The New School of Architecture, San Diego City College and two high schools enhance this neighborhood's youthful, creative population.

S an Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter has become one of San Diego's most trendy neighborhoods, featuring a quaint blend of old and new buildings bustling with excitement. This 16.5-block neighborhood is now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and its 94 historically or architecturally significant structures now house more than 70 restaurants and nightclubs, movie theaters, shops, offices, galleries and lofts. Currently, 95,500 square feet of retail, 334 hotel rooms, and 364 residential units are planned for development over the next three years. Annual events such as Street Scene, the Mardi Gras Celebration, ShamRock, Taste of Gaslamp, and Cinco in the Gaslamp are held in this district, to the thrill of San Diego area residents and visitors.

Arriving in 1867, Alonzo Erastus Horton was not the first to fall in love with San Diego's natural beauty, but as the historical father of modern-day San Diego, he was certainly the most influential. This neighborhood is where the redefining of Downtown began. The first development was the six and one-half-block Horton Plaza retail/entertainment center, which houses over 140 shops and restaurants in a colorful labyrinth connecting seven open-air levels. High-rise luxury condominiums and mixed-use residential and retail developments followed. Today, the Horton Plaza neighborhood includes a Westin Hotel, the Meridian condominium tower, Horton Fourth Avenue apartments, the SBC and NBC office towers, Spreckels and Balboa theaters, and the Federal Courthouse & Office building.

The pitched landscape at the northern shore of San Diego Bay was once home to a thriving tuna fishing industry and the Italian-Americans who derived their livelihood from it. Little Italy today represents some of the finest of San Diego living: bay views, fine food, art and cultural festivities, and affordable residences. Its lovely vistas now offer an urban neighborhood with single-family homes, condominiums and apartments. A recently revitalized India Street is alive with restaurants, small cafes, galleries and specialty shops. Little Italy hosts over half-a-dozen annual festivals in celebration of holidays, music and art, including Festa, "Chalk La Strada," a Bocce Ball Tournament, ArtWalk, a jazz festival and Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter celebrations.

Bordered by the Gaslamp Quarter, the Marina neighborhood was once a vast areo of warehouses and vacant lots. Through redevelopment, beginning in the early 1980s, the Marina now offers high-rise and mid-rise condominiums and apartments, townhouses, and lofts, in a variety of styles, sizes and prices. Marina, characterized by open space, educational and cultural sites, and its convenient locale, is a remarkable residential setting for families, professionals and retirees. Attractions of this neighborhood include the Martin L. King, Jr. Promenade; the Children's Park with its urban forest, reflecting pond and fountain; historic Pantoja Park and Children's Museum; and a portion of the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District. A new Children's Museum and Park, and Seaport Village Expansion are other upcoming projects certain to enhance the attraction and quality of life in this popular neighborhood.

There is no place on Earth like Downtown San Diego...with warm delightful weather, legendary beaches, world-class culture, exciting nightlife, thrilling attractions and a thriving healthy economy. This is an ideal place to live, work, retire or raise a family. If you are considering moving to the area or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!