DEBORAH STONE

In the past 13 years since I have been living in in So Cal, Metro San Diego neighborhoods have experienced increased revitalization. North Park is one of these areas.

North Park has always been a “diamond in the rough”. North of Balboa Park and just adjacent to upscale Hillcrest North Park has gone through some growing pains, only to emerge as an ethnically and economically diverse area with a downtown center that is hip and flourishing. There is also a vibrant arts scene, and many chic new eateries.The 805 is the backbone of this area, and one can get to just about anywhere in San Diego County in 20 minutes.

North Park definitely has an inescapable “pulse” and on my recent visit there, I could see that previously vacant stores were replaced by some very unique businesses.

Claire de Lune Coffee house in North Park.You can even find poetry readings by locals here!

Off the Record sells a huge selection of 33 rpm records...like The Beatles!

Get your shoes repaired.......

Or get a tattoo...

North Park Beauty Supply...with a seriously huge selection

Local color: skateboarding..........

Checking in with the office...........

Taking a much needed energy drink break.............

On a peaceful midday stroll in North Park....

Condos in North Park are still priced very reasonably. On a recent search of homes for sale in metro San Diego you can find one BR condos in the low $100K's all the way up to homes over $1,000,000. A recent search of the MLS showed 25+ condos on the market between $100K and $150K. If you are a young professional renting an apt. than now may be the time to purchase a condo in this Metro San Diego neighborhood.These are great prices for urban digs within 10 minutes drive of downtown San Diego. Public transportation is available too.

Sure, I can:

Ride my bike instead of my car. (try riding a bike on the So Cal freeways). Eliminate Starbuck's from my daily routine (aww, this hurts). Brown bag it daily (hate making sandwiches in the morning). Sit in my dark, cold house with no lights on.....(enough said)!!

But I have found 10 painless ways to save money in San Diego:

1. Use the clothes dryer for 2 minutes to "fluff" the fabric, then hang on a rack in the sun.

2. Change all light bulbs to "low energy".

3. Recycle plastic grocery bags to use in the trash.

4. Check fees at your bank. I did some comparison shopping for small business accounts and even though there was only $20/difference a month,it's money in my pocket, not theirs.

5."Sun-blocking" curtains & ceiling fans reduce heat (and cold) thus lowering energy costs substantially.

6.Check your cell phone carrier & cable t.v. providers regularly. They don't want to lose you to the competition, and often have "new programs" to offer you. I just saved $20/month from my Verizon wireless bill, & $30 from my cable bill, with not much difference in my old service plan.

7. Sign up for SKYPE, and lighten up your monthly cell minutes. For $2.95 month, you can call unlimited within the USA, and for a bit more, all through Europe. Check out www.skype.com

8. Stop paying high prices for "processed" foods. You will not only save significant $$, but you will be much healthier.

9. Stop buying bottled water. My refrigerator has a “filtered water system”. If you do not have this, you can purchase Brita Water Filtration System at Target and filter your own water. Or use both and have double-filtered water.

10. Stop buying software. I found Avira (anti-virus) and Open Office org. (replaces Microsoft Office) both online for FREE. Google.docs now offers FREE web-based templates

Using the above methods I save over $100/month.............. and I have some of the lowest utility bills in my San Diego neighborhood.

DIEGO HILLS CHARTER SCHOOL

It's been awhile since I have been in High School. I know I am dating myself with tales of school marms in long dresses and grey hair pulled back in a bun....not a glimmer of a smile on their faces. Always holding the deadly wooden ruler in their hand. In those days a “rap” across your knuckles was not out of the question.

School for me in Boston was torture. I attended Girls' Latin School, one of the srictest and most regimented in the nation. I was not a good student, and had way too much energy. But I managed to graduate and go onto college and professional school, so I must have learned something.

I know times have changed.While I was out today, I walked by an open house at a local shopping center of the “Diego Hills Charter School” in San Diego CA. I was intrigued by their sign which said “One on One” and “Independent Study” and “Attend as little as 3 hours/week”. Diego Hills Charter School in San Diego CA is a brand new public school. Any high school student (age 14-19) can enroll FREE. The workload is geared to each individual student while taking into account obligations and unusual family circumstances. Some teens just work better in a more personalized environment.There is also independent study and free tutoring.

The mission of Diego Hills Charter School in San Diego CA is to engage students who are no longer a part of the traditional High School setting. If a student needs to make up classes to graduate, this may be the place for them. Of course the student would have to be pretty self-motivated to embark upon a curriculum like this, but what a great way to “rescue” at risk youths and allow them to finish their education.

All I know is that I would love to have had the option to attend a school like this when I was in my teens. This just may be the answer for a teen in transition or one who has dropped out and is a fearful of going back to a traditional setting. With so much support, it seems to be a recipe for success.

If you have a teen in transition, call Diego Hills Charter School in San Diego CA at 619-286-0312 or check out their web-site www.DHCharter.org

Years ago when I would travel, one of the things I loved most was talking to my bus-mates, train-mates and plane-mates. But things have definitely changed......for the better?

On a recent trip back east, I took the Boltbus from NYC to Boston. This bus is the marketing genius of Greyhound, serving the Northeast corridor. My ticket from mid-town Manhattan to Boston was only$19.50. I was struck by how well they captured the market share of students and young working people (and the occasional mature person like myself). The bus was a comfortable coach, with overhead bins and cushy, reclining seats. There was WiFi on board, along with electrical outlets at every seat. Virtually everyone was either on their laptop, iPhone or iPod. No one spoke on the 4 hour drive to Boston.

I am a child of the late 60's and 70's. Europe on $5 a day and $3.00 night Youth Hostels was the way we traveled back then. Meeting up with people from all over the globe, we paired up in Amsterdam, took trains together in Italy and Greece and hitch-hiked through Israel,all the while taking phone numbers and mailing addresses (this was before e-mail). As I looked around the bus, no one was talking. It was completely silent except for the occasional electronic sounds of a laptop or other wireless device.

I am 100% with technology. I have 2 laptops (one mini for travel), cell phone and iPod. I know it enhances my business and could not imagine running my Real Estate business without them.

However, is too much technology taking the place of interpersonal communication and old-fashioned people skills? Is the world truly becoming smaller or are we sinking even more so back into our own comfort level with people we know? Or is technology just a great way to pass a few hours on a bus or train? I do admit, listening to my iPod on a cross country flight was relaxing and I didn't have to make small talk with Mr. Armrest-Hogger.

Are we becoming victims of “technology overload”?

I have some advice for anyone interested in renting a home with less then stellar credit in a very tight rental market in San Diego. Don't get discouraged and automatically think the agent/owner will reject you if there are alot of prospects. Smile, be sincere, be yourself AND:

1. Be punctual.

2. Be honest. Explain to the agent (or owner) that you have had a past bankruptcy, credit issue etc. and bring proof of it. One of my best tenants brought a "discharged" bankruptcy form with her when she came to see the home I had for rent. She explained she did some dumb things when she was younger. I rented the home to her and she was never late with the rent and it was immaculate when she left. She turned out to be one of my best tenants in the San Diego rental market.

3. Bring a copy of your credit report, phone #'s of your employer, copy of your driver's license etc. ANYTHING that will make filling out the application easier. Blank spaces left on applications, and even illegible applications have been tossed by me, when I have 10 other prospects. It shows lack of respect or fear of disclosure.

4. Be polite and non-confrontational! Leave your bad attitude at home.No owner wants to deal with a disgruntled tenant from day #1. What will the tenancy be like in 3 months?

5. Wear clean clothing. Casual is fine but neatness is important. The owner will assume if you show up in tattered clothing, that is the way the apt. will look when you live there.

6. Watch your language. Profanity is not acceptable and most owners will be turned off.

7. Don't be afraid to follow up if you have not heard from the owner.Expressing your enthusiasm about a house in the San Diego rental market always helps:("we have always wanted a pool and this is one of the loveliest I have seen" or "I love the kitchen, we enjoy cooking"). I like to choose tenants who LOVE the property. Passion is contagious.

8. Don't badmouth your present landlord. The San Diego rental market is a tight community and word gets around.

9. Don't leave your checkbook at home. The one with the check for the application fee or first month's rent is always seen as a more serious tenant.

Remember, you are going on an "interview" and first impressions are lasting. Put your best foot forward and I bet you that home you want in the San Diego rental market will be yours.