Tag: money

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7 San Diego Neighborhoods That Are Quirky, Interesting, Vibrant, and Fun!

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Although San Diego is known for its sun, surf, and beachfront vibes, the city has so much more to offer. San Diego is one of the most diverse counties in the United States, and each neighborhood gives off it’s own vibe. Some hoods cater to artists, some to foodies, some to nightlife enthusiasts, and some still to those who love their boardwalks and board shorts. If you’re looking to buy a residence, there are so many places to choose from. Whatever your preference, here are seven of the most exciting neighborhoods for those looking to reside in San Diego.

#1 – EncinitasScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.33.20 PM.png

Encinitas, a city of over 61, 000 residents with a small town feel is a great neighborhood if you detest plastic, and drive a Prius. Streets are wide, the residents are extremely passionate about green living, and there are no power lines visible anywhere. It’s a best of both worlds situation here. Encinitas is a laid back beach community, however, the further east you go, the quirkier the neighborhood. The closer you get to the ocean, the higher the price. Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Leucadia are both very popular beach communities within Encinitas, and each have their own personal flair and feel. Cardiff houses the infamous Cardiff Kook statue and Leucadia’s motto is “Keep Leucadia Funky.”

 

#2 – North ParkScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.41.43 PM.png

Southeast of downtown and bordering Balboa Park, you’ll find the diverse and eclectic uptown neighborhood of North Park. The lively streets here are stocked with locals, and lined with coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, amazing restaurants, and craft beer pubs.  The epicenter of the neighborhood is the intersection of University Avenue and 30th Street, which holds claim to being “the best beer neighborhood in the nation. The hipsters in this neighborhood know their food and drinks, and consequently, the neighborhood homes some of the best restaurants and bars in San Diego. The homes in this area are cute but surprising large, and don’t be surprised if your neighbors actually want to get to know you!

 

#3 – South ParkScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.05.18 PM.png

What South Park may lack in size, it makes up for with a tight-knit community of small indie businesses and events, like the South Park Walkabout, where local shops and restaurants open late and offer special deals and bites. This neighborhood, very close to North Park, pulses with shops, entertainment, and art blocks. The petite neighborhood manages to keep its cool factor high with eclectic shops and restaurants. Craft beer is also celebrated here at bars like Hamilton’s Tavern, consistently rated “best beer bar” on the West Coast, and the family friendly Station Tavern where burgers and beer are served in an old trolley station. The petite homes are some of the most adorable in the county and have a sort of old-fashioned comfy feel to them.

 

#4 – CarlsbadScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.46.19 PM.png

Located in scenic North County, and known as “The Village by the Sea,” Carlsbad was named after a famous spa in Karlsbad, Bohemia. This quaint city has beautiful beaches, three unique lagoons, lots of shopping areas, and gorgeous golf courses. It also boasts the LEGOLAND® theme park, and the Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch that sports 50 acres of spectacular blooming flowers every spring. With new, widened, buffered bike lanes, more roundabouts, and community walkabouts and bikeabaouts around the village, Barrio, and beach areas; the idea being, to convince people to leave the car at home for errands and recreation.

 

#5 – Ocean BeachScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.59.06 PM.png

Ocean Beach, often referred to as OB, is called the city where lifestyle is frozen in time, in fact, you’re more likely to see a co-op then a large chain here, and is definitely a place for the free spirited. This funky seaside town is one of San Diego’s best beach communities. It is laid back and less rowdy than it’s south neighboring neighborhoods of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Still, it is a great place to surf or sunbathe. OB sits on prime waterfront real estate, but the neighborhood exudes a small-town atmosphere. Where other beach communities have embraced commercialism, this town remains fiercely independent and skeptical of corporate change. The residents of OB call themselves “OBceans,” and are an extremely tight-knit community.

 

#6 – San MarcosScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 1.01.56 PM.png

Home to award-winning San Elijo Hills and breathtaking lake, San Marcos is the leader in providing housing with a wide range of prices and designs, while being a community that takes environmental awareness to heart. The residents work hard to preserve the San Marcos Creek, ridgelines and sensitive habitat. It actively participates in state, federal and regional conservation programs as well as progressive local air and water quality programs. San Marcos is an excellent urban-rural setting with small town informality, plus easy access to San Diego city, southern Riverside and even Orange County.

 

#7 – Little ItalyScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 1.08.44 PM.png

Little Italy is a place where past meets present and is one of the more vibrant neighborhoods in the city. Once home to San Diego’s flourishing tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is now a lively neighborhood filled with patio cafés, fantastic restaurants, craft brew stops, urban wineries, art galleries, sophisticated shops, boutique hotels and the beautiful Amici Park. It’s not unusual to stroll through this walker-friendly neighborhood and be greeted with a smile and a “saluto” or “ciao bella” by a stranger. The residents here seem to believe that they are in Italy, instead of just a few minutes away from downtown San Diego, and trust us, when you’re here, you will too.

 

 

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6 Ways to Take Control of Your Credit

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Screen Shot 2018-10-10 at 2.11.06 PM

I know that it can sometimes feel like you have the worst credit out of everyone in your circle. In truth, most people don’t have great credit. In fact, the average score is just 675, which is slightly lower than what most financial experts consider a good score. With student loans still haunting you and collection agencies blowing up your phone, t’s easy to feel like you’re neck in debt and drowning fast. Don’t worry! I’m here to help! Here are 5 great ways to start managing your credit score.

#1 – Learn What Your Credit Score Actually Is

Of course you want to get this credit score taken care of yesterday. However, before we can begin working on your score, you need to know how much debt you’re in exactly and who you owe. It’s important that you also check to see if your debts have been sent to collections or if you have any late payments on your credit report. Request a copy of your report so that you can see exactly where you stand. You can get a free report from each bureau every year from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Then, there are a variety of ways to get both your credit score and your FICO score. You can use free tools like Credit Karma (but sometimes credit card companies might offer a free score as well). After you review your report and score, be sure to follow this guide to disputing errors on your credit report as sometimes errors can account for a low credit scores.

#2 – Beware of identity theft

Once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. In extreme cases, they can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund, or even give your name to the police during an arrest.

The more your credit improves, the more susceptible you are to identity theft, so always be on the lookout. Check your report periodically to make sure that there aren’t any unauthorized accounts in your name. If there is something you don’t recognize or anything strange you notice, contact a reporting agency and have them look at it right away.

#3 – Take Care of that Debt

We all know that high-interest debt can be taxing on both our wallets and our stress level. However, did you know that it can also hurt your credit score? The longer you carry that debt, the more your “utilization ratio” increases which also lowers your credit score.

Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is quite dark, but there are several ways to address your debt. Consolidation is one option. Balance transfers is another. However, although both may work for some, the best course of action is one that addresses the debt and gives you a concrete plan to manage your finances more effectively. Look for a Debt Management Program. Do your research and find one that works best for you. As you pay under this program with a concrete plan of action, your credit score can recover at a steady pace.

#4 – Pay Off Anything Keeping You in the Red

Want to pay off your debt fast? The best way to do so is by reworking your budget, trimming unnecessary expenses and boosting your income to free up more cash to put toward what you owe. If you’re paying off debt on your own, without any professional service, then there are two primary ways to get rid of your debt: The first way is to pay off your smallest debts first—which will allow you to eliminate some of that debt quickly and get rid of the stress and anxiety of knowing what to pay first. The second is to pay off your cards and loans with the highest interest rate first—this will save you a significant amount of money long-term, and is most efficient.

#5 – Know That You CAN Request a Higher Credit Limit

This may seem counterproductive, but sometimes a higher credit limit can lower the utilization ratio we talked about before (assuming you won’t be using more credit once you have a higher limit). If you ask to have a higher line of credit, you have to be self-disciplined and avoid using it. This strategy, if used carefully, can help you meet your credit goals and may actually be one of the fastest ways to get the score you want. If you have a higher credit limit and pay your balances down or in full, it can even be more beneficial. Of course, this is up to you, but it’s definitely worth considering.

#6 – Seriously, Stop Stressing!

Having bad credit isn’t the end of the world, and isn’t the end-all be-all to your future and how close you’re able to come to your goals. Millions of Americans are either in considerable debt and/or hold low credit scores, and many of them have been able to pull themselves out of their rut. You can successfully manage your score in no time if you plan correctly, pay down your debt, check for errors, avoid identity theft, and improve your utilization. And remember, I’m always here to help!