The “perfect” home. A beautifully remodeled Spanish-style home with a separate guest house in Marston Hills.

Everybody wants the “perfect” house. But what is the perfect house? Well, for everyone it is different. In fact, buyers’ home criteria range from A to Z. What one person loves in a home, may very much be the opposite for another. Some may want a cute house, in a nice quiet neighborhood with a white picket fence, and others may want a modern downtown condo with a view. As different as people can be with their property likes and dislikes, usually there are some commonalities with residential property that appeal to the general public.

Today in the U.S., the typical buyer has become accustomed to a fairly high standard of living. This, of course, includes standards in housing. It is amazing how these standards have changed dramatically through the decades. Looking back at when homes were being built at the turn of the last century, there were not the luxuries that we know today. Simply to have one bathroom in the home was quite sufficient. In fact, it was a huge upgrade from not having to use an outhouse. Today most people want and even expect to have at least two bathrooms in a home. Also, closet space used to be very small although quite sufficient for that period of time. But because of the dramatic increase in American consumerism, walk-in closets are now in high demand, and again are even a requirement for many homebuyers. To add to this requirement, many homebuyers also want a lot of storage space, whether it is in closets, attics, garages, basements, sheds or any kind of place where “stuff” can be stored. Also, space in general is usually a desirable feature for most people. The more square footage, the better the home is. In comparing the American mindset of housing standards to that of the rest of the world, it is very different. This is demonstrated very clearly on the Home and Garden television network show, House Hunters International, where many American buyers go to cities all over the world to buy a home. The comments that are typically made by the buyers on the show have to do with how small the kitchens, bathrooms and basically all the rooms are. And if the kitchens and bathrooms are not remodeled, it is usually not a property that the typical American buyer will pursue. Because our standards have become so high we are not aware that the rest of the world does not have the same standards or mindset that we do. So if you are buying a home outside of the country, keep in mind those properties are going to be different. So, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Although property tastes can vary greatly in and outside of the U.S., there are often homes that appeal to the masses. A great example locally, is a property that is currently on the market in the Marston Hills area of Hillcrest. It is an incredibly beautiful Spanish-style home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It has been remodeled with a gorgeous kitchen and great bathrooms. It also has a separate guesthouse; an over-sized two-car garage with a light and bright art studio over it. The main house and the guest home have their own private yards and the entire property is landscaped in a way that creates a tranquil and picturesque setting. Although people have different tastes in properties, this is one property that anyone would fall in love with. It has tremendous emotional appeal and the visual charm that you see in the home and garden magazines. This property is like a small compound that could satisfy anyone’s needs and tastes. To add to its desirability, it is in an excellent quiet location just a few blocks from the Hillcrest Village. It is also completely fenced, offering the ultimate in privacy. This property has it all and awaits its new owner!

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

Front (L-R): Sandy Gallin, Hollywood talent agent, Elizabeth Taylor, Larry Fortensky, Elizabeth Taylor’s eighth husband. Back: Barry Perkins, Anton Cruz and Trent St. Louis

It has already been more than a year since the passing of Elizabeth Taylor (March 23, 2011). Although she was of my mother’s age and generation, she managed to stay in the limelight her entire life. There are many things that were extraordinary about Elizabeth Taylor. But the one thing that the LGBT community needs to be aware of is the fact that she was greatly supportive of our community and helped raise millions of dollars for AIDS research and programs.

Elizabeth Taylor is probably best remembered as a big movie star with a career that stretched over a period of many decades. She was one of the highest paid, most sought after and biggest box office draws during her movie career. She had a beauty that was internationally admired and she was always in the spotlight for one reason or another. She was married eight times to a variety of men, ranging from movie stars to construction workers and from politicians to millionaires. She also was one of the first and most successful businesswomen to launch a line of perfumes and other accessories. Even after her death, her White Diamonds perfume alone brought in an estimated $70 million last year. But the most important, rewarding and beneficial work she has ever done was through her philanthropy.

When AIDS first hit the scene in the early 1980s it was a devastating blow to our community. Gay men were dying at an alarming rate and nobody was able to do anything about it. To add to the horror, there started to be a very negative stigma attached to AIDS. It was considered the “gay disease” and at the time it was considered a shameful thing to have. It was also a death sentence and because so little was known about it people were afraid to come in contact with anyone who had it. Nobody seemed to be able or wanted to help, including the government. Well, this is when our hero, Elizabeth Taylor, came on to the scene and became our spokesperson and started fighting for us and our causes.

Elizabeth Taylor became an AIDS activist and helped establish The American Foundation for AIDS Research (AFAR), which is dedicated to the support of AIDS research, AIDS prevention, treatment, education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. In addition, she founded The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), which raises money for many different AIDS service organizations worldwide. Through her work, she has raised millions of dollars that has gone directly to countless, wonderful organizations. The L.A. based Project Angel Food was one of the many organizations that Elizabeth Taylor supported and was a board member of. Through Project Angel Food, over the years, I had the special opportunity to work on many events and fundraisers where I would watch Elizabeth Taylor in action. She would come to an event and people were simply in awe of her. The world loved her and she used her celebrity status and popularity to educate and to get people involved in the cause. I remember one event in particular I was at with her, where she had invited about 20 of her close friends for a small intimate fundraiser. This event was to benefit Project Angel Food and was at the Beverly Hills home of one of Elizabeth Taylor’s friends. As her rich and famous guests started to arrive at this elegant compound, my job as a Project Angel Food volunteer was to simply greet the guests and, when it was time, collect donations from them. After the lavender-eyed beauty did a little socializing with everyone she then stood up and announced that it was time to “give”. She then personally wrote out a $100,000 check to Project Angel Food and then asked that everyone else make a generous donation. Well right after that, checks were being written by people like David Geffen, one of the founders and owners of DreamWorks, Aileen Getty, granddaughter to oil tycoon John Paul Getty, Sandy Gallin, one of the biggest talent agents in Hollywood, just to name a few. It was a pretty amazing and successful night for Project Angel Food, but for Elizabeth Taylor it was just another night of work for her, on her philanthropic journey. For the last 30 plus years of her life, Elizabeth Taylor was totally committed to her philanthropic work. She has touched the lives of millions of people worldwide and has helped make this planet a better place to live. Last year, Elizabeth Taylor’s fortune was estimated to be a billion dollars. After her death, much of her fortune was donated to The American Federation for AIDS Research, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and many other wonderful charitable organizations. For this and for all the work that this incredible woman has done, we shall be forever thankful.

You may wonder what all of this has to do with real estate. Well, maybe not a lot. But it is important that we know and remember that Elizabeth Taylor has spent more than three decades raising millions of dollars for AIDS research and programs and has directly helped create a positive image for our community internationally, which has ultimately given us a much higher level of general acceptance, compassion and respect. So for that, I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

Bright corner unit in the Atlas building with rare large wrap-around terrace overlooking the city

Through the years, I have seen a lot of single detached homes, condos, lofts, townhomes and almost every other type of property you can imagine. I have seen everything from demanding fixers to extravagant remodels and everything in between. But few have the amazing emotional draw that I like to call the “WOW! factor.”

I realize that everybody’s taste is different and what might strike one person as amazing, may not strike another in the same way. Yet, every once in a while, I come across a property that really touches me in a way that makes me actually stop dead in my tracks and literally say, “Wow!”

San Diego has countless numbers of beautiful properties; and many of them can have uniquely outstanding features. In this region, there are homes that are located above canyons and offer spectacular views of natural settings. We also have the coastal area with unbelievably attractive properties with ocean views. Then, there are the thousands of world-class downtown condos that feature picturesque vistas and breathtaking views. Having the opportunity to take in so much beauty (both natural and architectural) is one of my reasons for loving my job. I get to continuously experience amazing and unique examples of architecture, landscaping and design.

One of the most amazing homes I have ever seen was an estate with a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean. The home had an extremely large front room, and an equally expansive dining room, the latter being entirely open to the outside. In addition, it had a swimming pool right in the middle of the front room and dining area. As I sat in this great room, I was amazed with what I was seeing. It was simply the ultimate in resort-type living and had, most definitely, an incredible wow factor.

Here in San Diego, there are many amazing properties that have a wow factor. A good example is a new listing in Hillcrest which is a fabulous 1,700 square foot plus luxury corner unit condo that has an over-sized 700 square foot terrace with great day and evening views. It is located on the quiet south-west side of the Atlas building, which makes it very light and bright and a good location. From the moment you walk into this residence, you are struck by its charm and character. It is decorated in a way that is beautiful and yet still very homey and comfortable.

This property is listed at $669,000, which is actually very good value when you take into consideration the excellent location, square footage, the views, the rare large terrace, the fact that the building is new and all of the incredible upgrades that this pristine home has to offer.

Create your own wow factor and enjoy your home for many years to come.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

There was a time when the gay community was not welcomed into neighborhoods. The common mindset of the masses was that we would be a negative addition and that we would even bring property values down. However, over the last several decades, this mindset has slowly changed. Not only is our community welcomed in most metropolitan cities, but we are now given well deserved credit for the revitalization of many neighborhoods throughout the country.

It is not uncommon that in time cities and neighborhoods throughout the country decline. This has typically been a part of real estate history. What was once the fashionable, thriving neighborhood often becomes the old and less desirable area. Locally in San Diego, there are many areas that at one time were the more desirable locations to shop and live. But over time, new neighborhoods and shopping centers were built and the old ones became run down and less than desirable. For example, most all of the metropolitan communities like Hillcrest, North Park, University Heights, Normal Heights and South Park were once “The” places for shopping and residing. But as the neighborhoods started to age and as new neighborhoods were built, these metropolitan communities became run down. Another contributing factor to the decline of the metropolitan areas in San Diego was the development of Mission Valley, where major new shopping centers, restaurants and malls became available to shoppers, leaving the old businesses in the dust. This trend is very common for many cities throughout the country and beyond. But there have been success stories in revitalizing many of the old and rundown neighborhoods, which the gay community has largely been a part of.

Hillcrest is one of many neighborhoods where the gay community has come in and fixed it up. Just over two decades ago, Hillcrest was showing its age and it wasn’t looking pretty. There were many run-down homes, businesses and apartment buildings. But over the years, it has transformed into a vibrant village where people come from all over San Diego to dine, shop and play. Hillcrest’s revitalization has been largely due to our gay community. As a community, this is something we should be very proud of. But Hillcrest is not the only neighborhood that has benefited from our community’s special efforts.

Although there are no official statistics to track LGBT migration to various urban neighborhoods, we all know what we have done over the years with regard to restoring old neighborhoods. There are well known areas like Greenwich Village in New York and the Castro District of San Francisco, which are predominantly gay neighborhoods that have been made into very desirable communities specifically because of our efforts.

But in addition, there are dozens and dozens of other districts over the last several decades that we have transformed from “bad neighborhoods” to trendy and fashionable places where people come to spend time and money. This pumps thousands of dollars into the economy, which ultimately makes the neighborhood safer, more attractive and stable.

Seattle’s Capitol Hill section, for instance, has in the last 20 years seen an influx of gay men and women who have rehabilitated houses in the working class area. The Montrose neighborhood in Houston, once a declining working class section, is now the geographic center of a lively gay community. In Miami, there is South Beach, in Denver the Cheesman area, in Cincinnati Liberty Hill and Northside and in St. Louis the South Grand Street area. There are also concentrations in smaller cities throughout the heartland.

Perhaps nowhere is the phenomenon of a gay neighborhood as an urban pillar truer than in the Dupont Circle section of Washington, a half-mile north of the White House. In the past 20 years it has been transformed from a rundown area of stores and apartments, badly in need of renovation, to one of the most vibrant and desirable places to live in that district. Today there is a lively mix of restaurants, nightclubs and businesses that keep the area awake long past the time the rest of the city has closed its eyes and rolled up the sidewalks.

Like the Dupont Circle section of Washington, there are now many fantastic gay places to live all over the U.S. The fact is, we as a gay community, have gone into different cities, districts and neighborhoods throughout the country at a time when many people were abandoning them for the suburbs. We fixed up buildings that were falling down and gave tender loving care to the homes and businesses. As a result, there are now wonderful gay neighborhoods throughout the U.S. where the LGBT community can live safely and proudly, and Hillcrest is an exemplary model to show off such a community.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

One of the original floats that promoted the up and coming neighborhood of Azalea Park to the gay community.

City Heights is a large, dense and ethnically diverse neighborhood of San Diego. It spans from University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard, and roughly from I-805 eastward to 54th Street. It has long been a victim of neglect, urban blight and crime. But during the last ten to fifteen years, City Heights has benefitted from much improvement and redevelopment with new businesses and projects remaking the neighborhood.

The area now known as City Heights traces all the way back to the 1880s, when land speculators purchased land as railroad expansion brought anticipation of population growth. It used to be referred to as part of East San Diego, and in fact, East San Diego was its own city until it was annexed by San Diego many years ago.

Probably more than any other area of San Diego County, City Heights is a true melting pot with many different ethnic groups. Housing in this neighborhood is more affordable relative to the rest of the city, although it is dense with a mixture of small homes, older apartments, condo buildings and a variety of businesses. In addition, there are many communities within City Heights. However, there is one community of City Heights that is a hidden gem and it has slowly become a very charming and desirable neighborhood.

Azalea Park was once known as Lexington Park. Azalea Park was a real estate sub-division and in the mid-1980s the Lexington Park Neighborhood Association decided to refer to themselves as Azalea Park.

In 1993 residents started the Azalea Park Neighborhood Association and members of the association decided to market the neighborhood as a new up-and-coming community. One of the target markets was the LGBT community. One way in which they got the word out was at the annual San Diego Gay Pride parade and festival. In July 1993 a small band of people, LGBT and straight, gathered together and marched by the side of a red Volkswagen Cabriolet with faux plants sticking out the back and carrying hand painted banners and signs showing canyon homes for under $60,000. And so began the continuing run of the Azalea Park entry in the San Diego Gay Pride parade. Many new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, young married couples, families and singles have added to the diversity of the neighborhood. These days, Azalea Park is a charming community made up of working class folks, with a sizable LGBT population. It is a great place to buy an affordable single detached home. Housing prices start around $150,000 for a small fixer and go up to the low to mid $200,000’s. I have a friend who bought a very cute 2 bedroom 1 bathroom home with a small guest unit last year in the low $200,000’s. They have truly enjoyed living in Azalea Park and have found their neighbors and neighborhood to be wonderful.

You might not think there’s a reason to visit Azalea Park or City Heights. But if you’re looking for authentic ethnic restaurants or markets, City Heights is worthy of a visit. Most of the businesses are concentrated along the corridors of University Avenue, Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. The award-winning City Heights Urban Village is a joint public and private City of San Diego redevelopment project which features the Mid-City Police Substation, Community Gymnasium, the Weingart City Heights Branch Library and the Mid-City Adult Continuing Education Center.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

Normal Heights business district

Normal Heights, sometimes referred to as “Abnormal” Heights, is a great old community in San Diego that is located west of University Heights, east of Kensington, south of Mission Valley and north of City Heights. It is a very diverse and fun neighborhood that has a great variety of businesses on its main street, Adams Avenue.

Normal Heights was formally organized and planned in 1906 by the University Heights Syndicate under the direction of D.C. Collier and named Normal Heights for the state Normal School in University Heights. A trolley line brought people and development to Normal Heights. The man responsible for the main business development of the Normal Heights portion of Adams Avenue was a carpenter named Bertram J. Carteri. Like all of the old communities of San Diego, Normal Heights has gone through many changes over the years. In the last 10 years, it has been revitalized into a vibrant residential area and business district.

The main street of Adams Avenue runs east and west and has many wonderful restaurants, coffee shops, unique book and antique stores, bars, specialty shops and many other businesses. Adams Avenue also acts as a dividing line, with the south side having more condos, apartment buildings and small bungalow houses, whereas the north side has more single family detached homes. In fact, recently the north side of Adams Avenue has been re-named “Adams North,” and it boasts many beautiful homes.

If you have not done so, you should explore Normal Heights. I recommend first driving down Adams Avenue to see what the business district has to offer. Some popular places in Normal Heights include the well-known DeMille’s restaurant for Italian food, El Zarape for Mexican food, Twiggs for coffee and desserts and The San Diego Cheesecake Company for amazing cheesecake, just to mention a few. But Normal Heights is also home to some great neighborhood dive bars like the Triple Crown Pub and Rosie O’Grady’s. Also Lestat’s Coffee House is the hipster hangout in this neighborhood and its adjoining performance space is where you can hear great local musicians many nights of the week. But in addition to checking out the commercial part of Normal Heights, I also recommend driving through the beautiful residential part – Adams North.

You can see much of this neighborhood and its beautiful homes by driving on Mountain View Drive, which is the main street that runs through Adams North. Mountain View Drive goes from the west side of Adams Avenue to the east side and is a kind of a “U” in design. The street has three parts to it. At the west side the street is called West Mountain View Drive. If you drive north on West Mountain View Drive, the street will eventually turn right into North Mountain View Drive. If you continue driving on North Mountain View Drive, it will eventually turn into East Mountain View Drive at which time you will be on the third part of the three part street. The length of this street is a great way to drive through Adams North and to see the gorgeous and diverse architecture of the homes there.

There are so many unique communities in San Diego, like Normal Heights, which have their own style and flavor. Normal Heights has the wonderful “walk-ability” that most people are looking for when it comes to buying a home or renting an apartment. It is a desirable location close to shopping, dining and transportation. You add the great San Diego weather and Normal Heights pretty much has it all.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

With mortgage interest rates at an historic low, money is now cheap to borrow and it is an incredible time to consider taking advantage of this opportunity. There are several different ways to use this opportunity to your own advantage and listed below are a few ideas for you to consider.

If you do not own your own home, you really need to think of buying one. In addition to the mortgage rates being so low, housing prices have also dropped thirty to sixty percent all over San Diego County and beyond. In many cases you can buy a place for around what you are paying in rent. Plus, there are so many other benefits to you as a homeowner; benefits like deducting the interest of your mortgage payments when you do your taxes. When you rent a home or an apartment, you will never see a return on the money you pay your landlord and you are subject to rent increases and eviction. Also, when you own your own home you can make nice improvements that you would typically not do when renting. Now that it is a buyer’s market and interest rates are so low, it is truly a great time for you to buy a property. Whether it is a small condo or a spacious home, you will benefit from being a homeowner. But if you already own a home, you may want to consider refinancing.

Refinancing is another way to take advantage of today’s cheap money. It can benefit you greatly if you own your home and your current interest rate is higher than today’s mortgage rates. You owe it to yourself to speak to a lender or mortgage broker to find out how much you could save each month. In many cases, the savings can be significant. Interest rates have been around 4 percent and even less. There are many different loan programs that all lenders offer, so you want to select one that best meets your needs. You may even want to get a 15-year loan instead of the traditional 30-year loan, so you can pay it off faster. But whatever refinancing loan program you select, the bottom line is to refinance to save a significant amount of money. Also please keep in mind that when you refinance, you do not want to borrow more money and make your current loan balance higher, unless it is necessary or it makes good financial sense. This is how many people have over-extended themselves and have gotten heavily into debt. You also want to keep in mind the goal of eventually paying off your mortgage as part of your future retirement plan.

If you already own your home and you already have a great interest rate on the loan, you can take advantage of today’s low mortgage interest rates by buying an investment property. Real estate has always been one of the best investments throughout history and throughout the world. So consider expanding your financial portfolio to include income property. Your mortgage interest rate will be a little higher for a non-owner occupied investment property, but because the mortgage rates are so low, it is still a very prudent thing to do. You don’t ever want to over-extend yourself financially, but if you are able to purchase property for income, you can be setting yourself up for a secure financial future. Some of the most successful and financially independent people in the world have gained their wealth through real estate. So do not let the recent downturn in the real estate market scare you away from buying property.

Now is a wonderful time to take advantage of the low mortgage interest rates and the low housing prices. So use this window of opportunity to refinance or buy property. It will benefit you now and in the future!

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

A beautifully landscaped backyard

Traditional landscaping has always included a lot of lawn. Whether it is the backyard of a residential home or the imposing front aspect of a commercial property, lush green grass is more often than not the landscaping of choice. But although lawns are beautiful, they are one of the most high maintenance landscape choices that you can make.

Today people are more educated on the fact that we are in a drought area and that water is limited. Fortunately, there are also many incredible drought-resistant plants and other water-saving landscape features that can be used to make an outside setting look simply beautiful. As spring approaches, it is a great time to consider altering your yard to make it a water efficient and visually attractive garden paradise.

To help you get started I’ve listed below some great ideas you can use to transform your yard.

No lawn – One of the first things that you want to do when re-landscaping is to remove all lawn areas from your yard. Lawns are expensive to maintain because they need regular grooming and a lot of water to look good. It simply does not make any sense to have a lawn in Southern California due to the fact we are located in a water drought area and our water supply is limited.

Drought resistant plants – There are so many varieties of beautiful plants, vines and trees that need very little water and most garden shops and nurseries have a great selection of these plants.

Cement – There are many ways you can use cement to beautify a yard. Cement can be dyed to be color coordinated with a theme. Cement can also be stamped before it dries to create a texture or a mock tile, brick, cobble stone or many other types of masonry work. Cement is very long lasting and looks great.

Outdoor furniture – With our beautiful weather here in San Diego, it makes sense to have outdoor living space. You can furnish a patio area with fantastic furniture that will provide a wonderful outdoor room. Even a simple park bench or two can create a very beautiful setting in a yard.

Water features – Fountains and other types of water feature are a great addition to any yard. They do not waste water because a pump recycles the water. There are large and small water features, ones that you can hang on the wall and ones that be installed in ground. They not only give visual beauty, but they also give the tranquil sound of flowing water.

Koi pond – Koi ponds have become very popular in the last few years and are a very beautiful addition to any yard.

Arbors, trellis and Canopies – It is always a nice touch to have an arbor or a trellis, particularly if it has a climbing vine on it. Canopies are also an attractive way to cover a seating area in a yard.

Block walls and masonry work – Block walls are a great way to give your yard more privacy. However, this is a more expensive proposition but a very long lasting and substantial addition to a yard.

Synthetic lawns – If you really can’t live without your lawn – go synthetic. I know, most people think of synthetic lawns as being really tacky, but believe it or not they have improved a lot in the last five to ten years and many of them today look great, particularly if they are installed properly and have other plants blended into the overall landscaping.

These are just a few examples of ideas you can consider to create a low maintenance, drought resistant yard without compromising on the beauty of your landscaping. So plan to get out in your yard and start creating your new beautiful lawnless garden!

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, 619-300-1621. The Metropolitan Group (CADRE#01273643).

Ariel view of The World Islands off the coast of Dubai

The World Islands are a man-made creation of various small islands constructed in the rough shape of a world map. They are located about two and a half miles off the coast of Dubai, which is an emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A city within the emirate is also named Dubai. The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second largest land territory by area of all the emirates after Abu Dhabi. So how can islands and land mass simply be created?

In the case of The World Islands, sand was dredged from Dubai’s shallow coastal waters. The island’s were originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and were developed by Nakheel Properties.

The dredging process is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location. A dredge is a device for scraping or sucking the seabed. A dredger is a ship or boat equipped with a dredge. The terms are sometimes interchanged. This technique is often used to keep waterways navigable. It is also used as a way to replenish sand on some public beaches, where too much sand has been lost because of coastal erosion. Dredging is also used as a technique for fishing for certain species of edible clams and crabs.

The process of dredging creates excess material/soil, which is carried away from the dredged area. Dredging can produce a material mass for reclaiming land, which was the case with The World Islands.

The World Islands project was unveiled in May 2003 and dredging began four months later in September. By January 2008, 60 percent of the islands were sold, 20 of which were bought in the first four months of 2007. In January 2008, the final stone on the breakwater was laid, completing the development.

Islands in the development range from 150,000 to 450,000 square feet in area. Distances between islands average about 330 feet. The islands are constructed from 321 million cubic meters of sand and 31 million tons of rock. The entire development covers an area of about 3.7 by 5.6 miles which is surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater island. Roughly 144 miles of shoreline was created. The World Islands’ overall development costs were estimated at $14 billion.

Utilities are routed underwater, with water plants at each of the hubs pumping fresh water to the islands. Power is supplied by the Dubai Grid and distributed through underwater cables. Waste water and refuse systems are individually set up for each island.

Although property prices in the emirate have fallen 58 percent from their real estate market peak, there are now efforts to develop the Islands with the Nakheel Group, which is developing a resort named Coral Island on 20 islands that make up the North American part of The World Islands. The low-rise development will include a marina and hotel village. The second largest confirmed development is the purchase of 14 islands that make up Australia and New Zealand by Investment Dar of Kuwait. The islands are being developed as a resort named Oqyana. Irish business consortium Larionovo had plans to develop the Ireland island into an Irish-themed resort. The plans include a large internal marina, apartments and villas, a gym, hotel and an Irish-themed pub.

In April 2008, Salya Corporation announced that it had acquired the islands of Finland and Brunei in The World Islands and planned to develop them into fashion-themed resorts. Salya spent about $218 million to purchase the islands and plans to spend a further $654 million on development. Brunei island will be turned into a resort and Finland island will be turned into a residential community. The islands of Great Britain and Moscow were acquired by Premier Real Estate Bureau in the summer of 2008. Safi Qurashi, the multi-millionaire entrepreneur at the head of Premier and his business partner Mustafa Nagri, paid an estimated $64 million for the 11-acre piece of land.

There are other parts of The World Islands where dredging has been done to create more land mass, such as in Singapore. As the population increases internationally, we will probably see more reclaimed land through the dredging process. Until we meet again, enjoy!

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent

and a member of the National, California and

San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, The Metropolitan Group. DRE#01273643.

Classic Spanish-style home in beautiful Kensington

With its boundaries east of the 15 freeway, south of Mission Valley, north of Monroe Avenue and west of Fairmont Avenue Kensington is a beautiful community of San Diego. Today, it is a very desirable and upscale neighborhood that is sought after by many buyers. But let us look at the history of Kensington.

The Kensington location was first considered for development in 1909 as a potential site to build luxury homes for retired executives of the Santa Fe Railway Company. In 1885, the land was surveyed and sold for the first time. It was part of a ranch owned by Santiago Arguello. The property changed hands over the years and eventually a parcel of 157 acres became the property of the Kensington Park Land Company, April 8, 1910. The Kensington Park Land Company divided and sold tracts of land to developers whose business was the creation of individual properties designed to accommodate residences and businesses.

San Diego’s Kensington neighborhood is known today for its appeal as a historic residential area with beautiful single family homes, distinct in their California style. This reputation can be attributed to the efforts of real estate developers, especially the Davis-Baker Company of Pasadena, Calif. In 1926, Davis-Baker opened a project called Kensington Heights, using an aggressive marketing plan to sell property in a declining real estate market. Their promotional efforts and aesthetic demands for a specific architectural style made Kensington Heights appealing to buyers. At the same time, Davis-Baker created a visual identity for the neighborhood with picturesque Spanish and other elegant style homes.

The neighborhood we think of today as Kensington is a collection of five original subdivisions: Kensington Park, Kensington Park Annex, Kensington Park Extension, Kensington Talmadge and Kensington Heights. Kensington Heights was the last of the parcels to be developed, and consisted of 115 acres overlooking Mission Valley. It sits high on a dry mesa surrounded by wooded canyons and overlooks a broad rambling valley. It is cooled by breezes blown in over the ocean from the west.

The Kensington Heights project was different from the beginning because Davis-Baker planned to build houses before selling the lots and required houses built by others to conform to certain aesthetic standards. They did this so that the neighborhood would have a specific character and style, setting it apart from the surrounding developments.

During the real estate boom, developers had little incentive to do anything more than divide the property and sell lots as quickly as possible. Developers simply placed a few advertisements in the San Diego Union newspaper and eager investors presented themselves to purchase vacant lots. Rapid real estate development had produced neighborhoods lacking unity in architectural style and consistency of land use, with commercial and residential districts overlapping in a haphazard sprawl.

Kensington Park land development projects were choice real estate parcels which enticed investors from other parts of California, especially the Los Angeles area.

Eventually the developments of Kensington were all completed into one style of community that has maintained its desirability up to today.

Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent

and a member of the National, California and

San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Trent at SpecialAgentTrent@gmail.com or at his office in Hillcrest, The Metropolitan Group. DRE#01273643.