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What Seniors Should Look for in a Home in San Diego When Aging in Place

Looking for a home in San Diego as a senior comes with a lot to consider, and when you’ve decided to age in place, it can be challenging to find a house that meets all your needs. You might already have a checklist in your mind, starting with price, the number of modifications you’ll need to make, and how many updates have been made to costly maintenance items like the roof or flooring. However, when it comes to buying a home post-retirement, it’s essential to make sure you add safety features to that list to avoid any issues down the road.

Knowing what to look for in a new home will not only help you figure out your budget it will allow you to plan for the next several years. For instance, the right home for you may need to include sufficient lighting, handrails for stairs, or non-slip flooring so that accessibility and fall prevention are a priority.

Below Are Some Ideas On What to Look For When Buying a Home

Get to know the San Diego Market.

Before you make any decisions, it’s crucial to get to know the market in San Diego. Contact the McT Real Estate Group right away; we can help you with this. The size of your budget has many determining factors, and it’s not easy to bump up the amount you can spend if you’re unable to find a house in San Diego in your price range. If you know what to expect, you won’t be faced with many hard decisions or surprises. Keep in mind this week, the median list price for a single-family house in San Diego, CA, is $650,000.

Look For A Home Without Needs

Unless you can afford to build a brand-new home from scratch, chances are you’ll probably be faced with some difficult decisions when you’re searching for a house in San Diego. There may be many homes that come close to meeting your needs but don’t have everything you want, or homes within your budget that need more work than you’re willing to put in. Keep in mind that the point of finding a home in which to age in place is to make things easier on yourself, so if it needs a new water heater or some roof repairs, have your Realtor negotiate this during the buying process or keep looking for a home that best suits you. If it’s in good shape but doesn’t have all the things you want, you can always make some small modifications yourself. For example, if doorknobs are too difficult to turn, you can replace them with handles or levers (which Home Depot sells for under $20).

San Diego’s Friendly Communities Can Make a Difference

You may not realize it, but the neighborhood you choose can make a big difference in your health and well-being. This is because part of aging in place is retaining a sense of community and socializing, which can prevent isolation, a major source of depression in older adults. San Diego has lots of friendly communities and is a great place to retire. Get to know the neighborhood you’re interested in and talk to the neighbors before the move. This will help you feel more at home and may even facilitate new friendships, and it will allow you to find the nearest parks and fitness opportunities. Consider searching for a home in San Diego’s metro neighborhoods. North Park, South Park, University Heights, and several others have great walkability. Being close to food shopping, pharmacies, restaurants, and coffee shops makes it super convenient for people of all ages to call home.

Consider Keeping Up With Maintenance of a Home

Post-retirement should be a time of relaxing and doing the things you enjoy, not maintaining a house. Consider the upkeep factor when looking for a new place; the lawn should be small and have easy-to-care-for landscaping, and there should be no hard-to-clean areas inside (such as a fan high up on a vaulted ceiling). Your new home should work for you, not the other way around.

Make a checklist when you’re ready to start searching for a home for your golden years. If you’re moving in with someone, keep communication open with them so you’ll both be on the same page. Remember to keep your comfort and safety in mind when making decisions, and make sure your home is within your budget before committing.

If you would like help searching for a home in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-736-7003. We would love the opportunity of assisting you with this next step in your life.

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Living In North Park -Buying a House in North Park

Are you having a hard time choosing the best neighborhood in San Diego to move to? The McT Real Estate Group is ready to help you with your home search. We will find out what things you like best when considering a neighborhood to live in. Our favorite neighborhood happens to be North Park. Why? We initially bought our first house in North Park because it was an up-and-coming neighborhood at the time. Since then, it has become one of the most hipster Urban neighborhoods in San Diego with so many things to do. Living in North Park is fun and never boring. There are many neighborhoods in San Diego to choose from, but these are a few reasons to consider buying a house in North Park.

North Park Has Beautiful Real Estate To Live In And Invest In

Established in the early 1900s, North Park is considered one of San Diego’s older metro neighborhoods. Many of the historic Craftsman Style, Spanish Style, and Victorian Style Tudor homes can be seen throughout the different neighborhoods. People have restored them to maintain their true Craftsmanship, and this is beautiful to see. There are also Bungalows and Modern Style homes that have been remodeled and newly rebuilt as well. With all of the Historic Homes in North Park, the neighborhood’s character and style attract people from all over the Country.

North Park Best Restaurants

Whether you are a foodie or a fussy eater, North Park living is full of excitement with fun exploring the best restaurants that North Park has to offer. Sit down at Tamarindo Latin Kitchen & Bar for some Latin Flavor, or head over to Dunedin New Zealand Eats for some delicious New Zealand food. If you are Vegan, no worries, there is a newcomer in town, and it is a big hit. The Modern Vegan. This place is on the cusp of North Park and University Heights and is fantastic for those who love comfort food. If you prefer to go out for snacks and a few beers or wine, there are plenty of hot spots for this as well. Thorn Street Brewery is a local favorite of craft beer where you can bring your dog and family to. They typically have different food trucks on the weekends, so you can grab a bite to eat while you enjoy the local beer. Check out URBN. They have coal-fired flat and New Haven-Style pizzas that are a favorite to many in the neighborhood, along with draught beer and craft cocktails. This loft-style restaurant is loud, so it is a great place if you have a group you are hanging out with. For a more intimate style environment, there is Alexander’s for some great Italian food. There are so many different places to choose from. If you decide to live in North Park, you will never have to leave the neighborhood to experience different types of cuisines. If you would like to skip the restaurants altogether, you can head out for some coffee and snacks at Communal Coffee. There are different flavored coffee, drinks, books, and several trinkets you can pick up during your visit. Then there is the coffee-infused cocktail during happy hour at Caffe Calambra, along with pizza, desserts, and paninis.

North Park Breweries

Whether you are a beer aficionado or you enjoy a nice beer occasionally, North Park is the place for you. It has become a hotspot for local craft breweries to flock to. Some of North Park’s local breweries include Mike Hess Brewing Company, Thorn Street Brewery, The North Park Beer Company, Belching Beaver Brewery, and Pariah Brewing Company, to name a few. There are so many choices that you will never be bored with the same ole beer again.

North Park Local Shopping

North Park has many locally-owned shops for people to buy their gifts, knickknacks, bookstores, and all types of home decorations. Some local favorites include Simply Local. Here you will find homemade gifts, jewelry, souvenirs such as shirts, soaps, pictures, honey, oils created by amazing local artists. Pigment is another favorite for home decorations and gifts and, it is just a few blocks away. Nearby is Mimi & Red Boutique, a lovely gem in North Park where you can find designer clothing pieces, jewelry, and other great accessories.

Balboa Park Nearby

The acclaimed Balboa Park is located West of North Park, where visitors get to hike through miles of trails, visit 17 museums, walk through the beautiful gardens and sit by the gorgeous fountain to people watch. Feel like playing a game of golf? Sure, why not. Balboa Park Golf is the oldest public golf course in San Diego and one of the favorites. There are so many different types of events taking place year-round at Balboa Park. By living in North Park, you will always have something new to see every single day if you choose to.

North Park Is San Diego’s Most Dog-Friendly Neighborhood

You will notice in North Park that there are lots of people out and about with their dogs. North Park is one of San Diego’s most dog-friendly neighborhoods. Many of the restaurants and coffee shops are set up so you can bring your dog with you while you have a bite to eat. Many even provide treats for them. There are several pet stores in the neighborhood, but one of my favorites is The Original Paw Pleasers. You can spoil your babies by ordering homemade doggie ice cream,fresh-baked Grain-Free cakes, and more for your pet. The dog park at Morley Field is one of our favorites. Here you get to meet many of your neighbors, and their pups get to make lots of friends.

North Park Is Perfect For All Age Groups

North Park is perfect for all age groups because of its walkability. Its ample amount of shopping, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and things to do around town make it desirable for people of all ages. Younger and older aged people like not having to drive for everyday conveniences. Younger people such as Millennials love North Park because there are so many things to do and a great place to meet new people.

Move To North Park

If you are thinking of moving to North Park or already living here but are currently renting and want to buy a house or condo, reach out to the McT Real Estate Group today at 619-736-7003. We moved to North Park in 2001 from N.Y.C and have never looked back. Our office is located in the hub of North Park. We will sit down and have a conversation with you and find out your wants and needs. Together, we will figure out the best strategy for you to buy a home in the North Park area.

View North Park Homes For Sale

Fun Things to do In North Park

North Park is one of San Diego’s most entertaining neighborhoods. There is something here for everyone between micro-breweries, art academies, funky coffee shops, and chic clothing boutiques. To make it even better, many of these great shops are within walking distance of each other. With a seemingly endless amount of fun things to do in North Park, you’ll have to make an effort to leave!

Where is North Park, San Diego?

North Park is an urban neighborhood in the Metro area of San Diego, just South East of Downtown San Diego. North Park has several sub-neighborhoods, such as Morley Field, Altadena, Burlingame, and others. These neighborhoods are sought after by people searching to buy a home in a walkable neighborhood of San Diego. Most of the homes in these neighborhoods are Craftsman Style Homes, Spanish Style Homes, Tudor Style homes, California Bungalows, and a few Modern Style homes are now being introduced by investor-builders that turn around and sell for a profit.

North Park Shops

There are tons of places to shop in North Park that are as diverse and unique as the neighborhood. Whether you are looking to get a new tattoo, a haircut, camera equipment, graphic design work, a real estate office, or vintage clothing, North Park has this and a lot more. There is no need to go to the mall anymore when you can find everything you need in North Park. Hunt and Gather is an exciting shop with all kinds of vibrant clothes, funky sunglasses, and funky accessories. Pick up a few items, and you’ll feel like a million bucks! Also, cross the street is Rae Boutique, if you’re feeling a little shopping spree. Located at the corner of University Ave and Granada, It’s within walking distance of Pigment, a fantastic shop with everything you can think of to turn your home into a warm, welcoming sanctuary. Indoor and outdoor furniture, pretty planter boxes, candles, planter boxes, and the list go on. They even have a fun photo booth to snapshots near the cool wrap-around white couch.

North Park Art Festival

It is a great local North Park tradition that takes place every year. Come and enjoy live music along with local food and live street art demonstrations. Some of the best things in life are FREE, which is one of them, so don’t miss out. San Diego’s hippest neighborhood brings you entertainment day and night on May 11th from 11 am through 10 pm. If you want to engage in the Beer Block Tasting, get your tickets here.

North Park Farmer’s Market

From 3-7:30 pm, every Thursday is the farmers market on North Park Way, beginning at 30th Street and extending as far as Utah Street. There you’ll find vendor booths ranging from Hawaiian Food to locally produced honey. The Mediterranean food is great, as well as the organic coffee tent. I like to do a bit of shopping here, getting some avocados and grapefruit. The produce is simply amazing. With 80 tents of vendors and farmers, you’re bound to stumble across something that catches your eye or your nose!

Enjoy the music coming from the booths set up by local musicians while you shop for your produce and amazing cooked food displayed throughout the vendors.

Don’t worry about parking, as there is a multi-story, 340 parking spot garage right next to the market!

Also, you have a chance to meet the talented Chefs from Waypoint Public, Cardamom Cafe, the West Coast Tavern, and many more right in person.

Book Stores in North Park

Verbatim Books

Verbatim Books is a fantastic bookstore in North Park. The owner has a huge selection of used and rare books organized very well and priced to sell. On the shelves, you’ll find books from over 60 different local writers. I recently purchased “Old Gods Almost Dead,” a very interesting biography on the Rolling Stones, for just 8 dollars. In the back, there is a mini-library with small tables for your kids to read and play while you’re browsing or trading in your old books for new ones.

Coffee Shops in North Park and South Park

Communal Coffee is based out of a vintage trailer in South Park on Fern Street. It’s a haven for people of all walks of life and has quickly become one of South Park’s hot spots for a quick bite and a cup of espresso coffee.

Cafe Madeline

Not too far from Rebecca’s is Cafe Madeleine, a French Cafe with scrumptious crepes and classic European espresso. There are ham, apple, and bleu cheese crepe to die for! Both indoor and outdoor and a good wifi connection gives you plenty of choices whether you want to relax and chat or focus and work. They also have a location on El Cajon Blvd.

Dark Horse Coffee is a fresh coffee shop in North Park that roasts its coffee beans in-house daily. It’s definitely on the cozier side, with only 4 small tables inside, but more than enough room for a date! Their cold brew coffee is delicious, so grab a cup to go to keep you cool in the beautiful sunshine. I’m more of a tea drinker, so I like to go for the Irish Cream tea.

Young Hickory

Young Hickory is great if you’re looking for more space to spread out and get some work done. Located on 30th Street north of University Avenue, Young Hickory has plenty of table benches to set up your laptop, with a sufficient amount of outlets to keep you charged up. The huge windows are open to a street to let in the lovely California breeze. With refreshing breakfast choices, yummy bagels, delicious lunch sandwiches, and good coffee, tons of craft beer, you can’t go wrong at Young Hickory.

Best Breweries in North Park

In the last several years, craft beer has become the hot new thing in every part of the country and breweries in North Park have been popping up everywhere. Local brews can be found throughout some of the best local restaurants and watering holes in the neighborhood. Some restaurants with great choices include the Waypoint Public, URBN Coal Fired Pizza; The Brewers Association has data which recently shows an increase of 18% in volume with small and independent craft brewing and 22% in sales. It seems like more and more people are learning and searching for places that provide an array of craft beer selections. If you prefer to go out for some craft beer tasting, check out Mike Hess Brewing–North Park or Thorn Street Brewery for a great local neighborhood experience with high-quality beer that is innovative.

More Things to Do in North Park and South Park

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Best Restaurants in North Park and South Park

Finding a great restaurant throughout San Diego isn’t all that difficult. There are several excellent options for all different types of cuisine. Here’s a quick look at some of the top best restaurants in the North Park and South Park areas of San Diego.

Best Restaurants in North Park

A popular area for foodies, North Park, is full of great restaurants. The following are some of the top choices throughout the area.

Living in North Park — North Park Neon Sign

Sipz Vegetarian Fusion Café – 3930 30^th Street

100% Vegetarian and Vegan restaurant that delivers Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese delicious dishes. If you eat here, don’t forget to have some dessert. They are entirely Vegan and scrumptious. This comes in at our #1 best restaurant in North Park.

The Mission – 2801 University Avenue

Specializing in healthy, simple, and delicious meals, The Mission provides one of the San Diego area’s best choices. They take food seriously here and create tasty dishes and artful displays on every plate.

The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch with a gluten-free menu and plenty of great options. The Mission also has two additional locations in Mission Beach and another in the SoMa East Village area.

The Smoking Goat Restaurant – 3408 30th Street

The Smoking Goat, a French bistro with an extensive wine list, provides plenty of great menu options. It’s a farm-to-table restaurant and has become known as one of the most adored restaurants in the entire city.

Carnitas Snack Shack – 2632 University Avenue

A unique, casual restaurant with plenty to offer, the Carnitas Snack Shack provides slowly cooked food with plenty of flavors. It’s the place to go if you love meat with many great options on the menu.

Other top restaurant choices in North Park include:

Best Restaurants in South Park

If you live in the South Park area of San Diego and you want to enjoy a great restaurant, your options are certainly not limited. Here are some of the top choices you should try in South Park.

Kindred – 1503 30th Street

Kindred is our #1 best restaurant in South Park. It’s a unique spot full of creations you won’t find elsewhere; Kindred provides all types of vegetarian dishes on the menu with a gourmet touch. While this restaurant may be better known for the cocktails, it’s a prevalent choice for those looking to enjoy vegan creations with plenty of flavors. We have brought many people that are not Vegan, and they are completely blown away by how delicious their meals are. Kindred is our #1 best restaurant in South Park, for sure.

Buona Forchetta – 3001 Beech Street

A restaurant that began in 2011, Buona Forchetta provides Italian cuisine to the South Park area. It’s one of the finest choices for authentic Italian cuisine with simple recipes. The authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza is what they are known for. This is one of the reasons many come to enjoy dining at this restaurant. However, this isn’t just any old pizzeria. The restaurant provides some very unique choices, along with antipasti, salads, and an extensive wine list.

Piacere Mio – 1947 Fern Street

It used to be known as just a coffee shop, but this beautiful restaurant has become a Euro cafe in South Park. Piacere Mio is a cozy place with a full menu featuring Italian trattoria fare and plenty of seafood. Those looking for something unique will enjoy dining at Piacere Mio.

Other top restaurants found in South Park include:

Station Tavern
South Park Brewing Company
The South Park Abbey
Big Kitchen Cafe
Del Sur Mexican Cantina
Mariscos Nine Seas Seafood

While these may be known as some of the top restaurants in the North Park and South Park areas of San Diego, there are plenty of other great choices, too. Once you are done eating, there are so many other things to do in these areas of San Diego in general.