Monterosa Villas: Luxurious Living in The Valley of the Sun.

Vibrant sunsets of pink, purple, and gold is a daily sight in The Valley of the Sun. A place never associated with chilly temperatures, but instead considered a warm winter oasis, Phoenix is a dynamic and lively city; and a great place to call home!

Photo from bradfordjones.com's article "Last Night's Sunset"

Located in Phoenix's Biltmore Corridor is PSDM's newest luxury townhouse community. Only minutes from Biltmore Fashion Park, our homes offer splendid amenities for comfortable living. Our community is centrally located in the Phoenix Metropolitan area which means that access to everything 'but a dream.' Whether you want to hike the stunning Papago Park, pay a visit to the always fun Phoenix Zoo, or eat at one of Scottsdale's many delicious restaurants, living at Monterosa Villas means you can have it all!

Photo from Fabulousarizona.com's event "Biltmore Movies in the Park"

As a newly built community, Monterosa Villas features some of the finest and most modern amenities. The sophisticated architectural design, and desert-scape manicured grounds equals the perfect combination of visually stimulating and low maintenance.  Even better, with over sized attached two car garages, parking in this gated community is as easy as a click of the button. We also have a dazzling clear blue pool for cooling off on those warm Phoenix summer days. 

Monterosa Villas proudly presents two story, three bedroom homes with all the modern conveniences that you would expect in a luxury home. The floor plans are huge, at approximately 2300 square feet and feature unique architectural style.  Our residents love the vaulted ceilings, decorative built-ins, and in-home washers and dryers. With beautiful hardwood flooring, extensive granite counter tops, and modern appliances, our spacious kitchens are perfect for entertaining. 

These luxurious amenities are not only limited to the kitchen. The bathrooms boast beautifully tiled dual head walk-in showers with detached soaking tubs. The dual vanity sinks are yet another added feature that can't be beat.

Did we mention the large walk-in closets?

With some many amenities and added features like detailed crown moldings, and private patios and yards, it's easy to see why Monterosa Villas is a comfortable place to call home. 

Please call, click, or email us to set up your appointment for a guided tour today. Our friendly and knowledgeable on-site staff will be delighted to meet you. You can also visit our Facebook, website, and follow us on Twitter!

Photo from Secondglobe.com's article
"World's Most Amazing Collection of Desert Plants Desert Botanical Garden"

Make Monterosa Villas your luxurious and comfortable home in the beautiful Valley of the Sun!

4 Amazing New Year's Traditions From Around The World!

Another year in the books! As this fun-filled holiday season comes to a close, we celebrate the end of 2013 while welcoming in the beginning of 2014. During this special time of year, we gather with family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to eat, drink, laugh and cheer as we share in one of the many New Year's traditions.

As a person who loves learning about different countries and cultures, I stumbled across a few interesting and  fun New Year's traditions from around the world. Also, at Pacifica Companies, we not only want to provide our readers with information about local events surrounding our communities, but with things going on across the globe as well!

While having been born and raised in the United States, I must admit that I've not experienced, in person, the first excited New Year's tradition on my list; the New York City Ball Drop. Streets packed with tens of thousands of people, the Ball Drop in Times Square overflows with excitement as the crowd waits for the flashing ball to drop exactly at midnight. This hugely popular, and globally broadcasted event claims to be the party of the year, and by the look of the crowd, that claim must be true!

EMMANUEL DUNLAND / Getty Images / AFP

If you can't make it to the ball drop in the Big Apple, perhaps you can make it to the Big Peach Drop in Atlanta. While this tradition has only been around since 1989, the Peach Drop of Atlanta has grown into a exciting experience all its own!

Photo from RollingOut.com's "New Year's Eve 2013 Events in Atlanta"

Heading south to Columbia, I found a slightly difference tradition that is no less fun. "The Twelve Grapes of Luck", introduced by the Spanish in 1895, requires that at the stroke of midnight you have exactly one minute to eat twelve grapes. As you eat each grape, you should make a wish about for the upcoming year. If you are able to finish all twelve grapes within the minute, your wishes are said to come true!

JACILLUCH / Flickr

If stuffing your face with grapes isn't quite your thing, then you could always follow The Netherlands' lead. After a night of fun and festivities, these Hollanders strip down to swimming shorts, put on a Where's Waldo red hat, and then run into the frigid ocean. Called the Scheveningen, this tradition will wake anyone up from a crazy New Year's Eve night!

JASPER JUINEN / Getty Images Europe

Moving to a much warmer tradition, but no less wet, I present the New Year's Water Fight of Thailand! While New Years in Thailand doesn't take place until April 13th, this wet and wild tradition needed to be my list. For the three days surrounding New Years, the entire nation breaks out into a huge water fight. With everyone carrying water guns, buckets and bottles of water, not a single person is safe from this rowdy tradition. Even still, this water fight is not confined to designated sections of towns and cities; anybody anywhere is free game to receive a good drenching!

JACK KURTZ / Getty Images

My hope for this short list is to show the readers something new and fun. Maybe even, in the future take part in one of the traditions. Whatever the case, I, we at Pacifica Companies wish you happy traditions, and a very Happy New Year!

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Simple and Fun Do-It-Yourself Decorations for the Holidays.

With the holidays upon us, life can get pretty crazy. Long days of running from mall to mall. Hours spent braving crowds, busy parking lots, and the inevitable holiday traffic can leave anyone in need of some relaxation. And after a full day of shopping, nothing feels better than returning home, kicking off your shoes, lying on a soft couch, and putting your feet up!

What's even better is to put your feet up in a home that is beautifully decorated with holiday cheer. I understand that after shopping which during the holiday season should be considered an athletic sport, spending hours decorating might not be high on your priority list. However, I've found an amazing website with quick and easy holiday decorating tips that will fool anyone into thinking that you'd spent hours putting them together. 

As part of Pacific SD Management and a renter myself, I know how important it is to make your apartment feel like home, especially during the holidays.

With the ever growing popularity of Pinterest, creative at-home projects have become all the rage. Everyday items are being turned into tables, lamps, accent pieces and so much more. The amount of creativity surrounding Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects is inspiring!

With so much creativity everywhere, it’s not surprising that some fantastic DIY ideas for holiday decorations have been popping up all over the internet. These simple and inexpensive projects are great for transforming any apartment into a holiday wonderland.

One savvy website, Apartmenttherapy.com has some fun ways of decorating for the holidays. In "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places", they show us how to create some amazing holiday cheer using household items, many of which you might already have. 

One simple idea that I used in my own apartment was the ornament and ribbon hanging from a light decoration. All that I needed for that project were ten ornaments, I used all sliver, and ten varying lengths of ribbon. After tying everything together, then hanging them from my kitchen light, I stood back to inspect my work. To my pleasant surprise it looked great! For being so inexpensive and easy to make, I couldn't believe how fancy it looked. To give a better idea about how this decoration looks, I've attached a photo from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places." 

 

Photo from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places." 

With this and a few other of their ideas, using lights and tree branches, I've added some fun and sophisticated holiday flare to my home.

Photos from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places."

As someone who lives in an apartment and understands the need to be creative when decorating, I recommend checking out "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places" by ApartmentTherapy.com, Give these creative DIY projects a try! Their ideas really will give any apartment that holiday wow factor!

Happy Holidays from Pacifica Companies!

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Calabria: Seattle's Mountain Retreat

Have you ever dreamed of living in a place that's surrounded by lush evergreen trees, and where the air is fresh and clean; your own personal mountain resort? Have you ever wished for a place that is close enough to the city so you can stay easily connected, but far enough away, so you have a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown metropolitan life? One of our newest luxury communities, Calabria at Talus in Issaquah, has finally made this a reality.

With multiple spacious floors plans, this new, never lived in community in the highly coveted neighborhood of Talus in Issaquah, offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a studio, a 1, 3, or even 4 bedroom home, we have what you need.

Our residents enjoy features like attached 2 car garages in our townhomes, designer interior paint, sketched glass pantry doors, and even an indoor elevator in one of our homes. With amenities like large walk-in closets, hardwood floors, fireplaces, tray ceilings, charming built-ins, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops, living in a Calabria home is both luxurious and made for quality living.

Sophisticated and Modern Interior Design

Beautiful Hardwood Flooring and Granite Countertops

With hiking trails just outside your front door, you will feel like you have been whisked away into your very own mountain sanctuary.  Did we mention the nearby dog park which is a great additional feature, and an added benefit for man's best friend?

For the savvy renter, our community's modern comfort and natural surroundings are made even more impressive by the close proximity to Seattle and Bellevue. If you work at the Microsoft Headquarters in Bellevue, or need to catch a ride into Seattle, the Issaquah Transit Center makes your daily commute an easy and stress-free one.

If recreation and high energy activity is what you're looking for, Calabria at Talus has access to some amazing local attractions as well. The beautiful Lake Sammamish State Park features incredible outdoor activities, and is only a quick 5 mile jaunt away. Visitors of this large state park can enjoy rowing, fishing, wake boarding, paragliding, hiking, and so much more. If you're looking for a more relaxed day out, why not give your viticulture taste bud's a treat in Seattle's wine country; wineries are only 20 miles south of Calabria at Talus.

With so much to offer, Calabria at Talus is the perfect place to call home. Our amenities and luxurious design make it second to none. Please call, click, or email us to set up your appointment for a guided tour today.  Our friendly and knowledgeable on-site staff would be delighted to meet you.  You can also visit our Facebook page and website for more information.

Let us show you why Calabria at Talus rental homes are truly a dream come true!

Jacksonville Is Glowing Bright With Holiday Light!

It’s that time again! The time of year for holiday festivities. As cities across the United States show their holiday cheer with decorated buildings, trimmed trees, and lively parades, Jacksonville follows suit with its own brightly lit houses full of holiday excitement.

Whether you prefer traditionally decorated houses, or if you hope to see something different, Jacksonville has it all. There are quirky houses with scenes of snow and elves making holiday gifts. There are houses draped with row upon row of twinkling multicolored lights. There are even houses that blast rock music and flash LEDs in perfectly choreographed displays for the entertainment of awestruck onlookers. It really is an amazing sight! Happily, a local newspaper, The Florida Times-Union has put together "The Best Christmas Light Displays in Jacksonville" which organizes the top neighborhoods and houses to visit.

With so much happening during the holiday season, it can be easy to miss out on some events.
Fortunately, VisitJacksonville.com (Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau) keeps all the residents up-to-date with everything going on around the community. It’s a perfect site for anyone who might be relocating to this city. Also, it’s a great resource for the residents of Eagles Pointe Apartments, our newest apartment community in Jacksonville. Additionally, our on-sited team and us here at corporate PSDM strive to post local information and fun facts to keep your Jacksonville living always up to par!

The holiday season is not the only time of year that Jacksonville is alive with excitement. This year-round city has much more to offer its residents. The riverfront is a beautiful downtown feature that has great shopping and amazing restaurants. Jacksonville also has a number of fun and exciting neighborhoods. These neighborhoods differ from one another, offering distinct cultural and culinary delights. However, if the smell of ocean air is what you desire, there are a number of beaches only minutes away. The closest beach to the Eagles Pointe Apartments is less than 15 miles away!

 If you have already visited the downtown riverwalk, explored the neighborhoods, and have thoroughly enjoyed the local beaches, there is still so much more to experience. Just a quick 90 minute drive from Jacksonville is Daytona Beach, a lively beach city. Continuing further south, only a short 2 and a half hour drive and you'll find yourself in Orlando, home of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Eagles Pointe Apartments will make you feel right at home during the holiday season. Since we are located next to great shopping and malls, tackling that holiday gift giving list couldn’t be easier. Plus, our beautiful and spacious 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes are the perfect canvas for your holiday decorating. Please visit our Eagles Pointe Apartment Facebook and website.

 With so much to offer, Jacksonville is a great place to live, and as our newest community, Eagles Pointe Apartments is the perfect place to begin your Jacksonville experience.

Fast Times at PSDM!

Wow! Time sure does Fly! Especially when you're having fun in your gorgeous new apartment!

It has been months since one of my Savvy Apartment Living posts has braved the wonderful world of blogging. It has been a busy and exciting summer here at PSDM.  We have officially moved into my favorite season of all, Fall, with more fantastic communities in our portfolio as well as incredible changes and renovations at many of our existing properties. To get all the savvy residents out there up to speed, I thought I would title this entry: "Fast Times at PSDM!"

In the tropical vacation-land of Florida, we at PSDM are pleased to announce our newest editions in the greater Tampa Bay area.  We are proud to present: Foxcroft Apartments in Tampa, Florida as well as Aventine at Forest Lakes in Oldsmar, Florida.  Both of these communities offer their residents beautiful and spacious floor plans, lush landscaping, great amenities such as a sparkling pool and sports courts, and more importantly, a caring staff dedicated to providing exceptional service.  

I have been fortunate enough to leave the West Coast and see these gorgeous communities in the flesh.  Let me tell you, seeing how much space there is, as well as being so well connected with the beaches, shopping, and businesses in downtown Tampa, and more, it has made me think twice about the high costs of Southern California living. These communities offer exceptional value and great living, and all at a price you can afford. 

This trip was my first to Tampa, Florida and I was excited to learn about what interesting and distinct touristic attractions Tampa has to offer.  Being that I went to graduate school in Spain, the art of Salvador Dali has always been a favorite of mine, so I was amazed to find out that St. Petersburg houses one of the very few Dali Museum outside of Spain! "Que bien!"  

Tampa is also only about an hour's drive east of Orlando too, so if you are thinking to plan a vacation here, you can easily add DisneyWorld into the mix.  Epcot Center was by far my favorite.  Being that I love to travel, a skip around several countries of the world in one day was like a dream.

Yes, Tampa has a lot to offer and PSDM has quite the portfolio there too.  You can visit all of our communities online at www.psdm.com.  I'm sure that you will find the perfect home at either Allegro Palm, Alta Mar at Broadwater, Bridgewater Luxury Rentals, Foxcroft Apartments, and Aventine at Forest Lakes.  You might even have trouble making a decision with so many choices!  

With so much diversity and options, we are sure there's a fit for you. So take a look at one of our properties today.  After you tour one of our communities, you can make a quick dash for the Florida coast, lay on the sand, read a book, and just take in the sunshine at one on Tampa's gorgeous beaches.  The tropical landscape and warm year-round climate that Tampa enjoys, makes it quite the city to visit, and after seeing our newest homes out there, a definite city to live in as well.

Aventine at Forest Lakes - Living Room

Foxcroft Apartments

 

Something's New in St. Pete!

The St. Pete's Visitor and Tourism Bureau's Official Website has a page dedicated to "50 Fascinating Things To Do in St. Pete."  Not knowing much about the greater Tampa area of Florida, this site helped me to learn a little bit more about this beautiful area, and made me that much more excited to showcase PSDM's newest addition to our apartment family and our newest St. Pete property: Alta Mar at Broadwater.

You will discover a hidden oasis of relaxed living at Alta Mar at Broadwater.  Our community is nestled in the charming neighborhood of Broadwater, which is close to beautiful Gulf Beaches, shady parks, lively recreation areas, and exciting entertainment, dining, and shopping venues.

We are currently in the process of renovating and repositioning this property, to give it the full lift it deserves, and turn it around into an even better community.  Our 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes are spacious, light and bright, and they have a little something for everyone.  Our residents enjoy amenities like a sparkling pool, playful playground, on-site laundry facilities, and a state of the art fitness center.

And with incredibly competitive rates and a highly professional on-site management team dedicated to our community, our residents can enjoy peace of mind that they are receiving the very best living environment that St. Pete has to offer.  This way, they can focus on more important things, like experiencing all 50 Fascinating things and more to do, right here in St. Pete.

We hope you will stop by Alta Mar at Broadwater, and see why change has never looked so good.

Savvy Spring Cleaning - PSDM Style

So although it is technically still Winter, it sure feels like Springtime over here in Southern California.  I actually wore flip flops and jean shorts over the weekend.  I know, so unbecoming of me to brag, considering more than half the countryside is currently weathering rain-boots, shoveling snow, or scraping ice from their car windshields.

But being that the lovely PSDM portfolio is mainly represented in California, Florida and Nevada, I think we can all relish in our welcomed February sunshine.  Tis the season for post holiday tidying up madness.  We are all finally cleaning up and clearing out old decorations and even older under the bed and closet dust-bunnies.  Yuck!

Many of us will find the next few weekends to be solely dedicated to reviving our living spaces and polishing up our pads with some good ol' cleaning and much needed Apartment Therapy.  If you haven't seen this website, then check it out!! That site along with Pinterest, the blog:  How About Orange, and Martha Stewart,(enough said) are my surefire information superhighway "go-to's" for home sanctuary building and must-haves for haven happiness.

I for one, have already ransacked my closet, and donated a ton of clothes and goods to the Goodwill.  As PSDM corporate offices are headquarted in San Diego, our city as a whole has a vested interest in helping disabled veterans and the military community in general. A few of my colleaugues have already organized plenty of donation bins in our lunch room. It was nice to see my fellow employees "let go" of goods that no longer served them to not only help others, but to "let go" themselves.  We all know that our possessions can weigh us down and "letting go" can truly help us revive ourselves and our living spaces. Springtime is all about renewing.  It can be considered a time of re-birth, even a rite of passage if you will.

Some of our apartment communities nationwide have even had their own "re-birth" with amazing remodel work, massive renovations and transformations, complete with new names, new signage, and all new market positioning.

Playa Vista in Las Vegas is about to unveil an incredible new clubhouse, leasing center, and fitness center.  New signage is up, a  cool new logo, and some new staff are making Playa Vista like a brand new community. Judith Villas and Joshua Villas too, both in northeast Las Vegas have major renovation plans underway and its exciting to know that the current residents are thrilled to hear about all the new and exciting changes.  It's even more exciting to think of all the new residents we will have the fortune of catering to once they see how a little tender, love, and care can go a long way.

But it's not just Las Vegas that is reaping the benefits of remodeled heaven.  City View at Downtown, our very historic building in downtown LA, has urban charm with flair.  Its renovations are incredible and a sight anyone in the LA area should see.  Within minutes of the Staples Center, Nokia Center, and with an on-site pool and parking lot, it's like history fused with modern convenience and location, location, location.

Some of our Florida communities are already basking in the lime light of renovatoin splendor as well.  Both of our Naples, Florida communities: Mer Soleil and Laurel Ridge Townhomes are already reaping the benefits of glorious warm weather, along with new paint, new flooring, new cabinetry, and other new amenities.

Our newest property, Alta Mar at Broadwater, located in northwest Florida is going to be undergoing a great transformation as well.  Formerly known as "Emerald Bay Apartments," we are so eager to announce this community as the very newest addition to the PSDM family.  Alta Mar is located in beautiful St. Pete, Florida, which I had no idea is home to the largest Salvador Dali museum outside of Spain.  I lived in Spain for nearly two years for graduate school, so as soon as I get to get back out there, and check out the renovations, I will also enjoy some surrealist art at its very finest.

Let's not forget about our beauty, Bluffhouse Townhomes, the largest townhomes in Orange Park, Florida, located in Jacksonville, Florida.  This property too has just refinished its pool, has repainted the entire exterior of its many townhomes, and has a savvy, friendly staff, just waiting to serve you and help you find the right home for you in 2013.  Bluffhouse is just minutes from NAS Jacksonville, and close to all the best that Northern Florida has to offer.

We invite you to take a look at all our websites and if you can, pop in the communities themselves to see the exciting changes and enjoy a tour today.

Finally, I urge you to enjoy your own personal spring cleaning journey.  Don't let your possessions way you down.  Get out there, and make the changes you want to see in both your home and more importantly, in yourself!

Playa Vista Resort-style Pool

City View at Downtown LA kitchen

Laurel Ridge Townhomes Pool

Jacksonville: Florida with Southern Hospitality!

Hearing the words "Yes Ma'am" spoken with a soft southern drawl and complemented by a warm smile from a friendly young man at the local grocery store, took me by surprise at first.  This native Californian gal is used to fun and friendly demeanor in sunny So Cal, but definitely not so used to the ever-so polished manners and relaxed disposition of these Northern Floridian folks.

After a week long business trip in Jacksonville, Florida, it was clear to to me why the Jacksonville Tourism and Visitor's Bureau employed the slogan:  Discover Jacksonville:  Our southern hospitality is second to none, come discover why Jacksonville is the place to be!

It's the third week in January, normally considered a time of freezing snow and layers of scarves and coats.  But in Jacksonville, Florida, closed toe shoes and tank tops adorned the friendly people of Orange Park, Florida, where we have one of beautiful townhome rental communities, Bluff House Townhomes.   The warm, humid weather, with vast stretches of green, lush landscaping, set the stage for the friendly and homey like Jacksonville community.  I was amazed out on my outreach marketing calls just how helpful and inviting the people of Orange Park were.  I was equally impressed with that of their infrastructure.  Several local schools, great retail shopping centers and malls, and just adjacent to major employers such as NAS JAX, Universities, and great medical centers made me see why one would want to call Orange Park their home.

Come home to Bluffhouse Townhomes and see all the great changes underway.  Our community is under new management and undergoing major renovations.  To experience the warm southern hospitality is worth it alone to me.