Orange Park, Florida - NOT just another suburb of Jacksonville!

Although Orange Park is just a small pocket of Jacksonville, Florida, this highly desirable and coveted suburb has attractions and charm that's larger than life!  According to Uptake.com, the article "Things to Do in Orange Park, Florida" explores the high variety of Orange Park's indoor and outdoor action and jam-packed fun!  

Golf enthusiasts can get their fix at one of the many local golf courses, such as Eagle Harbor Golf Club, Golf Club at Fleming Island, The Country Club of Orange Park, Eagle Landing Golf Club, and more!  The young and the young at heart can fulfill thrill seeking needs by visiting "Aladdin's Castle," a local amusement park, and play all day, while soaking up the sun at one of the local parks.

No need for tee or beach time?; residents and tourists can also indulge in fabulous shopping and dining at the local Orange Park Mall.

Orange Park has quick access to the best of Jacksonville, Florida, with its stunning beaches, major employment centers, and other larger scale venues and attractions.  Families are drawn to Orange Park for its stellar school district and community groups and events.  According to Wikipedia, The Clay County School district fosters 13 public elementary schools, 3 public junior high schools, 4 public high schools, as well as several private schools, including the most notable, Saint Johns Country Day School, in the Orange Park area. 

It's no wonder that our beautiful apartment and town home community, Bluffhouse Town Homes, has such content and friendly residents.  Our residents can enjoy all of the amazing aforementioned attractions in just minutes from their doorsteps. Prospective residents will love the huge 1, 2, and 3 bedroom floor plans with lots of living space and closets! Bluffhouse Town Homes also has two swimming pools, a fitness center and a picnic area.  It's the resort-style living that everyone is craving with Florida's resort-style weather and climate.  Furthermore, Bluff House is close to I-295 and the Naval Base, NAS Jacksonville, so convenience is truly unparalleled.

Not to mention, the staff at Bluffhouse is outsanding and each team member is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to its residents and prospective residents.

Come home to quality, convenience, and luxury living, in a location second to none! Check out why Orange Park is the place many call home!

First Friday...Vegas Style!

Friday nights in Las Vegas bring quite a bit to mind.  Broadway-style Shows, exceptional entertainment, high-rolling casino playing, fine dining, and dancing in hip, celebrity-clad clubs to name a few.  But even as a tourist partying the night away on the fabulous Strip, something tells me the Las Vegas local crowd may have the inside scoop on how to really enjoy those hot summer nights in legendary Las Vegas!

One of our Pacifica SD Management community residents let me in on a secret, and how the locals like to start their weekends off right. Heading downtown on the first Friday of every month is apparently where it's at! First Friday Las Vegas is an eclectic, loud, block party wherein a new and exciting adventure is headed around every corner. First Friday is a festive event fit to engage adults, kids, and the "young at heart," with a great variety of artists, vendors and activities that are fun and exciting for all ages.  The best part of First Friday is it's FREE!  But be sure to bring some cash because with those delicious and decadent food trucks galore, one can not only enjoy great bites, but also, all while listening to incredible music on 3 stages, with over 12 live bands. 

And the sensation doesn't stop with your taste-buds, there is also live performance paintings and special art installations.  Art is definitely a major theme to First Friday as the event is celebrated in the hip Arts District of Downtown Las Vegas. The hub is on Casino Center Blvd in between Colorado St and California St. with an extension on 3rd St and Colorado.

Monthly artistic and cultural events like First Friday bring me to believe that there is lot more to Las Vegas than meets the eye.  Our downtown city apartments, Fremont Villas, is right in the center of the action, and residents enjoy the close proximity to the Fremont Street Experience, and events such as First Friday.

Our warm and friendly residents of Fremont Villas, along with its sister apartment communities, Judith Villas, and Joshua Villas enjoy their comfortable and spacious apartment homes, shady courtyards, sparkling pools, professional management and maintenance team service, and convenient, accessible locations. 


To find out more about our apartment communities in Las Vegas, be sure to visit: www.psdm-lasvegasapartments.com and get to it folks!  It's already Wednesday, the 1st of August, so the next First Friday is just two days away!  The theme is "Art Beach!"  Get ready! Your weekend is sure to be a spectacular one!
 

Seattle-Tacoma: Savvy living in the Pacific Northwest!

Having grown up in Southern California, it may be hard to believe that one would have found me figure skating everyday after school, instead of playing beach volleyball, and carving powder while snowboarding at Big Bear Mountain on the weekends.  Rather than enjoying those 'endless summers' in no where else but a friend's backyard pool or the warm sandy beaches was where one would find most San Diegans.  Don't get me wrong? I love all of these activities and attractions, which of course makes living in San Diego to me the best, wherein one can enjoy the mountain slopes as well as the warm sand on the beach, and yes, all in less than a few hours driving time.  

Summertime is a favorite season for most, and Summer 2012 is extra spectacular because we are now in the midst of the 2012 Summer Olympics!  That's right, the historic and timeless Olympic Games are officially underway in none other, than our 'across the pond' neighbors, London, United Kingdom.  

I was fortunate enough to have visited London a few years ago, while attending graduate school in Spain.  It was a fairly cheap flight from Barcelona to London thanks to those killer deals on Easy Jet Airlines and Ryan Air, Europe's intercontinental airlines. 

Since being back home, getting across for The Games this year just wasn't feasible. So my summer vacation was a hop, skip, and a three hour flight straight up north to the evergreen-scapes of the Pacific Northwest and Canada.  With a full two days in Seattle, three more in Victoria (Vancouver Island) and lastly a day and a half in Vancouver city, on mainland British Columbia, it was clear to me that a trip on our continent could be just as "European" as that of visiting the UK itself.  Victoria, having once been under British rule, definitely felt like a n intimate version of London, red double-decker buses and all.  

Seattle is an incredible city as well, full of delectable food fit for any self-proclaimed gastronomist, but also with an exciting music scene, and truly the best coffee I have ever had.  I fell immediately in love with its gorgeous brick buildings and urban architecture set amongst a backdrop of green hills, the blue of the Pacific Ocean, and the white snow capped mountains.

It's no wonder that our two condominium rental communities, Landing at Angle Lake, and Village at the Pointe, in the greater Seattle-Tacoma region have such warm, and friendly residents.  With crisp, clean air, a quick jaunt to an urban city that is sprawling with culture, but only another even shorter hop, skip, and a jump, one can be enjoying the grandeur in nature the state of Washington provides.  Landing at Angle Lake even has its own private dock access to the pristine lake, fit with lush grounds, a pool, and beautiful, renovated condominium style units.  

Village at the Pointe, a new property in the Pacifica SD Management portfolio is managed by Pinnacle, a leader in the residential management industry.  Residents love their cottage-style units, with an on-site pool, unique with fireplaces, hardwood floors, and other custom upgrades available for lease.  

Each property is stunning, unique, and boasts an incredible on-site management and maintenance team to boot.  You can learn more about these two incredible properties, by visiting their websites today:  www.psdm-landingatanglelake.com and www.psdm-village.com. 

Village at the Pointe

Landing at Angle Lake

I will always be a Californian, but something tells me I could get used to that Seattle style and cool.  I will be back for another visit to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and maybe next time, I will have to make it a permanent one.

The Advantages of Renting vs. Buying

To own a home with a white picket fence, beautiful yard with lush green grass and a golden retriever – that’s the epitome of the American Dream. Over generations this ideal has been etched into the minds of many Americans. Many people consider renting the equivalent of flushing money down the drain. Why is that? Let’s explore some advantages of renting vs. buying:

Financial expert Jill Schlesinger for CBS’s Money Watch segment encourages renting. “Don't feel pressured into buying a home, Renting can often be a smarter financial move”, she cautions. You have to go through and say, 'Okay, if I'm going to buy a half million dollar place, I have to put $100,000 down, then I'm going to have a mortgage, and then taxes, then I'm going to have insurance, then I have maintenance (which is a pain in the neck, by the way)." Then, you need to really look and say, 'What's the comparable rent that I could pay to get pretty much the same thing?', you may find that it's going to cost you $6,000 to own, but only $3,000 to rent. Keep renting!"

The following are our Top 10 advantages of renting:

1.    Luxury Living:  With renting you might be able to enjoy living in that luxury ocean view condo you could otherwise never afford to buy.

2.    Perks and Amenities: A lot of apartment communities have swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts and might include other perks such as free coffee or even continental breakfast.

 

3.    Included Utilities: Often rentals include water and heating saving you a bundle of money at the end of the month.

4.    No Yard Maintenance:   If you have ever pushed a lawnmower or pulled weeds in the summer heat, you’ll appreciate the fact that rentals usually include the yard maintenance.

5.    No Property Taxes and Insurance:  As a renter you don’t pay property taxes or homeowner’s insurance, which can be quite expensive.

6.    Repairs are included: What do you do when a pipe bursts or the roof starts to leak? As a renter you simply call your landlord and it will be taken care of at no cost to you.

7.    Cash Flow: Renting is cheaper than buying, requiring less cash up front thus increasing your cash flow.

8.    Flexibility:  Renting makes you more flexible in the case you have to relocate. When that dream job in another state calls, you can move by the next month.

9.    No Risk: The housing market fluctuates. If you have to sell your home in an economic downturn you might lose money. As a renter you will instead receive you deposit check back (in most cases).

10. Fixed Costs: When renting you have monthly fixed costs, which can greatly fluctuate when owning a home due to unexpected repair costs etc.

George DaSilva is the Social Media Director for Pacifica Companies, a real estate investment firm headquartered in San Diego, CA. Pacifica Companies owns rental apartments in San Diego, Chula Vista, National City, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Vista, Los Angeles, Upland, Fontana, Napa CA, Seattle, Tacoma WA, Las Vegas NV, Jacksonville, St.Augustine, Miramar, Naples, Fort Myers, Bradenton, Clearwater, Tampa FL and more.

Spacious, Savvy Town House Living in Vegas' Up and Coming City of the North!

New developments.  New shopping centers.  New business expansions.. and new, savvy living; that's exactly what is happening in the quiet desert scape of North Las Vegas, Nevada.  Just minutes from the fabulous Las Vegas Strip, lies an area that is clearly "coming out of the woodwork" and in my opinion, "coming out on top!" 

The City of North Las Vegas' website states:  "North Las Vegas is known for its successful industrial, commercial and residential development. Part of the Las Vegas Valley, North Las Vegas is fast-becoming a major metropolitan city of the millennium. We are a community of unprecedented growth and development, anchored by a robust future and community pride."  I couldn't agree more!  Just driving around its major intersections, streets, and the 215 Beltway, it is very clear to me how much development is happening in the north "neck of the woods."  I was totally surprised to see a brand new Target store, Best Buy, WinCo Super Foods, and other major chain retail centers, restaurants, and attractions just "popping up" throughout the Decatur/215 Beltway area.  North Las Vegas is also a hub for major employment centers.  The incredible service men and women call the North Las Vegas region home when stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, as well as local prominent casino companies, like Aliante Station.  

North Las Vegas residents, like our fantastic residents of Palmilla - Town Home Community in the Aliante/Centennial Hills area live close to great shopping, schools, retail centers, and exciting dining and entertainment venues. I know I am not supposed to be biased, but Palmilla Town Homes is a definite favorite of mine in the Pacifica SD Management portfolio.  These beautiful, modern, and spacious town homes boast attached two car garages, and some with up to 4 bedrooms, with even 4 bathrooms.  Talk about rental heaven!  And with two - three story town homes, you wouldn't have to ever see your roommate, unless you wanted to of course! ;)

Palmilla Town Homes offer all the beauty, convenience, quality, and affordability of North Las Vegas, but with stellar, savvy style, and a unique living experience.  The second I walked up into the model unit, and saw the massive kitchen with gorgeous counter tops, and high ceilings, I thought, maybe it was time to give the sprawling desert of North Las Vegas a serious consideration for my own rental home needs.  And did I mention, Palmilla takes large animals! They love furry friends, have an incredible on-site management and maintenance team, and are just an overall, beautiful community to boot.  

It's the 4th of July tomorrow, so why not enjoy independence from over-priced living, and trade it all in for a sparkling summer at Palmilla Town Homes.  North Las Vegas is definitely staying savvy!!   

San Diego living...Balboa Park has a piece of my heart!

Living in San Diego has its many benefits and luxuries  Yes, our weather is incredible, ever so mild and temperate, like the cool mentality of Southern Californians themselves.  But as a Southern California native, it's not the weather that keeps me centered in San Diego, sure it helps, but the one place, one thing, and for me, one mindset that sets San Diego apart from other cities and regions, is our beautiful and eclectic Balboa Park. 

I have lived in communities adjacent to Balboa Park for over three years now; small boroughs such as Uptown, Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, and Mission Hills, (where Pacifica Companies and my division, Pacifica SD Management calls home), have been my favorite stomping ground in all of San Diego.  Drifting through Balboa Park is a sensory overload experience.  Where else can you view exquisite art, set your eyes on beautiful Spanish style architecture, mind blowing colors of the various plant life, while enjoying the smells of international foods in the diverse and quaint International Cottages, and all while listening to live music at the Organ Pavilion?  There's no place like Balboa Park.

While entertaining out of town relatives this past weekend, we of course enjoyed a fun-filled full Sunday perusing the Park, checking out local art on sale in the Spanish Village, parading through the main fountain area and The Prado, and finally spent 4 plus hours enjoying the exotic animals, botanical gardens, and wildlife of the World Famous San Diego Zoo.   Balboa Park is one of the largest city parks in all of the United States, I believe the tram guide even quoted that our Balboa Park is larger than New York's Central Park.  Hard to believe?  I believe it! 

Where else can you visit several amazing museums, a world famous zoo, a Japanese Friendship Garden, a golf course, several restaurants and eateries, two dog parks, and an entire naval hospital?  Balboa Park is the only spot in San Diego where I find myself crossing the Laurel Street/ Cabrillo Bridge, taking a quick peek at its furry friend favorite, Dog Park, and repeatedly saying to myself: "how can I possibly move anywhere else?" I couldn't agree more with the following statement as depicted on the Balboa Park website:  "Balboa Park is a landscape of art and culture." Indeed it is.

It's a real pleasure to know that my company, Pacifica Companies, hosts an eclectic local portfolio, with several hotels locally, like the prestigious Pink Lady herself, La Valencia in La Jolla, some Pacifica Senior Living communities, commercial and residential real estate, and of course, a shout out to my department, Pacifica SD Management, with its handful of beautiful  apartment rentals in San Diego.  Yes, our PSDM apartment communities also get to gloat that they too are nestled in beautiful San Diego County.

Our striking condominium rental property, Bayview Tower, stands high amongst the clouds, just south of San Diego's Downtown, in National City.  Their sleek and sheik apartment homes boast incredible views of the San Diego skyline and Coronado. And our serene country living property of Ashwood Apartments in Lakeside offer 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartment homes, set amongst the pristine background of San Diego's east mountain county.  Yes, hiking, biking, and even horseback riding is easily accessible to this quiet community.  

As featured in my blog a couple weeks ago, Woodlawn Gardens Apartments, located in Chula Vista, offer the ease of being located next to one of San Diego's Trolley stations, so convenience and easy transportation to all of San Diego's incredible attractions, like my personal favorite, Balboa Park, is at your fingertips. Come view one of our apartment homes today, and see why San Diego is "America's Finest City."  I couldn't agree more.

Having Gratitude... Even In Cleaning Our Homes

I am grateful for the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and floors that need waxing because it means I have a home.  ~Author Unknown

I found the aforementioned quote on another helpful home living blog: "All things Home" /http://allthingshome.com/blog/ where professional organizer, Gayle Grace provides her insight and ideas on housewarming events, moving, and exactly that, all things home.  

It may seem strange to be grateful for the things and aspects in our lives that we find difficult and burdening, but I have personally found that having gratitude in all facets of our lives, allows me to be fully open, optimistic, and present.  

I'm sure this recent "gratitude revelation" has a lot to do with the fact that my nightstand currently boasts Don Miguel Ruiz' "The Four Agreements," which I highly recommend of course. However, I do think the integral reason that this quote screamed at me today while doing my research to write my weekly "savvy apartment living" lifestyle blog post here at Pacifica SD Management, is because owning one's gratitude for stressful times and challenging moments, in my opinion, is a very real path to happiness and peace.  Yes, even tedious tasks like "washing windows that need cleaning" do in fact, mean you have dirty windows to clean, but more importantly the message is clear that you have a home.  We should be grateful for that, as many are not as fortunate.