East County Magazine
The stress of apartment searching in San Diego: monthly rents and cost of living exceed national average, while scammers target renters
By Heidi Hope December 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Hunting for an affordable apartment in San Diego County is a recipe for aggravating stress. Rents and living expenses in the city of San Diego are among the highest in the nation. East County communities are also too expensive for a single person working a low-wage part-time job to afford. Scam
Keep pets safe throughout the holiday season
By Sir Milo Loftin, County of San Diego Communications Office November 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The holidays are a time for food, family and celebration. But the extra activity, rich meals and decorations can create hazards for pets. County Animal Services is sharing safety tips to help keep cats, dogs and other pets safe from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Hearing and new website showcase County housing efforts
By Donna Durckel, County of San Diego Communications Office Image credit: Shutterstock November 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The Board of Supervisors held a housing workshop that focused on unincorporated land use policy and the need for regional housing solutions in support of the County’s commitment to address the region’s housing crisis. The informational workshop set the stage ahead of
San Diego plans 322% housing boom for College Area amid SDSU’s continued growth
By Calista Stocker, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: an aerial view of the College Area. Photo courtesy of the city. November 25, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego is set to update the College Area’s blueprint for future development, and San Diego State University’s enrollment forecasts are driving city planners’ push to
Warner Springs opens historic adobe doors for inaugural Holiday Tour
East County News Service Nov. 25, 2025 (Warner Springs) — The community of Warner Springs will open its proverbial doors next month and offer the public an unprecedented look inside its architectural soul. Six private historic adobe homes — some dating back to the 1890s — will be part of the community’s inaugural Holiday Adobe Home Tour &
Supervisors discuss future housing and development in unincorporated county
By Paul Levikow Photo: map shows targeted areas to be prioritized for housing November 20, 2025 (San Diego) – With San Diego County experiencing a housing crisis, the Board of Supervisors held a workshop Wednesday aimed at finding solutions for the unincorporated areas, including several in East County. The Valle de Oro/Casa de Oro neighborhood was identified as being positioned
Board of Supervisors to discuss land use on Nov. 19
East County News Service Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is continuing a critical conversation about the future of housing and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Spring Valley, Lakeside and Casa de Oro. The Board of Supervisors will discuss land use legislations at its meeting at
New affordable housing for veterans headed to Mission Gorge Road
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by José Eli Villanueva November 6, 2025 (San Diego) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for The Grant at Mission Trails, a 48-unit affordable housing development dedicated to current and former military members and families. Located in the Grantville neighborhood on Mission Gorge Road, the seven-story project will have
County rejects supporting statewide ban on foreign investment in homes
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Supervisor Jim Desmond sought to restrict foreign investors from buying homes and driving up prices. October 23, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week rejected a proposal by Supervisor Jim Desmond to support statewide bans or restrictions on foreign investment in entry-level and single-family housing, particularly when located near
County approves negotiations to buy land for Troy Street Sleeping Cabins in Lemon Grove
By Paul Levikow Image, left: Rendering of Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project October 22, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve negotiations with Caltrans to purchase land for the Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project in Lemon Grove, after hearing comments overwhelmingly in opposition from residents and two City Councilmembers. The project plan calls for
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MOVING TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY?
March 21, 2013 (San Diego)–Moving to a new town or city is always very exciting and sometimes also a little nerve racking. When contemplating relocation, therefore, it is always a good idea to take a long hard look at all the pros and cons in order to arrive at a balanced view. Here are just some of the things to
HOME PRICES IN 2013 ARE RISING IN EAST COUNTY, REALTORS REPORT
March 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)–Home sales prices in the East County are roughly 13 percent higher through the first two months of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012, according to recent statistics reported by the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR). PSAR said the year-to-date average sales price for East County homes through February was $259,199,
WELLS FARGO TO HELP SAN DIEGO CUSTOMERS FACING MORTGAGE PAYMENT CHALLENGES: MARCH 21 HOME PRESERVATION WORKSHOP
Nearly 8,000 homeowners invited to free event to receive modifications on the spot March 19, 2013 (San Diego)— Wells Fargo & Company is hosting a free Home Preservation Workshop for Southern California Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Financial, and Wells Fargo Home Equity customers – including military service members and veterans – facing financial hardships. Wells Fargo has invited
HOMEOWNER’S GURU: MORTGAGE MODIFICATION SCAMS
By E. Vernon Small March 12, 2013 (San Diego) – If you are a struggling homeowner, you have undoubtedly been approached by companies that claim they will reduce your mortgage payments and/or your mortgage balance by negotiating a ‘loan modification’ with your current mortgage lender. All of these companies claim to be reputable and licensed, and many even operate
HOMEOWNER’S GURU: THE TRUTH ABOUT SHORT SALES
By E. V. Small February 14, 2013 (San Diego)–If you are a homeowner who is underwater and/or behind on your mortgage payment , you probably feel as though you have very few options. Believe it or not, you might just be in a better negotiating position than homeowners with equity and their home and who have made all timely mortgage
FORECLOSURES DROP NEARLY 40% IN CALIFORNIA DUE TO NEW LAW PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS
By Miriam Raftery February 14, 2013 (San Diego) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s some news homeowners will love. In California, foreclosure filings plunged 39.5% from December to January – the first time since early 2007 that California did not have the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Nationally, foreclosures have fallen too, though far less steeply:
HOMEOWNER’S GURU: IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY OR SELL A HOME?
By E.V. Small February 5, 2013 (San Diego County)–For the past two years this question was extremely easy to answer. The combination of historically low interest rates and abundant inventory due to the record number of foreclosures has resulted in the lowest housing cost in decades. The average sales price of a home in San Diego County during
WHEN SPACE CRAMPS YOUR OUTDOOR STYLE
By Vanessa Stone January 25, 2013 (San Diego)–Whether your patio space is big or small, wide or narrow, don’t allow limited outdoor space to cramp your style! Gerald Shvartsman, founder and CEO of Source Outdoor, has a couple tips to make the most out of your outdoor patio. Mix-and-Match “We’ve noticed many people still want sectionals with deep seating, however they
HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING MYTHS VS. FACTS
By Colin Martodam, General Manager of ARS (www.arssandiego.com) January 22, 2013 (San Diego County) — If you’ve been told that closing air vents in unused rooms in your home will allow faster or more concentrated airflow into other rooms, or that leaving your ceiling fan on while you’re not home will help cool the house faster, you’ve fallen victim to
ALPINE REALTOR TO SERVE AS 2013 PRESIDENT OF REALTORS ASSOCIATION
January 10, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Alpine resident Jeff Campbell, a realtor with Jeff Campbell & Associates, will be installed as 2013 president of the 1,900-member Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors at PSAR’s 2013 board of directors installation dinner and celebration on Friday, Jan. 18. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Bonita Golf Course, 5540 Sweetwater
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues