Most people will agree that to live in San Diego California is to live in a “nice” place. The climate plays a big part in forming this opinion.
Climate
Classification experts may have different descriptions for the San Diego climate but, whether you call it a Mediterranean climate or some other name, the fact remains that it is a place with warm, dry summers and mild winters (which fits in with most of our ideal expectations). Very few people want to freeze through a long cold, damp winter and be broiled alive all summer.
Location
Obviously this is what controls the climate but it also helps that San Diego has an “interesting” location. On one side you have the Pacific Ocean but the City spans some 200 deep canyons and hills which include small pockets of natural open space (its mesas). In the past, many built their homes and businesses on the various mesas which left the urban canyons relatively “wild” in appearance.
San Diego is also within easy driving distance of many scenic areas. These range from mountainous and dessert areas to the Pacific coastline. There is always somewhere to go for a city dweller who fancies a short break – even down into Mexico.
History
Indigenous peoples probably settled this area some 12,000 years ago, the Spanish and Portuguese explorers arrived in 1542 and the area became Mexican after 1821 when Mexico won independence from Spain. Following the 1846–48 Mexican–American War, the whole of Alta California (including San Diego) was ceded to the United States. Numerous sites of historical interest can still be seen by San Diegans to this day.
Property Prices
As one might expect in such a desirable location, San Diego developed a reputation for high property prices. These peaked in 2005 but declined through to 2010 in line with the national trend. New developments, such as condos in downtown San Diego have helped to halt the population outflow caused by earlier high prices.
Downtown San Diego
This is located right on the San Diego Bay with its natural deep water harbor and long association with the Navy. The only major ship and submarine building yards on the West Coast are found in San Diego.
At one time, San Diego was also the base of the American tuna fishing fleet and center of the tuna canning industry. However, by the 1960s and 70s, downtown San Diego was in decline. Developers saw opportunity in such underused real estate and have been converting the area into a vibrant residential and commercial ocean front hub.
One such is Nat Bosa (Founder of Bosa Development) whose Condos In Downtown San Diego are prize winning examples. His Pacific Gate Condos in the Columbia neighborhood are scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2017.
