One of the most quaint cities in San Diego County is Mission Hills. Perfectly situated south of the San Diego River, north of downtown, and overlooking the scenic old town and San Diego Bay, residents of Mission Hills have easy access to everything Southern California has to offer. It is easily one of the most desirable places to live in San Diego County for its location, architectural design, and strong community. There are several public and private schools in the area and multiple universities within a 10 minute drive. Residents in the area have access to mass transportation just down the hill in Old Town on the Coaster, Amtrak, and Trolley lines. From Mission Hills, you can quickly get to the 5 freeway, downtown, North County and multiple beaches. Next door, Old Town offers fine Mexican cuisine and shopping.

Mission Hills has a relatively small population compared to the densely populated areas surrounding it. The city has just over 30,000 residents as of the 2000 U.S. Census. The inhabitants are well educated, affluent, and predominately Caucasian. There crime rates are much lower in the Mission Hills residential area than nearby downtown and the county as a whole. The neighborhood is family friendly but has a smaller average household size than the national average. The median age is 39.5 years of age and family income is over $61,000. The median home value is $382,700 and has definitely increased since the last census. Residents only average a 20 minute travel time compared to the 25 minute national average. With only 69.5% of the population still in the work force, the community is slightly oriented towards retirees.

The city of Mission Hills is primarily residential and the majority of the homes were developed either in the early or mid 20^th century and many are considered historical or “medallion” homes.  The city has a gorgeous location atop the hillside overlooking San Diego Bay, but that comes at a cost.

Due to the age of Mission Hills homes, the climate, and the primarily wood exteriors, major exterior remodeling/restoration are a common home improvement.   Exterior home remodeling projects often consist of interior/exterior total restoration, along with window, door and roof replacements.

Of course Mission Hills homes also frequently have outdated kitchens and bathrooms.  A very typical project is a custom designed kitchen and bathroom/bathrooms remodel.

Another popular project in Mission Hills is to add a second story that will allow for the family to grow and capitalize on the spectacular ocean views from the hillside. If you aren’t looking to go up or don’t want to deal with stairs every day, you can still expand by doing a single story addition or expansion. Room additions can include everything from a new bedroom and entire new living area.  Older homes were generally built smaller than what most homeowners like today and so a room addition or second story remodel is always a good option.

If both the interior and exterior of your home are outdated and in disrepair, it may be time to opt for a major interior and exterior home renovation. Tear down the old and build something new that you will be able to custom design to your taste and lifestyle.

Known as “the city in the country,” Poway is one of San Diego County’s newest affluent suburban towns. The area is family-friendly and the majority of the residents are families of three or more. Although it has grown dramatically in the past couple decades, it still maintains a strong grip on its country culture. Owning a horse or two is commonplace in Poway and the city hosts San Diego’s largest annual rodeo. It is located directly in the center of the greater San Diego County, giving residents easy access to everything San Diego has to offer. The beaches, downtown, mountains, desert, and amusement parks are all within a 30 minute drive. It is a great place for raising children as it boasts far above average schools and plenty of great outdoor activities nearby.

Historically, Poway was used for farm land and cattle stocking, but the modern road development gave the area direct access to other parts of San Diego. The city was incorporated in 1980 and has boomed since then with an estimated population of just over 50,000. Since Poway is just east of Interstate 15, most residents are raising children there and commuting to work in the nearby San Diego areas. The town is primarily a residential neighborhood with a total of 30 elementary, middle, and high schools. All of the school’s high success rates for standardized tests and are above the national averages. The median income for a household in Poway is $71,708. The area boasts some of California’s best and most consistent weather as the winter average high never drops below 67 degrees Fahrenheit and the summer average never exceeds 82 degrees. San Diego is very desert like and there is usually little rain in Poway, less than 12 inches per year. This is a red flag for fire season and forces the community to constantly take precautionary measures for preventing and defending against wildfires.

You can ensure your family’s safety during wildfire season by completing the proper renovations necessary to block fires from your home.  By creating a safe landscape barrier and/or fire break around your home, the large flames won’t be able to cross over and burn your home.  There are other home renovations recommend for fire safety like replacing wood shake roofing with fire proof tile or composite shingles, replacing dried out wood siding with stucco, and keeping exposed exterior wood painted.   When you move into the beautiful suburban town of Poway, check the date that your home was built and look to see what upgrades are necessary for protection from wildfires and also protection from the hot sun that is shining the majority of the year.

Since the lot sizes in Poway are typically large, family room and bedroom additions are always popular. Being that the Poway is inland it gets hot in the summer time.  When remodeling, a reputable design/build contractor can help you cut down on cooling costs by using energy efficient dual glazed windows, orientating the building so as to avoid direct sun through glazing and use other building practices. There are a large amount of homes that are 25 plus years old in Poway, so kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling are also very popular.

I was proud to see this article in the San Diego Union newspaper on Saturday, May 30, 2011 featuring a home we remodeled in the 90′s:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/22/point-loma-listing-has-ties-portuguese-pioneer/

We remodeled the exclusive 1934 Frank L. Hope Jr. home in 1995.

815 Armada Terrace

Photos courtesy of Pauline Lim-Endresen.

The Scope of work included restoring exiting kitchen cabinets, new counter tops and back splashes, structural interior reconfiguration, expanding balconies, building out a wine storage room and other general remodeling.  At the time, it was one of our largest projects.

Point Loma, California is the small coastal town located a few miles south of Mission Bay and north of San Diego Bay. As its name implies, the city is a small peninsula that forms a point between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Point Loma was first discovered by the Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542 and is said to be “where California began” because it was the first landing spot of any explorer. A monument commemorating Cabrillo is located at the southern tip of Point Loma and is a popular tourist attraction. Point Loma is in a prime location for living in San Diego. From the park at the far southwest tip of the city, visitors can see Tijuana, Coronado Island, and even Catalina Island, on a clear day. Residents have quick access to the I-5 and Interstate 8 freeways, the San Diego airport, and the majority of the popular sites and activities in San Diego. There are several public boat marinas, the San Diego Yacht Club, and a large naval base on the south side of the peninsula, operated by the government.

The city is a part of the San Diego Unified School District and has one high school, two middle schools, seven elementary schools, and a large public charter school. The estimated population of both 92106 and 92107 zip codes was 48,285 in 2008. It is a highly educated and affluent neighborhood with a median age of 33 and average household income of $70,360. The median real estate value is $439,000 and out of the 6,828 total occupied housing units, 69% are occupied by their owners and 31% by renters. The rate of crime in Point Loma is far below the national average in almost every category, especially automobile theft. The Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego Airport, and San Diego Padres are all within five miles of Point Loma.

Living by the ocean in one of the most affluent communities in San Diego County has its benefits, but the older homes and constant wear and tear of the ocean breeze can take their toll on a house. Both owners and renters need to renovate the exterior of their homes more often than an average family that lives further away from the coast. The salty air combined with the coastal moisture will quickly wear down a house’s exterior paint, any wood exposed to the air, and the roof.

The majority of the homes in the area were built between 1900 and 1960. The unique style of the homes makes it a great place to settle down, but most of the older homes need remodeling both inside and out. Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms is always popular given the age of most Point Loma homes.  Many Point Loma homes are located where a view can be captured, which makes it one of the most popular areas in San Diego for a second story addition.  At the same time, doors and windows can be replaced with more efficient, maintenance free dual glazed units which also help with airplane noise in the flight zone.  A reputable home design contractor can preserve the essence of your home’s style and give you the feeling you are in a brand new home.

Murray Lampert Construction

I am very pleased at the response and interest of homeowner’s visiting us at the Del Mar Spring Home Decorating & Remodeling Show.  This was the most rewarding show we have done.  We had a past client from 1975 come bye our booth to say high and tell us how they still enjoy the family room my grandfather built.  Another couple from 1989 in South San Diego came by who are ready to remodel their kitchen and bathroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awwHSfn9Epo

Now that summer is near, it is obvious people are ready to improve their homes, and now is a great time while our crews are available and cost are still the low.

As always, we provide in home design and accurate quotes with no up front costs.  A new service we offer is fully detailed color 3D renderings and virtual walk through.

We also build custom cabinetry out of 100% wood product.  Our expertly crafted cabinets carry a lifetime warranty on workmanship and finish.