Did you use to play the card game “Magic the Gathering” or do you still do? Well, the big pro tour is taking place here at the San Diego Convention Center in the Marina District in Downtown San Diego on February 19th to the 21st, 2010.

Downtown San Diego Condo home owners in Renaissance, Horizons and Pinnacle, residents and visitors check out the video and join the world of Magic!

They say that at this Magic party is where legends are born. Four annual worldwide stops make up the tour, with each event showcasing a prize pool of more than $230,000. Travel the world, face off against the best players the game has to offer, and enjoy the spoils available to those living the life of a professional Magic player.

The 2010 season visits San Diego, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands, with the season concluding at the 2010 Magic World Championships in Chiba, Japan. Want to join - find a qualifier near you and get on the tour here.

To read more about the pro tour please visit the Magic website here.

The San Diego Black Film Festival is back to Downtown San Diego and is taking place at the Horton Plaza and Marriott Hotel on Thursday January 28th, 2010 at 12pm to January 31st. This festival is one of the largest black film festivals in the country, where you can enjoy African American cinema through film screenings, celebrity panels, awards ceremony and “Shaft-Superfly” party at the W Hotel!

How about joining the early bird film screening “Slap the Donkey” with Danny Glover or ”Can She be Saved” written by Yasmin Shiraz or arrivals at the red carpet from Robin Givens, check out the schedule here.

Downtown San Diego Condo and Downtown San Diego Loft home owners in Gaslamp City Square in the Gaslamp District, Renaissance in the Marina District and Electra in the Columbia District are just a short stroll away from the activities during these 3 days. Don’t miss out on all the fun!

For more information, visit www.sdbff.com.

The Broadway Cruise Ship Terminal in the Columbia District in Downtown San Diego is now taking shape. The 52,000 square feet steel structural frame of the terminal is being erected on the pier near the corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive. On December 14th 2009 the delivery of 1,200 tons of structural steel started arriving and expects to be trucked in daily.

The columns for the frame will be 44 feet tall and will weigh five tons each. A crane with a 70 ton capacity is on the pier to set the steel columns in place for the terminal building. The installation of the steel is expected to completed by the end of February 2010. The completion of the terminal is to be expected in early October 2010. 

To read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs please click on Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal, Groundbreaking Celebration - The Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal in Downtown San Diego! and Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal & Lane Field Plans Receives Approval!

The City of San Diego and the Chargers have one particular spot in mind for a new Downtown San Diego football stadium. Just East of Petco Park is an 10 acre property right next to 14th Street, K Street, 16th Street and Imperial Avenue. This location would be ideal with plenty of parking, the San Diego Trolley within walking distance and a short stroll to Petco Park and everything Downtown San Diego has to offer!

To pay for the new football stadium, the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency is getting help from a New York consultant to help them study on how to pay for it.

Sports Finance consultant Mitchell Ziets and Evolution Media Capitol LLC has been hired, a good sign that San Diego is moving along quickly with the plans and that the desire is on top for a new stadium.

Mark Fabiani, Chargers special counsel, says “that a Downtown San Diego stadium could be built for less than $800 million because parking, freeway access and public transportation already exist in the area.” “It’s what you do on any stadium project,” says Fabiani “You figure out what possible sources of revenue are out there, from the stadium and from other sources. You try to cobble together enough funding to make it work.”

Fabiani has said in the past that the team would be willing to spend $200 million on a stadium and that the NFL might be willing to lend the team an additional $100 million, but that revenue from ancillary development — including offices, retail and Downtown San Diego Condos and Downtown San Diego Lofts — would play a big part in a place where public subsidies are a tough sell.

A team of architects has visited the future spot in mind and says that building a new stadium there is not going to be easy but is quite possible. Stay tuned on a follow up blog as soon as the plans on the new stadium develops.

To read about the Chargers block party in the East Village/Ballpark District and the Gaslamp District coming up, please click on San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Block Party 2009 in the Gaslamp District!

“Hotel Indigo” located in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego has something not every hotel has, their own mascot! Rescued for the local animal shelter, someone who will always greed you with a big smile and welcomes your questions and concerns is the dog “Sadie”! When you enter the hotel, Sadie will be there to help you check in, and make sure your stay at the Hotel Indigo is a great one!

Every Tuesday until December 29th 2009 from 6.30 to 9.30 the Hotel and Sadie is hosting a cocktail event for Downtown San Diego Condo homeowners, Downtown San Diego Loft homeowners, residents and visitors and their dogs. The event is taking place on the 9th floor and your dog can take a swim in the dog pool and socialize with friends. Very tasty dog bones, snacks and bottled water will be served and for their mamas and papas, there will be cocktails from the Phi Bar and Bistro. One dollar a drink will be donated to the San Diego Humane Society and this is the place where Sadie was adopted from.

Why not take some time and have some fun with your loved little one and join Sadie for this Canine Cocktail Party!

To read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs about Hotel Indigo please visit “Hotel Indigo” in Downtown San Diego is Keeping Its Commitment to The Environment! , Hotel Indigo in Downtown San Diego - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design! and Now Open! Hotel Indigo in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego!

To read more about the hotel please visit their website at www.hotelindigo.com

Thinking about becoming a Downtown San Diego Loft homeowner? Take a second and see what Solara Loft - the new definition of ideal Downtown San Diego living has to offer!

Solara Lofts is located in the Cortez Hill District in Downtown San Diego with easy access to two major freeways, Hwy 5 and 163. A short walk or trolley ride away is Petco Park, the San Diego Zoo, Horton Plaza, The Embarcadaro, the Gaslamp District, the Little Italy District, Balboa Park and everything Downtown San Diego has to offer.

The builder - Skandia is a Real Estate Development firm with more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of the San Diego Real Estate and construction marketplace and has built Solara Loft with current and furute amenities in mind to enhace homeowner equity over time.

With only 77 residences on 8 floors, Solara Loft is known to have a popular community feeling with a lot of features not found anywhere close by including;

• Health club
• Jacuzzi
• Racquetball court
• Day spa
• Men’s and Women’s locker rooms complete with showers and saunas

A “Solara Loft” home will have all of the hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite and sophisticated finishes that you can expect from luxury homes in Downtown San Diego. You will be surprised by design elements such as custom sliding glass partitions, moveable kitchen islands and oversized Eurostar Tilt and Turn Windows. There is nothing else like it in San Diego. Below is a list of more features;

• Between 541 to 1680 square foot
• Extra storage available
• Approximate price range: $400,000 - $900,000
• HOA fees: $450 - $550
• FHA and VA approved
• 2 parking spaces per unit (except studios)
• Additional guest parking available
• Designer granite tops
• Upgraded stainless steel appliances
• Cherry wood finished kitchen cabinets
• Hardwood floors
• Eurostar Tilt & Turn Windows
• Ample balconies
• Custom designer optional sliding partitions
• Custom designer optional moveable kitchen islands
• Penthouse level with 12 foot ceilings

Solara Lofts offers a variety of floor plans to choose between. They all have one thing in common, oversized windows and natural light. The interior spaces are open to take full advantage and optional custom sliding glass partitions can be used in many plans to create private rooms without losing the overall feeling of spaciousness. The design flexibility inherent in every Solara Loft can be further enhanced by the use of optional moveable kitchen islands. To see floor plans available please click on floor plans.

Are you interested to know more? Contact “92101 Urban Living” today! E-mail us at info@92101urbanliving.com or call  619-649-0368 or visit our website www.92101UrbanLiving.com

Want to contact “Solara Loft” please e-mail Contact@solaralofts.com or call 619-231-2400 or visit their website www.SolaraLoft.com

Senators agreed Wednesday October 28th, 2009 to extend the popular tax credit for first time homebuyers and to offer a reduced credit of up to 6,500 to repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years. The credit passed earlier this year as part of President Obama’s stimulus bill. It was supposed to expire the end of November but lawmakers will extend it through April.

The tax credit provides up to $8,000 to first time homebuyers.The Commerce Department said that new home sales fell 3.6 percent in September, and some industry representatives blamed uncertainty about the tax credit.

Want to become a Downtown San Diego Condo or Downtown San Diego Loft homeowner in Downtown San Diego? Take advantage of the extended first time home buyer tax credit.

315,000 first time homebuyers across the country took advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, 42,304 of them were first time homebuyers in California.

To read more about the home buyer tax credit please visit The State of California. 

To read our former blogs please click on San Diego is One of the 10 Top Most Desirable Places to Buy a Home! and FAQs About the State New-Home Buyer Tax Credit.

A Loan Modification is a way to renegotiate your current mortgage in your Downtown San Diego Condo or Loft allowing you to maintain or repair your credit. Many aspects of your mortgage can be changed to your benefit, including the term of the loan, interest rate, balance of principle and monthly payments. It’s even possible to have late fees waived.There are many opportunities opened through loan modification and each home owner’s situation is unique. A large number of Downtown San Diego homeowners will use loan modification to prevent foreclosure on their home.

Home First can help save your home and your credit! For anyone who is unable to make their monthly payments, or is in danger of being buried under a past due balance, Home First’s skilled negotiators will contact your lender on your behalf to renegotiate the terms of your loan.

Home First is an industry recognized loan modification and short sale negotiations consulting firm. Their clients range from distressed homeowners seeking guidance to investment bankers utilizing their strategic portfolio enhancement platforms. Home First is a collective of diverse industry leaders unified by the vision of providing sound, equitable results for the consumer, community, servicer, and lender.

Most government programs have proven themselves to be inefficient and costly, with little or no positive results. Home First has built relationships with lenders that have translated to increased efficiency and beneficial results for both their clients and the lenders. They continue to strive to provide viable solutions to the foreclosure crisis.

Home First support and wish the best success for most government and banking plans; however, more than 90% of their clients have tried working with their lenders directly, attorneys, HOPE, and other government agencies with little or no results.

More than 85% of Home First’s clients have come through direct referral. No wonder why Home First is the company homeowners, realtors, CPA’s, local agencies, community leaders, and business partners prefer to get real, fair results. They work with and often challenge the lenders to provide the most equitable result for all parties involved.

Don’t wait! Contact Matthew C. Scott at 858-581-6648, e-mail MScott@Home-1st.com or fill out a contact information form online here.

The Port of San Diego is hereby showing a map where eco friendly efforts and achievements along San Diego Bay including Downtown San Diego has been taking place. The Green Port Program goal is to focus on environmental benefits in six key areas:

• Water
• Energy
• Air
• Waste management
• Sustainable development
• Sustainable business practices

Some of the accomplichments have been installing solar panels on rooftops, landscaping with water wise plants, constuction on the LEED-certified Broadway Cruise Ship Terminal and more.

To see detailed data and landmarks located any place on earth you can use the freely available Google Earth. You can also learn more about animals and plants that live in San Diego Bay on The Port Of San Diego website. Click here to download the applications and start exploring!

To read more about Eco Friendly achievements please visit Port of San Diego.

Looking for something new to do with your free time?? How about “Disc Golf” at Morley Field in San Diego?

Disc Golf has been played at Morley Field since 1978 when Snapper Pierson first established the course. Snapper is “Course Pro” and “Disc Golf Hall of Fame” member and he made Morley Field one of the original Disc Golf courses in the world.

The course is located right up the hill from Downtown San Diego, perfect for the Downtown San Diego Condo and Downtown San Diego Loft home owner, resident and visitors, a few miles from the San Diego Intl. Airport, San Diego Harbor, Coronado, and directly across from the San Diego Zoo.

There is plenty of parking coming up the hill from Downtown San Diego right off Pershing Drive, but for the busy day, park behind the course instead. Just continue Pershing Drive and take the first and second left. As you enter the course you can see the “Morley Field Pro Shop” where you pay the course fee, rent discs, get a snack and grab a score card.  

Morley Field is open for the public from dusk to dawn all year around except for the Southwestern Disc Golf Team Tournament held in the beginning of December and the Spring Fling held in May. Weekdays cost $2,50 for the whole day to play and on weekends and holidays $3.

There are 19 holes to be played with usual par 3. Pin positions change each Monday and there are 3 to 6 positions for each hole. There’s a lot of locals and experienced disc golfers there all the time and they are all more than happy to give you a helping hand with finding your next t-pad or if you have any questions in regards on how the game works.

To find out more information about tournaments, monthly’s, doubles play and much more please visit Morley Field.