Retirement Homes in San Diego Area - Want to Live by the Water?

Chula Vista is a coastal community and one of the best kept secrets for retirement homes in San Diego area. San Diego, California's topography is as diverse as the housing styles found in the different communities. Chula Vista is one of those diverse areas where coastal living as well as inland communities is still reasonably priced.

Chula Vista, as I mentioned is a coastal community where the Kumeyaay Indians lived thousands of years before the Europeans came to this beautiful area located at the southern end of the San Diego Bay. The Kumeyaay were called Diegueno Indians for some 200 years upon the Spanish arrival in the area. The Spanish had a propensity to rename the indigenous tribes after the missions where they taught the Spanish cultural to the local Native Americans.

Around 1769 a leader of the Spaniards named Fr. Junipero Serra a priest passed through Chula Vista around July 1 to help establish a the first California mission known as the San Diego Mission. Not far from the mission to the east the Spanish soldiers established a fort known today as Presidio Hill according to the Imagines of America Chula Vista (Roseman and Watery 2008).

The land holdings that is known today as the City of Chula Vista were used during the Spanish reign as grazing pasture for their horses and cattle. During the time California was part of Mexico, the Chula Vista area flourished with cattle ranching. The large cattle ranches provided hides and tallow which were traded with passing American as well as British ships making Chula Vista part of the world trading process during the early 1800's.

In 1868 El Rancho de la Nacion, 26000 Mexican land grant rancho in the San Diego area was purchased by Frank Kimball and his brothers. The coastal area of Chula Vista, know today as Western Chula Vista was a part of the land grant. The purpose of the land grant purchase was to create an agriculture distribution point. Mr. Kimball need access to water and transportation. This land grant became part of the Santa Fe Railway. The Santa Fe Railroad built the Sweetwater Dam which is located in the eastern community of Chula Vista.

One of the many fascinating homes in the coastal community of Chula Vista is the Sallmon House Estate. The Sallmon House was built in 1916. A home which embraced the Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture style. Mr. Sallmon was a graduate of Yale University with a MA in 1894. He was associated and participated in the China-Yale Association and helped establish a mission station which included a medical college and hospital in Changasha China along the Yangtze River.

This mission station hospital later became the Xiangya Reproductive and Genetic Hospital and is currently the leading genetic research hospital in China. After leaving China, Mr. Sallmon came west to Chula Vista via Connecticut around 1915. Mr. Sallmon planted 5 acres of avocado featuring 350 trees on the estate property. The avocado trees were Taft, Perfecto, Fuerte, Puebla, Dickinson, Montezuma, Queen, Knight, Linda and Nabal varieties of the fruit.

According to The Journal of San Diego History, Mr. Sallmon worked with Kate Sessions (San Diego horticulturist), Dr. Fairchild (USDA Explorer) and Frank Meyer (Agricultural Explorer, also known for Meyer Lemons and Meyer Medal award). These four pioneers worked to introduce many of the first plants and fruits into Chula Vista and the San Diego Region, through a work station in Florida. The Sallmon House was one of the federally funded sub-stations that introduced avocados into California from Peru and Chile around the 1920's.

The City of Chula Vista is rich with history which has contributed to the diverse lifestyles, communities topographies and culture of this coastal community. The Sallmon House is one of many historic homes that dotted the western side of the city. This home recently was purchased last year. There are still many opportunities to own one of the many homes in the area.

According to the "Action Market Index" of Altos Research Corp., as of the March 2010 this coastal community is still presenting a "Buyers Market". The "Action Market Index" answers the question "How's the Market?" by measuring the current rate of sale versus the amount of the inventory. You can preview information on property pricing and inventory levels for the area at Altos Research website.

Some of the interesting housing styles available in this coastal community:

Historic Victorian Orchard Homes

Spanish Revival Estate Homes

Craftsman Bungalows

50's Style Ranch Housing

Spanish Mediterranean

Contemporary

There are many reasons to live in Chula Vista with all the different home styles available. The top three reasons to live in this particular community by the water in southern California in my opinion are weather, weather and weather. Chula Vista has one of the mildest climates in the USA. Most often the day is 72 degrees, sunny with a slight coastal breeze.

The San Diego area of Chula Vista, California is one of my favorite locations in the county. I am a resident and can honestly share the "weather is terrific". Located at the southern most part of the county we are still a bargain when comparing our city's housing options to the rest of San Diego' communities.

If living by the water is in your future plans for retirement and cold snowy winters is a season to forget; Chula Vista is a coastal community to keep in mind. Visitors are welcomed. See you soon.

I have been a real estate practitioner in the State of California for over 20 years. My educational background is a MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Phoenix located in Arizona. I am a member of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, Pacific Southwest Association Board of Realtors, the International Real Estate Federation based in Paris, France and World Trade Center San Diego. I am a designated Certified International Property Specialist. You are welcome to contact me with questions by visiting my website http://juliekaysellshomes.com or blog site http://juliekaysellshomesoverseas.wordpress.com/

Julie K. Danielson, Realtor. MBA.
Certified International Property Specialist, FIABCI.
McMillin Realty, Inc.
619.888.2948
email:jdan5284@sbcglobal.net

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