San Diego County is home to many wonderful colleges from four-year colleges and universities to two-year colleges and community colleges. Community colleges throughout the San Diego area offer a variety of opportunities in education. The list of major community colleges in San Diego County is as follows. This is another reason why the San Diego Real Estate market still has several buyers in todays market.

MiraCosta College

MiraCosta College is home in Oceanside California along with another campus in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The college offers associate’s degrees along with over 50 different certificates in short term training. Many of the certificate programs can be completed in one or two years.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at MiraCosta College include:
Accounting
Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Business Administration
Child Development
Computer Science
Entrepreneurship
Food Service Operations
Hospitality Management
Internet and Multimedia Technology
Licensed Vocational Nursing
Marketing and Management
Medical Assistant
Music and Recording Arts
Nursing
Phlebotomy
Real Estate
Restaurant Management
Travel and Tourism

Palomar College

Palomar College has one campus along with eight satellite centers in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, California while the eight satellite centers are located throughout northern San Diego County. The centers are located in Borrego Springs High School, Camp Pendleton, Escondido, Fallbrook High School, Mount Carmel High School, Pauma Indian Reservation, Poway High School, and at Ramona High School.

This community college offers over 250 associate degrees and certificate programs, which can be found in these categories:
Arts, Media, Business, & Computer Systems
Career, Technical, & Extended Education
Languages & Literature
Mathematics & The Natural and Health Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences

San Diego City College

San Diego City College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, California nearby Balboa Park. Courses provided at the college are general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego City College include:
Accounting
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Anthropology
Behavioral Sciences
Biology
Biotechnology
Child Development
Computer Repair
Computer Technical Illustration
Cosmetology
Electricity
Electronics
Electronic Music
Fitness Specialist Program
Geology
Graphic Design
History
Languages
Legal Assistant
Marketing
Nursing Education
Psychology
Real estate
Social Work
Theatre

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, California. This is the largest community college in San Diego. Courses provided at the college are general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education with an outstanding music program.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego Mesa College include:
Accounting
American Sign Language
Animal Health Technology
Architecture
Biology
Building Construction Technology
Business
Chemistry
Computer and Information Science
Culinary Arts
Dance
Dental Assisting
Engineering
Geographic Information Systems
Hospitality Management
Hotel Management
Interior Design
Marketing
Nutrition
Physics
Political Science
Social Sciences
Women’s Studies

San Diego Miramar College

San Diego Miramar College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, CA, USA. Over the last few years, Miramar College has grown and had added educational facilities such as a high-tech computer business center, library, police academy, child development center, digital media lab, and classrooms for SDSU’s Higher Education Center.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego Miramar College include:
Accounting
Administration of Justice
Anthropology
Art-Fine Art
Astronomy
Aviation Maintenance
Aviation Operations
Automotive Technology
Biology
Business Administration
Business Management
Chemistry
Child Development
Computer Business Technology
Computer and Information Sciences
Diesel Technology
Emergency Medical Technician
Fire Protection Technology
Humanities
Liberal Arts
Paralegal
Pre-Engineering
Sociology

Grossmont College

Grossmont College is a community college home in El Cajon, California. The college offers over 150 associate degree programs along with transfer programs and certificates of general education and career programs, including health sciences, fine arts, humanities, science, math, and exercise science.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Grossmont College in the following divisions:
Business & Professional Studies
Communication & Fine Arts
Counseling, Student Development & Matriculation
Humanities & Social/Behavioral Sciences
Learning & Technology Resources
Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Exercise Science & Wellness

Cuyamaca College

Cuyamaca College is a community college home in El Cajon, California. The college offers over 150 associate degree programs along with transfer programs and certificates of general education and career programs, including health sciences, fine arts, humanities, science, math, and exercise science.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Cuyamaca College in the following divisions:
Art
Athletics
Automotive Technology
Business & Professional Studies
Child Development & Elementary
Communication Arts
Computer & Technology and Graphic Design
Web Development
Computer Science
CADD Technology
Environmental Health and Safety Technology
Exercise Science and Health Education
Fitness Center
Foreign Languages
Humanities
Religious Studies
Library
Mathematics
Ornamental Horticulture
Performing Arts
Theatre Arts
Personal Development Counseling
Science/Engineering
Water/Wastewater Technology

Southwestern College

Southwestern College is two-year community college home in Chula Vista, California. The college offers over 285 associate degree and certificate options. The college is constantly ranked in the top 100 in the number of associate degrees Community colleges throughout the nation.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Southwestern College include:
Administration of Justice
Architecture Program
Associate Degree Nursing
Athletics
Biotechnology
Certified Nursing Assistant
Child Development
Computer Aided Design and Drafting
Dental Hygiene Program
Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedics
Environmental Hazardous Materials Technology
Fire Science
International Studies
Landscape and Nursery Technology
LVN-ADN Step-Up Program
Nursing
Pharmaceutical and Laboratory Science
Police Academy Training Program
Recording Arts and Technology
Southwestern Teacher Education Preparation Program
Surgical Technology Program
Telemedia
The Perioperative Nursing Program
Vocational Nursing

The Coronado Real Estate market reported 7 Coronado Condos sold at a median price of $1,510,000 and a 51.8% increase for the month.

Once again another indication that the high demand San Diego Coastal Communities like Coronado are holding strong even during this market correction period we are in! There are several other San Diego Coastal Communities that appear to be holding stong in this current market!

The Imperial Beach Real Estate market reported 9 Imperial Beach homes sold at a median price of $357,000 for the month!

Imperial Beach remains as one of the best values in all of San Diego County being right down the strand from world renowned Coronado Island. Imperial Beach with the proximity to the ocean will always be an area that attracts investors especially for the price compared to a lot of other San Diego Coastal area’s.

The Coronado Real Estate market reported 5 Coronado Homes sold at a median price of $1,665,000 and a 30.6% increase for the month.

Once again another example of how the Coastal regions of San Diego County are holding values fairly strong in-spite of the current market correction period.

The one tremendous advantage San Diego has over the rest of the country is weather and the location. In my opinion it is the best weather in the country. On top of that within two hours you can be at the ocean, in the mountains skiing or in the desert four wheeling or out for a Ball game at Petco Park in San Diego’s Downtown close to the beatiful Bay. San Diego is truly America’s Finest City!

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS I don’t know what you guys are paying for gasoline…. but here in California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. My line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money’s worth for every gallon:

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands , so buying in the afternoon or in the evening….your gallon is not exactly a gallon . In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big de a l for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between t he gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON:

Gas rationing in the 80’s worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.

Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don’t import their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

Companies that import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell……………………… 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco……… 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil…………… 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway… 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco………………………..62,231,000 barrels

CITGO gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel , these exports amount to over $18 BILLION! (Oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel. Don’T ƒÆ’¢â‚¬â„¢t buy from CITGO).

Companies that DO NOT import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco………………0 barrels

Conoco.. …………….0 barrels

Sinclair……………..0 barrels

BP/Phillips………….0 barrels

Hess…………………..0 barrels

ARCO…………………0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

To have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers. It’s really simple to do.

I’m sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)…and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) and so on, by the time the message re aches the sixth generation o n of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers !!!!!!! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted!

If it goes one level further, you guessed it….. THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people…and maybe we can make a dent in this gasoline dependency.

The Solana Beach Real Estate market reported 7 Solona Beach Homes sold at a median price of $1,400,000 and a 23.9% increase for the month.

This like a lot of other coastal communities in San Diego County still are showing signs of strength even during this market correction.

Instead of running out house shopping for your dream home, it is always in your best interest to contact a lender and become either pre-approved or pre-qualified for a home loan. The main reason is that if you find a home that you really love, put in your offer, and then apply for a loan, you may find that you do not qualify for the home loan. The best way to ensure you do not have to walk away from your dream home is to be pre-approved prior to searching for your new home.

What a pre-approval will do for you is give you more buying power! You will know exactly how much home you can afford to buy and even an estimate on your monthly mortgage payments. In order to get a pre-approval letter, you must contact a lender. Next, you will fill out an application. You will have to answer such questions as how much would you like to spend, show proof of your income, and a credit report will be ran. After the lender has all of this information and has looked at how much money, you spend for such things as credit cards, car payments, and any other expenses they will be able to determine if you can afford to buy a home in the price range you would like. Not only will you have a better idea of what price home you should be looking at you will also receive an estimate on all other costs you will need to pay in order to receive a home loan.

When the lender has the information together, they will be able to research to find you the best loan for your situation. Some individuals may not be able to qualify for a FHA loan, but will be able to qualify for Portfolio loan. The lender will be able to give you all the information so you will know your interest rate, the length of the loan, and other pertinent information.

A pre-approval letter does not necessarily mean you are approved for a loan. The letter is a statement saying that if all of your information is in order, you have enough money in the bank for all other fees, and the home you choose passes inspection and appraisal you will get your home loan. However, with a pre-approval letter, sellers are more willing to work with you since they realize you have the power to buy.

With a pre-approval you will be able to negotiate better with sellers and save money. The reason is the seller knows you have the money to buy instead of working with those that have not applied for a loan. Why negotiate when the person may not be approved?

If more than one person has put their bid in on a home, the person with a pre-approval letter will have better chances of getting the home than a person that still has to find a home loan.

The La Jolla Real Estate market reported 16 La Jolla Condo’s sold at a median price of $732,500 and a 33.2% increase for the month!

The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by a quarter of a point to 2 percent on Wednesday, the latest – and possibly last – in a series of reductions aimed at staving off a recession and easing the credit crunch.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

In September, when the Fed initiated the first of seven consecutive interest rate reductions, the federal funds rates stood at 3.25 percent. The last time the rate was this low was in December 2004.

In making the announcement, the Fed noted that, “The substantial easing of monetary policy to date, combined with ongoing measures to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate growth over time and to mitigate risks to economic activity.”
There was some speculation that the Fed was leaving the door open to additional rate cuts if inflation concerns become reality. However, others speculate the Board may leave rates alone until the impact of its recent efforts become clearer.
To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2932860320080430

The Poway Real Estate market reported 26 Poway Homes sold at a median price of $490,000 for the month!