Old Escondido Neighborhood Group

The Old Escondido Neighborhood Group (OENG) was organized in 1989 to preserve the historic character of that neighborhood. They do that by hosting parties, educational walking tours, and quarterly town hall meetings at the Escondido Public Library, Turrentine Room to foster the camaraderie you would normally only get in small towns. They also lobby City Hall for neighborhood improvements and assist the city in applications for redevelopment grants.

If you are fortunate enough to live in one of the 900 homes within the district bounded by Fifth Avenue on the north, Chestnut Street on the east, Thirteenth Avenue on the south and South Escondido Boulevard on the west then you are automatically a member.

Real Estate Syndicates and Investment Trusts

The cost of real estate has been falling for more than two years now. Perhaps you feel that the bottom has been reached and now is the time to buy low, however, you have no desire to become a landlord or to move into a larger home just for the sake of the investment. What you might consider is finding a Real Estate Syndicate or a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). They purchase and manage commercial properties (including apartment complexes) and pay you a monthly dividend.

For advice concerning the strengths of the current market, there was a May 5, 2008 article in Forbes titled "The REIT Time?" You can read it online by signing onto and searching Business Source Premier with your Escondido Public Library card.

If you do decide to invest in a REIT, there are many companies looking forward to assisting you. The Bank of Escondido and Realty Income Corp are both here in Escondido.

Yellow Straw Bales used in green homes

Straw-bale construction is a distinctive method of enclosing and insulating a post and beam house built to meet California seismic codes. Several local contractors and architects are available in the North San Diego County area to help you build with straw.

Projects that have been highlighted in the local media include and the Atkins home in Fallbrook built by RAF Contruction of Ramona, the Dunham-Kidwell home in Jamul designed by Hubbell & Hubbell and built by Sustainable Building Systems and the Chris Exline home of Escondido built by his father David Exline of Three Little Pigs Strawbale Design and Construction of Paso Robles.

You can read more about the building method in the book,

Straw bale building : how to plan, design & build with straw by Chris Magwood & Peter Mack Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada : New Society Publishers, c2000.

Call #: 693.997 M

ISBN: 0865714037

Description: xvii, 234 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
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