Bar in Hillcrest San Diego

This week's local real estate news

The median price for a home in San Diego County today is $468, 100. The type of dwelling available at that price can vary from a small condo in the city to a single-family home in Mira Mesa. We found this 1934 Craftsman bungalow in Normal Heights listed on Redfin for $385, 000. | Photos courtesy of Andrew Greer, Big Block Realty

Where can you live for less than $500, 000?

Home prices have risen again in San Diego County, keeping our region ranked as one of the least affordable cities in the U.S.

A recent report says the median price for a home in San Diego County is $468, 100. CoreLogic, the firm that conducted the study and released its findings on Wednesday, noted this is 8.9 percent higher than last year.

What homes are available at this price? A quick search of 47 new listings on Redfin showed 14 homes for sale from San Ysidro all the way up to Rancho Bernardo that are in close range of the median.

D Bar to leave Hillcrest

Gerhard said in an email that the closure doesn’t have anything to do with the lease—we asked because this section of Fifth Avenue, between University and Washington, has seen several restaurant closures over the past few years. He told Eater that he’s leaving San Diego so he can focus on D Bar’s original location in Denver.

Kitson closes stores with major markdowns

As part of its liquidation, the company is having a “big ass in-store sale, ” where everything is 30 to 60 percent off. Head on over if you need last-minute stocking stuffers like Star Wars jewelry, irreverent greeting cards, or socks covered in photos of James Franco. There’s also steep discounts on jeans, handbags, and skin care products.

The company didn’t say when its San Diego stores will permanently close. An employee at Kitson’s Seaport Village store said a final date was not confirmed, but they expect to remain open until the end of January.

Madison to open soon on Park Boulevard

The finishing touches are being done on Madison, a new restaurant and bar in University Heights that’s set to open sometime after Christmas.

Jeff Fink, who also owns Fluxx Nightclub and M-Theory Music in Mission Hills, is building out Madison from the former Lei Lounge space into a restaurant he envisions as a welcoming, family-friendly spot.

If you can recall Lei Lounge’s interior—white furniture with walls covered in fake greenery, and dimly lit at night—Madison will be a huge change. The high-vaulted ceiling remains, but it’s now lined with cedarwood, large rope installations, and walls with geometric paneling. Fink says he and his team wanted to create a work of art in the neighborhood. Mario Cassineri of Bice is planning the menu, which is still being finalized.