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28 Years of Trusted East County Service — 1,000+ Homes Sold, $100M+ in Closed Sales

East County & Greater San Diego County Real Estate ExpertMarket insights for buyers & sellersMove-up & downsizing strategy | Senior transitions⬇️ Explore homes & market updates rotsart.comSteven Rotsart | East County San Diego Real Estate

La Mesa, CA, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steven Rotsart | East San Diego County Real Estate, a residential real estate services business serving East San Diego County, today announced its recognition by Business Rate, which ranked its lead agent as the #1 real estate professional in La Mesa (ZIP code 91941), based on more than 28 years of experience, over 1,000 homes sold, and a reputation built on genuine community trust across East San Diego County.

Steven Rotsart Recognized as #1 Real Estate Agent in La Mesa (91941)

“For nearly three decades, my mission has never been about transactions — it’s been about people. La Mesa isn’t just where I work; it’s where I live, where I’ve raised my family, and where my neighbors have trusted me with one of the most significant decisions of their lives. This recognition belongs to this community. What truly drives me every single day is knowing that when someone in East County San Diego is ready to buy or sell a home, they have a trusted advisor in their corner who genuinely cares about their outcome — not just the closing.”

By the Numbers

• 28+ years serving East San Diego County (since 1998)

• 1,000+ homes sold throughout East County

• $100M+ in closed sales

• 15+ communities served, including La Mesa, El Cajon, Alpine, Santee, and Jamul

With more than 28 years of experience, Steven has guided homeowners through a wide range of real estate decisions — from downsizing and estate sales to move-up purchases and complex transitions. His practice is built on a straightforward principle: informed clients make better decisions. Whether guiding a senior through a downsizing transition, resolving pre-listing property issues, or repositioning a home that previously failed to sell, his approach is consistent — clear communication, data-driven strategy, and no-pressure guidance from first conversation to closing.

Steven’s work has also included guiding estates through sensitive sales, helping clients navigate potential liability, and resolving property issues before a home ever reaches the market. A consistent theme across his work is helping clients avoid costly mistakes by addressing challenges early — always with a focus on clear, honest guidance throughout the process.

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Concerns over parking have resurfaced as the area surrounding La Mesa’s Downtown Village District is becoming home to an increasing number of apartments.

The latest addition is a 147-unit affordable housing complex that opened at 8181 Allison Ave.

The complex offers one-bedroom apartments starting at $831 per month and two-bedroom units starting at $995 per month, creating opportunities for affordable housing options within a few blocks of the city’s downtown village and a short walk to nearby bus and trolley stations.

While the housing project and others like it address affordability and supply needs, officials and community members have expressed concerns that new developments exacerbate parking problems in the area.

“Parking in downtown is a problem and it’s becoming a crisis,” Councilmember Laura Lothian said.

The 8181 Allison complex has 103 one-bedroom apartments and 44 two-bedroom units. However, the parking garage has just 108 parking spaces.

This disparity between the number of residents and available parking is common for newer apartment buildings coming to La Mesa. For example, a complex that will open in spring of 2027 on Palm Avenue will have over 100 units and around 70 designated parking spaces, Lothian said.

A parking crunch is looming, she said, especially as the city is trying to attract more visitors to the district.

The council recently passed a flurry of recommendations from the city’s parking commission that made changes to parking in the district, including increased meter rates and an amended parking permit program.

But what was more problematic to business owners and community members who attended the meeting was the issue of parking availability and turnover in the area.

“Those tenants are going to consume a lot of parking spaces in the downtown area,” Lothian said, adding that residents don’t typically leave their parking spaces until at least 8 a.m. when they leave for work.

City officials have floated the idea of a parking garage in the downtown village district for over a decade.

“We’ve done many parking studies in the village,” City Manager Greg Humora said during a council meeting in October. “There’s going to be another detailed parking study for the Downtown Village specific plan. What we’re looking for is what threshold is going to trigger the demand for a parking garage.”

In the meantime, Lothian said the city should consider short-term ways to increase parking availability.

For example, she suggested the city negotiate with nearby businesses for parking leases or ban overnight parking.

The parking commission is weighing a variety of options, including adding marked parking lines on streets surrounding the downtown area and adding angled spaces, Lyn Dedmon said, the assistant to the city manager.

“These are things that are actionable items that we can take now,” Lothian said. “Not a building structure 10 years from now, something we can do now.”

Five Mexican fruit flies have been found within three miles of each other in La Mesa, prompting the California Department of Food and Agriculture on Tuesday to declare a 77-square-mile quarantine in San Diego County.

The Mexican fruit fly is one of the most destructive agricultural pests and attacks more than 50 different types of fruits and vegetables — from citrus like lemons and oranges to avocados, according to the CDFA. It can grow to be 1 cm in length — about the size of a pea, larger than a common housefly.

“Mexican fruit flies lay their larvae within the fruit, and so the larvae eats the fruit from the inside, making it inedible. If we have inedible fruit, then that increases the cost of fruit and supply reduces the supply," San Diego County Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Jasmine Lopez said.

According to the CDFA, an infestation of the Mexican fruit fly could devastate crops and make it about $124 million more expensive for growers and consumers alike. The county said the Valley Center Mexican fruit fly quarantine of 2022 put $306 million worth of crops at risk.

“Spreading this fly could be very detrimental. It's one of the most invasive species of fruit flies,” Lopez said.

The quarantine affects commercial fruit growers, wholesalers, retailers and home gardeners in portions of the city of San Diego, El Cajon, Santee, Lemon Grove and La Mesa, along with parts of Spring Valley and Bonita, according to the county.

County officials are releasing thousands of sterile males each week to eradicate the problem. The hope is when they mate, no offspring can be produced and the population becomes extinct, the CDFA said. Workers are also setting about 8,000 fruit fly traps and using an organic spray near sites where the flies were found.

Officials expect the quarantine to be over around September. In the case that Mexican fruit fly larvae is found, that property's fruit and all fruit in a 100-meter radius can be ordered for disposal.

To mitigate the spread of the flies, which have geometric-patterned wings that look like stained glass windows, people growing fruit trees and plants are urged to eat what they've grown on their own property.

State health officials will also contact and do checks as needed at retailers and nurseries in the quarantine area.

Pure Fruit Bar and Deli owner Omar Rosales is worried about what the quarantine may do to area businesses. That’s why he’s doing what he can to mitigate any risk at his Lemon Grove business.

“Lucky for me, I don’t worry too much," Rosales said. "I go through procedures for washing fruit right. Using old school tricks of the trade — the vinegar, the water."

The county said these invasive pests often enter the state in fruits and vegetables brought back illegally by travelers from infested areas.

Residents who suspect their fruits or vegetables may be infested should call the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

Fans are ready for double-doubles, while some nearby residents worry about what long drive-thru lines could mean for a busy intersection.

LA MESA, Calif. — Animal style could soon be on the menu in La Mesa. A new In-N-Out Burger has been proposed at a former bank site on the corner of Grossmont Center Drive and Center Drive. If approved, it would be the first In-N-Out location in the City of La Mesa, something many residents say is long overdue.

“This would be a big deal for our city,” said La Mesa City Councilmember Laura Lothian. “You can still get a burger for about $6. Their menu’s shocking, right?”

Lothian says the popular chain is known for its efficiency, often using employees with handheld devices to take orders before drivers reach the window.

“They’re very, very fast at processing orders. You got all those guys with their mics outside. You’re not sitting there waiting for a long time,” she said.

She believes the restaurant would add to the momentum of other new businesses opening nearby.

“There’s a buzz. Everyone in La Mesa’s feeling this excitement and prosperity and fun,” Lothian said.

But not everyone is celebrating.

Ryan Kelley, who lives two blocks from the proposed site, says the intersection is already heavily impacted by traffic from Grossmont Center mall, Grossmont Hospital and the nearby transit station.

“Ambulances come this way. People come here to go shopping. It’s already kind of jammed up. My concern is it gets more jammed,” Kelley said.

He worries In-N-Out’s famously long drive-thru lines could spill into surrounding streets and create safety issues.

“It worries me quite a bit, I think it’s because I drive this every day,” he said.

Jim Huson, who was walking near the intersection on his way to the trolley, echoed similar concerns.

“In-N-Out Burger is a great place to eat, I love it,” Huson said. “The thing that I would worry about is where the cars are going to back up.”

In-N-Out’s Vice President of Store Development told CBS 8 the company is still undergoing the application process and shared the following statement:

"Whenever we explore a new location, we put a lot of effort into the planning process, not only to give our Customers the best experience possible, but also to be a good neighbor and positive presence in the community that we are joining.

We are hopeful about the opportunity to serve the La Mesa community and truly appreciate the enthusiasm we’ve already received from potential Customers there."

The City of La Mesa confirmed the project is currently under review. Officials say the company will be required to submit an overflow management plan to address potential drive-thru backups. If problems arise because of traffic from the restaurant, the city says they would have to be fixed immediately.

Lothian said the proposal includes two side-by-side drive-thru lanes to help move cars more efficiently.

“They’re going to have two side-by-side drive-thru sale aisles instead of one to allow for double-barrel queuing. I haven’t seen that so that’s going to be interesting,” she said.

The city says the project will eventually go before the Planning Commission, though there is currently no timeline for when that will happen.

A spokesperson for the City of La Mesa sent CBS 8 the following statement:

"As part of our permitting process, we require developers to provide a project technical analysis demonstrating that intersections and roadway segments will continue to operate efficiently. Additionally, we require In-N-Out to provide a detailed overflow management plan, outlining procedures for handling increased traffic. If any on-street impacts occur, In-N-Out will be required to fix them immediately, as directed by our City Engineer."

For now, the proposed restaurant remains under review with burger fans eager for its arrival and nearby residents watching closely to see how traffic concerns are addressed.