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Carlsbad, CA Real Estate News

By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Flower Fields Up Close I attended a CRS Networking Event with 25 other Southern California Realtors this past Thursday for a couple of hours at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.  It was fun to see my CRS friends as well as to meet other agents I didn’t know. There was time to talk with each other before taking a tour. After the group photo we split up into small groups to leisurely walk through the gardens, and of course take lots of photos.  While I have often driven by the Flower Fields on Armada Drive on the hill above to the east which offers great panoramic views of the flowers and the ocean, I haven’t seen the flowers and the venue itself up close for years.   It was a sunny day with a cool ocean breeze, although the marine layer moved in before the event was over so it was pre...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2024 Carlsbad Village Street Faire is May 5 One of our more popular arts and craft fairs returns to Carlsbad Village on Sunday May 5, 2024. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire is reportedly the largest outdoor 1-day fair in the US, other than its counter-part, the Carlsbad Village Faire in November. This is the 50th year for this fair! The Carlsbad Village Street Faire takes place from 8 am until 5 pm, so there is ample time to enjoy over 900 vendors and shop all you want. The Carlsbad Village Faire takes place in the heart of the Village, along Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson. The Faire spills over onto side streets, too. (photo is from another art fair in the Village in the same area).  Given the number of vendor booths much of the public parking will not be available ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Tips for Relocating to Carlsbad During the Pandemic You may be planning a relocation in the future, or perhaps are beginning one. I know several people who were planning a relocation with their company but this has been put on hold for the time being given the pandemic. But those of you moving for a personal reason may still be planning on forging ahead when the timing is right. There are plenty of things you should do to be prepared for relocating, and hopefully having it go as smoothly as possible.  Look for the free tools at the bottom of the page to help you. Given the pandemic, and the restrictions and procedures that are in place in different states and counties, it’s important to think about how this could impact your move, and plan accordingly. Here are some important considerat...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Home Buyers, Are You Up to Facing Today's Competition? Buying a home in today’s market is tough. As a home buyer, are you up to facing the competition?! Are you really prepared and are you serious? Market conditions in many areas are challenging, with limited inventory in multiple price points, and lots of buyers (due to pent up demand, and great interest rates, among other reasons) who want to buy and can afford to do so. In short, what these conditions mean is that if you want to buy home you likely will be facing competition for properties that come on the market that you like, and which fit your needs and budget. Are you thinking that because of the pandemic homes are not selling quickly, and buyers are holding off buying? Do you think home prices are falling? The statistics simply ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad’s 2020 Virtual Art in the Village is Now Live Art in the Village has been a popular addition to the street fair tradition in Carlsbad Village for 21 year, with thousands of visitors enjoying the original art work of dozens of local and regional artists.  We attended Art in the Village last year and you can read more about it here - Art Beach Chair Unveiled in Carlsbad Village August 11, 2019. Me in the new Art Beach Chair by the Fountain in Carlsbad Village August 2019  The 2020 Art in the Village was originally planned for June 28th but was rescheduled to August 23rd due to the pandemic, but this year’s event was ultimately canceled. But there is an alternative! Carlsbad created a Virtual Art in the Village online gallery, which is a wonderful way to enjoy the artwork of the 7...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Throwback Thursday: Carlsbad Flower Fields in September  The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are a beautiful sight every year, open from March 1 until Mother's Day in May, with 50 acres of brightly colored ranunculas. The fields were gorgeous again this year, but sadly closed soon after opening, with events canceled due to the pandemic and the state Shelter in Place order issued on March 19th. Thankfully they are readily viewed from Armada Drive overlooking the fields and the ocean beyond but no doubt revenue suffered tremendously. The field undergo quite a transition every year, from dirt to green plants to beautiful flowers and back to dirt again. This was the view today on a fairly gloomy summer day. 
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for August 2020 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with some significant shifts from last month and 1 year ago. These data do not include private sales or manufactured/mobile/multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect our local Carlsbad housing market. Current data, and knowledge, about the local market conditions benefit you so you can make well-informed purchase and sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale.  READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 199 homes sold in Carlsbad in August (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), down 5% from July ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Wordless Wednesday Almost Full Moon Through the Trees  We've had beautiful evenings recently and have been enjoying the moon as it's been moving toward become full. So often the marine layer moves in during the evening and obscure it. The moon was getting close to being full the other and while the marine layer was starting to creep in we had a gorgeous views through the palm trees in our back yard. Unfortunately while I tried everal times this was the best photo I could come up with on my camera. You get the idea.
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze CarlsbadOpens September 18, 2020 The annual Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company will be opening on September 18, running through November 8th. Halloween may be a little different this year…time will tell I guess. Maybe there will be even more decorations around? I have to wonder if trick or treating will be different in any way, depending on parents, local restrictions, etc.  But there are certainly plenty of Halloween decorations in the stores! There’s no doubt the Carlsbad Strawberry Company is well known for its strawberries that you can buy already picked, or pick them yourself. At Halloween time, as they have for a number of years, they open up the farm for a pumpkin patch, and of course plenty of photo opportunities, giving ev...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Tuscan Tomato Tart and Fond Memories Food is an interesting thing - we need it, we all enjoy it, and in many cases it evokes fond memories of places we have visited, restaurants we have enjoyed, meals we have created, and people we have dined with. Some recipes are timeless, and we use them over and over, not just because they taste so good, but because of the memories of a wonderful dining experience, and the pleasure of being with friends and family you enjoyed having it with!  This Tuscan Tomato Tart is one such recipe. It's particularly important to make it with the freshest tomatoes...so now is the time...along with freshly grated parmesan, but it's been a staple of many a dinner or lunch over the years.  We have served it at dinner parties at our home in the summer, or taken it as...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
4-Bedroom Homes for Sale in Carlsbad Market Update as of August 29, 2020 Some Carlsbad home buyers desire more space than a 3-bedroom single family detached home can provide, for a variety of reasons: a growing household, an interest or need for multigenerational living, at-home office, or room for guests.  The inventory of single family detached homes remains limited in Carlsbad compared to demand. Although the supply had increased earlier in the year, in the last couple of months inventory has declined but demand has not; take a look at the most recent market report for Carlsbad at What’s My Carlsbad Home Worth - Carlsbad Home Sales for July 2020 for an overview of the Carlsbad housing market conditions including sales, inventory and prices.  At this time we only have 2 weeks, not mon...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Wordless Wednesday: Fragrant Beauty at the Front Door  We gave my Mom a beautiful pink, and very fragrant, rose in a pot for Mother's Day, which she enjoyed immensely for a few months. Recently, for some reason it started to not thrive at her condo, perhaps due to the light on the patio and her not being able to take care of it. In any case we brought it to our house a couple weeks ago and set it outside our front door where it is, once again, thriving and providing a beautiful, fragrant entrance to our home. 
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2020 Housing Market for Carlsbad Aug. 25Condos & Town Homes Carlsbad buyers often are interested in buying a condo, townhome or twin-home (in our MLS these are referred to as attached homes) for a variety of reasons. Pricing and budget may be a big issue, or it might be the community itself, or the desired lifestyle. While many attached homes for sale in Carlsbad are resales, there are a fair number of options for those interested in new construction including The Preserve, Carlyle Carlsbad Village, Kensington at the Square, The Trails, and 11 West, with more projects planned. If you are interested the market conditions for single family detached homes for sale in Carlsbad check out this recent market report, and search for homes, too!  For this report we look at housing activity for Ca...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
3-Bedroom Homes for Sale in Carlsbad – August 23, 2020 Update Often Carlsbad home buyers are searching for 3-bedroom detached single family homes when it’s time to buy a new home, whether they are first time buyers, moving up or downsizing. Some buyers are in the market for a Carlsbad beach home, near or on the ocean, and are willing to settle for a 3-bedroom home when options are limited due to inventory and budget. Read about the 10 essential things to consider when buying a second home The inventory of single family detached homes has shifted in Carlsbad since the beginning of the year, and with the pandemic we have seen sales shifting as well. Overall, because of demand, the Carlsbad housing market is very competitive. The housing market continues favor sellers due to supply and buy...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
A Not So Wordless Wednesday: A Passion for Art, and Sharing We started collecting art soon after we were married, with young kids and a rather limited budget. But that didn't matter. Our passion for art not only takes us to museums and galleries wherever we travel, but also results in having far more works of art that we can hang in our house...by far. Somehow the passion for collecting took over although we have slowed in our purchases in recent years.  That passion also led to being gallery owners for 3 years in Cambridge, MA across the river from Boston prior to our relocation here to Carlsbad. Would we be gallery owners again? Possibly...who knows. We certainly have enough of our own art!! Both our daughters and their husbands enjoy art as well, and their personal collections have g...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Sometimes Beauty is Fleeting   We have a small pot of Morning Glories on our patio which have not prospered as we would have liked, although who knows why. Poor soil? Too much sun? Pot too small? What a surprise the other morning to see this beautiful flower perched on top of the plant...the only one but treasured nonetheless. True to the name it opened in the morning and 10 hours later looked like this. "Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day!"~ Alice Morse Earle ~
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for July 2020 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with some significant shifts from last month and 1 year ago. These data do not include private sales or manufactured/mobile/multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect our local Carlsbad housing market. Current data, and knowledge, about the local market conditions benefit you so you can make well-informed purchase and sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale.  READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 209 homes sold in Carlsbad in July (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), up 11% from July and a...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Wordless Wednesday: Thanks USPS!!  It's always nice to get a thank you. And we have heard lots of thank yous, and seen plenty of thank you signs in our area during the pandemic...not doubt you have noticed, too. I pick up my Mom's mail for her daily at her condo complex and on Mnday spied this artfully painted rock and thank you at the cluster mailboxes. I thought it was a nice touch, and hopefully USPS appreciated it as well.
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Happy Swallowtail Butterfly  I was in between several inspections at a house in Carlsbad last Friday, and was out in the front yard enjoying the views of the canyon and the hills beyond this flowering hedge. A yellow swallowtail butterfly came along and was having a great time with the whole hedge and lots of flowers all to itself.
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
August 2 - 8 is National Farmers’ Market Week 2020Win a Prize in Carlsbad via Instragram August 2nd through the 8th is National Farmers' Market Week. And you could win a terrific prize here in Carlsbad. Read on to learn how. Having lived in New England for many years, moving to Carlsbad in 2005, I have truly appreciated being able to buy fresh produce and more at local farmers' markets weekly, and year round.  We certainly had farmers’ market in the Boston area, but they were not as prevalent as they are where I live in SoCal, as least when we lived there, and were only held for a few months during the year…for obvious reasons!! STATE STREET FARMERS' MARKET - CARLSBAD The State Street Farmers' Market takes place every Wednesday on State Street in Carlsbad Village, from 3 to 6 pm (to 7 p...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Wordless Wednesday:  Just Hangin' Out  We live adjacent to a small canyon which means a fair amount of wildlife, some of which visits the yard from time to time. I was looking out the rear window over the patio the other morning and spied this ground squirrel hangin' out. He was perched on his haunches, on top of the bushes, taking in the scenery...and perhaps keeping an eye out for predators, like the coyote we have been seeing regularly. Better this squirrel stays where he is instead of raiding our birdfeeders or digging in the gardens!
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Why You Should Drive by a Home Before You Decide to See it for Real! Most buyers use the Internet to search for homes these days, and there are plenty of good reasons for doing so. You get to see lots of photos…hopefully plenty of good ones…plus you can read details about the home, including features, size, bedrooms and baths, garage and parking spaces, fees (if there is an HOA), and the list goes on. Usually there is a map, and you can explore the area online, too. And in these days of the pandemic there are virtual tours, Matterport 3D tours, and plenty of videos so you can really explore the homes that interest you, inside and out, and safely from the comfort of your home or office. All before you decide the home looks like a great fit for your needs and budget and take the plunge an...
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