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Carlsbad, CA Real Estate News

By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
I previously wrote about the Monarch Butterfly nursery on our back patio on April 12. At that time we were able to see 11 caterpillars of various sizes.In the last few days the caterpillars started leaving the milkweed plants and crawling onto the table, the patio window, and the edge of one of the flowerpots. Within a day or so we could only find 3 of the 11 caterpillars. Hopefully the others found safe places to hang for the next stage, the chrysalis (pupa). We have looked around but haven't been able to find them so they are either well hidden or perhaps became some bird's dinner.One caterpillar is on the edge of a flowerpot and is not looking very healthy, but there are 2 that have now formed the chrysalis - one on window frame (above) and the other on the edge of the another flower...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Here's the final article in this series on using technology to your advantage. If you missed the first two articles: READ: Carlsbad Buyers - Are You Using Technology to Your Advantage (Searching for a Home) Carlsbad Buyers - Are You Using Technology to Your Advantage (Finding an Agent) In this section we talk about the all-important communication that must occur during any real estate transaction. Here are some things you should expect when working with a REALTOR and the kind of communication that is, or should be, pretty normal. COMMUNICATION DURING THE TRANSACTION Working with a REALTOR during your transaction will entail a great deal of communication, at least if that person is doing the job. Obviously face-to-face contact is important, especially during the early part of the process...
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The  California Coastal Commission has now approved the revised plan for Poseidon Resources to construct the long awaited Desalination plant to increase the water availability in San Diego County. I wrote a post on this late last year " Poseidon - Is Desalination In The Cards For San Diego " and the obstacles have now been overcome, though there is always a chance of a late court action that could delay construction again. Environmentalists are opposed to this plant for various reasons and the Poseidon Resources rendered numerous compromises that finally got approval yesterday, pleasing the proponents of the new facility slated for Carlsbad at the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon location. Poseidon has in mind maybe as many as 11 other coastal sites for desalination plants and this new approval wil...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Understanding the state of the Carlsbad real estate market, and any trends, will help you, the buyer or seller, make a more informed decision about what to do with regard to buying or selling a home. Because the media reports speak in general terms, rather than local, the information you hear in the media may not represent the reality of our local Carlsbad market, so having data from a knowledgeable agent about your particular market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller. Here is the market report for June 2008 based on statistics from the MLS. This does not include any private sales. In June 2008 there were 112 homes sold in Carlsbad’s 4 zipcodes. Here’s the breakdown of overall activity. TOTAL HOMES 112 (Detached - 76; Attached 36) Size ranged from 624 SF – 5700 SF (detached...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Here’s Part 2 of 3 focusing on how you, the buyer, can and should be using technology to your advantage in the home buying process. READ MORE: Part 1 - Carlsbad Buyers: Are You Using Technology to Your Best Advantage? In this section we discuss how technology will play an important role in helping your select the right REALTOR to help you in your home search. Should technology be your only approach? Absolutely not. But you can learn a great deal about prospective agents: Do you want one who focuses primarily on how great they are, the number of areas they service and that sort of thing? Or do you really want to get to know who they are, what they know, how they work and how THEY can help YOU. READ MORE: What do You Want to Know about Your Agent? After all, the home buying process is ALL...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
No offense meant here, but this is about a guy kind of place in Carlsbad. I don't think they prevent women from coming in and hanging out, but it may not be what they are looking for. SportClips Haircuts near Bressi Ranch in Carlsbad is a place for guys. You can sit and watch sports on TV (not sure they even show anything else) while waiting to get your hair cut as well as during. The focus is on the guys, the young ones and the older ones. When I stopped by there are a bunch of Dads and their sons...no daughters in sight. I didn't get my hair cut there nor do I plan to as I go somewhere else and have for several years, so I can't comment on the quality, value and overall services. Certainly it sounds like a neat idea from a marketing standpoint (and there are franchise opportunities). ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
There probably aren’t too many of you who are looking for a Carlsbad home (or anywhere for that matter) that aren’t using technology in some manner. In this day and age it is hard to escape. But are you using technology to YOUR advantage? This is a 3-part series on how Carlsbad buyers can use technology to their advantage before and during a real estate transaction. Here we begin with the home search. SEARCHING FOR A HOME Searching for a home, whether locally or for a relocation, is best accomplished on the Internet. Whether you are venturing out on your search unaccompanied or with an agent, the myriad of websites out there that offer home listings from the various MLSs provide you with a wealth of data at your fingertips, 24/7. Here is some of what you should be looking at in your hom...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Rancho Carrillo, a master planned community in Carlsbad and the home of Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, is the site of “Nostalgic Entertainment under the Stars”. Read: Rancho Carrillo – A Master Planned Community in Carlsbad On 5 successive Friday nights (August 15 through September 12) movie lovers can enjoy rare historic Hollywood films starring Leo Carrillo (former owner of the famed ranch on which much of the residential community was built) and other “Hollywood golden age” stars. Read: Visit the Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park in Rancho Carrillo Leo Carrillo was one of the stars of the well-known TV series “The Cisco Kid”, and episodes of the show will appear before the feature film. Folks can picnic on the Hacienda grounds, the formed home of Carrillo, beginning at 6 PM (or pur...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad in the Aviara area is a treasure. The Batiquitos Lagoon (one of 3 in Carlsbad)is a wildlife refuge where boating, swimming, and fishing are not permitted, and the bird watching is terrific. There are lots of wonderful hiking/running trails for all to enjoy while appreciating the views of the lagoon and the adjoining Aviara Golf Course of the Four Seasons Resort. Read: Carlsbad Things to Do - Visit the Lagoons Once a year the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation sponsors a cleanup operation in the lagoon when folks are permitted to take kayaks out. On September 20 and 21, from 7 am until 4 pm, for a contribution of $30 you can: Enjoy a 2-hour kayak adventure on the lagoon Help with the elimination of shoreline trash that can endanger shoreline birds Assist with ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Carlsbad real estate market offers a wealth of properties for buyers to ponder, as well as a range of prices, styles and neighborhoods. You want views of the ocean, lagoon golf course or panorama? We got ‘em. You want Spanish or Mediterranean style? Got it. Need a 5000+ SF home? A cozy 1-bedroom get-a-way? Yep, got those too. And if you love the English Tudor Style, we have a gated enclave just for you, in the La Costa area of Carlsbad just a stone’s throw from the La Costa Resort and Spa golf course...Barrington Place. Here’s a brief virtual tour of some of Carlsbad’s housing (turn up your music to get in the mood). And you can read more about our lovely seaside town here. or about the La Costa area. Barrington Place is an anomaly. There is nothing else like it in Carlsbad, as far ...
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By Elissa Davey, San Diego County Realtor
(Carnevale Real Estate)
The legislation will assist an estimated 400,000 homeowners facing foreclosure, many of whom reside in California, by allowing them to refinance their current mortgages with a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed loan.  The bill also will permanently increase FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac loan limits in high-cost areas.   The bill permanently increases the conforming loan limit to $625,500.  C.A.R. has long advocated for higher conforming loan limits.  In February, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 was signed, temporarily raising the conforming loan limit in high-cost areas to $729,750 from $417,000 until December 31, 2008.   Although we would have liked Congress to make permanent the current $729,750 loan limit, C.A.R. is pleased with the new permanent loan limit of $625,500....
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Here is the market report for May 2008 based on statistics from the MLS. This does not include any private sales. In May 2008 there were 130 homes sold in Carlsbad’s 4 zip codes (92008,92009,92010,920110, which represents the largest monthly sales thus far this year...about 4 times what we saw in January. Here’s the breakdown of activity. TOTAL HOMES SOLD 130 (Detached 82 Attached 48) TOTAL Size 966 SF – 5345 SF (Detached 1335 SF – 5345 SF Attached 960 SF – 3000 SF) TOTAL Price Range $190K - $1.895 M (Detached $274,900 - $1.895 M Attached $190K - $1.65 M) TOTAL Days on Market 84 (Detached 78 Attached 95) TOTAL Average $/SF $300/SF (Detached $307/SF Attached $288/SF) TOTAL Average Sales Price $651,748 (Detached $779,069 Attached $434,242) TOTAL Median Sales Price $586,000 (Detached $726,...
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By Tony Cannon, Real Estate - Oceanside Carlsbad
(Bressi Realty Carlsbad)
This is a map showing the boundaries of the 17 tracts of attached and detached homes within the community of Rancho Carrillo in Carlsbad, CA
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad had a reputation as a retirement community, and as such there are a number of retirement communities, and a range of services to meet the needs of the seniors population. The Carlsbad Seniors Center on the outskirts of Carlsbad Village provides a wide range of services to meet the needs of area seniors. Read: The Carlsbad Seniors Center: The Center of Activity in Carlsbad Village There are some other area seniors’ services companies to know about even though they aren’t in Carlsbad proper. RELIANT SENIOR CARE is a highly respected and growing home-care services company founded by President Sherry Courtney-Lawrence (they recently moved to the current location in Oceanside), who I know personally. The company provides a broad range of in-home caregiver services (all caregivers ar...
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By Margaret Hokkanen, → Carlsbad Real Estate
(SurfTheTurf.com, Inc.)
We've made a number of posts about utilizing HDR images, and we have finally settled on using HDR to supplement a solid traditional exposure.  This allows us to highlight just those elements of the room that we want to highlight, yielding a more 3-d effect because of the interaction of the HDR images with the traditional exposure.  Some may prefer a complete edge-to-edge HDR image, but we prefer the saturated realism of our approach.  Anyway, let me give an example; first the comparison image.  On the left is a properly exposed image of a dining room.  On the right is the final image that we are seeking to create. First, the base image.  This uses strobe umbrellas (quite powerful), but nothing else.  One exposure.  In the past, this is the image that we would have used without any quest...
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By Elissa Davey, San Diego County Realtor
(Carnevale Real Estate)
Now that the temperature is hot, humans aren't the only ones who suffer from overheating. Dogs and cats actually have a harder time than their owners staying cool. If you own a cat or a dog you should take precautions to help your pet beat the heat this summer. Here, from the Humane Society of the United States, are some tips: - Recognize the signs of overheating. Heat stress in your pet can include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue. - If you sense that your pet is overheating, get out of the sun. You can dump cool water over your pet to gradually lower the body temperature. You should also let your pet drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. A dog who continues to exhibit these symptoms should be taken to the vet. ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad has a number of galleries for the art enthusiast to enjoy. The Cannon Art Gallery is a city-sponsored gallery adjacent to the Carlsbad Library, with regular exhibitions and educational programs throughout the year. The gallery is funded by The Friends of the Arts, with monies raised in large part from the Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Parks series. A popular gallery right in the heart of Carlsbad Village is the Front Porch Gallery, at the intersection of Grand and the Coast Highway just 1 block from the beach. Front Porch is a collaboration is not-for-profit communities and services in California (13 retirement communities, 33 affordable housing communities, 5 foundations and 9 skilled nursing care centers). The Front Porch Gallery was created in 2002 (with permanent space dedicate...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Carlsbad real estate market continues to offer new construction homes in several subdivisions, although these numbers are dwindling as several thousand homes have been built, and sold, in the last several years.Read: Carlsbad Village by the SeaLa Costa Greens has two villages that still have newly built and to-be-built homes available (Viridian and Trieste), and some new homes still remain at La Costa Ridge at Messina. La Costa Ridge also offers some of the most affordable new homes in Carlsbad at Dolcetto, on the east side of this hilltop planned community.Read: La Costa Ridge – Master Planned Community at La Costa, Carlsbad, CADolcetto is one of 4 neighborhoods in the gated community of La Costa Ridge and the least expensive. New homes range in price from the mid $700s. These KB H...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad has a fabulous 10-concert jazz series on Fridays during the summer, free to all. These concerts are the primary fund raiser for The Carlsbad Friends of the Arts that oversees the arts programs for the community, including the terrific Cannon Art Gallery programs, art programs for the schools, and the jazz series itself. Concerts are held on consecutive Fridays in one of Carlsbad’s beautiful parks - 3 of them (Stagecoach, Poinsettia, and Calavera Hills). Read more about the series here. Many residents are fortunate to have these concerts practically in their backyards to enjoy and can walk to and from. We went to the most recent event with some friends and had a terrific time. Several thousand folks were there, dinner was great, and the band was tremendous – Ricardo Lemvo and Ma...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
There’s a sale going on right now…a good one…so if you are a Carlsbad home buyer seeking a brand new home, listen up. La Costa Ridge, in the La Costa area of Carlsbad, is a gated planned community perched on the highest point in Carlsbad with wonderful views of the back country and north to the Camp Pendleton mountains, area hills, the La Costa area, the Batiquitos Lagoon, and for some the distant ocean. The homes at La Costa Ridge are selling well and many of them are already occupied, while construction is still underway in the newer phases of the neighborhood.   Read: Carlsbad Village by the Sea La Costa – A Great Neighborhood in Carlsbad, CA La Costa Ridge – Master Planned Community at La Costa in Carlsbad La costa Ridge is located at the top of the La Costa hills just 15 minutes fr...
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