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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.)
Our Monarch Caterpillar Nursery The nursery is doing well and so are the 10 Monarch Caterpillars, doing what caterpillars do. The Monarch Butterfly visited our back patio several weeks ago and spent quite a bit of time landing on the milkweed plants repeatedly. We didn't see any eggs left behind but that may simply have been our vision as Monarch eggs are supposedly quite small. A couple weeks ago my wife saw a couple of very small caterpillars on one of the milkweed plants and now there are 10 (there were a couple others but they didn't make it for long). They have grown pretty substantially which we hope will help at least some of them survive and move into the next phase (chrysalis), and not become a tasty meal for one of the many birds in our yard. I suspect the mortality rate for c...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
This letter is fictitious, but the general comments and scenarios are not. I have shown over 100 properties in the last couple of weeks and these are from those showings. Sellers – take heed. These are just a few of the many comments my clients shared with me. I share them with you in hopes that you will gain a better understanding of how buyers are looking at this market and the homes for sale. ****************************  Dear Carlsbad Home Seller: I toured your home today with my agent. I am pre-approved, have a 25% down-payment, have sold my home and am ready to buy. I know what I want and where I want to live. I know you probably want some feedback so I decided to write you this letter. I have to say I am learning more about you than I want to know and it’s very distracting. I wa...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad home buyers have lots of choice, varying with price range, age, style, location and even views. The homes at Heron Bay are among the choices for those buyers seeking recent construction with dramatic views. Carlsbad had become a destination of choice for many buyers, as well as vacationers and those seeking second homes. With terrific beaches, fabulous weather year-round, plenty of shopping and restaurants, and some well known tourist attractions (e.g., Legoland, The Flower Fields), Carlsbad appeals to a diverse population. Located about 30 miles from San Diego and 100 miles south of Los Angeles, residents can enjoy big city life if they chooses, as well as the more relaxed beach living found in this popular North San Diego County seaside town. Curious about why so many folks ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Bressi Ranch master planned community is one of the premier planned communities in North County San Diego, located in a highly visible location at the intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road in the heart of Carlsbad. With about 585 acres, this community is unique in the area given the rarity of large land parcels. But there are other reasons for its growing, and glowing, reputation. Bressi Ranch is known first and foremost as a residential community.   Read: Bressi Ranch: Master Planned Community in Carlsbad, California With 8 villages plus an affordable housing component, Bressi Ranch provides a fairly broad range of housing styles and prices (almost all are resales with only a few new homes under construction at Magnolia Estate; prices range from the $600,000s to o...
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By Dusty Brazil Carlsbad Real Estate
(Carlsbad Real Estate Homes Condos and Townhomes Realtors)
Like Rancho Carrillo in Carlsbad? Currently there are 27 homes for sale in the community of Rancho Carrillo in Carlsbad. If you want to get help finding what your home will sell for in Rancho Carrillo or if you are looking to buy a home or townhome in Rancho Carrillo, you can get it here. Below you can see a market snapshot of the current homes listed by varios brokers and see what has sold recently in this great Carlsbad Community. See all Carlsbad Real Estate and Homes for sale here or try searching all Carlsbad Homes for sale by Neighborhoods and subdivisions.                   SEE THE OFFICIAL RANCHO CARRILLO HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE HERE  Get a FREE Comparative Market Analysis  Click link          
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Area schools are often one of the major criteria buyers are concerned about when searching for a new Carlsbad home (and elsewhere), and it’s not only those with school-age children. This is particularly important for those who are relocating and are not familiar with the schools in the community. So how do you find out about the schools in the communities you are thinking about for your new home? School Digger is a great website which provides a wealth of information for families with school-age children (test scores, ethnic information, student/teacher ratios and other metrics). Schools are ranked by a number of criteria, which enables parents to compare and contrast the nearby schools, locally as well as on a state level. Many find this especially useful when comparing the high schoo...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad’s Cannon Art Gallery has done it again. The latest show at this city-sponsored (and free to all) gallery is another winner, as every show seems to be. Carlsbad is known as a town that embraces the arts in many ways, and the William D. Cannon Art Gallery is just one of the town’s offerings. “Flowers” is an exhibit about just that – flowers in a variety of mediums (oil, acrylic, graphite, encaustic, porcelain, etchings, mixed media installation), colors, sizes and interpretations. From March 30 through May 25 you can experience a breathtaking array of art from 11 artists whose expressions of flowers are as varied as the flowers themselves. Flowers were a popular theme of the Flemish and Dutch painters, as well as the Impressionists (consider Monet, for example), and these contem...
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By Tim, Josh, and Ally Heers
(ERA Ranch & Sea Realty )
Carlsbad the Village by the sea is surround by Lagoons! Buena Vista and Batiquitos are the two lagoons on the North and South of Carlsbad,CA. The beautiful lagoons are natural habitats, where about 200 different birds, including endanged species migrate to every year or live there as their home.  The Buena Vista lagoon is fresh water created by glaciers years ago, while Batiquitos is fresh water, mud flats, and salt marsh.Aqua Hedionda is a a salt water lagoon in the center of Carlsbad where jet skiing and boating activities can be had.   At the Aqua Hedionda lagoon there are bird workshops.  On April 16, 23, 30 Barbara Moore will teach from 9am-Noon about the birds that choose to make Carlsbad their home.  Barbara Moore will give field trips and teach about the birds nesting behaviors ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
This article is mainly for Carlsbad home sellers who are also buying a new home, and need to coordinate the two transactions. Of course, any seller might benefit from these suggestions, too, especially if you are doing this for the first time. A recent deal involved a seller of mine who also was buying a home and needed to complete both transactions simultaneously (closings were on consecutive days), and within 30 days. Wow. This was accomplished successfully, and smoothly.Once the contacts are signed there is lots to take care of, so don't dawdle. Here's what to do:  ********************  1. Be fully educated on what has to happen in your transaction from start to finish, i.e., what is the process and what are the major steps you must accomplish (offer acceptance, contingency period i...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Making a good first impression is important in lots of ways – when meeting new people, in business, when working with customers, AND, of course, when searching for a home. And having a good impression usually results in us responding in a positive way to others, or wanting to help them, or buy from them. And in the case of houses, we often buy them. I like to call that first impression of a home a “walk in the door experience” A “walk in the door experience” is a powerful one, involving most of the senses.  Certainly the approach to the home is important…how often you have been told about impact of curb appeal, and it likely affects your initial impression of a home. But the “walk in the door experience” is more powerful, and more telling. Let’s face it, people buy homes primarily beca...
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By Mike and Dawn Lewis, The Lewis Team at Keller Williams in San Diego CA
(The Lewis Team at Keller Williams)
Carlsbad Real Estate 92009 Takes Big Drop in January 200892009 Carlsbad in North County Coastal San Diego took a dip in real estate prices from January 2007 to January 2008. Carlsbad had been one of the strong holds in San Diego for maintaining their house values. The dip in median home prices in this Carlsbad zip code was down 19.4% from last January's Median Home Price. The January median home price was $715,000 compared to the $820,000 median home price of 2007. This is a sharp dip in Carlsbad home prices. The chart shows Carlsbad home prices and the green bar is the peek year of 2007 and the red bar is the January 2008 decline.It's hard to say for sure if this trend will continue throughout the rest of 2008 but with the rest of San Diego County and other parts of Carlsbad starting t...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Sometimes Carlsbad home buyers ask to be very close to amenities, such as shopping or restaurants, when they are searching for a new home. In many areas of Carlsbad, while you can be within a short drive, you will not be within walking distance of such amenities. There are exceptions, of course, and Paseo de la Costa is one of them. Paseo de la Costa is located in south Carlsbad close to the intersection of Alga Road and El Camino Real, a major north-south thoroughfare, and perhaps ½ mile north of the famous La Costa Resort and Spa. Are you seeking a condo where you can WALK to shopping and restaurants? This may be it. Paseo de la Costa is a relatively small enclave of about 60 attached condos on two levels, on a cul-de-sac directly across Dove Lane from a shopping center featuring a w...
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By Tim, Josh, and Ally Heers
(ERA Ranch & Sea Realty )
Happy Easter Everyone!      We all need to enjoy ourselves more and not stress so much!  Even with the fear of a recession going on that the news makes worse by saying we may go into one!  Fear is not a good thing, it causes people to stop spending, which makes the economy worse!  Help the economy, go buy some Easter candy today!  Or something larger like a home:) Because again Now is the Time to Buy!  When no one else is buying, that means it is time to buy!   So go buy that chocolate and spend time with family and friends this Easter!   By: Ally Heers www.heerstheateam.com                                                          
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad has reputation for a number of things – the beaches, golf, the weather, the mineral springs, Legoland, the La Costa Resort and Spa, the Four Seasons Aviara, AND strawberry fields forever. Maybe not forever, but there sure are a lot of them. It is now strawberry season and they are in abundance, with many more to come. Prices are coming down and will, in the next month or two, reach a ridiculous level where you can’t NOT buy a huge flat of berries for less than a Mocha Frappachino Carmel Latte at Starbucks. Much better for you, by the way, too. The berries are huge, as you can see in the photo, and the flavor is incredible at this time of year. While the berries are plentiful at the fruit stands (forget the grocery stores – their prices are still high) the best places to buy the...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
If you are a Carlsbad home owner selling your home (and elsewhere in California), you need to be strapped in. It’s the law. This is NOT about your seatbelt strap, as you may have thought, but about your water heater. You may not be aware of this, nor thinking about it, but California law requires that your hot water heater (under 120 gallons) be strapped in using approved strapping (there are a couple of different types) in the event of an earthquake. And as a home seller you must certify in writing to the buyer that you are in compliance. The law does not appear to apply to tankless water heaters which are bolted down in other ways if they are installed correctly, and thus have no tank that can tip over. The problem is not just a falling tank (a 50 gallon tank filled with water is abo...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
In today’s market it is not unusual for sellers who are relocating, especially for a new job, to reach a point where they NEED to move to the new location even though they have not sold their current home. How can you best handle this situation, and protect your investment? Discuss the situation with your REALTOR and reach an agreement regarding him/her checking the house regularly, especially after bad weather (say, at lest once per week or more). They ought to do this without you asking but better to be sureEntrust a good friend or neighbor with a key to also check in, in case your REALTOR gets busy and is not available, or forgets to check in. Have them check the bathrooms in case they have been used by folks touring the home, and watch for leaky pipes and sinks. They can also check...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
One of the primary reasons, in addition to the weather, that folks love Carlsbad and nearby areas here in Southern California is our beach life. There are wonderful beaches for all to enjoy, a good amount of free parking, except perhaps during the busiest summer days and holidays, and a wide range of activities to enjoy – sun bathing, walks, kite flying, watching the sunset, dining al fresco, surfing, building rock sculptures, participating in conservation/environmental projects, and so much more. Walking on the beach in barefoot is, for many, food for the soul and spirit. A chance to relax, to appreciate the beauty and the power of nature, to listen to the sound of the sea (link is to a short video I took), and to discover all that beach life has to offer. Beach life in our area means...
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By Tim, Josh, and Ally Heers
(ERA Ranch & Sea Realty )
    Carlsbad, California is such a beautiful little village by the sea!  That quaint small town feel where everybody is friendly and laid back really makes you feel like your home.  Carlsbad is also home to golfing, vacation homes, Legoland,  and the beautiful flower fields.  I am Ally Heers of the A-Team and I have to say that Carlsbad is one of the best places to live in the world!  From the beach boardwalk to the little boutiques and fantastic restaurants, Carlsbad has it all!  Carlsbad has the Luxury beach homes!  Prices are dropping on homes a couple blocks away from the water now!   Waterfront homes and across the street still have the high prices, that go up every year it seems.  So now is the time to buy!Real estate is the best investment one can make and a waterfront home is th...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The resort residential community of Aviara in South Carlsbad has a number of gated and ungated neighborhoods offering a variety of home styles, sizes and price ranges for buyers.  Beautiful landscaping and lush vegetation, views of the hills, lagoon and ocean, the Four Seasons Aviara Resort and golf course, and terrific weather combine to make this an attractive residential area for both first and second home buyers, Read more about the Aviara lifestyle here.           There are several upscale neighborhoods in Aviara located along the Batiquitos Lagoon at the southern border of Carlsbad, including Pavona, Bella Lago, and Isla Mar. Another attractive community within the Aviara master association is Cantata. Cantata is a small neighborhood of one and two story detached homes within wal...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
La Costa Resort Villas in Carlsbad CA   The Villas at La Costa Resort and Spa in the La Costa area of Carlsbad are becoming an even better investment. The La Costa Resort has been quite successful with the launch of their whole ownership condominium villas and are now selling in the 4th building with most units sold. The La Cost Resort Villas are fractional (limited use) in nature since you are permitted 120 days of usage during the year and may rent them for the rest of the time, either yourself or through the resort. Read more about the La Costa Resort Villas here. In the current phase that is selling there are only 8 1-bedroom units left – one on the main floor, one on the second, and the rest (with great views) on the top floor. Units range from around $595,000 to $625,000. Only 2 o...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad, California is currently a general law city. This means the city is bound by California state laws on many issues, which include the prevailing-wage system, and when to hold elections, among others. The city council recently voted to pursue obtaining the charter status and putting the issue on the ballot, at a cost of $110,000. The advantage of becoming a charter city is that Carlsbad could them have more control over many municipal issues in the same manner as other charter cities like Del Mar and Vista, rather than being told what to do or not to do by the California legislature. Becoming a charter city will also allow Carlsbad more control over its Growth Management Plan (e.g., outlines city growth and land usage) that was approved by voters back in 1986. This seems to make...
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