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Carlsbad, CA Real Estate News

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 March 2026 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with shifts from February and from 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included in this report (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate as reported but are not guaranteed). Media market reports typically are very generalized in nature. As a result, they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make educated buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBAD Carlsbad Village by the Sea 110 homes sold in Carlsbad in March...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2024 San Diego Restaurant Week ~ March 3rd - 10th ~ Food lovers will be thrilled that San Diego Restaurant Week just around the corner, March 3rd through the 10th. This is the 1st of 2 events for 2024 with 8 days of dining opportunities. San Diegans can enjoy a wide range of food offerings at great prices at 100+ restaurants all around San Diego! How can a dedicated food lover go wrong with so many options? The challenge will be deciding where to dine, and at how many different places. San Diego Restaurant Week offers reduced prices on fixed price multi-course menus for lunch, brunch and/or dinner. At some places you’ll even find a drink included as a course. Keep in mind that not all restaurants offer 3 meals – some may just offer dinner. Restaurants are located across a wide geographi...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Art Wall for February 2024 The 2nd Carlsbad Art Wall mural for 2024 was completed this past weekend. North County artist Steve Burrows transformed the wall beautifully in his whimsical style that reflects his life and business, Burrito Art, at the beach. It’s the perfect wall art for Carlsbad’s laid-back lifestyle by the beach! This is the 40th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall in 2015.  The Carlsbad Art Wall was created, and is curated, by Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village The Carlsbad Art Wall offers residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and sometimes international artists.  Bryan Snyder also founded the Carlsbad Alley Art Wall...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch Open March 1, 2024 The beautiful Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA will open soon. The big day is Friday March 1st. Visitors must book their tickets online for a specific date and arrival time. Tickets are not available at the entrance. Once you are in the facility you can stay as long as you wish (the Flower Fields close at 6 pm). Don’t expect things to look like the top photo on Opening Day 2024 or the photo below since the Flower Fields take a while to reach their peak. That often happens in late March depending on the weather. However, they are  beautiful even when not at peak bloom, and a wonderful sign of spring! Here’s a video from March 2022: The Carlsbad Flower Fields have been a popular tourist attraction for over 60 years. There are approximatel...
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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 January 2024 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with shifts from December and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you want to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 57 homes sold in Carlsbad in January (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 24% more s...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad - The Lagoons There are multiple reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA. That includes our beautiful beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports, parks and hiking trails, and our weather. This post is about the 3 Carlsbad lagoons, from North to South. BUENA VISTAThe Buena Vista lagoon is on the border between Carlsbad and Oceanside to the north. This is the only freshwater lagoon in Southern California. No water sports are permitted and there is limited access. Homes around the lagoon have great views which include the ocean.  The mouth of the lagoon at the west end has a weir (a low dam) that allows water to flow from the lagoon into the ocean but not the other direction, keeping the lagoon freshwater...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Art Wall for January 2024 The 1st Carlsbad Art Wall mural for 2024 was just completed. And it’s pretty different from others we've seen. Unfortunately the sun was shining directly into the camera so I could not grab a good view other than to get close and angle the shot. This latest wall art is a dedication to, and celebration of, the Valley Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Program (VAPA), and the teachers and students who make it so special. The mural was created during the Meet and Greet event held on Saturday January 27th. This is the 39th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded in 2015 by Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village The Carlsbad Art W...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Housing Market Summary for 2023~ Highs and Lows ~ There were a number of shifts in the Carlsbad real estate market in 2023 as compared to the prior year. Here are some highs and lows of the Carlsbad housing market for detached single family homes. You can learn more about the Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad here. 608 homes sold 2023 as compared to 702 in 2022, a decline of 13%, which was down a significant 47% from sales in 2021. The Average Sales Price in 2023 was $1,808,118, just slightly less than in 2022 ($1,813,609), but an increase of 17% from 2021’s average sales price.  The Median Sales Price was $1,625,000, down 4% from the median of $1,700,000 in 2022 but 15% higher than the 2021 median sale price. Home sale prices ranged from $650,000 to $11,475,000. The smallest ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Art Wall Meet and GreetThe Carlsbad community is invited to a Meet and Greet event at the Carlsbad Art Wall, to celebrate the Valley Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Department. This fun event takes place Saturday January 27 from 10 am until 2 pm and is being coordinated by the school. A special feature will be the creation of a new collaborative art wall mural led by Carlsbad artist Bryan Snyder’s art students. This will be the 39th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall in 2015. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded by Bryan Snyder in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. Here's a photo of a mural completed in 2016.  The Carlsbad Art Wall has been a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy temporar...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad~ Housing ~ There are plenty of reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA. That includes our beautiful beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports, parks and greenspace, and our weather. In this article the focus is on housing in Carlsbad. CARLSBAD HOUSING Carlsbad housing is diverse in terms of styles, prices and location. Here are some considerations and things to think about. Do you want to live near or on the beach? You can expect to pay a lot of money for that privilege. Maybe you want to own a home in or near Carlsbad Village. You have the opportunity to buy in a gated community, say a condo, townhome or single family home. Or you can live in an area where the homes are not cookie-cutter and may have...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Single Story Homes for Sale in Carlsbad~ January 19, 2024 Market Update ~It’s not unusual for Carlsbad home buyers to prefer a 1-story single family house when looking for a new home.  For some buyers, it is a requirement, and reasons vary.Some buyers are OK with buying a 2-story home, provided there is a master bedroom with full bath on the main floor. But that type of floor plan tends to be trickier to find; in many cases the 1st floor bedroom is a smaller guest bedroom and the bath is a half bath.The overall Carlsbad inventory remains limited (here’s the December 2023 Housing Market Report for Carlsbad) but has increased modestly since December.At the time this report was written there is a 1.7 month supply of single story detached homes, based on the rate of sales for the last 3 mon...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Hearts of Carlsbad Village ~ Blown Glass Treasure Hunt ~ The 4th Hearts of Carlsbad Village blown glass treasure hunt in Carlsbad Village is next month. What a fun opportunity to spend time in Carlsbad Village outdoors exploring! The Carlsbad Village Association and Barrio Glassworks are sponsoring this fun treasure hunt on February 10th and 11th. The treasure hunt begins at 8 am on Saturday and ends at 3 pm on Sunday. The event is supported by Visit Carlsbad, the official tourism marketing organization in the City of Carlsbad. February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is 3 days after the event. What’s more appropriate than a heart-themed treasure hunt? Here’s how the Hearts of Carlsbad Village works. 400 colorful hand-blown glass hearts created at Barrio Glassworks will be ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Heart of the Village Blood Drive~ Carlsbad Village February 10, 2024 ~ Once again here’s an opportunity for Carlsbad residents to help our community, specifically the San Diego Blood Bank, with their need for blood donations. The 7th Annual Heart of the Village Blood Drive will be held in Carlsbad Village on Saturday, February 10th from 9 am until 2 pm. Once again thanks are due Barrio Glassworks at 3060 Roosevelt Street for hosting the blood drive. Blood donations will be taken at the San Diego Blood Bank Bloodmobile in their parking lot.  Well over 200 pints have been donated through the previous Heart of the Village Blood Drive events! As in the past the Carlsbad Village Association is the sponsor. All donations are by Appointment Only, preferably in advance, but last minute appointm...
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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 December 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from November and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you want to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 46 homes sold in Carlsbad in December (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 21% fewe...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2nd to Last Sunset for 2023 in CarlsbadWe had a busy week - but then who didn't - and decided to head over to the beach yesterday to watch the sun set. There were lots of people out on the bluff above the ocean, cameras poised for photos and waiting for just the right moment. There were quite a few clouds which always make the sunsets and sky more interesting, even when the sun itself is hidden. You never know what you are going to see but it's always a wonderful time of relaxation at the end of the day.  It appears we made the right decision to go see the LAST sunset of 2023 in Carlsbad yesterday. There is so much cloud cover here this afternoon it appears we wouldn't be able to see the sun setting over the ocean at all, so we lucked out. UPDATE: Well, the skies cleared up a bit a few ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Free Christmas Tree Recycling in Carlsbad  Christmas is now behind us. And some people may already be thinking about taking down the holiday tree. As they do annually, the City of Carlsbad is offering free, curbside pickup of Christmas trees for Carlsbad residents now through January 14th. Christmas tree curbside pickup is on the regular trash pick-up day unless it falls on the Christmas and New Year’s observed holidays. Trash pick-up may be delayed during the after week after these holidays. Christmas trees should be placed next to the green compost bin at curbside. Be sure to remove all decorations, lights, tinsel and tree stands before recycling. If possible cut the tree and place it in the Green Waste recycling bin for pick-up.  If your tree is taller than 6 feet it must be cut in h...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The 2024 Carlsbad Marathon~ Sunday January 14th ~ The popular Carlsbad Marathon is Sunday January 14th.  Remember that’s also the Martin Luther King holiday weekend – the official holiday is Monday the 15th! If you plan to participate hopefully you have been busy with training! The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon is a popular world-class event. It’s also a qualifying race for the famed Boston Marathon. There are usually plenty of runners from other areas of the US planning on this event! The Marathon is limited to 1200 runners. The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon also offers a Double Down Challenge. There are 2 races, first the 5K (3.1 miles) followed by the half marathon, a total of 16.2 miles. Up to 4500 runners can participate in the Half Marathon, and 1000 in the...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Throwback Thursday - The Last Hand-cut Christmas Tree For years living in New England we had a tradition of getting a cut Christmas, hand-sawed down by yours truly. It was a fun activity which the kids enjoyed, despite dealing with the winter weather in early December that included cold weather and sometimes snow. There were plenty of tree farms in the Boston area to choose from, especially when we lived out in the suburbs in Bolton, Littleton and Stowe. The tradition continued when we spent a couple of years in the Twin Cities in Minnesota with even colder weather. The second winter we were there it was 25 degrees below zero when we went to saw down the tree. It's a bit of challenge to saw down a tree in that kind of cold, bundled up in a parka with heavy boots and gloves on. Tradition...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Holiday Cookie Making - Round 2Yesterday we made granola using a new recipe with maple syrup instead of brown sugar. It turned out well and worthy of breakfast and sharing with a couple of the neighbors. Round 2 of our cookie making was today (Round 1 was made at Thanksgiving, our annual family tradition), the classic snowball cookies using my wife's Mom's recipe.  We decided to add a couple variations. In addition to the classic, rolled in powdered sugar once cooked, we rolled some of the dough in finely chopped pecans before baking. The other variation were thumbprint cookies with apricot jam. They turned out well and have been more than adequately taste tested by the chefs. And several of the neighbors were lucky recipients.  Are there special cookies that you make for the holidays?
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Ho Ho Highland in Carlsbad Lots of neighbors living along Highland Drive in Olde Carlsbad (just east of Carlsbad Village) celebrate the holiday season with large inflatable Santas at the front of their properties. Many of the homes on the hill offer distant views of the ocean. I took a drive down Highland south of Carlsbad Village Drive while out running errands to see them…a first for me. I can’t believe I didn’t know these existed!  I counted 30 of the large inflatable Santas in the 6 block drive I took. They are all pretty similar and I’d estimate about 20 feet tall, perhaps taller. I also saw a number of small ones as well…thus the appropriate nickname for this neighborhood being Ho Ho Highland. I don’t know how long this has been a tradition but it sounds like more and more homeown...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Merry Melodies Holiday Music Series ~ Carlsbad Village 2023 ~ The Carlsbad Village Association continues to support the Village businesses, and encourages residents and visitors to enjoy the holiday season with the Merry Melodies Series. The free music takes place at the corner of Grand Avenue and State Street. This free series of holiday music kicked off Friday December 8 from 5 – 7 pm with songs by the Carlsbad High School Vocal Music Program. Free hot chocolate and candy canes were provided by First Team Real Estate. The Merry Melodies series continues this Friday the 15th with music by Laura and Leilani. These talented vocalists will share jazzy holiday music accompanied by Leilani on the piano and flute. Again the music will be offered from 5 pm. to 7 pm.  It’s a great time of year...
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