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The Agent Resource Center is for the exclusive use of Real Living LIFESTYLES Agents and associates. If you would like access to this extraordinary set of real estate tools, please contact Eileen Schwartz at (760) 803-4663.

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San Diego: A Leader in an “Infant” Housing Recovery

Pacific St. - View 4

As most San Diegans know, local housing prices rose and fell far in advance of most of the country.  But what they may not know is that it seems our home town has become one of the leaders in an “infant” housing recovery.

To be sure, San Diego Real Estate is still a real “mixed bag” these days but Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index for November 09’ showed area prices up nearly 0.4% from both Oct 09’ and Nov 08’.  (the report has a 60 day lag period)   As such, we were one of only four areas nationally to see an upturn beginning late last year with the others being Dallas, Denver and San Francisco.  Additionally, the local index has risen steadily since hitting its low in April of 09’ which adds to the good news.

However, the 20 metro areas in the index were collectively down over the same period.  That news should add more than a bit of caution to the good news since any recovery could not be seen as being broad-based.  Adding to the “seesaw” effect is the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s price index, which is up 0.7% from October to November and is based on mortgage financing.  And still another factor to consider is that in the months following last year’s $8,000, federal 1st time home buyer credit, overall sales predictably softened up.

With the “hangover” effect from that buyer credit having run its course, it’s my opinion that what we see going forward from here should be the market naturally finding its own way and the effort for the market to build a reliable base continuing to have its ups & downs .  And of course, what that means to you still has more to do with your own personal situation than anything else.

For instance, I work with a number of investors who have noted a change in the market going back to the spring of 09’ while my clients who bought or sold a home for themselves have experienced things very differently.  No matter which group you might fall into, stay informed.  Check this blog for the latest news or use the tools on my website www.oldecarlsbadrealty.com .  From there you can check the latest mortgage rates, homes available for sale in San Diego, the value of your own home and more.  If you need help beyond what you find on my sight then please give me a call and I’ll be happy to follow up.

Paul M.

Paul R. Morales, Realtor
Exclusive Properties
760-720-4488 Direct

www.OldeCarlsbadRealty.com

Serving all of Southern California

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Related Posts: Area Information, Area Statistics, Buyers, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Homeowners, homes for sale, Interest Rates, Oceanside, Real Estate News, San Diego, tax credit

The Horses Are on the Track!

The Track II

All Around America, the passing of a year is marked by major holidays, the beginning or end of a school year, and the four seasons.  But in San Diego, where it often seems like we only have two seasons, marking time always seems to take on a somewhat different look.  That “look”, more often than not takes the shape of the outdoor special events that make this area such a special place to live.

With the first half of the year gone & marked by the La Jolla Cove Polar Bear Plunge in January, to the start of another great Padres baseball season in April, then on to Carlsbad’s TGIF Jazz in the Park Concert Series (just to mention a few events), San Diegans are now looking forward to an event that starts the second half.  Of course, I’m talking about the thoroughbred horse racing season at Del Mar and 7 weeks of entertainment (Wed. 7/21 – Wed.7/ 8, 2010) that in many ways, are unmatched anywhere in the country.

With crowds of 40,000 plus fans flocking to the “Hat Day” opening celebration and average daily attendance of over  17,000, there can be no doubt about the place racing season holds in the calendar.  The attraction is easy to understand when you realize that horse racing is just part of what the event is all about.  There’s live Music on Fridays & Saturdays (the 4 O’Clock Fridays Concert Schedule is listed below), Free Admission on Wednesdays, lawn seating on a beautiful infield, & promotional giveaways throughout the season.

That’s a lot of good stuff to be found all in one spot, just like San Diego. So for those of you just getting to know the area, as well as the natives, make sure to take the time to enjoy this event as well as the rest of the “seasons” uniquely our own.  Because, this is a great place to live and it would be a shame to pass it up.

Thanks for visiting and if you live in the area, or plan on moving here, then make it a point to revisit this blog or my website, www.OldeCarlsbadRealty.com.  You’ll be able to learn more about San Diego as well get the answers to all your real estate questions including how to find the perfect home!

Paul Morales, Exclusive Properties

Fri, Jul 23 Pinback Fri, Jul 30 Common Sense

Fri, Aug 6 The B-52s Fri, Aug 13 The Soft Pack

Sat, Aug 14 Jimmy Cliff & Matisyah Fri, Aug 20 Ozomatli

Sat, Aug 21 Weezer Fri, Aug 27 Super Diamond

Sat, Aug 28 Microbrew Fest & Local Music Showcase

Fri, Sep 3 The English Beat Sat, Sep 4 ZZ Top

Related Posts: Activities & Events, Area Information, Buyers, Coastal Living, Del Mar, Find A Home, Just for Fun, San Diego, Sellers, Tourism

Top 10 Homes, New to the Market, Plus Recent Sales

sand

From The Sand to The Sage and points between; here’s the latest from North County San Diego.

Carlsbad to San Marcos & Oceanside to Solana Beach, it’s no secret that North County San Diego is a great place to live.  Whether it’s the beaches or the rolling hills, the climate or the communities; it’s hard to find a place that people are happier to call home. A testament to that is how many people I know who grew up in the area and love it to this day or those that have grown to love it after moving here.   Among my clients, a big part of that attachment is the variety of quality homes, suiting a variety of budgets, that are located in great neighborhoods.

For them & for others that have a home in North County (as well as those that are looking for one)  it’s almost inconceivable for them not to be able to stay “up” on the market.  So with that in mind, here’s a resource that can be regularly referenced where the best and the notable can be found all in one place.  I call it the Top Ten.

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(Homes selected on the basis of Value, Location, Quality or a combination thereof)

# Status
Address SqFt Br.Ba Price Notes
1 For Sale Nicklaus Dr. 1,619 2/2.5 $378K On the 10th Fairway
2 For Sale Cove Dr. #1 1,258 2/2 $435K On The Lagoon
3 For Sale Cam. Ocean Cove 1,258 2/1.5 $393K West of “5″
4 For Sale Glencrest Place 2,993 5/3 $1.249M Solana Beach Classic
5 For Sale Clearview Dr. 2,646 4/3.5 $1.35M VP Ocean View, Big Lot
6 For Sale Neptune Ave. 1,469 3/3 $2.495M On the sand
7 For Sale Links Way 1,411 2/2 $475K Golf Course View
8 For Sale York Dr. 2,874 4/3 $569K Rural Hacienda
9 For Sale Lone Oak Rd. 3,225 6/3 $495K Privacy, Views, .71Ac
10 For Sale Little Gopher Cny 3,191 4/2.5 $999K VP Country Estate

(Prices rounded up to the to nearest one thousand.  Br.Ba = Bedrooms & Bathrooms.  Price, K=Thousands, M=Million. VP = Variable Price)

Click here, OldeCarlsbadRealty.com, to search the homes in the list without their own link or click here, Community Info, to research neighborhood demographics for homes in San Diego County (scroll down to “communities”).

Notable Sales From Coastal North County.

# Status Address Zip Br Ba Est SF Sales Price COE
1 Sold 4525 Cove Dr # 13 92008 1 1 668 $149,900 05/13/2010
2 Sold 3080 Lincoln St # 18 92008 2 1 832 $300,000 06/04/2010
3 Sold 2778 Carlsbad Blvd. Blvd # 215 92008 2 3 1,498 $525,000 05/17/2010
4 Sold 3950 HIGHLAND Dr 92008 4 3 2,382 $675,000 05/14/2010
5 Sold 2677 Garfield St 92008 1 1 997 $899,000 05/28/2010
6 Sold 927 Alyssum Rd 92011 3 2 1,300 $585,000 05/20/2010
7 Sold 7080 Whitewater St 92011 3 3 2,142 $800,000 05/28/2010
8 Sold 1706 WARMLANDS Ave 92084 3 3 2,207 $320,000 06/03/2010
9 Sold 917 Salem St 92084 3 3 2,916 $550,000 05/25/2010
10 Sold 3792 Emma Rd 92084 4 4 3,794 $680,000 05/28/2010
11 Sold 3023 Deeb Dr 92084 5 4 4,649 $725,000 05/27/2010

For more information about a home in the Top Ten list or a home you have a specific interest in, just send me a note or give me a call.

Till the next time. Paul M.

Related Posts: Area Information, Area Statistics, Buyers, Carlsbad, Coastal Living, Encinitas, Exclusive Properties, Find A Home, homes for sale, La Costa, Leucadia, Market Trends, New Listings, Oceanside, San Diego, San Marcos, Sellers, Solana Beach

Free Concerts – 2010: Still one of the Best Reasons to Live in North County San Diego

It’s that time of year again!  In just a couple of weeks the 2010′ – TGIF, Jazz in the Parks Concert Series in Carlsbad will be off and running for its 25th year.  The concerts are one of several event series presented by a host of North San Diego County cities, including Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside & Vista, & are a perfect way for San Diegans & visitors alike to enjoy a summer evening.

The TGIF Jazz in the Parks Concert Series is family, as well as adult friendly, and the price is right because it’s free.  The series features local performers as well as nationally recognized bands that cover a wide range of jazz, blues, regional & world music.  The 9 concerts in this years series are produced on consecutive Friday evenings beginning on June 25th and continue through August 20st with performances running from 6pm to 8pm.

For you veterans of TGIF Jazz, you may notice that this year’s series starts a little later in June than last year’s & is slightly shorten (just one concert).  So if you find yourself looking for things to do in the weeks before “show time”, then check out the calendar of events page at www.OldeCarlsbadRealty.com 

 It makes a point of highlighting free or low cost “things to do” which are just some of the reasons why so many people enjoy calling the San Diego area their home.

 

Thanks for visiting and if you live in the area,  or plan on moving here,  then make it a point to revisit here or my website.  You’ll be able to check out the latest local events as well get the answers to your real estate questions!

Paul Morales, Exclusive Properties

The 2010’ TGIF Jazz in the Parks Concert Schedule
“Celebrating 25 years of great music in Carlsbad”

TGIF

Stagecoach Park 3420 Camino de los Coches, 92009

The concert site is on Baseball Field #1 on the park’s upper level. Free parking is available until 9 pm directly across the street at La Costa Canyon High School.

Poinsettia Park 6600 Hidden Valley Road, 92011

Free shuttle service will operate between 5pm and 9 pm from two locations: south of the park at Pacific Rim Elementary School at the corner of Hidden Valley Road & Camino de las Ondas and north of the park at the Legoland parking lot off The Crossings Drive, just north of Palomar Airport Road.

Calavera Hills Park 2997 Glasgow Drive, 92008

At the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive. Free shuttle service will operate between 4:30 and 9 pm from Hope Elementary School, 3010 Tamarack Drive and from Calavera Hills School, 4100 N. Tamarack Drive at College Avenue.

Presented by the Cultural Arts Office/City of Carlsbad – www.carlsbadca.gov/arts

What to Bring – and Not Bring

Patrons should bring low-back beach chairs and ground cover to TGIF concerts. Long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and insect repellent with “deet” are recommended as a precaution against mosquitoes. Many patrons bring picnics; light refreshments are also available for sale. At each intermission, Opportunity Drawings are conducted by the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts to support the concert series and other cultural programs.

The use of bikes, skateboards, skates and roller blades is NOT allowed in the parks during concerts.

Pets and personal barbeques are NOT allowed in City parks by municipal ordinance.

Related Posts: Activities & Events, Carlsbad, Entertainment, Just for Fun, La Costa

Congress Extends Home Buyer Tax Credit!

As part of its plan to boost the residential housing market and to stimulate the overall economy in general, Congress has passed new legislation that:

  1. Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
  2. Expands the credit to grant a $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
  3. Requires the home being purchased to be subject to a written and binding purchase agreement before April 30, 2010. It allows for the sale to be completed up to and until July 1, 2010.

Listed below is more information about how this news can help home buyers chase down the American dream.

Who’s Qualified for the Tax Credit?

  1. First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
  2. Current home owners purchasing a home between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser(s) may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

If you purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and the date the bill is signed into law by President Obama, the original 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit applies to you.

What type Properties Are Eligible for the Tax Credit?

The credit may be applied to primary residences such as single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops but only on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

Buyer Income Limitations:

Buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

These income limits have changed from the original 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit limits.

Some buyers who’s incomes exceed these limits may still be eligible for the credit but every qualified home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:

  1. The price of the home.
  2. The buyer’s income.

The credit decreases for single buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers who file their taxes jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as the buyer’s income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit. Additionally, for all qualified purchases, the full amount of the credit will be need to be repaid if the home is sold within 3 years from the date of purchase but does not need to be repaid if the buyer occupies the home for more than 3 years.

Related Posts: Buyers, Education, Financial news, Market Trends, Real Estate News, San Diego, tax credit

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