An informational source for people who are relocating, with a particular focus on moving to the Carlsbad area of North County San Diego (and nearby coastal communities), with advice, guidance and true stories to help you on your way and make it a great journey, from a REALTOR� with plenty of personal (4 major moves, most recently from Boston to Carlsbad, California) and professional relocation experience. Are you running into problems selling your home? Need to find a new one quickly? Never moved before and haven't a clue? You'll find some great tips on how to solve your relocation issues here. Or ask me a question any time and I'll share some solutions or tell you where to get more information.
CA DRE License #01490977
One indicator that things may be improving in the Carlsbad real estate market (and in surrounding areas) is that they are building NEW homes in Carlsbad again.
Buyers in the Carlsbad real estate market who want new construction once again have a number of options. This is a big change from last year when things sorta dried up. AND these new homes are selling, and quickly...some are sold and they are not even built yet.
Foks who are relocating to this area, or pondering it, and who want to know more, here are someupdates on the new construction in town. Feel free to check with me for more details adn updates, but most of this information is pretty recent.
CopperWood at La Costa Oaks - detached homes, some with canyon and distant ocean views, in the Encinitas Schools
Stay tuned for my articles on two other developments - 53 Melrose in Carlsbad near La Costa Ridge, and The Foothills (Rock Rose) near Calavera Hills to the north.
San Diego Real Estate Market Reports for Area Communities YTD 2009
If you are moving to the San Diego area, or are considering making the move, you are likely interested in what is going on with prices.
As you are likely aware, the San Diego real estate market has been in the news quite a bit in the past for the huge pricing upswing, as well as for the changes in our market over the last 4 years.
Here is a SUMMRY REPORT of the San Diego real estate market conditions for some North San Diego County communities that I service for the year-to-date 2009.
I work with lots of relocation buyers, and often the lifestyle they are seeking with their move to Southern California is different than what they currently enjoy. I know mine changed when I moved here from the Boston area...at least some aspects of it did.
But sometimes buyers really want to preserve their current lifestyle, to the extent that's possible, when moving to this area.
I created this new LIFESTYLE QUESTIONNAIRE to help folks who are relocating focus a bit more on what their lifestyle is like and those aspects that are important to them. I find that the more I know about what buyers want in a home and neighborhood, including the aspects of their lifestyle that are really important, the better I can be helpful.
The questionnaire does not, of course, include everything, but I think it will help you focus on what is really important. I wold love to have your feedback.
Carlsbad Relocation Tips - Finding the Right Comunity and Your New Home
Relocating presents many challenges, especially if you are moving a long distance say from the right coast to the left coast as I did.
Finding the right community adn the right home are usually at the top of the relocating buyer's list. And while that can be a chore, with today's technolgoy adn a few tips, you can conduct a search for where you want to live without too much trouble other than some time and some good questions.
Since reprinting word for word can creat a problem for the search engines, here are the links to those articles that I believe will help in your search and answer some of your questions.
If you are selling your home as part of your RELOCATION, and planning to buy a new one in your new location, you really need to understand about INVENTORY and how it can impact the decisions you need to make.
Inventory will affect the price you will determine for listing your home so it is positioned well in YOUR particular market.
Bbut inventory will also impact the options you will have in your new location. A well-informed agent WILL understand this and be able to provide you with the information you need most so you can be an informed consumer.
If you need help in finding a qualified agent in your area, please feel free to let me know. I have a huge network of agents I know around the country becuase of my substantial Internet marketing plus my professional certifications (Certified Residential Specialist or CRS for one).
Stay tuned for Parts 3, 4 and 5 where I will help you find the right home, get through the house hunting process, and navigate the transaction from a distance so you can move to your new home in your new location.
In the current market in some areas, at the lower price points, it is NOT a buyer's market. That is certainly true here in Southern California in communities like Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido where there are a lot of short sales and REOs (bank owned foreclosures) under $300,000.
And buyers are finding they need to make quick decisions or they will lose out on properties they like. It is particularly difficult if you are relocating and are not here physically to see properties as soon as they come on the market.
The question becomes - "Buyers, How Fast Can You Move?". Read more to understand how this may affect you.
Considering a Short Sale or REO in Your Relocation Plans?
Lots of folks want to buy a short sale or an REO...or think they do.
This is fairly common for folks who are relocating here to Southern California because of the perception that these may be great deals given what they have heard about California foreclosures, and major price adjustments in the last several years. While it is true that prices have come down, substantially in some areas, the belief that you can get a home for 50 cents on the dollar is just not realistic, nor is buying a waterfront home in Carlsbad on the ocean for $500,000 a possibility.
That does not mean that you should not consider short sale and REO (foreclosure, bank-owned) homes, along with traditional resales so you get the full picture of your options. Indeed, you should. But being aware of some of the issues is important so you make an informed decision.
One thing you will often find is that things you normally would find in a resale are missing in a short sale, and even more commonly in an REO.
Researching Schools, Communities, Crime Stats and the Housing Market
Check out my recent post on Carlsbad Real Estate News for information how to research schools, communities, crime statistics and the housing market reports.
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
There is some good news for folks who are relocating to California and will be buying a new home afte March 1, 2009 and before March 1, 2010.
You MUST buy a new construction home (one that has never been lived in) in order to quality and must apply for the credit from the Franchise Tax Board here in California.
This must be a primary home and you must live there for two years.
So, if you are also a FIRST TIME HOME BUYER you might qualify for up to $18,000 in California - the new $8,000 First Time home Buyer credit AND the new home credit offered by CA.
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
WOW - Condos in the San Diego Area for UNDER $100,000
It's hard to believe but you CAN buy a condo in North County Can Diego for less than $100,000. And some of them are 2 and 3 bedroom.
If you are seeking a new home in our area in this price range, check out my recent post on condos for less than $100,000.
BTW, if you would like a customized list of homes, under $100,000 or otherwise, in a San Diego community, please send me an email and I will send you the information you need.
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
For many buyers who are relocating, checking out the schools is a critical part of the process in their move.
It can impact where they move to (i.e., the specific neighborhood) as well as the timing (in some school districts you must be a resident for a period of time before registering AND provide proof of occupancy), so doing the research in advance is smart.
Here are several sites that buyer clients have recommended from their own research. I have looked at all of them and find School Digger to be my favorite becuase of the amount of information and the functionality, but make you own decisions.
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
I wrote a warning to buyers, and agents, recently. It had to do with ot opening the refrigerator door in homes they were touring that are distress sales - bank owned properties, and vacant short sales and foreclosures.
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
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