Relocation is tough, and you probably need some help to get through the process.

Here are the highlights of some services you can expect if you are moving to Southern California.

Community information - Here are just a few community profiles in my service area – Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, Cardiff, Solana Beach.

Market Conditions - I provide monthly market reports on communities like Carlsbad, Encinitas and Cardiff but can customize reports for you for any North County San Diego community.

MLS listings

Photos - My Carlsbad Video and Photobloggery which I update regularly has plenty of photos and videos about the area to give you a feel for the San Diego lifestyle.

Videos – one of the best ways to get a feel for a home and the community is through video. Here’s an example of a community video. And here’s one of a listing of mine.

Phone Tour  

Buyers Handbook - the Buyer’s Handbook Summary is on my website on my homepage and can be downloaded at any time.

Websites for research

Help for Sellers Too – check out my

for some helpful information.

Read the full article on my service offerings here.

We often talk about first time buyers, but somehow first time sellers get lost in the shuffle.

Just like new buyers, some sellers have never sold  a home before and need help.There is lots to know, and while they are now seasoned buyers, they have to wear a different hat to sell their first home.

I have worked with a number of sellers recently who had no experience selling a home before. As a result, and to better help sellers who may be selling their first home, or thinking about it, I developed my First Time Seller's Handbook.

My first time sellers' handbook is something I share with seller clients once we start working together to give them all the information they need about showings, offers, due diligence and more.

However you can download a summary of my First Time Sellers Handbook to gain a better idea of many of the issues you need to think about as a seller.

If you are in the Carlsbad area (San Diego area) and would like to set up a time to meet and discuss selling your home, please let me know.

For folks in other areas of the country, I hope this handbook summary will help you get started. And if you need a qualified agent to help you in your area, please don't hesitate to let me know as I have a large referral network around the country and would be happy to help you find a qualified listing agent to assist you.

There is lots of uncertainty in the real estate market, although we have seen some positive signs in the Carlsbad area (read the most recent Carlsbad real estate market report; here's the Encinitas real estate market report).

Folks want to know if now is the right time to buy.

Tough question. And the answer depends on your reasons for buying, your long term plans and your financial situation. But here are some compelling reasons to consider buying, especially if you are on the fence right now but are in a position to buy.

First, the FHA requirements are going to change beginning January 1, 2009. Right now buyers must put down 3% as a down payment. In January the limit jumps to 3.5%, perhaps not a large amount but on a $500K house that is $2500 more cash needed.

The other major reason you might consider buying before year end is that the limits on conforming mortgages will shift down. Earlier this year the limits were raised to as much as $729,750 in the more expensive areas, and $697,500 in others (e.g., San Diego), so folks who previously would have had jumbo loans (and higher rates) benefited from the lower interest rates. Beginning in January 2009 in the San Diego area the maximum for conforming loans will be $625,500 $546,250 so despite some price changes more loans will become jumbos, at higher rates.

Obviously there are other important issues to consider and a discussion with your mortgage person would be prudent to determine how these changes may affect you.

And learning more about the homes that are available to you in your price range now will help you make the right decision. The inventory is good, as are the rates, and buyers are able to negotiate with sellers, so this combination of factors may make this the right time to buy for some folks.

REOs (bank owned properties) are found in the majority of real estate markets these days, along with short sales and foreclousre. Lots of buyers are interested in acquiring these properties but the task of doing so is often not easy.

REOs tend to be easier to purchase because they are already bank owned, and they are generally pretty motivated to sell. Don't expect to get these at rock bottom prices, but some are pretty good deals.

If you are moving to, or are in, the Carlsbad California area I just posted an article are buying REOs

.

• The article provides some important information for any buyer interested in buying an REO.

• I also provide a sampler of REO buyers in the Carlsbad real estate market and in nearby areas.