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Carlsbad Relocation A to Z

Blog by Jeff Dowler
Encinitas, California

An informational source for people who are relocating, with a particular focus on moving to the Carlsbad area of North County San Diego, 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

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Carlsbad Relocation A to Z

Researching Schools, Communities, Crime Stats and the Housing Market

Mar. 31, 2009
Categorized in: Internet information

Check out my recent post on Carlsbad Real Estate News for information how to research schools, communities, crime statistics and the housing market reports.

Internet Aids for Helping You in Your Relocation to Carlsbad

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler

Do Not Open the Refrigerator

Feb. 3, 2009
Categorized in: House Hunting

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.

Here's why you don't open that refrigerator door.

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Subscribe in a reader

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.

Search for Homes Community Information First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler

The ActiveRain Real Estate Network - A Powerful Consumer Tool

Jan. 14, 2009
Categorized in: Research

I have mentioned, on more than one occasion, my writing on ActiveRain, the largest real estate social and informational network on-line with over 128,000 members of the RE biz.

I suspect many of you have been there as a result of links to articles posted here on Relocation A to Z. I have been a member of ActiveRain for over 2 years now, with almost 1000 articles written. The membership when I started was a little over 6,000 folks.

ActiveRain, or AR as it is fondly called, is a powerful consumer tool (see link below)

ActiveRain real estate network logo and link

There are many thousands of articles on AR written by REALTORS like myself, mortgage brokers, staging professionals, home inspectors and others in our business. These articles have to do with communities all over the US, housing, things to do and places to visit, as well as a wealth of information useful to buyers and sellers.

A recent article by founder Jon Washburn indicated that while AR is a powerful peer-to-peer platform, it is even more powerful as a consumer tool, with about 9 times as many consumer hits as members, and a growth rate in 2008 of about 200%.

Walkable Neighborhoods in North County San Diego

Dec. 17, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting

Read about walkable real estateI have had a good number of buyers who are relocating here and want to be within walking distance of amenities such as shopping, restaurants, services, and the public library, among other things.

While this is not an easy thing to find, there are real estate opportunities in a number of North County San Diego communities where I work that will allow for this - Carlsbad, Cardiff, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar for example.

Walkability, of course, is in the eyes of the beholder, or should we say the feet of the walker?

Some people consider 15 - 20 minutes a very reasonable walk and others want to be closer, say 10 minutes or so. So as I am sharing information about these communities, bear in mind that if walking distance is important you will need to check it out for yourself to be sure.

There is a neat web tool that allows you to gain an idea of walkability. I talk about it in the first of my walkable neighborhood series articles - it's called a WALKSCORE. You simply enter an address and it will calculate a score based on proximity to a variety of amenities (plus you get the distances to those amenities so you can sort of judge for yourself). Being close to one store will not get you a high walkability score - what is more important is general walkability to a range of amenities and services.

READ MORE: Finding a Place to Live With Great Walkability (Walkable Neighborhood Series)

I am continuing to add communities to my walkable neighborhood series, but here are the first few. And if I can provide more information, please let me know. Or stop by the search page on my website and search for homes in the MLS (the link is BELOW). Grab a few and enter the addresses into Walkscore to see how it works. Or use your own address. have fun, and happy searching.

Carlsbad Village Real Estate in Carlsbad, California

 

 

Downtown Encinitas

 

 

Cardiff Real Estate in The Walking District in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

 

 

Carlsbad Homes for Sale in La Costa, Carlsbad

 

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If I can provide more information about Del Mar, 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.

Search for Homes Community Information First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Services for Buyers Who Are Relocating

Nov. 30, 2008
Categorized in: Finding a REALTOR

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

Informed Sellers page on my website

for some helpful information.

Read the full article on my service offerings here.

Watch out for That Appraisal in Today's Market, Buyers

Jul. 3, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting

Buyers in our area, and others, are now confronting a new issue in their real estate transacation - the APPRAISAL.

Having a home appraisal is NOT new, of course, and most buyers (and sellers) typically anxst over the appraisal until it is completed, since the bank will not issue a loan commitment until the underwriter has the complete file and reviews the appraisal.

            

Today's market, wtih declining prices in many areas, and the increasing number of short sales, foreclosures, and REOs (bank owned properties) is creating problems in many communities with appraisals which are, increasingly, coming in below the agreed-upon purchase price. Banks are tightening standards (only 3 months allowed for comparables, not 6) and appraisers themselves are being more closely scrutinized.

You may be relocating to a market very different from your current one and may find this to be more of an issue, or possibly less.

Is this a concern?

In many markets it should be. And as a prudent buyer there are things you should know, and do.

Read There's a New Source of Anxiety here.

This is just one more GOOD reason to make sure you are working with an agent in your relocation who really knows the local market and can help avoid some of these issues.

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

Don't Take Short Cuts on Your Home Inspection

Jun. 12, 2008
Categorized in: Due Diligence
Tagged with: buyers, home inspections
Folks who are buying Carlsbad real estate, or anywhere for that matter, owe it to themselves to do a thorough investigation of the property they wish to buy.
This is not new news, or shouldn’t be.

Most REALTORS strongly encourage buyers to hire a home inspector to investigate the home they are trying to buy and part of the due diligence process. To not do so is foolhardy, in my opinion. We even have a disclosure here that advises buyers that to not conduct such an investigation is going against the recommendations of the agent. But sometimes folks don’t listen.

With the market we are in, this becomes even more critical, given the number of short sales foreclosures, and bank-owned properties (REOs). Since these homes, and sometimes others, are sold AS IS, a prudent real estate buyer will want to know what they are getting themselves into before signing on the dotted line.

My experiences with home inspectors have been pretty good, although I know there are some who are not so competent. And let’s face it they are normally not trades people so their inspections may be less thorough than, say, a licensed plumber. Nor should they be expected to be as knowledgeable. Plus there are always those darned disclosures and disclaimers.If they recommend further evaluation, it is probably wise to listen.

The point of all this is to ask whether you, Mr. and/or Ms. Carlsbad Buyer, are really doing as thorough an inspection as you should. Or are there cases where more is needed?

Read the full article here.

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

What You Should Know About Down Payments

May. 28, 2008
Categorized in: Financial Stuff

I recently wrote about the importance of considering your overall financial status and goals when making a Carlsbad home purchase. It’s a big decision and there can be huge financial implications, both in the near term and down the road.

Most buyers, unless they qualify for 100% financing or obtain gift money, will allocate a large chunk of cash to the down payment (up to 20% or more of the purchase price; with detached homes starting around $500K in Carlsbad we are talking $100,000!). And the decision of how large a down payment to make on your home purchase is not just about making a competitive offer, but may have huge implications on your big-picture financial situation. This decision requires a careful analysis and depends on your unique set of circumstances.

So I got some information from a friend of mine, Paul Parotti, a financial planner, and wanted to share this. With the help of a qualified real estate agent, financial planner, mortgage professional and possibly a CPA, buyers should look at the following factors when making this decision:

$    $    $    $    $  

How will the down payment expense affect your nest egg? Tying up too much of your net worth in your home would create major problems if you were to lose your job or encounter some other financial difficulty. For those who think they will always have the option of cashing out excess equity by refinancing, consider that mortgage standards on cash out refinances are much more stringent than on purchase transactions, with lower loan-to-value allowances and stricter borrower credit requirements. Even if you do qualify for a cash out refinance, closing costs may be several thousands of dollars. The bottom line: it’s best to keep enough cash available to float you for six months or more, just in case.

Read the full article here.

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

St. Joseph, Crystal Balls and Psychics - Are They For Real "Estate?"

May. 20, 2008
Categorized in: Psychology Stuff

What IS the real estate world coming to?

St. Joseph? Crystal Balls? Psychics?


You bet. There are tons of predictions floating around, and everyone wants to know:

  • will my house sell?
    • When will the market hit bottom?
      • Should I buy or sell now or wait?


Whether you believe in the power of St. Joseph to sell your home, wish your REALTOR had a crystal ball, or are one of many folks who consult psychics on a variety of subjects, predictions seem to be the mainstay of our housing market these days.

Read more about a growing trend.

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

Here are 9 Benefits of Working with an Agent Who is Blogging

May. 5, 2008
Categorized in: Role of a REALTOR

A couple of years ago blogging was almost an unknown, certainly not common knowledge.

Some agents and other real estate professional were involved but not to the extent we see today. Similarly, use of the Internet by buyers and sellers continues to grow dramatically – it is hard to find a consumer who isn’t searching for homes, and learning about real estate and agents, on-line.

Consumers these days have many advantages by working with a REALTOR (and other real estate professionals – stagers, mortgage officers, title and escrow folks, inspectors and so on) who blogs.

Real estate professionals, as well, derive many advantages in their blogging for consumers. Those of you who blog regularly know this; those who don’t (but you are reading this, right?), listen up!

Read the full article here with all the 9 advantages of blogging for YOU, the buyer or seller.

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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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

Buying a Home is at Least a Part-Time Job

Apr. 28, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting
If you have been through it you probably already know this. But maybe not.

Or you have forgotten if you bought a long time ago (and things have changed).

Buying a home, whether you are doing this for the first time or are experienced at it, really IS like having a second job, at least a part-time one. Especially if you take your house hunting seriously and want to do as good a job as you can.

The market is complicated, as are the state laws that govern how real estate transactions must occur. And if you are relocating and must both sell and buy, I would say this really becomes a full time endeavor, as least for the time it takes to get both sides of the transaction completed.

Unfortunately, I think many get into the process without giving serious thought to how much time it can take...and should if you go about it correctly.


Read more about this part time job of house hunting.

The Downside of Searching for a Home Online

Mar. 3, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting
Don't OVERDO your time on the computerAnyone who has been reading my thoughts about house hunting can tell I am a big fan of the Internet. I use it extensively in my efforts to help buyers and sellers, and before I moved to California spent many months looking on-line to learn about the Southern California communities I thought I would like to explore for my next home (and we found our house on-line before we ever saw it).

There is so much you can learn as a buyer before you ever set foot in a potential home that meets your criteria, especially if you are relocating to a new area you are completely unfamiliar with. It can save you time, money (e.g., fewer house hunting trips) and frustration. You can learn more about the local market, get a sense of housing styles, compare homes, and much more. With applications like Google Earth you can get street views and look at the local topography, map links will show you distances, and traffic sites can tell you about the local and commuter traffic on the major roads.

BUT I think there are some negatives, too, or at least disadvantages. There are just some things that we want to know about communities and homes that you just will not get on-line, no matter how thorough you are. This has become more and more clear as I talk to buyers who are planning to relocate here, or are exploring the area, and who have questions about proximity to the beaches, views, nearness to amenities, the influence of the weather patterns, noise from the train and the freeway, and more.

In our area, with the diversity of views, housing, neighborhoods, amenities and topography, learning what most want to really know about the area so they can decide where they want to live will require a personal visit, as well as some detailed questions to a trusted real estate professional. Gaining the real feel for a neighborhood still requires a bit of touching in person.

Don't, by any means, give up the Internet searching, It's an essential part of the house hunting process.  But recognize that some of what you probably need to know will transcend what is available on-line.

Watch Out for That Appraisal

Feb. 27, 2008
Categorized in: Financial Stuff
AppraiserIf you are buying a new home, or are a seller who has a buyer who is purchasing your home, and it will be financed by a bank, watch out for that appraisal.

Why do I raise a red flag?

BUYERS:
Well, as a buyer, the home you are purchasing must appraise at an amount that meets the underwriter's requirements for the loan amount. They won't loan you $500,000 for a home that appraises at $475,000. Not good business for the bank. So this is a critical step.

Secondly, the timing is important here. The appraisal MUST be reviewed by the underwriter in order to review it and then approve the loan. That can take a day or two, or more. So if the appraisal itself is delayed in getting to the bank this may hold up the loan approval process.

Make sure you talk with your lender and that they order the appraisal as soon as you have a signed purchase agreement. It may take a few days for the appraiser to schedule the appointment, and then several days more before the actual appraisal is sent to the bank. You will have to bird-dog this process, as will your agent, to keep things moving along.

SELLERS:
The appraisal is critical for you as well. Obviously if the home does not appraise the buyer will not get a loan and will not go to closing. Bad for you. Herein lies the risk of selling a home at over market value - the bank will wonder about loaning $500,000 when comparable homes are selling at $475,000.

The timing for you is important too, for obvious reasons. While it is not your responsibility directly you have a vested interest in things moving along. So, your agent may want to keep tabs on what is happening at the buyer's end so the appraisal get scheduled promptly. And since it is likely your listing agent may need to let the appraiser in, you don't want any delays.

Don't let a delayed appraisal cause you grief!

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Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

Getting Organized - Moving Into Your New Home (Part 2)

Feb. 18, 2008
Categorized in: Your New Home
Get Organized in Your New HomeHere you are at the end of your journey - moving into your new home, where you need to focus on preserving the organization you put in place before this whole relocation process started.

Here Kathi offers her final suggestions on unpacking in your new home so you can maintain that organization.

I hope you have found this series of articles on getting organized useful and will implement some of these suggestions, even if you are not moving yet. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Good luck with your relocation!

Here's the first article of this last part of the series - Getting Organized - Moving into Your New Home - Getting Settled

If you missed part 1 of the Second section on Preparing for your move, you can read it here: Organizing for Your Move
Here's Part 2 - Packing to Move
And here's Part 3 - Moving Day

Here are the posts in the first part of the series on Preparing Your House for Sale:
Part 1 - Get Organized: Preparing Your House for Sale (Getting Started/Space Clearing 101)
Part 2 - Get Organized: Preparing Your House for Sale (Donate and Recycle/Trash)
Part 3 - Getting Organized: Preparing Your House for Sale
(Reload your closets, and Help)

Kathi Burns, Founder of addSpace to Your Life!, talks now about being organized in your new home and offers some final unpacking suggestions.

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A Few More Unpacking Tips

 
1. As you unpack, spread drop clothes under boxes and in high traffic areas to catch dust and foot debris.

 2. To help your kids get used to their new space, create an agreed upon ‘home’ for each possession. The ‘home’ is the place where the item will get stored when not in use.

 With this method, when it comes time to clean up, you should say, take that toy home, not put it away. There is a BIG difference between putting away, i.e. under the bed or pillow and taking it home to a pre-determined and unmistakable holding zone until further use.

 
3. After moving, resell or recycle your boxes. Pack and ship faculties will gladly recycle your bubbles. Peanuts have a half-life of 500 years so think twice before you toss them into the trash.

Enjoy creating your new life and lifestyle. You worked hard to find your dream home and you deserve a break. If possible, schedule time off after your move so you can recover from the move and fully settle into your new home with ease.

Kathi Burns, founder of addSpace To Your Life!,
a Professional Organizing and Image Consulting Agency

Email Kathi for 10 Quick Tips to Organize Your Bathroom. Mention bathroom in the subject line.

You will also receive other free organizing tips from time to time.*

*We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger.

To read other articles about moving and organizing visit AddSpace to Your Life!

Communities and Subdivisions in Coastal North County San Diego

Feb. 6, 2008
Categorized in: Neighborhoods
If you are considering homes in the North County San Diego area, here's a summary table of some of the coastal communities, and some neighborhoods and subdivisions within them.

Happy home searching.

If I can help in any way, please feel free to call or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

COMMUNITY PROFILES and NEIGHBORHOODS

CARLSBAD

Aviara, La Costa, Rancho Carrillo, Calavera Hills, Brookfield,

La Costa Greens, La Costa Oaks, La Costa Ridge, The Bay Collection,

La Costa Meadowridge, Azure Cove/Isla Mar/Tramonto, La Costa Condos, Avocet, Sea Point Tennis Club at La Costa, Bressi Ranch, Carlsbad Waterfront Homes, La Costa Golf Course Homes, La Costa Resort Villas, Aviara Point, Bella Lago, Trieste, Alga Hills, Balearas, The Fairways, La Costa Valley, Brindisi, BluWater Crossing, Building lots, Tamarack Beach Lofts, The Bluffs, Harbor Pointe, Viridian, Emerald Pointe, Poinsettia Cove, Bristol Cove, Serenata, La Costa Resort area homes

 

ENCINITAS

Leucadia, Encinitas Ranch, Olivenhain, Nantucket and Costa Laguna in Leucadia, Surfer’s Point Resort, Waterfront Homes, Coral Cove, The Sands

 

SAN MARCOS

 

San Elijo Hills, Lake San Marcos, Masterpiece and Symphony at San Elijo Hills

CARDIFF

 

Walking District, Composer District, Park Place

RANCHO SANTA FE

Cielo, The Lakes, The Crosby

 

 

 

SOLANA BEACH

Cedros Design District

 

 

 

DEL MAR

No Neighborhood articles


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If I can provide more information about 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.

Search for Homes Community Information
First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

Will 2008 be YOUR Year in Real Estate?

Jan. 9, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting
2007 was a tough year in many parts of the country for real estate. No question. And 2008 is not expected to be a banner year although projections are for some improvement. No one has a crystal ball so despite these predictions NO ONE knows for sure what will happen.

The media, of course (radio, TV, newspapers), tends to portray the real estate situation as pretty dismal all over, with dire predictions of doom and gloom, and headlines screaming about the drop in sales.

Yes, there have been significant changes in many markets, but unfortunately what you see in the media are the averages, the summary, the more unpleasant news, without paying much attention to what is the reality in many areas. Some market ARE doing well, with low inventory, buyers actively buying and so on. The media seems to ignore the fact that REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL. And general market conditions from a county, state or national perspective do NOT accurately reflect what is going on in the local economy, such as a city or smaller towns.

As a buyer or seller it is essential to have all the market information you can obtain so YOU have an accurate picture and can make the decision that is right for you. This is especially true if you are moving to another part of the country, as local conditions may be far different from what is being reported on the news or in the headlines. A local REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL can provide you with the data you need so you can decide what's best. For example:

  • Are prices stable or trending up or down?
  • What are the conditions for your particular price range (in some areas the low end market is doing very well, while the mid range is much slower)?
It may be that the buying or selling conditions in your intended area are not very favorable. And you still need to look at your personal financial picture  to determine if buying now is right for you. And if you plan to be in your house for a number of years market fluctuations are not going to have much, if any impact in your long term outlook.

The rates are the best they have been in 2 years. Even if prices DO drop in some areas, if the rates go up, then there is a strong possibility you could pay more for the same house. Who wants to do that?

If selling your home and buying a new one is YOUR plan for 2008 (a pretty good likelihood in a relocation) do your homework NOW.

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Start your CARLSBAD HOMES SEARCH here (and other San Diego communities)

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Visit CARLSBAD COMMUNITY REPORTS for profiles on communities, subdivisions and neighborhoods (including other areas)

Are you a first time home buyer. Check out FIRST TIME BUYER CENTRAL.

A Summary of Relocation Tips (Post #3)

Jan. 9, 2008
Categorized in: The Move Itself
Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California on New Year's DayHere's my next summary article on relocation tips, Relocation is NOT for Dummies.

1. Relocation to another state or across the country is a challenge, and there is so much to coordinate. Making a list is a smart idea to keep things on track and not miss anything. There is packing to do, movers to hire, possibly kids and/or pets to worry about, and so much more.
Get the lowdown on these issues here.

2. Some of you who are relocating may have a RELOCATION PACKAGE from your current or new employer. I would suggest reading this summary of the things you should consider.

In case you missed the earlier summary articles:

Summary of Relocation Tips (Post #1) - Emotional and psychological stuff

Summary of Relocation Tips (Post #2) -  Selling your home and house hunting


If I can help in any way with YOUR relocation, please don't hesitate to
give me a call or TEXT ME at (760) 840-1360
or email me.


******************************************************************

Start your CARLSBAD HOMES SEARCH here (and other San Diego communities)

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Visit CARLSBAD COMMUNITY REPORTS for profiles on communities, subdivisions and neighborhoods (including other areas)

Are you a first time home buyer. Check out FIRST TIME BUYER CENTRAL.

Putting Photos on a Map for Buyers and Sellers

Dec. 17, 2007
Categorized in: Selling Your House
Tagged with: buyers, sellers

I have started to use a new application that I believe will be helpful for both buyers and sellers.

Map My Pix allows me to put photos on a map that are easily viewed by clicking. The viewer not only sees the photo (or a tourist site, home, etc.) but also the location.

I see some great utility and plan to use this is a number of ways for clients.

  1. I will include the map with relevant photos in my on-line listings (check out the first one here to see the Mapping with Photos in action) for buyers to learn more about my listings
  2. I'm going to start using the mapping in my listing presentation so sellers will see yet another way in which I use technology, and how will use it when I list their home!
  3. My relocation buyers will receive a map with the photos of the homes they will be touring when they meet with me for their house-hunting trip.
  4. I will also share copmmunity profiles and a map with photos of the areas my relocation clients are interested in (e.g.,photos of restaurants, sights, parks)

What do you think? Will this be helpful?

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Start your CARLSBAD HOMES SEARCH here (and other San Diego communities)

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Visit CARLSBAD COMMUNITY REPORTS for profiles on communities, subdivisions and neighborhoods (including other areas)

Are you a first time home buyer. Check out First Time Buyer Central.

Are You Ready to Make an Offer?

Dec. 17, 2007
Categorized in: House Hunting

So you are ready to make an offer on a Carlsbad home (or elsewhere).

Are you new at this? Or do you already know the drill?

Heere are some thoughts on what to expect (keep in mind the process may vary a little bit in different states - but this is how we do it in California).

First, decide on an offer price, perhaps the most important thing you need to do...read more on making an offer here.

*********************************

Start your CARLSBAD HOMES SEARCH here (and other San Diego communities)

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Visit CARLSBAD COMMUNITY REPORTS for profiles on communities, subdivisions and neighborhoods (including other areas)

Are you a first time home buyer. Check out First Time Buyer Central.

Does Your Relocation Package Include Closing Costs?

Dec. 3, 2007
Categorized in: Financial Stuff

If you have a relocation package with your new employer, there are a number of possible components that can impact your move, and that you should check on.

Read:

Does Your Relocation Package Include an Equity Loan? and

Does Your Relocation Package Include a Buyout?

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Another item that may be covered in your relocation package are CLOSING COSTS.

You might have these paid for on the sale of your home, but perhaps also at the buy side of the transaction. Check to see if either is the case, since this may have an impact on what you negotiate for on the sale or purchase of your home. It may also impact what you can afford.

For example, some sellers will offer to pay a portion of your closing costs when they counter offer YOUR offer. This doesn't do you any good if you are getting the closing costs paid for. So something else might need to negotiated as part of your agreement to buy the home which can be to your benefit, say a lower price.

Knowing ALL the details of your relocation package is critical so you are prepared.

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