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 (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
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Aug. 18, 2009
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).
Jul. 25, 2009
Categorized in: House Hunting
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.
Mar. 31, 2009
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.
    
All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler
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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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.
All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler
Jan. 14, 2009
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)
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%.
Dec. 17, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting
 I have had a good number of buyers who are relocatin g 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.
All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
Nov. 30, 2008
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.
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.
All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler
Jun. 12, 2008
Categorized in: Due Diligence
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.
.jpg) 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.
All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler
May. 28, 2008
Categorized in: Financial Stuff
.jpg) 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.
All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler
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.
All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler
May. 5, 2008
.jpg) 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.
All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler
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.
Mar. 3, 2008
Categorized in: House Hunting
 Anyone 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.
Feb. 27, 2008
Categorized in: Financial Stuff
.jpg) If 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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