I 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Carlsbad home buyers

If you are considering homes in the Aviara area of Carlsbad, one neighborhood you might want to visit (only if you are looking in the $900K and up range, however), is Serenata.

You can read more about this Aviara neighbood here.

And you might want to look at the most recent Carlsbad Market Report for the latest on what is happening with prices and inventory.

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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.

Maybe you already know this. But I bet many of you have not thought about it in this way.

As a seller of a Carlsbad home (or anywhere, for that matter), your FIRST open house is on-line...don't forget it, OR underestimate the power of what I just told you.

In this day and age of Internet marketing, unless your agent is in a cave, you should have plenty of exposure to the buying public on-line. It's the first place buyers generally look for homes, and so it is where they will gain a FIRST IMPRESSION of your home.

Is your Carlsbad home really ready for that open house?

I wrote an article directed more toward agents, but the same information applies to sellers. You and your agent have to work as a team to prepare for that FIRST OPEN HOUSE (as an example, some of the photos I have seen on-line for homes are pretty scary - who would want to go see THAT house?!).

Read more here

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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.

Despite what the media seems to implies, there ARE buyers out there looking to buy a new home.

Yes, they are taking a look at lots of properties before making a decision. And as we head into the holidays we can expect that sales may slow as folks focus on other things, like shopping and getting ready for the season's festivities.

BUT, there are plenty of people out there who NEED to buy. They are relocating, or really need more space, or there are other issues that are driving them to purchase.

So, sellers, is YOUR HOME a moving target? Are these buyers who need to buy considering YOUR HOME as a place to move to? Or are they being driven away to another property that is a better deal?

I hate to harp on this, but as the inventory continues to be fairly high, buyers remain fussy about what they will purchase, even if they need to. I have seen it happen many times, and Ihave buyers right now who are voicing their concerns about properties they see.

• They don't feel the home is well priced compared to others in the area
• The home does not show well and they can't see beyond the clutter, or the minor improvements they would need to make
• They are finding lots of minor reasons NOT to buy, rather than looking at the reasons TO BUY

The reality is that buyers are much more in control now, whether you like it or not. And with continued concerns about the economy and the mortgage industry, many are still feeling prices may drop. And they are certainly NOT interested in those properties that they do not feel are worth the asking price.

Take a good, hard, objective look at your home and the pricing. And why not visit your competition, too...just to see how you compare. And listen to what your agent has to say about the market, so YOUR home becomes a moving target.

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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

The Carlsbad Village Faire is coming to town!

Our country's largest one-day outdoor fair will be held next Sunday, November 4 (cool it's my birthday then too! Maybe I should treat myself). Read more about this event and plan to attend - what a great way to shop for the holidays, birthdays, or just to better enjoy your home.

Carlsbad has a terrific assortment of outdoor events for visitors and residents. This may be one of the best. Don't miss it!

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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

Buyers often want to purchase a home with a view. This is especially true in areas where you have great views, such as of the mountains, the valleys or the ocean.

I recently wrote an article about buying a home with a view in Carlsbad, but the information in this article, I think, is generally applicable to anywhere.

So if you have an interest in buying a view home, you might want to head over to the article to learn more about some issues to be aware of in your search. Most notably, you can expect to pay more for a comparable home with a desirable view. But there's more.

And please let me know if I can assist you in any way.

Jeff

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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

One of the questions I generally ask clients who are relocating to Carlsbad is...What is your lifestyle?

So why is this important? And it is something you should consider?

As a buyer you likely have lots of issues you are considering in your home search, especially since you are moving to a new part of the country with possible differing styles of homes, prices, amenities, weather, things to do, and much more. But don't discount your current lifestyle or fail to give it important consideration in your new home search.

Do you entertain? How do you like to entertain? What things to you like to do at home and nearby? What community activities do you enjoy now? You get the idea.

Think carefully about your lifestyle and how you would like it to be in your new home. Perhaps you want it to change in some way, say if you are retiring. But if you don't think about this as you tour homes, you might find yourself buying a property in an area that does not fit with the style of living you desire. Here in Carlsbad, for example, beaches play a big part of the lifestyle, and you can choose to be a short walk to the beach (well, based on affordability) or a 20 minute drive. Golf might be a necessity too, so make sure this is factored into your home search criteria.

I suggest you ask yourself with each home you visit...is this a place that I can see myself living the way I want to live? And listen to what the house and neighborhood tells you.

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Start your CARLSBAD AREA HOMES SEARCH here

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Often in a relocation folks decide that they want to buy a home in their new location, while at the same time selling their former home. Timing can get tricky but many choose to do this. With diligent efforts on the Internet doing your research, working with a competent REALTOR in your new city, and having a househunting trip or two, this can generally be accomplished fairly readily. Lots of people don't want to move more than once, so they prefer to go from the old home to a new one right away.

I have found that in many cases taking time to look at housing, decide on the desired community, find the right home, and move can be tough. For those of you who are choosing to move here to Carlsbad, or elsewhere in Southern California, for personal reasons rather than due to work, the lack of time pressures may be such that renting a place while you look for a home to buy may be tghe best solution.  I am working with several relocation clients that are, in fact, doing just this.

Finding the right home is important, and they have the luxury of time, so the feeling is that they can more effectively look, without a time crunch, and then will be ready to buy when the right thing comes along. Their old home will be sold so they do not have to worry about coordinating two sales, which can be a big plus. Yes, in some cases they will need to move their furniture twice, but in others (because of using a furnished rental) it will be easier to transition.

Having relocated 4 major times, I think this can make a alot of sense, if you are not under time pressures to buy a new home or get your kids in school. When making a personal choice to move here, being sure that this is what you want and finding the right community are so important. Taking the time you need to do so can make a huge different.

If I can help any way in your home search or answer any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

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Start your CARLSBAD AREA HOME SEARCH here

Download FREE BUYER AND SELLER REPORTS here

Here's another item to add to your list of things to consider when searching for a new home.

Noise seems to be an important consideration for many buyers, and I am often asked about it. People want to know if the neighborhood is quiet, if you can hear the freeway, and so on.

Because this is such a personal issue, but one that can really impact your homebuying (especially here in coastal California, like Carlsbad, where the freeway and the train run through the middle of most communities), I wrote an article that you might want to read. 

Read more on Noise... 

For those of you who are planning to buy a home in the Southern California area (including those you live locally already), there are some things to know about FIRES and EARTHQUAKES.

As you probably know, YES, we have them. Certain areas are more prone, especially to forest fires, and buyers should do their due diligence and investigation beforehand.

You can read more about fire risk in the Carlsbad Area and nearby communities here.

Learn more about earthquakes, disclosures about earthquakes, and earthquake safety here.

I just posted an article on my What's Up Doc blog about the announcement of 3 Carlsbad schools winning top honors in California. The honors in 2007 were awarded to secondary schools - elementary schools get their chance next year.

I thought you might be interested if you are exploring Carlsbad homes for sale or are considering a move to this great community in San Diego's North County. As you know many folks chose their community based on the reputation of the schools, which can also have an impact on home values.

If you are contemplating moving to the Carlsbad area and are interested in new construction, or if your interest is simply learning more about master planned communities as an alternative for your next home, you might want to visit my community profile on La Costa Ridge.

La Costa Ridge is the newest master planned community in the south Carlsbad area known as La Costa, located on the highest hill with dramatic views in all directions. While still being built, there are currently a number of homes for sale in La Costa Ridge. 

Each of the 4 builders has model homes to explore, and some of the completed homes are ready for occupancy. You can also buy pre-construction which can provide some opportunities for site selection and customization depending on the builder options.

Are you considering a move to the Carlsbad area?

La Costa Greens is a new master planned community that offers a range of housing in 6 neighborhoods built by 4 well-known area builders.

Take a look at the community profile and learn more about homes for sale, amenities (including The Presidio, the residents' private club) and more.

If I can answer questions about the area, the housing market, relocation, or if you are a first time buyer, please let me know. Fans of Coastal San Diego has more information on life here in "paradise."

If the La Costa area appeals to you, from what you have heard and perhaps read here, there are a number of complexes offering a variety of homes, with varying prices, styles, and size. There are a number of gated communities, although not so much as in Aviara, as well as homes along a number of streets that don't belong to a particular "complex" or subdivision. This is only a partial list. Some complexes are quite small with only a dozen or so homes while others number in the hundreds.

Alga Hills - large hilly neighborhood, mix of housing, ungated

The Fairways - gated, detached, many homes fronting the hill above the golf course

The Jockey Club - upscale, gated, attached town homes on the golf course (high $800s and $900s)

La Costa Greens - large new construction subdivision by 5 builders, many homes with views of the ocean and La Costa, ungated ($700s to over a million)

La Costa Ridge - still under construction, atop the hill above La Costa, most homes start around $1 million

Brookfield - good sized neighborhood of detached homes, with community pools, tot lots, ungated (under $700K for the most part with some under $600K)

La Costa Estates - larger, hilltop homes of varying styles, most $1 million or more

La Costa Oaks - another recently built subdivision, ungated

Sea Pointe Tennis Club - ungated, attached homes with tennis (most under $500K)

Plaza Bonita - small gated complex of town homes, some with golf course views

Plaza de las Flores - another small gated complex of attached town homes along the golf course

Some of the well-known streets are Almaden, Alicante, El Fuerte, Estrella de Mar, Luciernaga, Corintia, Argonauta, and Alga

In follow-up to my recent tour of AVIARA, in Carlsbad, here is a list of some of the complexes available to you. This is NOT the complete list but you will recognize some of these names from the MLS. They vary quite a bit in price, size, and views (ocean, golf course, hills, greenbelt, lagoon)

Aviara Point - probably the most exclusive and expensive ($1.5 million to over $2 million) - gated

Bella Lago - gated, along the lagoon, views, in the mid to high $1 millions

Isla Mar - gated, some views, under $1 million and above

Tramonto - not gated, townhouse style, detached                     

Sanderling - gated, attached

Avocet - not gated, under $1 million   

Sandpiper - detached, not gated

Cristalla - detached, gated, some ocean views    

Brindisi - attached, gated

Marea - attached, gated

Viagio -attached, gated

Viadana - detached, not gated

Carina - detached, not gated

Are you thinking about moving to Southern California?

Here's a marketing piece on Carlsbad (where I live) to help you learn more about the area's housing, restaurants, shppoing, beaches and more. I hope you will enjoy it. Just click on the surfboard and surf away.

And if you have some feedback, I would love to hear it.

BTW - If you are interested in other areas of  San Diego, let me know and I will share more information about them and even provide some pics.

Jeff