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.

Avellino at La Costa Greens - townhomes in the high $400s to mid $500s in La Costa

Rockledge at La Costa Oaks  - detached homes in the $600s and $700s in the Encinitas Schools

Viridian at La Costa Greens - detached homes in the low $900s. Only a couple right now but more coming next year.

Trieste at La Costa Greens - detached homes, some with golf course views in the $700s and $800s

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.

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.

READ the full article with photos here.

You can download the Lifestyle Questionnaire on the Savvy Buyers page of my real estate website.

And feel free to do your home searching there, too, if you are interested in San Diego.

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.

I have been writing a series on relocation on my ActveRain blog and Carlsbad Real Estate News.

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.

Carlsbad Relocation Tips - Finding Your Community

Carlsbad Relocation Tips - Finding Your New Home

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).

I'm writing a new series of articles on RELOCATION on my ActiveRain Blog.

Part 1 is about FINDING YOUR REALTOR

Part 2 is about FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.