I would describe Cardiff as the quintessential beach town. I'm sure there are others that can be described this way...I just haven't visited them yet. Half Moon Bay, near San Francisco, is another one.

Cardiff is close to my home here in Carlsbad, in Southern California, and I do business there, both with buyers and sellers. We considered buying there but couldn't find the right place at the time (inventory was much smaller then). Anyhow, despite the limited inventory (it's a small town) there is a lot to recommend it, especially if you want ocean views and can afford it.

I assembled a few tours about the  area that may be of interest. Even if you are not looking to buy, I would be interested in your feedback.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea - an overview

The Walking District in Cardiff - a neat neighborhood with great views and all within walking distance of the town center

The Composer District in Cardiff - a neighborhood where almost all the streets are named after composers

I am often asked by buyers if this is a good time to buy. My answer is - it depends.

Certainly there are come factors now that would encourage you to buy depending on your personal and financial situation. There is alot of inventory, and our prices are remaining stable in most areas, with some small drops in median prices in other communities. The rates are very favorable, and because of the market buyers are finding they are in a better position to negotiate with sellers, and to obtain some concessions.

So if you need to buy, or want to move up or down in size, now is probably a good time for you. One issue that holds some buyers back is the question of where the market is going, and we just don't have a crystal ball. It appears that things will remain fairly strong and prices are not going to plunge. So if rates go up you could end up spending more for the same house down the road. That is a risk you will have to decide on for yourself. If you are not sure the time is right, then I would wait it out.

So sellers, is this a good time for you? Well, again, it depends on your situation. If you have to relocate, or move due to a change in family circumstances, etc. then it's a good time. Just price your place very competitively due to the competition and don't be greedy. And if you are in a short sale or pre-foreclosure situation you don't really have a choice.

If you NEED to get a certain amount of money, or want to break even based on what you paid for a couple of years ago it may not, in many communities, be prudent for you to sell. With appreciation being fairly flat in the last 1-2 years, after paying a commission you will not come out ahead.

The worst thing is to encourage someone to buy or sell when the time is not right for them, for whatever reason. And that is something I simply will not do.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me so we can discuss your options.

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

Here's a link to another part of my neighborhood series.

I just completed a review of Encinitas Ranch, which is an upscale Encinitas neighborhood. Are you looking for homes for sale in Encinitas? Consider Encinitas Ranch.

Encinitas, CA, a town of approximately 60,000, is located about 25 miles north of San Diego and just south of Carlsbad. Encinitas Ranch offers a wonderful residential lifestyle in a community with its own public golf course, and is near to all the fine amenities and beaches of Encinitas and other coastal communities such as Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Carlsbad.

The area itself is purely residential, with many homes offering views of the ocean, the hills, the golf course, or the back country. There is lots of open space and miles of walking trails, and a range of home prices, styles and sizes to choose from.

This review includes lots of information about Encinitas Ranch as well as a virtual tour of the area.

If I can provide more information about the area, or other nearby communities that interest you, please let me know.

Are you a first time buyer. Stop by my blog to learn more about the buying process.

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

I realize many of you reading this blog may be planning to relocate, but to other areas of the country besides Southern California. Or you may know someone else who is moving.

Chances are you, or they, might want to have a referral to an agent who can assist you - either with your current home that you need to sell and/or with locating a new home. I can help you with that. How, you might wonder?

Well, a large part of my business is referrals from people I know and other agents. But I do a great deal of referring out as well (family, friends, past clients, and people I know in other areas who are buying and selling). I know many well-qualified agents in other parts of the country, plus I have some great contacts through the professional organizations I belong to (RE/MAX, CRS, REBAC) and the networking I do (ActiveRain - a real estate on-line network).  So, chances are  I know someone in the area where you live or are moving to that I can refer you to for assistance in buying and selling.

I am pretty particular about who I work with, and very cautious about who I refer people to. If I don't feel an agent will assist my referral in the same manner that I would, then I will not refer to them.

If I don't know the referral personally, I will take time on the phone to get them know them and their needs first, so that I can do my research and find the best referral for them. Then I will make sure that the agent is agreeable to the referral and has the experience, knowledge and abiltiy to help my referral in that location. If there are doubts, I keep researching.

So, if I can help you in other ways besides providing helpful information through this blog, either with your move here or elsewhere, please don't hesitate to ask.

As you are getting going in your house hunting in your new location, you may run across one or more properties known as a short sale (Southern California, for example, and other markets where the market has slowed following fairly dramatic appreciation in the last few years).

So what is a short sale property? Is this something to be avoided or not? Read about it on my First Time Buyers blog.

If you are relocating to Southern California (or many other parts of the country) you are likely dealing with a buyer's market. If you are a bit gun-shy about buying in such a market, here are some good reasons to do so:

1. Inventory - there are LOTS of choices of style, price, location, age, condition, etc. If you can't find what you want perhaps it doesn't exist (maybe an exaggeration). But don't let the numebr of homes overwhelm you and keep you from making a decision. Some poeple look and look and look, thinking they will find the perfect house, and never get anything, or lose the one they really wanted.

2. Incentives - this is especially true for new homes and condos. Builders are offering all sorts of incentives to purchase from their inventory, including upgrades, creativity around closing costs, etc. Don't expect a huge price reduction since this create appraisal (and thus financing) issues as compared to other homes that the builder sold in the recent past)

3. Competition - sellers are competing for buyers, not the other way around.

4. Mortgage  rate - pretty favorable right now, close to what we saw at the beginning of the year. Will they go lower...maybe. But more likely they will go up. And if you are a First Time Buyer there are some great programs available with great rates.

5. Seller Negotiation - Because of the market sellers may be willing to negotiate, depending on the situation. Don't count on it, but we do see closing costs or a portion of them being covered, and other concessions being made. Many sellers are motivated (although depending on THEIR situation this does not guarantee they can or will be very flexible).

6. Prices - it depends on where you are looking, but in some areas prices are very stable and are not moving. While some communities have seen small drops one cannot (and probably should not) assume prices are going to drop. And if they do but rates go up you possibly wash away any gain you get by the price drop. Consider the tax advantages if you are not in a position to profit fr0m this as a renter and what you may be losing out on.

Don't believe everything you read in the media headlines. Get the information you need from a knowledgeable REALTOR who can tell you what is going on in their market, instead of depending on the array of statistics that the media quotes. The information is generally taken out of context and they like to report only the bad news and not the good. Be wary...and question what you read.

Clearly buying right now is NOT right for everyone, but avoiding the market because of what you read may result in your not getting a good deal on the house you really want and can afford. And a knowledgeable REALTOR in your area can help you avoid overpaying too!

One last suggestion - take a look at this article I posted previously on Bubble Sitting. Waiting to buy may NOT be the best financial strategy for you.