Thinking of buying a well-located $1 million luxury flat in London, Paris or Tokyo? Think again: 1. In London, you’ll get 328 square feet. 2. In Paris, you’ll do better with  522 square feet. 3. In Tokyo, you can really spread out with 594 square feet. These are averages reported by the most recent issue of Forbes magazine. The weakened dollar against the Sterling, Euro and other currencies has contributed much to a real estate situation where, for example, the U.S. dollar purchases 25 percent less in London than it did just five years ago. But if the tables are turned, premier areas of the United States are relative bargains for many international real estate buyers. We have a client who recently retired in Belgium, moved to the San Diego suburbs, and puchased a lovely coastal Carlsbad... 12/27/2006

For those of your who are looking for a new Carlsbad home, searching on-line is probably the most efficient strategy you can employ. Recent studies by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2005 found that about 79% of buyers were using the Internet to search for a home, and many do this even before they contact any agent. It is likely that this percentage has grown since that study was done. (While my focus here is on Carlsbad, the strategy is the same no matter what area you are looking in).The advantages to searching on-line are many. Most properties that are for sale are on-line somewhere - individual MLS sites, agent or brokerage sites, for sale by owner sites, Realtor.com - so your chances of finding homes that meet your criteria are pretty darn good. Keep in mind that once... 12/10/2006

In this post, I'm going to step out on a limb...and over a canyon. Perhaps it is a "dead cat bounce" as stock market reporters used to say in 2000-2001 about declining and spiking stocks. Maybe it is something else, but something is astir in our real estate market. Perhaps San Diego crashed first, and perhaps we really do perch on the bloody edge of the economic envelope. But the numbers and recent buyer calls cannot be ignored. In September, 2006 there were 271 listings in North County's zip 92009. Today that number has dropped to 192. There are 69 listings that are in pending status. We are receiving triple the number of calls and showing appointments that we did just a few weeks ago.  Sales are popping all over the place.What's different from a year ago?Prices and buyer confidence.Sa... 12/07/2006

Here are the summary statistics from the MLS for the month of November for Carlsbad, CA.Some interesting things to note - inventory dropped 9% from last month. There was no change in the median price for attached homes from the previous month, but an increase of 1% for detached homes. However, both showed a decline in median price as compared to 1 year ago. We may be starting to see a slowing in the market over the next month or so which is typical during the holiday season.If I can provide more information, or otherwise be of assistance, please let me know.AS OF NOV. 30, 2006ATTACHED HOMESDETACHED HOMESActive306553Sold in Last 6 Months247439Sold/Pending in Last 6 months315565Absorption Rate (Solds)200 days201 daysAbsorption Rate (Solds plus Pendings)157 days156 daysAverage Days on Mark... 12/05/2006

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) First Aid Kit If you have read any of my 5 part series on "So You Are Thinking About Selling Your Home Yourself' (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5) you now know that you are up against some significant challenges.  Selling a home in any market is tough, and doing so on your own takes it to another level. But if you have decided to forge ahead anyhow, let me give you some suggestions that may assist you in the process. And if you have any questions, or get frustrated and are unable to sell, I hope you will think if me (in Southern California) or any of the other talented agents here on ActiveRain that are in your particular area. Can I guarantee these will work and your home will sell? Nope. But then there are no guarantees in real estate anyhow. But many o... 12/04/2006

Here is the last post in my series on how to become a good buyer, whether you are looking for a Carlsbad home or searching elsewhere.Now that your offer has been accepted, you are on to the mechanics of the transaction. This is what you have been waiting for, so do it well! Here are Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them.Conduct home inspection- This is the time to learn everything you can about the property and to determine if there are substantive mechanical, structural or other defects that might result in your changing your mind about proceeding with the purchase. This must be done by whatever agreed on period was negotiated following the offer acceptance (here in CA, this is the Contingency period, the default being 17 days but negotiable). While it is not required it is a prude... 12/04/2006

Carlsbad Community Info and Carlsbad Real Estate  Search the MLS for Carlsbad listingsCarlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Homes - Carlsbad Properties Carlsbad Real Estate and Other Demographics Population:Median Household income: Median Family income: Average Family Size: Average age: 78,247$65,145$77,1512.9639 Carlsbad Community InformationWelcome to your resource page for the City of Carlsbad! If you are planning a visit or relocation to this San Diego area paradise, please feel free to browse through this site. Whether you are seeking a Carlsbad vacation rental, Carlsbad beaches, world class resorts, shopping, restaurants, Carlsbad or La Costa real estate, school information, Legoland or other local attractions, you have come to the right place. Carlsbad might be known as the recreation ... 11/30/2006

Here are the data from the MLS for the month of October. There are some interesting shifts from the data reported for the month of September.The inventory has dropped a little as has the absorption rate. Median home price is stable as compared to a year ago for detached homes, but off a bit for attached homes (this tends to shift each month). Next month will be interesting to see as a comparison, as we are heading into the holiday period when we often see a slowing of the market. While the average marketing time is about 2 months, a number of homes actually sold very quickly. Keep in mind that the data are based on the most recent contract - some homes may have been listed previously with the same or another broker so those data would be somewhat different if you took that into consider... 11/25/2006

Here are the data I have summarized from the MLS as of the end of September (as I do for all the coastal communities I service) for the Carlsbad real estate market (all 4 zips). Just a couple of quick notes: The inventory has dropped off a little from the previous month The number of homes sold has increased as a percentage of total volume There is approximately a 7-month supply of homes (both attached and detached) when looking at the number of sales in the last 6 months as a function of the number of active homes at the end of September.   AS OF SEPT. 30, 2006 ATTACHED HOMES DETACHED HOMES Active 359 613 Sold in Last 6 Months 297 499 Sold/Pending In Last 6 months 349 606 Absorption Rate (Solds) 218 221 days Absorption Rate (Solds Plus Pendings) 185 182 days Average Days on Market 59 6... 10/25/2006

Carlsbad, CA – “Village by the Sea”   Carlsbad is a coastal San Diego community, located about 35 miles north of the city, offering a broad range of housing, activities and scenery for its residents and tourists.   I moved to Carlsbad in 2006 from Boston, and wanted to share why I love living here.    This town of approximately 95,000 has grown dramatically since its incorporation in 1952, when there were 7,000 residents.   Covering about 42 square miles, the town has annexed communities around its original core during its history, the most well-known being La Costa (the area known best for the world-famous Omni La Costa Spa and Resort (below, left) possibly the best known US spa in its heyday, and a former playground for the Mafia and the Rat Pack), so in addition to Olde Carlsbad and ... 10/25/2006

Are you REALLY ready to buy your Carlsbad home or are you just looking right now? Whether you are a first time buyer or experienced, answer these questions to see if you are prepared to buy…emotionally, psychologically and financially. Will you be paying cash or have you arranged for financing? If you are using financing and have made the appropriate arrangements with a mortgage officer, great, you’ve made the first important financial step and commitment to the buying process. If you haven’t, think about why not – are you procrastinating? Are you unsure of what to do? Or is this a signal that you are not really a serious buyer yet. You can’t effectively shop for a home if you don’t have a clear idea of what you can afford and how you are going to pay for it. And in most cases a seller ... 10/10/2006

Here are some suggestions on finding the right REALTOR to help you find your NEW CARLSBAD HOME (or for anywhere you may be moving). Since you are new to buying a home, having a REALTOR you can trust to help you find your new home, and educate you thoroughly about the process, is critical. You will have lots to worry about and coordinate with your move, and working with an agent who does not understand your issues, nor care, is NOT going to be helpful. 1. I recommend working with an agent who is also a REALTOR,not someone who is not. A REALTOR is a real estate professional who is a member in good standing of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and, thereby, adheres to a Code of Ethics. Not ALL agents are Realtors, although many people use the terms interchangeably. 2. If you can, ... 10/04/2006

Here are some suggestions for helping the REALTOR you have chosen in Carlsbad (or wherever you are moving) to effectively aid you in finding the right home, based on my personal relocation experience and from assisting multiple buyers in their moves around the country. Not only is this one of the largest purchases you will make, but you are moving to a new area you don’t know which adds to the stress. And if this is not a choice (e.g., a corporate transfer) it is probably even more difficult for you and you family. Once you have chosen the person you want to help you with the process, or the Relocation Company has identified that individual for you, you are ready to get to work.Here are some things to do: Respond quickly when you get emails or calls from your REALTOR. S/he is working ha... 10/04/2006

For those of you in California....especailly those buyers looking in the Carlsbad area.Because of the slower market and so many buyers sitting on the fence, I thought it might be helpful to see if I could drum up more business with First Time Buyers (it's tough for many people, let alone first time buyers, to buy in our area of Southern California if you want a detached home since there is not much under $500K, but lots of condo options in some communities). Having worked with lots of FTHBs back East, I knew a big issue is the downpayment and/or closing costs, and that many can afford the monthly payments. A recent seminar focussed on the below market interest rate mortgage loans available through CalHFA that can enable a qualified FTHB (someone who has not owned a home in 3 years) to b... 09/12/2006

For those of you who might work with people who are relocating, I have posted my thoughts, based on personal and professional experience, on my Relocation A to Z blog. Relocation can get very complex, and if you have not been involved before this may be helpful to you so you understand the client better.This especially true if you get a referral who is using a Relocation firm - they often have restrictions and you don't want to get burned by helping your client find a home only to later find out there is a HUGE referral fee you weren't aware of, or that the firm REQUIRES the client to use a particular brokerage. It also is helpful, as a REALTOR(R), to understand all the issues your relocating client is trying to deal with (I will share my thoughts on how to best work with relocating cli... 09/11/2006

Most agents, I suspect, are dealing with the changing market such as the one we are experiencing here in Southern California, where we have moved from a very active seller's market to one that is much more buyer friendly, with large inventory, slowed appreciation, increased marketing time, and even some price drops in some communities. There has been much talk (for a couple years at least) about housing bubbles, and the media in our area at least has frequently posted headlines about the dramatic changes in the market, and related topics. All this, of course, impacts buyers and sellers attitudes, beliefs, and approaches to buying and selling, as well as the real estate profession. Buyers are more antsy about the market and many appear to be waiting to see if prices are going to plunge, ... 09/07/2006