Finding out What Buyers Want? Or Helping Them Figure It Out? The question “what are you looking for?” or some variation, is a common one when talking with a new buyer. Or should be. It’s obviously important to know what they are seeking, along with their budget, in order to be effective in helping them find the right property. And in this market it’s perhaps even a more critical question, with limited options and plenty of competition. You need to know what you are dealing with. One question that arises, of course, is…are they being realistic? Can you really help them find what they say they want, and need? Budget, given the available inventory, is a key issue here. If there is a significant mismatch between what you are told they want, their budget (based on a pre-approval, of course),... 02/17/2022

Carlsbad Crows at SunsetI was out in the front yard at sunset yesterday, watching the crows gathering in the trees and on the roofs of many of the houses.  It's typical behavior for them late in the day, and the crows in this one bare tree seemed to be checking out the sky as well. They were certainly making a lot of noise for some reason. We have what we call "crow shows" often, and the grandkids love to watch them. They spend a lot of time gathering in the evening (I understand they are communal sleepers and gather in groups to roost at night), typically in the trees across the canyon from our house although the venue changes during the year and isn't always near our house. I wonder how they decide where to go?  Then, all of a sudden they will all take off , making quite a racket. Som... 02/09/2022

Yesterday was a picture-perfect day at the beach.  So we decided to take a picnic lunch and sit on the bluff at a favorite spot to enjoy the views and just relax. I can't complain about 70 degrees at the beach in February, and this week is supposed to be sunny and warm (up to 75 or so) every day. A far cry from what we used to experience in February in New England.  It seemed like everyone was out yesterday - not a surprise - and parking was a challenge. We were hoping to see some whales that tend to migrate at this time of year but none appeared...or I at least missed them.  Aaahhh, the Carlsbad beach life!  02/07/2022

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for January 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with some shifts from last month and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports usually speak in general terms, and therefore do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Current data, and analysis, about the local market conditions will benefit you so you can make educated purchase and/or sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 73 homes sold in Carlsbad in January (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 41%... 02/04/2022

Single Story Homes for Sale in Carlsbad Market Update as of January 23, 2022 It’s not unusual that some Carlsbad buyers prefer a 1-story single family house when looking for a new home.  The reasons vary. It may simply be a preference for 1-story living. In some cases there is a medical need. Some buyers are open to buying a 2-story home as long as there is a master bedroom with full bath on the main floor. But that type of floor plan tends to be harder to find; often the 1st floor bedroom is a smaller guest room and the bath may only be a half bath. The overall Carlsbad inventory remains tight (here’s the December 2021 Housing Market Report for Carlsbad) and demand is still strong. At this time all single story listings are resales – there are no new construction 1-story homes listed i... 01/23/2022

Carlsbad Art Wall January 2022 2022 is the 8th year of the Carlsbad art wall, and the 1st mural for the year is beautiful. The most recent Carlsbad Art Wall was completed on January 10 and 11 by @HannasMurals. Check out Hanna’s website, too, for more of her amazing art works. The Carlsbad Art Wall is a special addition to the Carlsbad public art scene, with new murals several times per year. Bryan Snyder, a well-known Carlsbad artist, founded the Carlsbad Art Wall (CAW) in 2015, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. This visible venue gives residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and occasional international artists.   Even if you aren’t aware of the #CarlsbadArtWall name, you’ve probably ... 01/21/2022

2022 Makers Market Series Continues in Carlsbad Village The Carlsbad Makers Market has been a popular event in Carlsbad Village for a few years. Indeed 2022 is the 6th year! The Makers Market has expanded due to the popularity and now includes multiple events each year including a special Holiday Showcase during the holidays. This popular artisan series will continue in 2022 with Makers Markets on the 1st Saturdays in March, April and June. The Makers Market is FREE to attend and there are several dozen or so artisans participating. Of course you’ll want to bring credit cards or cash so you can shop to your heart’s content !  They have designed the Carlsbad Makers Market to be as Covid-safe as possible. It takes place outdoors on the campus of St. Michael’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, ... 01/20/2022

Follow Your Heart Blown Glass Treasure Hunt~  Carlsbad Village  ~ The 2nd Annual Follow Your Heart Blown Glass Treasure Hunt in Carlsbad Village is coming in February. If you’re looking for something fun to do that will get you outdoors this may be just the thing. The Carlsbad Village Association and Barrio Glassworks are sponsoring this fun treasure hunt on February 12th and 13th. The treasure hunt begins at 10 am on Saturday and ends at 4 pm on Sunday. This could be a good opportunity to spend time in Carlsbad Village! You can shop while hunting down glass hearts! February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is the day after the event concludes. What could be more appropriate than a heart-themed treasure hunt? Here’s how it works. 50 colorful hand-blown glass hearts created a... 01/13/2022

Give Blood in Carlsbad Village February 12, 2021 Here’s another opportunity for Carlsbad residents to help our community, and specifically the San Diego Blood Bank, with their need for blood donations. The 5th Annual Heart of the Village Blood Drive will be held in Carlsbad Village on Saturday, February 12th from 10 am until 3 pm. The blood drive will take place at the Barrio Glassworks at 3060 Roosevelt Street. Blood donations will be taken at the San Diego Blood Bank Bloodmobile in the parking lot. Over 130 pints have been donated through the previous Heart of the Village Blood Drive events! The Carlsbad Village Association is the sponsor. All donations are by Appointment Only, preferably in advance, but last minute appointments may be available that day. You can reserve a donation ap... 01/10/2022

Carlsbad's home values are skyrocketing. Despite the economic uncertainty from the pandemic, home prices in San Diego’s ocean view homes are soaring, and this will not stop until at least next year, according to a  robust market analysis from Zillow. Your home value in Carlsbad, CA, is well above the median home value in the United States. The median home value of the properties in Carlsbad is $1,227,078.Do you want to learn more about the home values in Carlsbad, CA? Keep reading!What is the average real estate appreciation rate in California?The annual real estate appreciation rate in Carlsbad is 29.4%, according to Zillow. The median price rate for single homes is 19% for the entire San Diego, CA area. Based on the report Norada gained from the C.A.R., inventory shortage causes price... 01/10/2022

Carlsbad Marathon is Sunday January 16, 2022 The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon will take place on Sunday January 16th, in our beautiful village by the sea. Don’t forget that’s also the Martin Luther King holiday weekend - officially Monday the 17th! If you are a distance runner perhaps you are finishing your training for the upcoming Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon. Or one of the other races that are offered! The Carlsbad Marathon is a very popular running event, and is a qualifying race for the famous Boston Marathon. No doubt there are plenty of runners from other areas of the US, and perhaps internationally, who are planning on this world-class event as in the past! The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon also offers a Double Down Challenge. This is 2 races, fir... 01/05/2022

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for December 2021 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with some changes from last month and 1 year ago. These data do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports typically speak in general terms, and therefore do not reflect the local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Current data, and analysis, about the local market conditions benefit you so you can make well-informed purchase and/or sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 124 homes sold in Carlsbad in December (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), ... 01/03/2022

  Wishing you a prosperous, healthy and Happy New Year 2022, in all aspects of your life, and for all those who are special to you.  May 2022 exceed all your hopes, dreams and expectations.  "What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” —Vern McLellan  “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." - Maya Angelou    01/01/2022

Discovering my Relocation Niche Or Did it Discover Me? When I think of those who advise, backed by experience, on the value of having a niche, or maybe more than one, I first think of  Liz and Bill Spear  (aka BLiz) in Ohio. If you are not already following this AR Ambassador (Bill) for the wisdom he shares in each weekly Ask an Ambassador post, you really should. Now! Bill and Liz are successful Realtors in Ohio north of Cincinnati, and they certainly know their market, and the patio home niche they blog about and service. It’s good learning for us all! Bill has posted about having a niche multiple times, and he has plenty of success to back-up what he’s talking about. I’ve had 4 major relocations (in addition to multiple smaller moves locally and regionally) – Michigan to Boston, Bost... 12/28/2021

Carlsbad Offers Free Christmas Tree Recycling December 27 through January 14, 2022 Christmas is now past, and some may already be thinking about taking down the holiday tree. As they do each year, the City of Carlsbad is offering free, curbside pickup of Christmas trees for Carlsbad residents beginning today and through January 14th. Curbside pickup will be on the regular trash pick-up day. Christmas trees should be placed at the end of the driveway next to your green waste bin. Be sure to remove all decorations, lights, tinsel and tree stands before recycling. If possible you should cut the tree and place it in the Green Waste recycling bin for pick-up.  If your tree is taller than 6 feet it must be cut in half and placed next to the green waste bin. NOTE: Trees that are flocked cannot... 12/27/2021

Carlsbad Holiday Lights in our Neighborhood We were out doing some late shopping, in the rain (yay, we need it sooo badly, so cannot complain!) and took a drive through the neighborhood to see the lights. There are quite a lot of them. But THIS house was extra special, with all sorts of animated lights.  You can see more photos and a couple videos of the animation on my Instagram site. We shared them with the grandkids and of course they loved them. 12/23/2021

Two Holiday Trees in Carlsbad for 2021Carlsbad has 2 very different holiday trees.The first is the annual holiday tree at the entrance to the Village Faire shopping center in the heart of downtown, and visible to those driving down Carlsbad Village Drive, and of course shoppers. It's been a tradition for several decades to celebrate the annual lighting of the tree along with holiday music and performances that vary each year. This year the celebration was on Sunday December 5th.The second tree is a tradition of sorts as well. This one is located on the bluff above the ocean several miles south of the Village. The tree is pretty old and without leaves - I'm not even sure what kind of tree it is - and each year is decorated, presumably by residents. It's always fun to see and I often see ... 12/22/2021

Saturday Smiles - Nature's Beauty  I took an amaryllis to my Mom a week ago when I went to visit as I do twice per week - I normally take fresh flowers (and fresh baked cookies) but we thought this would be nice for the holidays.  It wasn't open at the time, but when I visited the other day this was what greeted me. Mother Nature can certainly awe us with beauty. 12/11/2021

Neighborhood InformationSeabright is a picturesque suburban community located at the southern tip of Carlsbad, California. The community, which is located north of Poinsettia Park, comprises a total of 110 individual housing lots available for purchase. This premium neighborhood is a well-established cul-de-sac subdivision that offers a superb range of well-built single-family residences in a peaceful setting. Please do not hesitate to contact me or sign up for our newsletter if you would like to get current market reports on new listings in the subdivision as they become available. Seabright is a highly desirable upscale enclave that is home to some of the most exquisite residences in the entire region. Only one house had entered the market and been sold in 2021, demonstrating that the... 12/11/2021

Neighborhood InformationSea Cliff is a gorgeous gated community in Carlsbad, California, located in the southwestern portion of the city. Located within the Poinsettia master-planned neighborhood, the subdivision is one of the numerous residential projects constructed in the area.  Residents can take advantage of the myriad of family-friendly facilities in the surrounding region in addition to the amenities available inside the community. There are multiple educational institutions in the immediate vicinity, and the beach is only a short drive to the western segment of the neighborhood. If you're looking for a well-priced premium subdivision with a modest homeowner's association, Sea Cliff may be an appealing alternative for you to consider. If you require assistance locating properties... 12/11/2021