What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for April 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with changes from March and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (learn more here - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 79 homes sold in Carlsbad in April (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), a 31% decline in sales from March... 05/03/2023

We had an unusual bird-sighting in our back yard yesterday. My wife was enjoying the back patio late yesterday afternoon, listening to and watching the birds. She called me out to show me this rather interesting bird sitting in the pot of nasturtiums.  It was a little hard to see, given the size and the flowers, but it was a white-headed hummingbird. I'm not speaking with any authority on hummers, but the coloring - other than the white head and the white feathers on the wings -  reminded me of an Anna's Hummingbird that is pretty common in our area. It was pretty cool to see and I was glad to not have missed it...and thankful I didn't scare it away before grabbing a couple of photos. We'll be checking this out with our local wild bird store. My guess is it is a mutation of some sort 04/28/2023

Hot Rods and Cool Treats in Carlsbad~ May 13, 2023 ~ The Hot Rods and Cool Treats Carnival will take place in Carlsbad Village on Saturday May 13th. This fun event is being held at the Pine Avenue Community Center and Park at 3209 Harding Street from 11 am until 2 pm. The event includes a number of fun activities for all, plus a classic car show. Classic cars must be 25 years of older and there will be awards in 11 categories. The contest was limited to 30 cars, and the event is now full. (photo is of a classic car at the Encinitas Classic Car Night event).  Come check out 30 classic cars and vote for your favorite – Best Interior, Best in Show, Best Paint, Kids’ Choice, and more. Cars can only win an award for 1 category but there should be lots of fun cars to ooh and aah over. Carniva... 04/28/2023

Earth Day Makers Market in Carlsbad Village 2023 The 1st Makers Market of 2023 takes place Saturday April 22 from 9 am until 4 pm. What a fun way to celebrate Earth Day! The event is hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association and co-sponsored by Pedego Electric Bikes. This is the 7th year for Carlsbad Village Makers Markets, with multiple events each year including one at holiday time. The Carlsbad Village Makers Market will be held in the north parking lot at 2938 Roosevelt Street in the heart of the Village. Pedego Electric Bikes will have their new eco-friendly electric bikes and go carts on display with staff to answer all questions. Pedego Carlsbad offers rentals as well as bikes for purchase The Makers Market is free to attend, and multiple artisans will showcase their creations. ... 04/17/2023

The Flower Fields in CarlsbadApril 16, 2023 The Carlsbad Flower Fields are a popular, and beautiful, attraction for residents and visitors alike. They never disappoint although things were a bit delayed this spring due to all the rain...and limited sun, especially when they first opened at the beginning of March.  We were out running an errand and stopped by to take in the beauty from Armada Drive looking down on the fields and the ocean beyond (yes, the ocean is there, it's just the same color as the skies). The day was pretty dreary - chilly and gray - but 40 or so acres of brightly colored Ranunculas certainly brightened the day. The flowers are at peak bloom per the Flower Fields website. And not surprisingly the place was pretty crowded. The Flower Fields are open until Mother's Da... 04/16/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for March 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with changes from February and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (learn more here - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 114 homes sold in Carlsbad in March (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), more than double the number i... 04/08/2023

The 2023 EGGStravaganza Spring Festival Coming Soon to Carlsbad Daylight Saving Time is a distant memory, Spring is here, and Easter is less than 2 weeks away! The popular Carlsbad EGGStravaganza Spring Festival for 2023 will take place the day before Easter, Saturday April 8th, in Carlsbad’s beautiful Poinsettia Community Park. The event runs from 10 am until 1pm. Poinsettia Community Park is located at 6600 Hidden Valley Road, south of Palomar Airport Road. Carlsbad EGGStravaganza offers plenty of fun, with multiple activities including cookie decorating, face painting, “Soak the Bunny,” crafts, and a fun zone. Kids can enjoy Carlsbad’s largest Egg Scramble (Activity Cards are required) which is ongoing from 10:30 until 12:30 (or until eggs run out), with 2 competitive fields.  One fi... 03/29/2023

Come Live in the Preserve in Carlsbad This beautiful home, built in 2019 in Cypress at The Preserve, is a delight from the minute you walk through the courtyard gate, step inside the front door, and take in the spacious open floor plan with abundant natural light and views of the back yard.  The back yard faces the preserve, and features a built-in grill and fire pit with waterfall. You’ll love to relax and entertain here!  Cooks will love the kitchen with gas cook top, stainless appliances, quartz counters, a large island with pendant lighting, and plentiful storage including a large pantry.  Upstairs you'll find the primary suite with double walk-in closets, a balcony to enjoy the views and your morning coffee, and en suite bath with dual vanities, a soaking tub, and walk-in shower. T... 03/26/2023

The 2023 Carlsbad 5000 is April 2 in Carlsbad CA Carlsbad hosts a number of premier running events during the year. The Carlsbad 5000, on April 2nd, is reportedly the world’s fastest 5K race. Several world and US records have been set, and broken, since the race was established in 1986. Runners will likely attempt to do so again in 2023! The Carlsbad 5000 is presented by National University. There’s still some time to register online, but don’t delay as this event usually sells out. There are multiple races on Sunday. Of course there is the big race, the Carlsbad 5000 (5K), plus the All Day 20K (four 5K races) with 4 categories of runners. The Junior Carlsbad race is for kids ages 4 to 12. Kids can run a ½ mile (ages 4 to 6) or 1 mile (7 to 12). The Elite Invitational, with prizes, is a... 03/22/2023

2023 Pirate Plunge in CarlsbadSaturday March 26th     The popular Pirate Plunge, hosted by the Alga Norte Aquatic Center in the La Costa area of Carlsbad, is almost here. This fun aquatic event takes place next Saturday March 25th from 5 – 9 pm. Kids can enjoy a range of pirate-themed activities in the pool (e.g., Ship Raiders, Diving for Treasure), some floating obstacles, and plenty of photo opportunities. Plus you can walk the diving board plank!! There’s a pirate ship slide and a treasure hunt on land as well. The Splash Pad will be open for the younger kids. The Pirate Plunge ends with a movie on the big outdoor screen, beginning at dusk. Drinks and food will be available for purchase during the event. Admission and wristbands are $10 per person, with kids 3 or under free. The maxi... 03/17/2023

March 2023 Carlsbad Art Wall The 1st mural of 2023 for the Carlsbad Art Wall was completed last weekend by Los Angeles-based artist Mister Toledo (Daniel). This is the 34th mural since the Carlsbad Art Wall was founded. What diversity, creativity and beauty we’ve seen over the years. The colors were brilliant, even on this gray and rainy day, and the green grass was an interesting contrast.  Well-known Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder, founded the #CarlsbadArtWall in 2015, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. Bryan also founded the Carlsbad Alley Art Wall, and has created or led other art projects in Carlsbad. The Carlsbad Art Wall gives residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and occasionall... 03/11/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for February 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with changes from January and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, thus they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (learn more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 52 homes sold in Carlsbad in February (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), down 16% from January. H... 03/06/2023

Our house backs up to a small canyon, which means varied wildlife for backyard neighbors. And when we get a fair amount of rain - and boy have we had it recently - we have our own version of a mini "waterfall."  It's not a true waterfall, of course. It doesn't compare to waterfalls I've seen, say in Kauai and Maui, but we can always tell there's been a lot of rain, especially in a short period of time.  With the storm we have been having in California there is a fair amount of flooding in low lying areas including roadways. Heavy winds and rain have resulted in trees being blown down and mudslides in some areas, among other damage. And some areas that never get snow have had some at the lower elevations (as low as 1500 feet above sea level I've heard) although none in Carlsbad that I've... 02/25/2023

The Carlsbad Flower Fields Open March 1, 2022 The iconic Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA will open as they do each year on Wednesday March 1st. As in 2022, visitors must book tickets online for a specific date and arrival time. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Don’t expect things to look like the top photo on Opening Day since the Flower Fields take a while to reach their peak. That often happens in late March depending on the weather. But they are truly beautiful even when not at peak, and a gorgeous sign of spring! Here is a photo from yesterday. The plants are mature with lots of buds, and we are just starting to see some color.  Here’s a video from March 2022:  The Carlsbad Flower Fields have been a popular tourist attraction for over 60 years. There are about 55 acres of brightly ... 02/25/2023

Contemporary Perspectives in Fiber ArtsCannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad We visited the current exhibit at the city-owned Cannon Art Gallery yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The exhibit opened January 7, 2023 and runs through March 18. It’s well worth a visit. “Contemporary Perspectives in Fiber Arts” features a number of artists and their works from California Fibers, an organization founded in 1970. According to their website, California Fibers “supports artistic growth and professional advancement for contemporary Southern California fiber artists.”  The creativity and craftsmanship in this exhibit was most impressive. Given that California Fibers artists have won awards and are represented in a number of museums and private collections made this exhibit particularly meaningful and f... 02/18/2023

6 Big Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad California  Debe Maxwell, CRS  and Brian England  are co-hosting the February Challenge, and encouraged us to write about why we love were we live. So here goes.I first met Carlsbad in 2004 on a house hunting trip with my wife and liked it immediately. I moved here in April 2005 after a year of exploring a number of coastal communities after we had made the decision to relocate from Boston. I had no idea how much I would come to love living here when we first moved in, but there are plenty of reasons why I do. CARLSBAD BEACHESEssentially Carlsbad is one continuous beach, about 7 miles long, from the southern Oceanside border, south along the Coast Road/Historic Route 101 to Encinitas. There are lots of different beaches, by name, but it’s hard to... 02/14/2023

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Marker Report for January 2023 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with changes from December and 1 year ago. These numbers do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, so they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (learn more - How Local IS Local?). Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 62 homes sold in Carlsbad in January (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), up by 44% fro... 02/05/2023

February is 2023 San Diego Museum Month San Diego Museum Month starts today, with terrific museum benefits you might want to take advantage of throughout February. San Diego Museum Month is a wonderful opportunity! You can obtain discounts at over 60 museums, historic sites, and venues throughout San Diego until the 28th. It’s easy - just pick up your discount pass at one of the 75 San Diego Libraries (county libraries, public libraries, and community libraries). You’ll receive 50% off the cost of regular admission for up to 4 people. You may find some other special offers, too. Keep in mind that certain special programs and exhibits may have other admission fees. Furthermore, some exhibits might not qualify for a discount. It’s wise to check with the venue first to see if there are lim... 02/01/2023

Blown Glass Heart Treasure Hunt in Carlsbad The 3rd Annual Hearts of Carlsbad Village blown glass treasure hunt in Carlsbad Village is in February. What a great opportunity to spend time in Carlsbad Village outdoors exploring! The Carlsbad Village Association and Barrio Glassworks are sponsoring this fun event on February 11th and 12th. The treasure hunt opens at 10 am on Saturday and ends at 4 pm on Sunday.  February is American Heart Month, and Valentine’s Day is 2 days after the event. What’s could be more appropriate than a heart-themed treasure hunt? Here’s how the treasure hunt works. 200 colorful hand-blown glass hearts created at Barrio Glassworks will be “hidden” in popular locations in the Village over the 2-day period. Last year there were 50 hearts in the hunt. Each engraved... 01/20/2023

Barrio Glassworks in Carlsbad Barrio Glassworks, established in 2021, is a public glassblowing studio, gallery and gift shop in the heart of Carlsbad Village. And it’s a pretty hot attraction – pun intended! Glassblowing is fascinating to watch. You no doubt know this if you’ve ever had the opportunity to see it. If you haven’t had the chance, it’s lots of fun, and pretty amazing to see what glassblowers can do with molten glass. I remember the first time I saw live glassblowing in Murano, Italy a number of years ago. That was quite the place to see it for the first time! We also visited the Glass Ranch in Escondido several times and watched glass blowing there. Barrio Glassworks offers residents and visitors alike to simply come watch live glassblowing in action. The public viewing are... 01/16/2023