North County School Site Needed
June 23rd, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Diego Real Estate, Schools
Sometimes it is good to write about something other than San Diego real estate, Rancho Santa Fe news or La Costa condos. Sometimes, it just feels good to see if there is a way to lend a little hand to the community.
This morning, for example, I heard Sanderling Waldorf School in Encinitas and Cardiff is losing its lease and needs a new location somewhere in North County.
Any ideas?
This north San Diego County private school currently needs around 4500 square feet, with room for 7 classrooms, a kitchen, offices and storage. It is anticipated that over the next four years, there will be a requirement for 6300 feet and 10 classrooms.
The ideal site would have room for two playgrounds: The preschool would be fenced with around 2400 square feet, while the elementary playground would have at least 4000 to 6000 feet.
Location?
Their current school community resides in the Encinitas area. Sanderling Waldorf School would consider sites from Del Mar,Carmel Valley or Encinitas in the South; to Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, or San Marcos in the North; and Elfin Forest, Olivenhain or Rancho Santa Fe in the East.
There is a current budget of $7000 per month. The ideal site would have a natural setting, with zoning and permits in place for a school.
Perhaps a church? Or perhaps a public school that is closing its doors in Oceanside? Hmmm…..
Think I’ll place a few calls–starting with Sanderling Waldorf School, Villa Sotheby’s agent Sandy Mirisch, and Main Street Oceanside.
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5 Little Economies for San Diego Real Estate
May 28th, 2008 Categories: Encinitas, San Diego, San Diego Real Estate, San Diego Relocation
I traded the Mercedes for a Camry Hybrid almost two years ago, mostly because I like its tight turning radius (I make lots of u-turns), its fuel economy (I hate stopping for gas) and the fun questions I got from just about everybody (back then).
And I still love the car.
Last weekend, on my way to a home inspection in San Diego, I had to stop for gas in Encinitas (where it was selling for just $4.03 a gallon), paid $60 to fill the tank–and was grateful for the hybrid’s fuel economy. It also makes us wonder how rising fuel costs are already impacting the way we search for real estate in San Diego County.
Some observations:
1. The internet becomes more valuable than ever for searching San Diego real estate. Let your keyboard do the driving makes lots of sense these days. Search San Diego real estate with a simple click.
2. We’ll likely all become more efficient when we go out to see properties, and will see more on each trip compared to last year (increased inventory also helps).
3. Real estate agents’ business may become more local. Will we still see Temecula and Orange County agents showing widespread San Diego homes for sale? Wouldn’t a referral to a local agent (and vice versa) make more sense?
4, More than ever, smart real estate agents will prequalify their clients before investing so much time and money in them. This may require more time up front, but will provide huge savings for both the client and the agent.
5. I have resolved to clear stuff from the back seat of my car, so that clients might ride with me instead of fueling gas prices by following me around (which happens all too often). Children’s car seats, though, sometimes present seating problems.
None of these ideas will win prizes for originality, but if we all practice them the cumulative savings could be huge.
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La Costa Canyon: Break Up with Bottled Water
May 27th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Encinitas, Hot Market Trends, San Diego Communities
Trash cans at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, CA are emptier now that students, faculty and staff are switching to reusable water bottles.
And that is all because students with LCC’s Social Justice Project came up with a plan that is succeeding beyond all expectations, according to students and Christopher Greenslate, the LCC Social Justice teacher who also teaches journalism and English at the school.
Students sent out emails and made posters on recyclable paper to educate fellow students on the hazards of plastic water bottles, which are disposed of at the rate of 60 billion per year–and is the leading source of plastic pollution in the United States. They also sold recyclable bottles, which student and faculty quickly bought.
When that supply sold out, reformed plastic bottle users found other off-campus sources. It is hoped that the ubiquitous plastic water bottle will be replaced with reusable ones that won’t trash our planet so needlessly.
As a result of this successful effort, La Costa Canyon High School’s video about their breakup with bottled water has been selected as a finalist in Quantum Shift’s $50,000 contest for best environmental project.
Please visit the site and cast a vote for La Costa Canyon’s Social Justice. Perhaps their efforts will spread to other area schools, colleges and workplaces. In addition to lessening environmental impact, there will be significant cost savings. Home filtered water put in glass bottles is not only healthier, but runs just 1/10 the cost of bottled water.
All of San Diego and the neighboring communities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff, and Rancho Santa Fe should be proud of La Costa Canyon High School and their very green project.
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San Diego First Time Home Buyers are Winners
April 29th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Real Estate News, San Diego Real Estate
We have rediscovered the joy of working with San Diego’s first time home buyers.
It’s not that we avoided them in the past, it was just the pricey nature of San Diego’s real estate that kept most first time buyers out of the market. Occasionally, we would have a well heeled Instapreneur who had been too busy to shop for a home in the past–and was now in the market for a breathtaking home near the beach in Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas or Carlsbad.
But that is not the market I am talking about.
I am talking about those buyers who are seeking a home in San Diego under $500,000–or even less than $400,000 or $300,000. In the past, it was a very difficult search–especially in the sub-$400,000 market. Junkers were priced in the $500’s and flimsy condo conversions were selling in the high $300’s and new home builders in San Diego were offering liar loans to anyone those who believed the market could only go up.
Smart first time home buyers in San Diego sat on the sidelines and didn’t get caught up in the real estate greed game.
And those patient buyers are now finding cute remodeled vintage homes at around $300,000 instead of the $400,000 to $500,000 that was paid just a couple of years ago. One couple with whom we are working is considering a builder’s closeout where homes that had sold at close to $900,000 just last fall are now available in the high $600’s–with incentives to boot. It also helps that these properties now qualify for San Diego’s FHA loans that now have loan limits of $697,000. There are also other loan programs and perks reserved especially for first time homebuyers in San Diego.
The best deals, however, are most prevalent when you move a few miles in from the coast, at least in North San Diego County. But it is still possible to be within 10 miles of the beach and enjoy San Diego’s ocean breezes and balmy climate–and live in a relatively new home.
Wonder what San Diego real estate deals are available? Just click the Home Search button below and begin your hunt. Additionally, in the next day of so, we will have a direct link to all listed San Diego foreclosures that can be searched at the neighborhood level.
Stay tuned!
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San Diego Real Estate Foreclosures Hit (Some) New Highs
April 28th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Real Estate News, San Diego Real Estate
San Diego is full of micro-climates, so why not acknowledge its micro-economies as well?
Overall, the San Diego real estate market looks pretty gloomy: There were 3666 foreclosures in San Diego during the first quarter of 2008, compared to 1182 during the first quarter of 2007, and 2296 during the last quarter of 2007. And most of the loans that went into default were originated between August, 2005 and October, 2006.
The bloodiest real estate markets in San Diego County, though, occur in those areas with newer construction, where builders sold homes and condos to thousands of first time home buyers on stated income and ARM loans. Poster cities for the foreclosure mess would have to include South Bay cities such as Chula Vista , where up to 79 percent of recent sales were foreclosures–as well as Spring Valley, Encanto, Nestor, North Oceanside (92057), the College area (92115) and Paradise Hills, where over half of all sales are foreclosures.
Coastal cities, with their micro climates and stronger local economies (tourism helps) are generally populated with more established and more expensive neighborhoods that were off limits to most first time home buyers. Cities such as Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and West -of-5 Oceanside (92054) have weathered San Diego’s foreclosure storm pretty well with somewhere between 0.3 to 2.0 foreclosures per 1000 homes. Compare that to 14.1 to 15.5 per thousand for South Bay communities in the 91915 and 92173 zip codes.
And as bad as some of these numbers look, San Diego County is still faring far better than truly battered inland Riverside and San Bernardino Counties–and central California counties as well.
So what is a buyer of San Diego real estate to do?
We are advising our real estate clients to stay coastal if at all possible. These are the blue chip properties of San Diego County and tend to hold their value best during tough economic times. The number of affluent home buyers who wish to escape the dark and cold winters in the Midwest–or the desert retirees who can no longer stand the summer heat of the deserts–are still seeking the year round balmy climate of coastal San Diego.
Now, however, these same relocating Americans are competing with smiling foreign buyers who can buy the San Diego beach lifestyle with Euros, Loonies, Yuan and Yen and cash in on the battered US Dollar.
You may also wish to read:
San Diego Real Estate a Bargain for Foreign Invevstors
Homes for San Diego Baby Boomers
Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Bargains
San Diego Real Estate Irresistible to Foreigners and Expats
Luxury Builder Claims 2007 Worst in 40 Years
La Costa Villas: Great Real Estate Investment Bonus
Moving or Relocating to La Jolla, CA
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