Homes in North County San Diego: How Affordable?
September 15th, 2008 Categories: Luxury Homes, Market Trends, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego Real Estate
We are working with more first time San Diego home buyers than ever before. We’re also finding bargains for second home buyers, as well as beach properties for some clever investors who have been waiting in the wings
The loaded question: Which areas offer the best deals for single family homes in San Diego real estate?
The answer is as broad as the question.
There are real estate deals to be found everywhere in San Diego County.
This article, though, deals with San Diego’s highly-desired North County real estate, which covers everything from Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe north through Solana Beach, Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside–and east to San Marcos, Vista, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Valley Center, Ramona, Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, and Pauma Valley.
For August, 2008 there were two real estate sales in Rancho Santa Fe, with a median sales price of $3,262,500. This may be the highest median sales price for all San Diego real estate, but Rancho Santa Fe also has one of the longest median times on market with 131 days.
Vista (92083) offers the most affordable real estate in North County San Diego with an August median price of $256,000–and one of the shorter market times at 43 days. With 18 sales in the 92083 zip code, prices there are also down 34 percent from August of last year. With these numbers, 46 percent of San Diego County households could afford to buy a home in Vista–compared to just 23 percent in August, 2007.
Other affordable markets include Escondido, where median prices have dropped between 29 (92026) and 55 (92029) percent since a year ago, depending upon zip code. In the 92029 example, only 4 percent of San Diego’s buyers could have afforded a home there in August 2007. Today, 23 pecent could lafford to buy the median priced home of $409,000.
The only city in North County San Diego to hold absolutely stable in real estate affordability year over year is Del Mar. Only 2 percent of San Diego’s population could afford to buy a home in Del Mar a year ago, and that same percentage holds steady for today. With 5 sales in August, 2008, Del Mar has a median sales price of $1,560,000.
If you would like a full summary report for North County San Diego real estate sales statistics, please feel free to email me: Roberta@SanDiegoPreviews.com or give me a call at 760-402-9101 or 877-818-8197.
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Quick Search for San Diego Luxury Homes
August 13th, 2008 Categories: La Jolla, Luxury Homes, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego
I fell in love with RealBird’s mapping technologies a few years ago, and just about flipped when I saw how we could create a mapping site devoted solely to San Diego’s luxury home market–with prices starting at $2 million: Luxury Casas
As the maps on LuxuryCasas show, the majority of these San Diego luxury homes are in the La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe areas, but are also scattered throughout the county, with a total of 826 results.
The RealBird wizards have a number of products, including their new Search on Maps tool that allows the viewer to not only get instant property valuations, but to also read restaurant reviews and pick up a coupon at the same time. Think of it as an interactive and virtual Yellow Pages.
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Should Rancho Santa Fe Incorporate or Remain a Rural Enclave?
April 9th, 2008 Categories: Golf Courses, Luxury Homes, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego Communities
Want to inspire spirited discussion or argument at a Rancho Santa Fe soiree?
Just bring up the topic of whether San Diego Countys rural and exclusive Rancho Santa Fe should incorporate as a city or NOT.
Those favoring incorporation of Rancho Santa Fe have tired of paltry allowances from the county for road repairs, San Diego Countys poor planning and budgeting for Rancho Santa Fe infrastructure, and RSF traffic laws that are enforced by the California Highway Patrol. There may also be more than a few Rancho Santa Fe real estate developers who might stand to benefit from incorporation of this affluent community.
Those opposing Rancho Santa Fes incorporation would certainly include denizens who wish to maintain this top-rated affluent rural communitys identity. These RSF residents cherish winding roads absent sidewalks, real estate signs, exposed open garage doors, streetlights, and mailboxes. Open houses sans signs in the Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe are a nightmare for me agents who wish to publicize the open availability of listings.
To the proponents of Rancho Santa Fes incorporation, though, I would like to ask them to consider carefully its lovely winding roads, dark night skies, citrus groves and flowers, and a lifestyle that begs to remain in some other more peaceful century.
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The Gates of San Diego
March 30th, 2008 Categories: Luxury Homes, Oceanside, San Diego Real Estate
Wendy Barbour is a recent addition to the Murphy Group at Villa Sothebys International Realty. She brings with her an impressive San Diego real estate resume and extensive knowledge of San Diegos urban and beach living. She is passionate about San Diego real estate and homes, and chose to write her first article here about the statement a fine gate can make about a residence, whether in the country, in suburbia or protecting the entry of an Oceanside urban row home.
Here she goes:
I have always been fascinated with gates. They serve as protection for a home, they create architectural interest, and are an investment that can yield impressive returns.
Take a meandering drive through Rancho Santa Fe, and you will see impressive iron and/or wood gates that protect an entire estate. These are generally situated at the street entry to the driveway and are electronically con trolled. The beauty of these gated Rancho Santa Fe estates starts at the point of entry with gated elegance. Prices for driveway gates such as these can range from $900 for a small custom walk-through gate , or $12,000 to $85,000 for a grander drive-through gate or to the Strato$phere for the likes of Bill Gates or Google founders.
But you dont have to have protected acreage in Rancho Santa Fe to make use of beautiful gates.
Drive through almost any San Diego neighborhood, and you will see fine examples of custom gates. Even builders of new homes are now adding gated interest with some of their models. Some of the gates are small, and might serve to keep a chihuahua away from the street, while others are more imposing.
I recently interviewed Chris Barrett, Vice President of FenceWorks, Inc in Southern California. He is nothing short of passionate as he describes the visual impact a gate can make as an entry to a home, a ranch or even a simple garden. Architects and landscapers usually give great consideration to gates as part of the aesthetic and functional plan, because they are the entry to the home and a point through which everyone goes to get in.
The old adage about not getting a second chance to make a first impression certainly holds true with the gate that guards your home!
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La Costa Villas: Great Investment Bonus
March 27th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad Real Estate, Golf, La Costa, Luxury Homes, Luxury Resorts, Real Estate News
Investors are moving back into the San Diego real estate market with impatient wallets.
They are seeking well-priced foreclosures, pre-negotiated short sales and real estate investments with income streams.
So-called bargains in sub-marginal areas may not be the wisest San Diego real estate investment move. Perceived bargains in outlying markets may be nothing of the sort, and we persistently advise our clients to stay with blue chip real estate investments especially in volatile economic times.
We just received a whisper from La Costa Resort and Spa that buyers of their Villas will receive up to $125,000 at closing for leasing their properties back to them for two years. And of course, there is always the option of using their condos as well.
This is a very limited offer, as only 10 La Costa Resort Villas whole-ownership, luxury condominiums remain. Each is fully furnished (just pack a toothbrush) with designer décor and high-end amenities throughout, and is located on the grounds of the world-class La Costa Resort and Spa.
Low out-of-pocket expenses enable resort ownership for minimal cost.
One-bedroom luxury condos start at $594,825, while two-bedroom units list for up to $1,033,000. With 75% financing, buyers can claim ownership with considerably low out-of-pocket expenses of up to $125,000. Plus, La Costa management will also waive monthly fees for two years to save La Costa Villa buyers even more.
A bonus of complimentary Villas Signature La Costa Sports Membership, valued at $16,500, is also included.
If you are interested in this exceptional value, please call Mike or Roberta Murphy for additional information at 760-402-9101 or 760-402-9102. We are including some luxury spa treatments for our buyers as well.
Read also:
Carlsbad FSBO’s and Short Sales: Carlsbad Real Estate Scoop
Carlsbad and San Diego Real Estate a Bargain for Foreign Investors
La Costa Chateaus: A Tale of Two Sisters
Carlsbad, La Costa and San Diego a Bargain for $1 Million Luxury Homes?
Pricing Your Carlsbad or San Diego Home in a Range
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