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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San Diegos Newest Urban Luxury: Oceanside Terraces
March 27th, 2008 Categories: Oceanside, San Diego Real Estate, San Diego Relocation
For 11 days straight, we have been working in a makeshift sales office at Oceanside Terraces, the new luxury midrise residence in downtown Oceanside. The office consists of a small table, two plastic chairs and a 2-drawer filing cabinet. Cardboard is taped over the lobbys travertine floors, and we have to compete with workers for elevator space. Theres no coffee maker, no copier and even paperclips are in short supply.
And nobodys complaining.
We think we are in heaven, because we are dealing with amazed guests and interested buyers all day long. Many step off the new Sprinter train next door, having come for a day trip from inland Escondido, Valley Center, San Marcos or Vista. They cant resist checking out Oceansides version of luxurious high rise living. Others come from Los Angeles, Orange County, North Dakota, Connecticut, Manhattan, Tucson, Las Vegas and Scottsdale and are no less amazed.
The most excited guests, though, are Oceanside residents, who watched the construction of Oceanside Terraces over the last few years.
They understand the significance of this six-story multi-use building with prime retail on the first floor, offices on the second, and residences and penthouses on the fourth through sixth floors. They know that downtown Oceanside is becoming a walkable community and is on its way to becoming a shining model for urban living. They also know they have 3.5 miles of great beaches, a balmy year round climate and some of the friendliest people in San Diego County.
They are also savvy and know that Oceanside Terraces offers the coastal urban lifestyle so many buyers are seeking:
- They want spacious single level homes large enough for guests, entertaining and long-term living.
- They want close proximity to the beach. (How about 400 yards?)
- They want a walkable community that offers fine dining, shopping, museums and farmers markets.
- They want secure buildings, adequate covered parking and large lockable storage for bicycles, surfboards and other toys.
- They want to be close to public transportation. (How about a train and transit center on the adjacent block?). They want an easy train ride to downtown San Diego to see Padres games, San Diego Civic Center theater productions, or perhaps enjoy dinner or a day in San Diegos Old Town or Gaslamp District. The appeal of more distant travel also beckons as a possibility with Amtrak.
And though it may surprise some of the real estate doomsayers and bubble bloggers, we are happy to report that the Oceanside Terraces are selling. So far this week, we have reservations from one Carlsbad and two Oceanside families. Others are returning for second and third visits.
Oceanside Terraces offer floorplans that range from 1730 to almost 2600 square feet. Prices range from the high $600s to $1.7 million and many boast sparkling ocean views.
We may not be able to offer you a cup of coffee, but please feel free to stop by 301 Mission (at the corner of Cleveland) and well happily show you what Oceanside Terraces has to offer. We are open 7 days a week from 11-4.
And if you can remember, please bring a few paperclips with you.
Read also:
San Diego Baby Boomers: The Wish List
Fun at Oceanside and San Diego Farmer’s Markets
Oceanside and San Diego a Bargain for Foreign Investors
Things to Do with Kids in Oceanside and San Diego
Oceanside and San Diego Real Estate Irresistible to Foreigners and Expats
Things to Do in Downtown Oceanside
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Moving to La Jolla, California?
January 12th, 2008 Categories: La Jolla, San Diego Relocation
Some cities are the embodiment of luxury, and La Jolla, California is no exception.
La Jolla is a paradise for both the traveler and the resident. Sitting just north of coastal San Diego, it offers a breathtaking coastline with heart-stopping views.
Add to this natural beauty a world-class village, designer shopping and boutiques, fine dining and lodging, a top-ranked university (UCSD) and medical school along with a climate that is arguably the best on earth and you have The Jewel, or La Jolla as Spaniards once called it.
Undoubtedly, La Jolla real estate is expensive and luxury buyers from all over the world would like to 
own some of their own. And with the declining dollar, more and more foreign buyers are considering La Jolla a prime real estate target.
With a population standing at around 35,000, there is a strong sense of community pride and connection with the outdoors, which averages an annual balmy 74 degrees.
La Jolla beaches are some of the most exquisite in the world, and range from the ever-beautiful and seal-populated La Jolla Cove, to the craggy cliffs at Blacks Beach, the sandy expanses at La Jolla Shores and the tide pools and surfing at Windansea. All offer stunning beauty and year-round photographic opportunities.
La Jolla real estate prices stood at a median of $663,000 in 2000-and have since mushroomed to over $1.4 million median, with average prices for a La Jolla single family home standing at over $1.8 million as of April 1, 2007.
What about day-to-day living in La Jolla for residents? Its a university town, its a world class destination, and its a certain heaven for local residents.
Aside from the cultural offerings, the top-tier shopping, the beaches and the dining opportunities, there are also wonderful educational choices for families with children. The schools in La Jolla, both public and private, are very highly regarded throughout San Diego County:
Public Schools
La Jolla Elementary School, 1111 Marine Street, La Jolla, 92037
Bird Rock Elementary School, 5731 La Jolla Hermosa Ave, La Jolla, 92037
Torrey Pines Elementary School, 8750 Cliffridge Ave., La Jolla 92037
Muirlands Middle School, 1056 Nautilus Street, La Jolla, 92037
La Jolla High School, 750 Nautilus Street (corner of Nautilus and Fay), La Jolla, 92037
Private Schools
Stella Maris Academy, 7654 Herschel Ave., La Jolla 92037
The Childrens School, 2225 Torrey Pines Lane, La Jolla 92037
All Hallows Academy, 2390 Nautilus Ave., La Jolla 92037
Delphi Academy, 7527 Cuvier St., La Jolla 92037
The Gillespie School, 7380 Girard Ave., La Jolla 92037
La Jolla Country Day School, 9490 Genesee Ave., La Jolla, 92037
The Bishops School, 7607 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla, 92037
Many are interested in La Jolla real estate and investment opportunities. The following links may provide some assistance:
La Jolla and North San Diego County Market Report
La Jolla and San Diego Home Sale Statistics
San Diego Real Estate
Search La Jolla Real Estate and MLS
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New San Diego Real Estate Exchange Program
January 8th, 2008 Categories: San Diego Market Trends, San Diego Real Estate, San Diego Relocation
Bob Dyson is a San Diego real estate legend who recently launched Sothebys real estate offices in the San Diego, Palm Springs and Las Vegas markets. He has kindly agreed to share some exciting news about a new real estate exchange program that is set to rock the San Diego real estate market mid-January.
This program might do much to liberate locked-up equities in homes throughout Southern California.
But Ill not steal his thunder¦.
by Bob Dyson
How I See It: Lets Liberate Home Equities
With all the alarming issues facing us in the real estate market and all the turmoil in Real Estate lending, I have been searching endlessly for fresh solutions to these problems. What if we could create a new and faster way to buy and sell homes in todays challenging market? What if real estate buyers and sellers could focus on the deal instead of getting lost in the details of granite surfaces, designer amenities and upgrades?
We believe our home exchange program will help stabilize our troubled real estate market and could be a program easily implemented in other cities outside of Southern California.
Quick Facts:
There are more than 25,000 homes for sale within San Diego County. We believe there are also more than 19,000 qualifed buyers who wish to purchase a home in San Diego RIGHT NOW.
So where are the buyers and who are they?
They are home owners living right here in San Diego.
They are home owners with Frozen Equity - people who want to relocate right now but must sell their home first.
The Media:
Granted, there have real problems with the real estate lending industry . And the media has done an excellent job paralyzing the San Diego home buying public, scaring them away from purchasing.
Recent statistics provided by First American Title Company show that in San Diego County, the Palm Desert/Palm Springs areas and Las Vegas, foreclosure activity is centered in small pockets of those communities.
Areas like Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Indian Wells and Summerlin have experienced very little impact from local foreclosures; however, those communities have been brought down by media hype and generalities.
It seems that nobody at the media level, or especially the government level, is paying attention to details. Our congressmen who are holding hearings on these issue dont even know what questions to ask - much less are able to present viable solutions.
Been There, Done That:
In January 1993 - in a similarly challenging Real Estate Market - several of us in the industry here began calling ourSan Diego listing clients and we asked them one question: When you sell your home, are you moving up in price, down in price or out of the area?
From that calling session forward, our little group began selling homes at an incredible pace. In January of that year alone, we sold 48 properties.
How We Did It:
We took our San Diego real estate clients who had good equity, good jobs and good credit and matched their wants and desires to move up with other clients selling their homes who desired to move down.
We simply exchanged properties. It was actually as simple as Ill buy yours and youll buy mine.
Two purchase agreements were drawn up, each contingient upon the concurrent close of the other. Both clients got new loans and became a buyer in one escrow and a seller in the other.
The process and the response exceeded our wildest expectations. We provided all parties with work sheets, we moved sales prices and new loan amounts around with our lenders and, in most cases, satisfied the needs of both clients.
Exchanging Properties in Todays San Diego Real Estate Market:
Today, we are taking our exchange idea of the 90s, dusting it off and are updating it with todays technologies.
What is evolving is an industry-supported effort to help buyers and sellers with good credit, good jobs and solid equity move NOW.
To best understand this new program please click on the following link to visit www.HomeExchangeProgram.com. The site is still under construction, but you can get a feel for how exchanges work.
Real Estate agents and sellers alike can participate in this program. The more of us who participate, the faster this Real Estate market will right itself and and help All Ships to Rise.
If you would like to discuss the Home Exchange Program, please give me a call at 858.481.2020 or email me.
And thats How I See It.
Bob Dyson
Bob Dyson is the Broker of Dyson & Dyson Sothebys International Realty in Palm Desert/Palm Springs, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nevada and Villa Sothebys International Realty in Del Mar, CA. With nearly 40 years experience in the Real Estate Industry, Bob has become an industry innovation leader. In addition to his many years in the brokerage industry, Bob is also involved in real estate mapping and development and currently has several thousand acres in various stages of mapping and development in Southern Nevada and Southern California.
About the Company
Dyson & Dyson Sothebys International Realty and Villa Sothebys International Realty were founded in Southern California in 1988 under the name Dyson & Dyson Real Estate Associates. Offering a variety of unparalleled real estate services, the brokerage operates offices in Las Vegas, the Palm Desert/Palm Springs area, and Garner Valley under the name Dyson & Dyson Sothebys International Realty and in the San Diego County area under the name Villa Sothebys International Realty.
Each Sotheby’s real estate office is independently owned and operated.
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