Del Mar: Where the Turf Meets the Surf
Many are surprised to hear that Del Mar, CA has a population under 5,000. It is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, offers a quaint tree-lined village, a gorgeous California beach, the Del Mar Race Track and Fairgrounds, and an active train station that once brought the Hollywood crowd down for the Del Mar race season and year round beach gatherings.
Del Mar has a number of fine restaurants, lodging possibilities and is easy to reach by car or train. Many who visit return year after year to enjoy Del Mar’s beach, its village, the Del Mar Fair and of course, Del Mar’s thoroughbred racing.
The lure of Del Mar is a haunting one, and many vacationers end up looking for a second or primary home within its spectacular boundaries.
These Del Mar real estate seekers may not find the precise home or condo they want in Del Mar, and when this occurs we are usually able to locate beach-close properties in adjacent Solana Beach to the north and in La Jolla to the south. Those wanting larger homes that are still close to Del Mar often find Rancho Santa Fe and Carmel Valley to be excellent alternatives. All of these surrounding communities can reach Del Mar via local roads–and without ever driving on the freeway.
Please feel free to search Del Mar real estate and the Del Mar MLS. At the same time, you may wish to explore the surrounding communities of Solana Beach, La Jolla, Carmel Valley and Rancho Santa Fe. Encinitas and the La Costa area to the are also often considered by those seeking real estate with close proximity to Del Mar.
Read also:
San Diego 4th of July Fireworks for 2008
June 30th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, La Costa, San Diego Activities
San Diego’s mortgage meltdown and budget constraints have forced Chula Vista to cancel its big annual fireworks display, and Valley Center has fire safety issues, but the 4th of July fireworks displays in the rest of San Diego County will light the skies this Friday night.
San Diego’s real estate market notwithstanding, you shouldn’t have to drive far from your San Diego home to find a good spot to picnic and watch the fireworks:
2007 Fireworks Schedule in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO
Coronado: Glorietta Bay and Silver Strand
July 4, 9 p.m. Day-long festivities with a parade at 10 a.m.
(619) 437-8788.
La Jolla Cove
July 4, 9 p.m.
(858) 454-1444
Mira Mesa Recreation Center
July 4, 9 p.m. Food, rides, games and entertainment in Mira Mesa Community Park during the day.
(858) 538-8122.
Mission Bay Yacht Club
July 4, 9 p.m.
(858) 488-0501.
Ocean Beach Pier
July 4, 9 p.m.
(619) 226-8613.
Mission Bay: Paradise Point Resort
Thursday, July 3 at 9 p.m. with BBQ at 6 pm
(858) 274-4630.
Downtown: Petco Park
Saturday July 12, Fireworks follow the Padres game
(619) 795-5005.
San Diego Big Bay
July 4, 9 p.m.
(858) 751-5755.
Mission Bay: Sea World
July 4, 9:30 p.m.
(800) 25-SHAMU.
EAST COUNTY
Santee: Town Center Community Park Ballfields
July 4, 9 p.m.
(619) 258-4100 x201.
Spring Valley Park
July 4, 9 p.m.
(619) 479-1832.
Campo: Golden Acorn Casino
Saturday, July 5, 9 p.m.
619-938-6000[
NORTH COUNTY
San Marcos: Bradley Park
July 4, 9 p.m. Food and music are part of the celebration happening earlier in the day.
(760) 744-9000.
Vista: Brengle Terrace Park
July 4, 9 p.m. Daylong festivities.
(760) 726-1340, ext. 1574.
Camp Pendleton: Del Mar Beach
July 4, 9 p.m. All day activities including music, food and games.
(760) 725-2313.
Escondido: Grape Day Park
July 4, 9 p.m. Afternoon festivities, including game and food booths, music and entertainment.
(760) 745-1159.
Carlsbad: Legoland
July 4, 8:30 p.m. included with admission
(760) 918-LEGO.
La Costa Resort and Spa
July 4, after dark
760-438-9111
Oceanside Pier
July 4, 9 p.m. Part of the O’Fest All-Day Carnival
(760) 967-2005.
Ramona: Olive Peirce Middle School
July 4, 9 p.m. Grounds open at 5 p.m. for town picnic including food booths and games.
(760) 789-1311.
Rancho Bernardo High School
July 4, 9 p.m. Daylong festivities kick off at 10 a.m. in Webb Park.
(619) 889-8505.
Del Mar Fairgrounds
July 4, 9 p.m. included with admission
(858) 755-1161.
Valley Center High School
Canceled this year. Back in blazing colors in 2009!
(760) 670-7062.
SOUTH BAY
Chula Vista: Bayside Park: Canceled
Wednesday, 9 p.m. Food, music, and entertainment will be featured beginning at noon.
(619) 420-6603.
National City: Kimball Park
Wednesday, 9 p.m. Carnival rides, games and food booths also.
(619) 336-4290.
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A San Diego Real Estate Market Report–
June 10th, 2008 Categories: Coronado, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe
–from San Diego’s premier luxury real estate broker, who also spends a lot of time in the trenches:
Bob Dyson, Broker-Owner of Villa Sotheby’s International Realty in San Diego and Dyson & Dyson Sotheby’s International Realty in the desert. Bob speaks with the voice of experience, and has never been one to mince words.
And Dyson’s most recent column, sent via email this morning, is no exception.
Insight from a Real Estate Insider
CURRENT REAL ESTATE MARKET CONDITIONS
by Bob Dyson
I have been asked again to render an opinion on current real estate market conditions as a lot has changed since our last forecast dated March 27th, 2008.
Over the past few months I have been in most of our Southern California offices on a weekly basis working with individual groups of agents, discussing the market from their perspective and experimenting with new and innovative ways to define and approach this “moving target market”.
In addition, I personally have been “in the trench” in the development business in San Diego and Riverside Counties and the San Diego real estate sales and listing market working directly with Sellers and Buyers and gathering my own opinion of the market.
AGENTS:
Our focus, as an industry, has (for the most part) been spent on satisfying our selling clients or finding the traditional buyers of real estate….
We have been advertising to satisfy sellers (in general) as well as attempting to promote ourselves as professional agents in our communities.
We have been placating many people who just do not understand that this market has changed dramatically and that property values are being affected on a daily basis by many external forces beyond our control.
This market cries out for innovation, a different focus and a clearly defined direction of effort.
SELLERS OF REAL ESTATE:
I divide these people in to six categories:
1. Sellers that are financially upside down as to the values of their property vs. their loan balances.
2. Those that are on the market with equity and do not have a strong desire to move.
3. Bulk Sale Sellers (Hedge Funds as they call themselves)
4. Clients that are on the market, have equity and a strong desire and need to move.
5. Those that are bank owned.
6. High End Sellers
How you invest your time, as an agent, in these 6 categories tells you who is making a living in today’s market.
Many of us have spent way too much time in categories one, two and three. As agents, all we have to sell is our time and wisdom of the market. To invest it incorrectly is not our highest and best use of time and energy, plus, it is very stressful.
People in these first 3 categories have another agenda, foreign from what we have been used to.
If they are threatened with losing their home or a changing lifestyle they react differently and often don’t disclose their real concerns and agendas.
Category three clients (Bulk Buyers) have wasted so much time of agents on the bet that the agent will be “Written in” their transactions and that there is a big commission ahead that will solve everything only to find out that the client had no intention of paying you a big “Traditional” fee for your services in a bulk sale. Most of them are not pulling the trigger anyway.
Conversely, I have spent a lot of time with smiling agents who are working the “Strong Desire Client” and focusing on where and why they are moving and assisting them in getting to that goal while understanding proper pricing of their current home to get to that goal.
Agents working the foreclosure listing markets and being very successful and consistent.
This market will be with us for years to come.
Most of these “Bank” Sellers lower their property prices weekly until the properties sell….best kind of seller with whom to have a relationship.
I am also working with many agents specializing in the high end…the least effected market. These agents are smart and are working the needs of their clients.
THE REAL ESTATE BUYING PUBLIC:
Where are the buyers????…Oh, they are out there….in droves…good credit…lots of cash and ready to take advantage of these market conditions.
For the past several months buyers and investors have been looking for the bottom. Although none of us can predict exactly when this market begins to shift to a demand market we can certainly agree that we are somewhere near the bottom in many real estate market places.
The lending market, in its own way, is making corrections and write-offs necessary to return to traditional lending with some assistance from the federal government.
WALL STREET:
One of our biggest problems is that Wall Streets continued denial that we are in a recession along with their amazing ability to mask huge financial issues on a daily basis.
Wall Street, as well as the Feds, continues to work off of 60 and 90 day old data as exampled by the most recent report of unemployment and a drop of some 400 points in the DOW the week of June 7th. Those were based on April numbers!!!!
In addition, the Fed continues to amend reports downward at a later date as if to diminish the one time sting of a negative announcement. On Wall Street, adjustments in reporting are never given the same impact as initial reports…. that’s why they “Estimate” and then tell us the truth later.
Because of these deceptive practices I predict one more big drop in the stock market…somewhere in the 2000-point range. This is necessary, in my opinion, to re focus investors on both the historic overall stability of real estate and the unbelievable opportunities in today’s market.
In a recent discussion with Roger Hedgecock (San Diego Talk Radio Host) and New York Mike (Talk Show Host and Business Owner of San Diego Harley Davidson) I am amazed at how excited they are about this market.
They believe that “Even if we are not at the bottom and if you intend to hold for at least two years, a property that you buy at great value today you will hit an absolute homerun.”
This type of excitement will “make a market” and before you know it ….many people will return to real estate with an entirely different mission and attitude.
THE RESULT OF ALL THIS:
1. Reduced agent and broker overhead will quickly lead to early profits and future investment capital.
2. Focused attention on who you spend your time with will reward you well.
3. Prepare for an onslaught of real estate investors followed by first time homebuyers and second homebuyers never before seen in the market.
I don’t think any of us can comprehend the pent up demand waiting for the return of measurable and stable real estate markets and lending practices. The best times are ahead for those that really focus in the right areas of our business.
And That’s How I See It
Bob Dyson
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Shhh! San Diego Real Estate Commissions Revealed
May 30th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Del Mar, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe
It’s a taboo of sorts to discuss real estate commissions, not because it’s an impolite topic (like discussing one’s salary or bowel habits at a social gathering), but rather, it could land a real estate licensee in jail (or so we are warned). Of course, it is legal and necessary to discuss commissions with a home seller–and as we all know, this is a negotiable fee. But to publicly discuss real estate commissions is insane, unless, of course….
the courageous San Diego real estate blogger is quoting a bigger mouth.
So what can I say about San Diego real estate commissions? Well, according to HomeGain (the bigger mouth), San Diego real estate commissions during the month of December, 2007 (time for an update?) averaged 5.1 percent across the board, whether it was a $300,000 Oceanside condo, a $500,000 San Marcos home, a $750,000 Carlsbad home–or a $1,000,000 or more Del Mar or Rancho Santa Fe mansion.
I don’t suppose this is earth rattling news of any sort, and it feels about right to this writer and real estate broker–except for those San Diego sellers who overprice their homes and think that a 9 percent commission and a paid trip around the world will enable or convince us to sell this overpriced property to some unsuspecting buyer. Not a chance.
Home Gain says this figure is based on historical commission averages for San Diego real estate sellers who found their agents through Home Gain. And they, too, disclose that real estate commissions are negotiable.
(Note to myself: Yippee! I crossed that real estate minefield and am still in one piece).
Have a nice weekend–and enjoy all the graduations and celebrations in our midst!
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San Diego a Bargain for Foreign Investors
March 17th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Luxury Homes, San Diego Real Estate
How I wish I were buying San Diego real estate with Euros or Loonies or Yen or Yuan. As a European, Canadian, Japanese or Chinese real estate investor, I could be plucking off prime coastal real estate in San Diego County at an amazingly steep discount.
For this mornings rant , we can thank Mr Bernankes surprise quarter point cut in the Fed rate Sunday, which has helped to trigger a further decline in the dollar versus other foreign currencies. The US dollar against the Euro currently stands at around $1.58, which can be a dream or a nightmare, depending upon the denomination of ones bank account.
This decline comes as many are expecting an even steeper cut by the Fed this week.
Some American expatriates we know are selling off foreign investments and returning home. The declining dollar has made European retirement increasingly more expensive, and $4.00 per gallon gasoline is still more attractive than $8 per gallon. Its all a matter of relativity. And San Diego County has become a natural home target for many of those returnees.
And why not?
Blue chip real estate in downtown San Diego, Coronado, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, La Costa, Aviara, Carlsbad and even Oceansides blossoming downtown area can now be purchased by foreigners and expats at even steeper discounts, thanks to the decimated dollar and an already discounted real estate market.
Its a rare combination astute foreign investors cannot ignore and for those seeking to buy a slice of paradise, there is little that can compete with coastal San Diego.
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San Diego Incomes: A Few Surprises
March 1st, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos
As a San Diego Realtor, I am frequently asked about income demographics in San Diego County and find it handy to have a chart for reference.
The one below provides more than a few surprises, courtesy of the San Diego Business Journal, which provided this data last summer and is one of my favorite reads. We found it surprising, for example, that Carlsbad outranks Encinitas and that Poway beat out Coronado.
And would you have guessed that Oceanside would best San Diego? And few should be surprised that tiny Del Mar beat out them all.
Of course, Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla were not included, as Rancho Santa Fe is not an incorporated city, and La Jolla is part of the City of San Diego.
| Cities Of Interest: | 2007 Population: | Median Household Income : |
| San Diego | 1,326,837 | $61,043 |
| Chula Vista | 227,723 | 68,497 |
| Oceanside | 176,644 | 62,271 |
| Escondido | 141,788 | 60,639 |
| Carlsbad | 101,337 | 90,115 |
| El Cajon | 97,255 | 50,433 |
| Vista | 94,962 | 60,757 |
| San Marcos | 79,812 | 68,109 |
| Encinitas | 63,259 | 86,444 |
| National City | 61,115 | 41,959 |
| La Mesa | 56,250 | 55,667 |
| Santee | 56,158 | 74,321 |
| Poway | 50,830 | 93,542 |
| Imperial Beach | 27,709 | 43,355 |
| Lemon Grove | 25,451 | 57,000 |
| Coronado | 22,957 | 91,748 |
| Solana Beach | 13,418 | 102,810 |
| Del Mar | 4,548 | 108,635 |
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