April Market Statistics for San Diego North County Homes

April market statistics for San Diego North County homes are supplied by Altos Research compliments of Pickford Escrow, one of Gary’s .Winning Team.  See Market Statistics Under Photo.

Nothing but Air!

Oceanside Homes:  The median list price in OCEANSIDE, CA this week is $349,000. The 663 properties have been on the market for an average of 127 days.  The market has shown some evidence of slowing recently. Both prices and inventory levels are relatively unchanged in recent weeks.  See current listings of Oceanside homes.

Carlsbad Homes:  The median list price in CARLSBAD, CA this week is $739,000. With inventory trending up but days-on-market trending down conditions do not seem to have strong up or down pull.  Inventory levels have been relatively consistent relative to sales.  Despite the fact that there is a relatively high amount of available inventory, this Buyer’s market is still seeing prices move higher. If the market cools off further, the price trend is likely to reverse.  See current listings of South Carlsbad homes.

Encinitas Homes:  The median list price in ENCINITAS, CA this week is $984,000. With inventory trending up but days-on-market trending down conditions do not seem to have strong up or down pull. The market has shown some evidence of slowing recently. Both prices and inventory levels are relatively unchanged in recent weeks.  See current listings of Encinitas homes.

Vista Homes: The median list price in VISTA, CA this week is $339,000. The 378 properties have been on the market for an average of 127 days.  Vista home sales have been exceeding new inventory for several weeks. Since this is a Buyer’s market prices are not yet moving higher as excess inventory is consumed. However, as the supply and demand trends continue, the market moves into the Seller’s zone, and we are likely to see upward pressure on pricing.  See current listings of Vista homes.

San Marcos Homes: The median list price in SAN MARCOS, CA this week is $412,500. The 334 properties have been on the market for an average of 124 days.  San Marcos home sales have been exceeding new San Marcosinventory for several weeks.  Since this is a Buyer’s market, prices are not yet moving higher as excess inventory is consumed. However, as the supply and demand trends continue we are likely to see upward pressure on pricing.

Escondido Homes: The median list price in ESCONDIDO, CA this week is $356,500. The Escondido home market has settled in at a relative stasis in inventory and sales conditions. It’s a Buyer’s market that has seen prices trend lower. Expect that consistent up trends in demand will be required before price trends change significantly.  See current listings of Southwest Escondido homes.

To find a great  San Diego North County Homes,  contact Gary Harmon.

Selling Your Oceanside Home in a Distressed Market

Distressed property sales made up over 60 percent of  the California homes resale market last month.  It’s a challenging market…requiring a name you can trust like Prudential California Realty.  Selling your Oceanside home in a distressed market also requires special preparation. 

Remember the saying, “People buy what they see and not what will be.”  Or,  “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”   What if you have to move and leave your Oceanside home vacant.  There is always something a little unappealing and sad about a vacant Oceanside house.  Oceanside homes for sale show better, sell faster, and for more money when there is staging or showcasing  of your home.

Gary Harmon, your Oceanside Realtor, can arrange to have a professional company stage your home and keep it ready for sale.  In a recent survey of Realtors, over two-thirds estimated that a staged Oceanside home sells for 10 to 20% more and closes 60 to 90 days faster than a vacant Oceanside property.  Staging companies (and we recommend Showhomes) help take the stress out of showing and selling your Oceanside property by providing a turnkey package including whole-house furnishings, a professional staging and a live-in Home Manager to keep your Oceanside home in show-to-sell condition seven days a week.  Staging a home can save you the Oceanside homeowner holding  cost such as utility bills, cleaning fees, vacant house insurance premiums,and mortgage interest expense.  The Oceanside homeowner savings  combined with a higher sales price, typically far exeed any  staging fees.  Staging companies, like Showhomes, provide commercial liability insurance on each home.

Whether a Oceanside buyer, Oceanside seller, or Oceanside Realtor, the Oceanside home selling and purchasing process is fraught with potholes.  In this weak San Diego North County real estate market, everyone involved in the selling process must increase their efforts. In order to sell Oceanside homes at top dollar, Oceanside houses must be “prepared for sales.” That’s where Staging, sometimes called showcasing,  becomes the secret weapon.   Contact Gary Harmon, your top Oceanside Realtor for more information on this great selling technique.  See Current Listings of Oceanside Homes.  If you live in Ocean Hills Country Club homes and are thinking of selling, check out Ocean Hills retirement living.

Are San Diego County Short Sales Increasing?

Short sales – transactions where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property – made up an estimated 18.9 percent of resales last month. That was up from an estimated 18.7 percent in January, 17.6 percent a year earlier, and 11.2 percent two years ago.

The short sale option provides a way for financially distressed San Diego North County sellers to prevent foreclosure.   But, what exactly is a short sale?  See answer below.

A short sale is an agreement in which the mortgage lenders or other lien holders agree to accept a payoff on the loan for less than the current balance. Many lenders agree to a short sale because they receive more of the loan balance in comparison to the amount from selling the North County home under foreclosure. The short sale process also aids in maintaining San Diego North County homes values in the community and helps the seller maintain better credit compared to foreclosure. In most instances, homeowners considering a short sale must meet specific criteria to qualify.

A short sale is not a typical real estate transaction, San Diego North County  home owners should consult a tax expert, obtain advice from an attorney and hire a qualified and experienced Prudential California Realty Realtor® like Gary Harmon.  Gary can help guide you through the process and act as a liaison between all the parties involved.

If you think a short sale might work for you, contact Gary Harmon.  Gary Harmon has completed Prudential’s short sale training program and has been certified as a “Short Sale Specialist.”  To learn more about “short sales” check out these instructional short sale  videos.

California Lifestyles – Real San Diego Living

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Southern California is a great place to live.  Real San Diego living lifestyles can be enjoyed especially in San Diego North County homes.   Check out the best source of   San Diego’s current listings:  see ALL San Diego  County.  See current listings for each community of San Diego North County homes.

Oceanside

East Carlsbad

South Carlsbad

West Carlsbad

Vista

San Marcos

North Escondido

South Escondido

East Escondido

Southwest Escondido

Encinitas

Like what you see?  Want to enjoy those California lifestyles and real San Diego living?  Contact Gary Harmon, your San Diego North County Realtor.

Ocean Hills Country Club – Real Resort Living Lifestyles

Real resort living lifestyles for 55+ active adults in OCEAN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB is the best kept secret in San Diego County.

Ocean Hills is located on 350 acres of rolling hills in Oceanside, California. This enclave is approximately 5 miles from the beach and only 30 miles north of San Diego. They are west of Melrose and south of  Highway 78.  There are 17 models to choose from! Ocean HIlls amenities include an executive-style par 55 golf course (no green fees), lighted tennis courts, paddle tennis courts (where pickle ball is avidly played), bocce ball courts, & an Olympic-sized heated swimming pool, spa & pet park. The 27,000 s.f. clubhouse has a Nautilus exercise facility, library, large auditorium, arts & crafts studios, sewing room, wood-working shop & many other activity rooms. Some of the clubs & classes include ceramics, ballroom dance, Tai Chi, duplicate bridge & aerobics. Ocean Hills offers Anglers, Sailing, Travel, Hiking, Ski, Bridge, Computer, Garden, Choral Society, or a large list of other outdoor & indoor club activities for an active living lifestyle. Ocean Hills is a fully gated community with security guard patrol 24/7. Entrance into the community is off Cannon and closely monitored. Each home contains pre-wired alarms that reports fire, police and medical emergencies to an HOA-monitored central facility, and security guard response is swift. Ocean Hills Country Club HOA dues also include front yard maintenance, common area landscaping, exterior home paint (white of course), red tile roof maintenance & basic Cable T.V.

To see Ocean Hills Country Club homes, contact Gary Harmon, and start enjoying the real active living lifestyles San Diego has to offer.  View or print  a Street Map of Ocean Hills.

 

Enjoy San Diego's Real Living Lifestyles!

San Diego North County Home Purchase – A Win-Win

It is now time to enjoy San Diego’s real living lifestyles.  Whether San Diego ocean view homes or inland communities like Vista homes, San Marcos homes, or Escondido homes, the San Diego lifestyle is awaiting you.  San Diego homes offer real living at its best.  Once you have found the San Diego North County home of your dreams, writing the offer becomes very important. You don’t want to pay too much, but you want to be successful in buying that San Diego North County real estate. It is time to set down with your San Diego North County Realtor, contact Gary Harmon, and write the purchase offer.

Most things are negotiable in the offer, but when buying San Diego County homes there is a standard to follow on most items. A good rule of thumb, using an old clicke, is to make any offer a win-win for everyone. Your Realtor will know how to advise you.

Keep it Simple

Keep the purchase offer on the San Diego North County home for sale as simple as possible. For example, don’t ask for closing cost back unless you need the cash. San Diego North County sellers will only be looking at the net price. Don’t ask for repairs up front. You can handle those later in the request for repairs. Structure you offer to keep things simple and clear for everyone to understand. If there are any items of personal property you are requesting that don’t normally come with the home, do them separately after you have an acceptance on the home. Don’t forget the big picture which is to buy your San Diego North County home, not to get a good deal on a refrigerator, etc.

Focus Only on What is Important

The first important thing is the sales price. Your San Diego North County Realtor, Gary Harmon, can provide you with comps of other San Diego North County homes to help you pick the right offer price. In this current San Diego North County real estate market, homes are selling at or above listing price. Many times you won’t get a counter offer, so put your best foot forward. The deposit, usually at least one percent of the purchase price, is the next important item. How long an escrow will you need? It takes at least 30-45 days to get all the loan details worked out. Other items to consider are who pays escrow, title, and other closing cost. Ask your Realtor what is customary in the San Diego North County area.   Gary also has  great winning team members, in California Title Company (Caltitle), HomeServices Lending and Pickford Escrow.

In cost no more to use the best, contact Gary Harmon and Prudential California Realty.

 

Fun Things to Do in San Diego County

1. Go ape at The San Diego Zoo
2. Venture on a Safarie at the San Dieog Wild Animal Park.
3. Meet your favoirte Marine Mammal at Sea World.
4. Create a Lego sculpture at the LegoLand
5. Have a ball at the San Diego Padres
6. Have a ball at the San Diego Chargers
7. Visit the Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum
8. Disover the wonders of science at the Reuben H. Fleet Scice Center & take in their 360 – degree Omnimx film.
9. Listen to your favorite melodies at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad.
10. Hands on expermenting at S.D. Children’s Museum.
11. Let your child discover the Children’s Discover Museum of Carlsbad.
12. Log on the event calendar of the S.D. Fairgrounds.
13. Have a picnic at San Dieguito Park in Solan Beach.
14. See dinosaur’s at S.D. Natural History Museum.
15. Tunnels of fun for kids – Pirates Cove at Belmont Park in Mission Beach.
16. Endelss Fun at Boomer’s Fun Center, Vista.
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27. Admire Sufrborads at the California Surf Museum.
28. Hike or Bike Mule Hill at the San Pasqual Valley Trail.
29. Discover a garden – Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas.
30. Chula Vista Nature Center with Marsch National Wildlife Refuge 220 species of birds.
31. Take a trail at Torrey Pines Stae Nature Reserve which as over 7 miles of trails, overlooking the ocean.
32. Check out rhe conert at Humprey’s by the Bay on Shelter Island.
33. Live music for you & your date at the Belly Up Tavern on S. Cedros in Solan Beach.
34. Look at the public ar, bayside by the port of San Diego.
35. Voted Best Family Camp – Palmoar Mountain State Park.
Campground Reservation
Park Information
36. Grape Stomp & Sample win at Orfila Vinyards & Winery.
37. Make footprints in the san at Del Mar Beaches. Enjoy sunset dining on the beach patio of the Poseidon Restaurant.
38. Observe migrating whales with Morning Star Charters.
39. Attend a live theater performace at the North Coast Repertory Theater in Solan Beach.
40. Take a horse drawn carriage through the mountain town of Julian.
41. Explore La Jolla Cover’s tide pools during low tide, or walk through the caves entered via La Jolla Cave & Shell Shop.
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Sea, Land, & Air Sports

 

Shopping

17. Try your skil at Robb Field Skateboard Park
18. Explore seafaring history at the Star of India Martime Museum.
19. Take a cruise on Homblower Harbor Cruises.
20. Look for a whale from the Cabrillo National Monument.
21. Walk or Bike on Shelter Island – Good spot for a picnic is the Sculpture park known as “The Peral of the Pacific”
22. Take a coaster ride & stop at any of the beach cities.
23. Walk, Rollerblade, or Bike along the Ocean Walkway in Carlsbad.
24. Make a footprints in the sand at Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, with 4 miles bike and walking paths.
25. Take a rid on the Coronado Ferry.
26. Cruise the harbor with San Diego Harbor Excursion.
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42. Explore the Eclectric shops, including antique, furniture, art, and clothing on Cedros St. in Solan Beach. Stop for lunch at the Wild Note Cafe!
43. Shop with the best Pacific Views at Plaza Del Maron 15th & Camino Del Mar.
44. Shop til you drop at Seaport Village, corner of W. Harbor and Ketttner Blvd.
45. Take the trolly to Tijuana for some creative bargaining.
46. Take a Haunted Tour of Old Town, vistist Historic sites, check out retail, galleris & Restaurants.
47. Check out the frenzy of vendors at Kobey’s Swap Meet at the S.D. Arena.
48. Enojoy fresh cut flowers & fruit at any of the local Farmer’s Market. Call your local city office for sites and tiem.
49. Explore Julian and its quaint antique shops for Frontier architecture. Stuff with Julian Apple Pie.
50. Shop ’til you drop at Horton Plaza in downtown S.D.
858.792.1555

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Hope you have enjoyed the Fun Things to Do in San Diego County.  The very best thing to do is move to San Diego so you can enjoy these fun thing all the time.  Contact Gary Harmon, you San Diego Realtor for more information.  Fun Things to Do in San Diego was provide by California Title Company, on of Gary’s Winning Team Members.

Villa Trieste Homes

Villa Trieste homes are North County homes for Seniors over  55.  Villa Trieste homes are about three miles from the beach but very near to TriCity Hospital, medical offices, and major shopping areas.  Villa Trieste homes are in a gated neighborhood just off Rancho Del Oro and just to the north of Highway 79.

There are a total of 150 Villa Trieste homes consisting of duplexes and condominiums.    These homes were built in 1991-1995, which makes them a little newer that the fabulous senior retirement community of Ocean Hills Country Club homes.  Villa Trieste homes duplexes are around 1762 esf to 1890 esf.  They are 2 br/2 ba.  These duplexes have 2 car garages.   The Villa Trieste typically duplexes range in price from $300k to $400k.The Villa Trieste homes condos are both first floor and second floor units.  The main living area is on the first floor and thes Villa Trieste homes are from 1016 esf to 1400 esf.  They have a single car garage and an extra outside space.  The Villa Trieste condos typically range in price from $200k to $300k.  Home owner association fees are Homeowner fees are currently $250-275 per month and include exterior building maintenance, common area maintenance, a gated community, and pool, spa, and clubhouse.

Other Oceanside homes for sale for over 55 seniors are Ocean Hills Country Club homesEmerald Lake Village homes and the very affordable  Oceana CA homes.

Listings of Villa Trieste homes seldom come on the market.  If you are interested in these Oceanside homes, contact Gary Harmon.  I will set up a personal search for you so we will know when a Villa Trieste home hits the San Diego North County real estate market.

Wildfires and Your San Diego North County Home

The threat of wildfires to your San Diego North County home is great.  Therefore, you the San Diego homeowner, must make a serious effort to prevent the spread of wildfire on and near you property.  I recently had the City of San Marcos Fire Department do an assessment at my Lake San Marcos home.  Here are some tips I can share with you to help protect your San Diego North County property.

  • Post a visible address marker on a contrasting background.  Lighted address are the best.
  • Create 100-150 feet of defensible space around your San Diego North County home.
  • Clear combustible material from under any deck and from around your property.
  • Keep roof, eaves and attic vents clean of debris, dead leaves, and pine needles.  This also applies to rain gutters.
  • Trim your trees and shrubs away from buildings and provide a 10 foot clerance around fireplace chimneys.
  • When landscaping, plant trees that are not a high fire danger.  For example, king palms are not, queen palms are.
  • Keep tree branches and limbs cut six feet above the ground.
  • Keep roads and driveways clear of overhead trees and overgrown brush to maintain evacuation routes and access for fire trucks.
  • Keep your San Diego North County property free of accumulated combustibles such as dried vegetation, cuttings, and woodpiles.
  • Keep piles of firewood 30 feet from your home or garage.
  • Maintain a clearance of 10 feet around any propane tanks.

Remember, maintaining your North County home and property is the your responsibility.

If you would like more information or have questions, call your local fire department.  In San Marcos it is 760-744-1050, ext 3409.

For real estate related information, contact Gary Harmon, your San Diego North County Realtor.

Americans Confident in Real Estate Market Recovery

New national survey shows belief in real estate as a good investment is unshaken.

Newark, N.J. — The majority of America’s potential homebuyers and sellers — 68 percent — believe that the real estate market and property values will recover in the next year or two, according to a survey released today by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc.  [NYSE:PRU] company.

 This exceeds the 47 percent of Americans who expected house prices would rise in a similar survey conducted in April 2010, underscoring a more bullish outlook for the real estate market today. In addition, 86 percent of Americans believe real estate is a good  nvestment despite the market volatility of the past few years. The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey of 1,253 Americans between the ages of 25-64 in the market for buying a home was conducted Jan. 20-27, 2011. The survey reveals that six in 10 respondents are more interested in buying real estate (58%) and are optimistic about buying given the momentum of the economic recovery (59%). It also shows that although the price of many Americans’ homes declined during the recession, 89 percent recognize they can also buy a new house at a lower price. “This survey clearly demonstrates that Americans continue to be optimistic about the real estate market and believe that home prices will rise,” said James Mallozzi, chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. “A key take away from the survey is although consumers recognize that it is a good time to buy, they are concerned about their ability to sell their homes. This is one of the reasons the market is still struggling to recover.”  For those on the fence about buying, uncertainty about selling an existing home (77 percent), concern about getting a fair price for the home (67 percent) and emotions (58 percent) are holding them back. For those who have sold homes in the past year, despite the down market 78 percent report that they were satisfied with the sale. Of these, 32 percent were very satisfied with the final price of their home and 46 percent were grateful they were able to sell given market conditions. A relatively small number, 22 percent, indicated that they were disappointed or resentful about the price they received for their home.

The survey highlighted Americans’ interest in trading up their homes. Of the 45 percent looking to trade up, 64 percent wanted more space or property, 49 percent a nicer house and 41 percent a better
neighborhood. Only 21 percent surveyed said they were looking to scale down, and 34 percent said that they wanted a similar home. The survey highlighted the importance of getting the right price in today’s market —74 percent of buyers believe that many homes could meet their needs and that price is a significant differentiator, while 26 percent stated that they were willing to pay top of market for a home that specifically suits their needs. In setting the right price, however, sellers were split—with 53 percent wanting to price right at or slightly below market to attract more bids and 47 percent wanting to price slightly higher than market and hoping to find a buyer willing to pay more. The majority of respondents highlighted the importance of real estate agents in the process of buying
or selling their home. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said that an agent is very important or essential to this process, with only 24 percent saying agents are helpful but not imperative.
“Americans continue to see real estate agents as having a very important role in helping them price, buy and sell their homes,” added Mallozzi. “Although the data underscores the value real estate agents provide, it also shows that the industry needs to continue to work hard to meet clients’ unique needs.” The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey was conducted online. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent. A more detailed breakdown of the data is available, as well as supporting charts and visuals, at www.news.prudential.com.  Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. is Prudential’s integrated real estate brokerage franchise and relocation services business. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated. Companies are selected based upon outstanding performance records, high levels of customer service and shared business values with those of Prudential. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with more than 1,600 franchise offices and 54,100 sales professionals in the franchise Network as of Dec. 31, 2010.  Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with approximately $784 billion of assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2010, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. In the U.S., the company’s Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential’s businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services.  Article dated March 10, 2011 and furnished by Prudential Financial, Inc.

Strength in the local San Diego market can be seen in my blog article San Diego Home Prices Going Up?  To get information on San Diego North County homes, contact Gary Harmon, Prudential California Realty.