Carlsbad, CA

The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, and the statistics for January show a number of fairly dramatic changes from the prior month. These data do not include any private sales nor manufactured/mobile housing; the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate but are not guaranteed.

READ MORE: Carlsbad Village by the Sea

Media reports speak in general terms, so their information may not represent the reality of our local Carlsbad real estate market. Having data, and knowledge, about the local market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller so you can make informed purchase and sale decisions.

In January 2010 there were 58 homes sold in Carlsbad's 4 zipcodes, a 49% decrease from December sales. Keep in mind that the majority of these sales went into escrow in December during the holiday season, so a decline is really not surprising. Here's the breakdown of overall activity.

The total number of sales dropped significantly from the previous month. Average prices, however rose substantially across the board, and the average days on market dropped by about 13 days in all three categories.

There were 101 properties (20% of the total) in Carlsbad at the end of January with the CONTINGENT status (i.e., homes with offers being reviewed for approval by short sale and REO lenders), about the same percentage as in December.

The overall inventory in the Carlsbad real estate market for the end of January (515 homes) rose 13% over last month. This represents an inventory of only 5.3 months for attached homes (up from 4 months in December) and 4 months for detached (compared to 3.4 months in December) based on the current rate of sales over the last 6 months.

READ MORE: How Important is Inventory when Buying or Selling? Very!!

In January the number of new homes coming on the market increased from the prior month; good news for buyers is that 211 new homes hit the market, up a whopping 65% over the number coming on the mark At the same time 28% more homes went pending (109) than in the prior month.

READ MORE:

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for December 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for November 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for October 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for September 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for August 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for July 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for June 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for May 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for April 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for March 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for February 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate - Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for January 2009

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

My wife and I were treated to a very special evening of international guitar music last night by a good friend here in Carlsbad, CA. 

I continue to be impressed with the breadth and depth of the Carlsbad arts scene available for free or at low cost to Carlsbad residents and visitors - the free TGIF Jazz in the Parks concerts in the summers, the wonderful art exhibits at the Cannon Art Gallery at the Carlsbad Public Library, the outdoor arts and crafts fairs, Art Splash, and other offerings which included the International Guitar Night last night. 

This spectacular event was sponsored by Carlsbad's Museum of Making Music, itself one of Carlsbad's treasures. 

Four very talented guitarists  - Brian Gore, Itamar Erez (from Israel), Stephen Bennett, and Lulo Reinhardt (from German, grandson of famed guitarist Django Reinhardt) - entertained us individually and in groups of 2 and 4 for about 2 ½ hours with an incredible array of music style and unique instruments (there were at least 7 guitars including Bennett's harp guitars, one which was 101 years old!). 

International Guitar Night was founded in 1995 by Brian Gore in San Francisco and has become one of the pre-eminent guitar events nationally and internationally. 

It was an amazing evening of incredible musical talent, and I feel blessed to have had the pleasure of being there. The next best thing, perhaps, may be to enjoy the brief video clips I took.

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     Subscribe in a reader

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Home loan junk fees.  I'm sure you've heard this term.  So many things can be mistakenly classified as junk fees including fees that are bona fide.  I often hear real estate agents using this term to describe fees charged by third party providers on FHA and conventional broker loans. Did you know that mortgage loan fees nationwide amount to roughly 110 billion annually?  You may wonder why that figure is so high after all it's just a home loan?

With each loan that funds there are multiple people working to complete the transaction.  Most buyers applying for FHA or conventional broker loans will never meet some of those who assist the loan officer in completing their loan process. All will want to be paid a fee. This includes:

* a loan processor

* escrow officer

* title insurance company

* appraiser

* underwriter

* underwriting assistant

* lenders account executive

* funder

* doc drawer

* county recorder 

* courier

* attorney

First Priority Financial is licensed by the California DRE # 654852  Nevin's California DRE license 016552

  The opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of First Priority Financial.

                     3700 Hillborn Rd #700, Fairfield, California 94534.   This is not a guarantee to lend.  * Not a licensed branch.

We understand that saving money is the #1 reason people refinance.  We also understand how costly all of the closing costs can be.  We're consumers too!  Somehow we both need to find a way to make it work.  One option is our new no point, no fee mortgage loan program.

You can save tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage interest by locking in a low fixed rate today and depending on your time horizon if you choose this new no point no fee loan program you could pay no fees for your loan.  When we pay for a service we want to save money too so we completely understand how you feel and we believe our new no point no fee loan program is the solution..  How can we offer this?  We're good at finding lenders paying good compensation which covers our fee and could allow us to pay your closing costs.  This way you aren't paying interest on fees for the term of the loan.

If you're not refinancing but rather searching homes for sale, Jeff Dowler can help you find it.  Click on  the home below for San Diego MLS property search.  Click the house with "rates" to contact us for a quote or simply call 888-206-5781 x 1017. You may click here to e-mail me personally. We've been in business since 1977 so if you choose to hire us rest assured you're in good, experienced hands.  We're also nice, considerate people and sincerely have your best interests at heart.

Jeff and I look forward to handing you keys to your new home!

                                 Home search                                               Mortgage loans & rates

                                                 Call us or stop by our Carlsbad office today!

With all the news lately about the subzero weather and snow that the Midwest and east coast areas are experiencing, we shouldn't forget that Southern California has its share of devastating weather also.

This is a photo illustrating the excessive damage caused to a home from a west coast storm that passed through the San Diego area a week ago. It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds us not to take life for granted.

I don't know how they'll get this resin chair back in the upright position! My prayers go out to this family.