Deborah Engel, San Diego, California Real Estate

Carmel Valley (92130) Home Market Update

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:01:29 -0700

Carmel Valley, San Diego (92130) Home Market Update

Total Number of Homes For Sale: 285 (38 are short sales)
Detached: 211 (21 are short sales)
Townhomes: 29 (4 are short sales)
Condos: 44 (13 are short sales)

Price Range: $199,900-$11,500,000 (average $1,249,918)
Detached: $550,000-$11,500,000 (average: $1,531,433)
Townhomes: $349,000-$739,000 (average: $492,976)
Condos: $199,900-$739,900 (average: $398,815)

Homes Currently in Escrow (Pending Status): 94
Detached: 56
Townhomes: 8
Condos: 30

Total Closed Escrows Last Month - July 2010: 55
Detached: 34
Townhomes: 10
Condos: 11

Carmel Valley 92130 Detached Homes for Sale:

Carmel Valley 92130 Townhomes for Sale:

Carmel Valley 92130 Condos for Sale:

Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, is a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Homeowners Insurance: Time for an Annual Checkup

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:38:09 -0700

Homeowners Insurance: Time for an Annual Check-Up

An annual check-up on your homeowners insurance can result in a healthier policy and a healthier pocketbook. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Tax Credit Extended-You Mean I Can Buy a Home Today and Get the Credit?

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:43:03 -0700

Tax Credit Extended. You Mean I Can Buy a San Diego Home Today and Get the Credit?

Unfortunately, no. The Federal tax credit extension is not meant for buyers who find a home today and want to buy it. You had to have a home purchase under contract by April 30th in order to potentially benefit from the extension.

The extension ONLY applies to buyers who had a signed contract by April 30, but were unable to close escrow by the June 30 deadline. This has happened mainly because of delays with banks approving short sale transactions, which can take substantially more time to close escrow than the June 30 deadline allowed.

For buyers who had a valid, accepted purchase contract by April 30, 2010, you now have until September 30, 2010 to close escrow and claim the tax credit.

In San Diego, however, there still is an available California tax credit that allows you to buy a home now and claim the state tax credit.

San Diego July 4th Fireworks

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:24:49 -0700

It's almost time for the 4th of July celebration in San Diego! As part of it, it's fun to watch a great fireworks display. Here are the places in San Diego County where you can go to see them:

Big booms and family fun await with the 2010 Fourth of July firework celebrations throughout San Diego. Whether it's a cruise, family barbecues at local parks or a spread at packed beaches, there is a fireworks display and Independence Day celebration in the vicinity of all San Diegans.

All fireworks shows and activities listed below take place on Sunday unless otherwise noted.

CENTRAL SAN DIEGO

Annual Big Bay Boom July 4 Fireworks Show, downtown: (619) 686-6200 or thebigbay.com for parking/shuttle information and map. Fireworks, from barges placed near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero area and Seaport Village, at 9 p.m. to music from 105.7 "The Walrus" FM radio.

Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 N. Harbor Drive, downtown: sdmaritime.org or (619) 234-9153. Fireworks, picnic dinner and live music aboard the Berkeley ferry; adults $40; children ages 5-10, $20; children ages 4 and under free; and up, $65. Check-in: 5 p.m.

SummerPops: "Star Spangled Pops" on the Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown: (619) 235-0804. Concerts with Marvin Hamlisch. $17-$76. Gates open 6 p.m., concerts at 7:30 p.m.

Hornblower Cruises & Events, 1066 N. Harbor Drive, downtown: (888) 467-6256. Dinner cruise, fireworks viewing and live music from 7 to 10 p.m. Board at 6:30 p.m. $115 per person. Discount for children 4-12.

Yacht America sunset and fireworks sail, 1050 N. Harbor Drive, downtown: (800) 644-3454; sunsetsail-sandiego.googlepages.com. Departs at 6 p.m. Traditional picnic fare, soft drinks; BYO alcohol. Adults $125; children 12 and under $80.

USS Midway Museum's "Apple Pie 4th of July" celebration; 910 North Harbor Drive, downtown: midway.org. Doors open at 6 p.m. Visitors can bring aboard picnics, then watch the fireworks. Live music performance by N.R.G Energy. This event is sold out.

Coronado Fourth of July Celebration, Spreckels Park; Glorietta Bay: ecoronado.com or (619) 328-2461. Daylong festivities include a 15k run, 5k run/walk and rough-water swim. Live music TBA. July 3 parade at 10 a.m.; fireworks on July 4 at 9 p.m.

La Jolla Cove, Ellen Browning Scripps Park, 1180 Coast Blvd.: (858) 456-1700. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

Mission Bay Yacht Club, 1215 El Carmel Place, Mission Bay: (858) 488-0501. Boat parade; Dixieland Jazz band and Tommy and the Stilettos will perform; fireworks at 9 p.m. (Members-only parking.)

"31st Annual Ocean Beach Fireworks off the Pier"; Ocean Beach Pier, end of Newport Avenue: (619) 226-8613 or oceanbeachsandiego.com. Fireworks at 9 p.m. simulcast to 103.7 FM radio.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa "9th Annual All-American BBQ & Fireworks Extravagazna," 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay: (858) 274-4630. Barbecue at 6 p.m.; adults $59, children $25. Kids activities and carnival. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

SeaWorld San Diego's "Fireworks: Into the Blue"; 500 SeaWorld Drive, Mission Bay: (800) 25-SHAMU. Extended fireworks set to patriotic music at 9:30 p.m.

Mira Mesa, Mira Mesa Community Park/Gil Johnson Recreation Center, 8575 New Salem St.: (858) 538-8122. Noon-9 p.m. parade, family activities; fireworks at 9 p.m.

EAST COUNTY

"Santee Salutes"; Santee Town Center Community Park's West Ball Fields; 9400 Cuyamaca St.: ci.santee.ca.us or (619) 258-4100, ext. 201. Free. Family activities and fireworks, 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Spring Valley Park, 8735 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley: (619) 479-1832. At the swap meet behind the Spring Valley Community Center. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

NORTH COUNTY

San Diego County Fair, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.: (858) 755-1161 or sdfair.com. 7:30 p.m. Navy Band Southwest; 9 p.m. fireworks, followed by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts concert. Free with fair admission.

Grape Day Park, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido: 4 to 10 p.m. (760) 839-4138. Activities starting at 5 p.m.; no barbecuing or dogs allowed; big parking lot will not be accessible; food available for purchase. Marine Corps will perform at 8 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m.

Julian, Main Street: (760) 765-1857. Pre-parade activities begin at 10 a.m. with parade at noon; no fireworks.

Legoland's "Red, White and Boom!," 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad: (760) 918-5346. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Entertainment by the Jumpitz. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. All activities included with admission.

"17th Annual Independence Day Parade"; July 3 at North Tyson Street Park in Oceanside going from Coast Highway to Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive: msoceanside.com or (760) 535-5227. Daylong family-friendly activities. No fireworks.

Olive Pierce Middle School, 1521 Hanson Lane, Ramona: ramonachamber.com or (760) 789-1311. Family activities start at 5 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Tune in to music on 96.5 FM radio.

Old Poway Park's "Old Fashioned 4th of July," 14134 Midland Road, Poway: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live music and family-friendly activities available with fireworks celebration taking place at Poway High School.

Bradley Park, 465 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos: ci.san-marcos.ca.us or (760) 744-9000. Free to the public with entertainment at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

Brengle Terrace Park's "Red, White and Boom" celebration, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista: (760) 726-1340, ext. 1571, or cityofvista.com. Park opens at 7 a.m. Family activities; live music; barbecue fundraiser sponsored by Famous Dave, $65 per person but $500 for table of eight; free to public, parking $10 per vehicle; fireworks at 9 p.m.

SOUTH BAY

Kimball Park, 12th Street and D Avenue, National City: Carnival 5 p.m. daily July 1 through 3. (619) 336-4290. Live entertainment by North Carolina Concert band at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. on July 4.

- By Marissa Evans, a San Diego Union-Tribune intern and contributing writer

Original story can be found at Sign On San Diego.

Buying a San Diego Home through FHA-Common Myths

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:01:28 -0700

Common Misconceptions About FHA Home Loans

Purchasing a San Diego home using FHA is a popular financing strategy for home buyers. They're especially popular with first-time buyers who don't have much of a down payment saved up. But FHA loans are also commonly misunderstood. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions about these loans.

But first, a quick definition. An FHA loan is simply a mortgage loan that's insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, better known as HUD. This government agency insures mortgage lenders against losses resulting from borrower default. This makes the lenders more inclined to use the program, and to give loans to people who might not otherwise qualify for a mortgage.

Myth #1: Anyone can qualify for an FHA loan.

Truth: Not everyone will qualify. Generally speaking, it's easier to qualify for an FHA home loan than a conventional mortgage loan. But that doesn't mean they're available to everyone. In fact, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recently tightened up their lending standards for FHA loans. One of the changes affects people with low credit scores. If your credit score is below 580, you'll have to make a larger down payment. If your score is way below 580, you probably won't get approved for the loan. With good credit, you'll still have to make a down payment of at least 3.5% to get approved. You'll also need to document your income and expenses, to show that you can afford the monthly payments.

Myth #2: You can get an FHA loan with no money down.

Truth: In the current economy, you can't get any kind of loan without making a down payment of some kind (with the exception of VA loans). The days of "easy credit" and "no money down" disappeared when the housing bubble burst. The minimum down payment for an FHA loan is currently 3.5%. And, as mentioned earlier, you'll need a credit score of 580 or higher to qualify for the 3.5% down payment. If your score falls below that cutoff point, you'll have to put 10% down.

Myth #3: FHA loans are safer, because the government will bail you out if you fall behind.

Truth: Wishful thinking. If you fall behind on an FHA home loan, you can be foreclosed upon - the same as any other type of loan. Remember, the FHA is not the one giving you the money. You must apply for one of these mortgages through an FHA-approved lender. The government just insures the lender against losses resulting from borrower default. So the lender can still foreclose on you, if you fail to make your payments. As an FHA borrower, you might have more workout solutions and modification options available, but that's about it. The FHA will not "bail you out." So make sure you buy an affordable house!

Where to learn more:

Federally insured loans offer certain advantages to home buyers. But they are not a risk-free path to homeownership. As a borrower, you are still responsible for making your payments on time. If you would like to learn more about FHA loans and how they work, refer to the resource links provided above.

Author's Note: The original version of this article was written by Brandon Cornett. Brandon is a consumer advocate and publisher of the Home Buying Institute. Visit the author's website at www.HomeBuyingInstitute.com to learn more.

If you would like to talk to a San Diego lender about FHA, or other loan options, please let me know. Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, is a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Classic 2 bedroom La Mesa Bungalow for Sale! $294,500

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:16:52 -0700

Deborah Engel | Prudential California Realty | (858) 829-1989

4473 Harbinson Ave., San Diego, CA

Classic La Mesa bungalow. Hardwood floors, spa, large family room,
no mello-roos.

2BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $294,500

Year Built	1943
Sq Footage	1,088
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	4,800 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

NOT a short sale or bank owned! Classic La Mesa bungalow. Refinished hardwood floors, bathtub & sink. Functional kitchen w/original cabinets & gas stove. Large extended hallway & family room w/charming wood burning stove. Sliding door from master bdrm opens to outdoor deck/private back spa. Popcorn removed from most areas. New blinds,interior paint,fence;modern lighting,indoor laundry. Tons of street parking. Elevated lot for great air flow/light. Centrally located/great freeway access. No Mello-Roos/HOA!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Fireplace	- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Dining room
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Living Room
Dining Area	Kitchen
Master Bedroom	Deck and Spa

Contact info:

Deborah Engel

Prudential California Realty

(858) 829-1989

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 19, 2010, 6:58pm PDT

Maytag recalls 1.7 million dishwashers involving several brands

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:58:46 -0700

Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maytag Corporation announced today that Maytag is recalling about 1.7 million dishwashers. The heating element in the dishwasher could fail, resulting in a fire.

Maytag says that so far there have been twelve reports of fires and dishwasher damage, including one resulting in extensive kitchen damage. Fortunately, there have been no injuries or deaths.

The brands affected are:

Admiral

Amana

Crosley

Jenn-Air

Magic Chef

Maytag

Performa (by Maytag)

If you have one, immediately stop using it and disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the circuit breaker for the dishwasher or unplugging the dishwasher.

To see the complete CPSC recall notice which lists the model numbers and serial numbers involved in the recall, see the recall notice: "Maytag recalls dishwashers due to fire hazard."

♫♪♪♪♫

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Buyer's Strategy....Throwing Spaghetti

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:09:45 -0700

The San Diego Home Buying market is strange. Because so many buyers are having trouble getting their offer accepted for a home in San Diego they seem to take the "throw the spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks" strategy.

This strategy consists of putting offers on multiple properties, negotiating them, and once accepted, then deciding if they really wanted the home in the first place. This scenario played out in my last 2 listings. It was only after my sellers accepted the offers did we find out the buyers' strategy. Once accepted, both buyers decided that they really didn't want the house. They were just playing the field. What a waste of time for everyone and extremely disappointing. So here's my advice:

-For Buyers: Don't use the Spaghetti Strategy. When you put in an offer, you are doing it in good faith, meaning you really want to buy the home if you can reach acceptable terms with the Seller. If you are just throwing the offer out there, it's not in good faith. Don't do it.

-For Buyers Agents: Please educate your buyers that they can't just make a ton of offers, hoping to see what happens. If your buyer insists and you go along with it, you must tell the seller's agent that the buyer is putting multiple offers out there so that the seller's agent can educate the seller. Because I work with many buyers I understand their desire to put multiple offers out there. If you decide to take the time to put in the offer, then take the time to let the seller's agent know the situation.

-For Seller's Agents: Ask. Ask if the buyer is putting in other offers, have put in other offers, or are continuing to look at homes. Hopefully you'll get truthful answers so you can help your client to decide the weight to give the offer.

-For Sellers: Be aware that this is happening. Don't count on a buyer sticking around just after you negotiate and accept their offer. This seems to be the trend. Now I love spaghetti....actually pasta of any kind. But the Spaghetti Strategy is just irresponsible and has no place in buying a home.

"Buyer's Strategy....Throwing Spaghetti," is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

11:58 am...Pronounced....Sold!

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:25:26 -0700

At 11:58 am I stood at the San Diego County Recorder's office, holding a document confirming that my clients now owned their home. As a San Diego Realtor I'm usually waiting for confirmation that title has been recorded. But here I was, holding the power of proof.

It started yesterday, Thursday. The loan was supposed to fund on Wednesday and title was to be recorded yesterday. The loan hadn't funded as planned, and still hadn't yesterday, after the cutoff. The way the it works here is that loan funds have to get to the title company by a cut-off time (usually between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm) in order for title to be able to record the next day.

The loan funded today (Friday), so now we'd have to wait until Monday to record title. Three problems with this: 1) Buyer and Seller were already counting on this to close this week; 2) My clients (the buyers) had already scheduled some services over the weekend; and 3) My clients' loan money would be just sitting at title over the weekend, already being charged interest when they didn't even own the home.

Someone asked if I wanted to "walk the deed" through and get it recorded so that we didn't have to wait until Monday. I didn't even know that I had the option. Yes! I jumped at the chance to be a part of the significant duty of getting title recorded. Besides, my day was pretty flexible and there was the incredible desire to go into the mysterious world of deed recording.

Okay, so not mysterious, and if that was actually my job I would probably look at me strangely for being excited about this. But I was. I got a check for the recording fees from the escrow company, picked up the deed and other documents from title and drove to the County Recorder's office in downtown San Diego. It's really a beautiful building outside. For an "old" building in San Diego, the architecture is attractive and the grounds are kept nicely landscaped. Lots of free parking too. The San Diego Harbor is across the street. My poor client received way too many texts from me giving a play by play account of what I was doing and where I was.

Once I reached the Recorder's office, I took a number, and waited for it to be called. When it was called I felt like I had won a Bingo game (can't say it was like the lottery since I haven't won the lottery, and frankly it wasn't really as exciting as if I had one a million bucks-just guessing). The clerk was very friendly. He efficiently counted, entered things into a computer, and verified. At 11:58 am his printer spit out a piece of paper confirming my adventure.

In hindsight, it wasn't all that glamorous. Pretty routine, it seemed. But for me, I got to go through the learning experience of one of the most significant aspects of my business. Plus, my client was thrilled. Isn't that what it's all about?

"11:58 am...Pronounced....Sold!" is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Beautiful Scripps Ranch Home in Quiet Neighborhood For Sale

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:28:07 -0700

Deborah Engel | Prudential California Realty | deb@propertybydeb.com | 858-829-1989

11417 Swan Canyon Road, San Diego, CA

Beautiful Scripps Ranch Home in Quiet Neighborhood!

4BR/2+1BA Single Family House

offered at $600,000

Year Built	1992
Sq Footage	1,958
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	4,617 sqft
HOA/Maint	$89 per month

DESCRIPTION

NOT A SHORT SALE OR REO! Quiet area, bright & open floorplan. Refinished hardwood floors & new carpet. Open kitchen with lots of cabinets & counter space, with new solid Staron counters. Jenn-Air gas cooktop. Walk-in closet in master bedroom. Master bath has new tile & large walk-in shower. Fireplace in family room. French doors to back patio. Freshly painted exterior and interior. Indoor laundry. Central A/C. Easy to maintain landscaping. Community tennis courts. Great schools. Near parks. NO MELLO-ROOS!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor
- Tile floor	- Family room	- Living room
- Dining room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Attic	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Tennis court(s)

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- No Mello-Roos

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Living Room
Kitchen	Family Room
Master Bedroom	Back patio and yard

Contact info:

Deborah Engel

Prudential California Realty

deb@propertybydeb.com

858-829-1989

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: May 15, 2010, 6:48pm PDT

Don't Lose Your San Diego, California Home Buyer Tax Credit

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:48:41 -0700

If you are buying a San Diego home and are planning to take advantage of the California home buyer tax credit of up to $10,000, don't forget to apply for the credit immediately after you close escrow.

The Franchise Tax Board requires an application for the credit to be faxed within 2 weeks of closing escrow. The available tax credits are given on a first-come first-served basis, so the sooner you get the application in, the better. There is a limited amount of money that California has allocated to this program, and once the funds are gone, you can no longer get the credit. According to the Franchise Tax Board, they have already received 2900 applications. Unfortunately, you cannot submit an application until after you have closed escrow.

If you're buying a newly constructed home, however, you can submit a tax credit reservation form. You are not required to submit the reservation form in order to get the tax credit and you will still have to submit the tax credit form within 2 weeks of closing escrow. However, the reservation will hold your place in line for the tax credit. This is beneficial since many new homes close many months after entering into a purchase agreement. A reservation cannot be submitted if the purchase contract was signed before May 1, 2010. You can still, however, submit the tax credit form within 2 weeks after escrow closes.

"Don't Lose Your San Diego, California Home Buyer Tax Credit," is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

San Diego Summer Camps

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:48:37 -0700

Summer is coming up! If you have children and are wondering how in the world to keep them busy this summer, you're not alone. It may seem early to start planning your child's summer, but many camps fill up quickly. There are a ton of summer camp programs available-both day and sleepover. You can find a camp to fit almost any interest and age. Of course, not all of them are a fit for your child so make sure to check them out. Many day camps offer 1 week programs so you can fit them in if you are planning a vacation. Here are a few camp programs to start with:

YMCA-The YMCA has both day and sleepover camps throughout the County of San Diego. The Mission Valley location seems to have the greatest variety but all of them offer wonderful programs.

San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park- The Zoo and Wild Animal Park offer day and sleepover programs for kids who love animals.

Sea World-Offers day and sleepover camps for kids who want to learn and be around ocean creatures.

University of San Diego-Offers kids, teen, and sports camps.

University of California San Diego-Computer camps!

Camp Jaycee-Offers kids and teens camps with a great variety of interests.

Camp Science Safari-Science and culinary/cooking camps.

San Diego Junior Theatre-Has theatre camps at Balboa Park, La Jolla, and Chula Vista.

San Diego Humane Society-Animal Adventures camp in North and Central San Diego.

City of San Diego camps:
     City of San Diego, La Jolla
     City of San Diego, Allied Gardens
     City of San Diego, San Carlos

Camp Directories:
     San Diego Family Magazine camp directory
     Parents Connect camp directory

May San Diego Home News

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:18:00 -0700

Market News
Local homes sales statistics: The San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics (latest is for March 2010).

Market trends for detached and attached homes in San Diego.

San Diego Home Market Report - Read the current San Diego home market analysis.

Beyond the Headlines. The California Association of Realtors (CAR) compiles news headlines throughout the country on market issues.

Property Tax Reassessment-May 14th deadline If you are planning to apply to have your San Diego County property reassessed and lower your taxes, remember that May 14th is the deadline. The tax assessor is reviewing applications for reassessment. Fill out the application and indicate your opinion of your home's value as of January 1, 2010, along with area sales to support the value (supporting sales must be from between 10/01/09 and 3/31/10) . If you need supporting sales information please contact me and I'll email them to you. You can apply for the reassessment yourself.

Thinking about Remodeling? Make sure to think about these 5 tips.

Have Investment Property? Get FREE basic investment property management software through my association with T-ReX Global. The free property management software allows you to track up to four investment homes.

Enter to Win a $500 Shopping Gift Card! This month we're giving away a $500 gift card to your choice of Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, or Saks 5th Avenue. No obligation to enter and your contact information will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Entries must be received by June 2, 2010. Enter now! May San Diego Events

See what's happening in San Diego County in May! You can also check out the Padres' schedule.

Have Children? Lowe's and Home Depot Have Fun Kid's Activities and Workshops Both Lowe's and Home Depot have free workshops that are fun for kids. On May 22, Lowe's is having a "Catapult" building project. On May 29, Lowe's is offering a workshop on building a "race car." On June 5, Home Depot is having a workshop to build a game.

Thank you to everyone for your business and referrals. If you need any information or have any questions or feedback please email me (Deb@PropertyByDeb.com) or call (858-829-1989).

May San Diego Home News, compliments of: Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, is a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Looking for a New Farmers' Market in San Diego?

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:48:19 -0700

Look no further! The Adams Avenue Business Association will
begin the newest San Diego Farmers' Market - Adams Avenue
Farmers' Market - next Wednesday, May 12, from
3 pm - 7 pm. It will be located at Adams Avenue at 40th Street in Normal Heights.

Find other San Diego County Farmers' Markets.

Get directions!

You're a Home Owner! Welcome to a Ton of Junk Mail!

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:33:20 -0700

You're a Home Owner! Welcome to a Ton of Junk Mail!

Congratulations! You just bought a home and have moved in. As a home owner, you will get a ton of mail sent to you in the first few months. When you close escrow, the transfer of property is public record and many businesses will contact you. Most will likely be junk mail and there even may be some pieces that look official, but aren't. Here are the three most common types of junk mail you'll see:

-"Mortgage Protection Insurance" offers. These will explain that your mortgage will be paid in case of death if you purchase their product. Basically they are advertising term life insurance that would pay an amount if you die. If you want to buy life insurance to cover that, or other expenses that your beneficiary may have, I suggest talking to an insurance agent that you trust.

-Homeowner's Exemption services. If you live in your home, you can get a Homeowner's Exemption, which will reduce the assessed value of your home by $7000 for property tax purposes (basically this reduces your yearly tax amount by about $70). The Tax Assessor will send you the Homeowner's Exemption claim form automatically, or you can download the claim form. The companies that offer to get you the Exemption want to charge you a fee, but you can do this yourself for free. You will most likely get a piece of mail that looks official because it includes a copy of your deed. If they charge a fee, then it's probably junk mail.

-Ads for different services. No warning here, but you'll get lots of ads for different home owner services and products.

Of course you'll also get "real" mail from your lender and also the San Diego County Tax Assessor and San Diego County Tax Collector that you'll need to pay attention to. If you get some mail that you're unsure whether real or junk, make sure you contact your Realtor, Lender or County Tax Assessor or Collector.

Bought a Home? Don't Forget Your Tax Credit

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:02:53 -0700

Bought a Home? Don't Forget Your Tax Credit

Tomorrow, April 15, is the deadline for filing taxes. If you recently bought a home don't forget to see if you qualify for the tax credit.

Home bought between January 1, 2009 and November 6, 2009
- First time home buyer (cannot have owned a home for 3 years prior to this home)

- Primary residence

- Maximum credit is $8000

- Single buyers with income up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 can receive the full credit. The amount of the credit decreases as income increases, and no credit is available for incomes over $95,000 for singles and $170,000 for couples.

- The credit does not need to be repaid as long as the buyer occupies the home for at least 3 years. If the home is sold during the 3 year period, the credit must be repaid.

Home bought between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010
-First time home buyer OR previous home owner who used their home as their primary residence for 5 consecutive years (out of the past 8 years)

-Primary residence

-Maximum credit is $8000 for first time home buyers and $6500 for previous home buyers

-Home price cannot exceed $800,000

-Single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 can receive the full credit. The amount of credit decreases as income increases, and no credit is available for incomes over $145,000 for singles and $245,000 for couples.

- The credit does not need to be repaid as long as the buyer occupies the home for at least 3 years. If the home is sold during the 3 year period, the credit must be repaid.

Bought a Home? Don't Forget Your Tax Credit, is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

April San Diego Home News

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:10:51 -0700

April San Diego Home News

Happy April! Hopefully you didn't receive an April Fool's Day joke. Here's the history for this crazy day! The "Museum of Hoaxes" lists their Top 100 historical practical jokes.

New California Home Buyer Tax Credit So the big news this week is that California is offering a tax credit for buying a home. The credit is up to $10,000 and benefits first time buyers of resale homes or all buyers of new homes. This is in addition to the federal tax credit which expires soon. Full details are included in my most recent blog. If you're interested in resale OR new homes let me know and I'll see what's available for you.

Big Changes for FHA Buyers using FHA financing have big challenges trying to get a home, but now HUD has made it worse by increasing the fees for getting FHA funding. Currently the up front "funding" fee for mortgage insurance is 1.75% of the loan amount. On April 5 that will jump to 2.25%. This is in addition to the difficulty of finding an FHA-approved condo complex, which is the only way to use FHA to buy a condo/townhome.

Market trends for detached and attached homes in San Diego.

San Diego Home Market Report - Read the current San Diego home market analysis.

Beyond the Headlines. The California Association of Realtors (CAR) compiles news headlines throughout the country on market issues.

Property Tax Reassessment-May 14th deadline Apply to have your San Diego County property reassessed and lower your taxes. The tax assessor is reviewing applications for reassessment. Fill out the application and indicate your opinion of your home's value as of January 1, 2010, along with area sales to support the value (supporting sales must be from between 10/01/09 and 3/31/10) . If you need supporting sales information please contact me and I'll email them to you. You can apply for the reassessment yourself.

Go Padres April also means the start of the San Diego Padres season. Check out the Padres' schedule.

April San Diego Events See what's happening in San Diego County in April!

If you need any information or have any questions or feedback please email me (Deb@PropertyByDeb.com) or call (858-829-1989).

April San Diego Home News is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, is a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Buying a San Diego Home? More Money for You!

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:50:06 -0700

Buying a San Diego Home? More Money for You!

In addition to the soon-to-be-expiring federal tax credit, San Diego home buyers can benefit from the new tax credit through California! Whether you can take the credit depends whether you are a first time San Diego home buyer or whether you buy a resale or new home.

First Time Home Buyer of Resale Homes
First time San Diego home buyers buying resale homes can claim the credit (so, if you're not a first time home buyer this won't apply).

New Homes
San Diego home buyers (whether first time buyers or not) buying a brand new home can get the credit.

The Credit
- Dates: To be eligible for the tax credit, the San Diego home has to be purchased from May 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. Or, you need to be in a contract to buy a home by December 31, 2010 and close no later than August 1, 2011.

-San Diego home buyers can receive a credit equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000.

-The credit can only be taken in equal installments over three consecutive years.

-Buyers are required to live in the home for at least two years or forfeit the credit (i.e., repay it to the state).

Whether buying a resale or new home, contact me so I can let you know what homes are available. But hurry because the last time the credit was available funds ran out quicker than expected because so many people bought homes to take advantage of that credit.

Buying a Home? More Money for You! is by Deborah Engel, Prudential California Realty, is a recognized San Diego and Carmel Valley Realtor for top client satisfaction. If you'd like to learn more about Deborah, visit her website, www.PropertyByDeb.com, email her, Deb@PropertyByDeb.com, or call her at 858-829-1989.

Own a Business? SCORE!

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:26:59 -0700

Owning a business in San Diego can be challenging. But did you know that there are great resources available to help?

SCORE provides free counseling, great workshops, and networking events to help either start or improve a small business. They even have a business library for additional resources.

Here are this week's workshops through SCORE:

Legal Issues for Small Business:
Organizational Structure
Monday, March 22, 2010
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
$49.00 Pre-Paid - $59 Walk-In
National University, Carlsbad Directions

How to Start & Manage Your Own Business
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
9:00 AM to 4:15 PM
$69.00 Pre-Paid - $79 Walk-In
Pt. Loma Nazarene University, Mission Valley Directions

Managing Grants and Contracts
(for Non-Profits)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
9:00 to 11:30 AM
$39.00 Pre-Paid - $49.00 Walk-In
The San Diego Foundation, Liberty Station Directions

Internet Marketing 201: Build Your Business
Through Search Enging Optimization (SEO)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
$69.00 Pre-Paid - $79.00 Walk-In
Pt. Loma Nazarene University, Mission Valley Directions

Marketing and Contracting with the
Federal Government
Friday, March 26, 2010
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
$69.00 Pre-Paid - $79.00 Walk-In
National University, Carlsbad Directions

Business Plan 201:
How to Write a Winning Business Plan
Saturday, March 27, 2010
9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
$99.00 Pre-Paid - $109 Walk-In
Pt. Loma Nazarene University, Mission Valley Directions

Register Now

More information:
619-557-7272
www.score-sandiego.org

Protect Your San Diego Home During Rain

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:36:25 -0800

Is the Rain Damaging Your Home?

With so much rain in San Diego in the past few months it's important to make sure your home is cared for. As important as rain is to the San Diego area, water can damage your home severely if you ignore it. Here are some things to do to safeguard your home:

1. During rain make sure your windows are closed. If water gets into your home or on the windowsill, dry it off immediately.

2. If you have rain gutters make sure they are clean from leaves and debris so the water is directed away from your home. If you live in an association responsible for the gutters and notice a problem, let your HOA know immediately.

3. This is a great time to see if your roof is leaking. If you have any areas of your ceiling that look stained from water call a roofer to have any issues fixed.

4. After it rains, look around the outside for any standing water near the home. This could be a sign that there is a drainage issue needing to be addressed. You definitely don't want water puddling next to your home as this can damage your foundation.

5. Avoid bringing water inside from your shoes, jacket, or umbrella. This can damage your floors. Keep a dry towel handy just inside the door to lay wet items on. If you have a dog you can use the towel to dry his coat and feet off.

6. Make sure water doesn't get into your garage and damage items on the ground.

7. After it rains, open your windows to air your home out. If you don't, moisture can stay, which can lead to mold and mildew.

Carmel Valley, San Diego (92130) Home Market Update

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:36:17 -0800

Carmel Valley, San Diego (92130) Home Market Update

Total Number of Homes For Sale: 194 (30 are short sales)
     Detached: 134 (10 are short sales)
     Townhomes: 25 (5 are short sales)
     Condos: 35 (15 are short sales)

Price Range: $215,000-$6,949,000 (median $972,500)
     Detached: $579,000-$6,949,000 (median: $1,319,000)
     Townhomes: $335,000-$714,900 (median: $499,000)
     Condos:  $215,000-$565,000 (median: $375,000)

Homes Currently in Escrow (Pending Status): 82
     Detached: 45
     Townhomes: 19
     Condos:  18

Total Closed Escrows Last Month - February 2010: 38
     Detached: 24
     Townhomes:  7
     Condos: 7

Detached Homes for Sale:

Townhomes for Sale:

Condos for Sale:

San Diego Ugly Dog Contest this Sunday

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:45:28 -0800

This Sunday, March 7, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is the 15th Annual Ugly Dog Contest. In addition to the Ugly Dog prize, contests will be held for other categories including, Best St. Patty's Day Costume, Cutest Dog, Best Mutt, Best Trick, and the Dog Who Looks Most Like its Owner, among others.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $2 for children (with an additional cost if you are entering your dog), with proceeds benefiting: Rancho Coastal Humane Society Safehouse Program, Helen Woodward Therapeutic Riding Program, and Friends of Del Mar Parks.

Buying a Condo? Don't Forget Insurance

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:24:27 -0800

While insurance isn't the most glamorous topics, it's a vital part of home ownership.

Generally, when buying a condo or townhome, your HOA dues pay for a master insurance policy to cover the structure. You, or the interior of your condo, isn't covered under the master policy, so if your home is burglarized, damaged by fire/flood, or if someone hurts themselves inside your home, you have no insurance protection.

To protect yourself you can purchase a special policy, called an "HO-6" policy. This type of policy will generally cover you in case someone gets hurt, your condo is damaged by flood or fire, or if your property gets stolen. It's fairly inexpensive and the value to you is immense.

More and more lenders are now requiring HO-6 coverage before funding a loan. If you're buying a condo or townhome look into HO-6 coverage immediately so your insurance agent has time get a copy of the master policy to verify what coverage you need. Whether required or not, obtaining additional HO-6 coverage can help shield you from potential future expenses.

*Disclaimer 1: I'm not an insurance expert so be sure to consult with a licensed insurance agent about necessary coverage.

*Disclaimer 2: Although insurance can be a boring topic, I'll have future blogs about specific insurance topics. That's how important I think insurance is!

7 Truths About Buying a Short Sale

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:12:02 -0800

With so many short sales on the market it's hard to ignore them. A short sale is where the seller owes more on the home loan than he can sell it for. So, he'll come up "short" on paying back the full loan amount. If the seller has cash to make up the difference he can pay the short fall. If not then he will need to pursue a short sale, where the bank agrees to take less than the amount owed. This presents problems for the seller and buyer because both are at the mercy of the bank's decision whether to allow the home to be sold at a loss to the bank.

1. Seller sets list price, not the bank. The person who originally bought the home is the seller. The bank doesn't own the home and doesn't give input on the list price. Banks usually won't get involved in a short sale until there is an offer on the home. The seller, with the help of his agent, sets the list price. Because it's unknown what price the bank will consider, even if you make a full price offer, the bank may come back demanding a higher price after an appraisal done.

2. You will wait. If your offer is accepted by the seller, you will wait a long time for approval. Not weeks, but usually many, many months. Most buyers think they can wait, but after several weeks of waiting it can become stressful watching other homes come and go on the market. A short sale doesn't involve a simple bank approval. The bank has to review seller financial documents, make sure that the sale is due to a hardship (even though this isn't required), order appraisals and price opinions, etc. Because an approval involves many people the time to get an answer can be staggering. In the end, the bank may not even approve the short sale.

3. You will receive very few updates. Of course you want to know what's happening. The agents do too. Most likely, there is nothing to know and so the update will be, "Nothing new." Because the process is so far removed from the agents' control it doesn't mean that the seller's or your agent isn't trying to get information. This just goes back to waiting and waiting to hear anything.

4. Don't count on repairs, a home warranty, or termite inspection. The seller is already asking the bank to take a loss so don't be surprised if the seller can't do repairs, give you a home warranty, or anything else that costs. These terms can usually be negotiated in a non-short sale, but I'm seeing more and more banks not approving anything that takes additional money from it.

5. If you commit then commit. It's so easy to put in an offer, get it accepted, and keep shopping for a home. Then if you find something else, you cancel your short sale offer. This happens so frequently and really puts the seller at risk. The seller accepted your offer in good faith, expecting you to ride it out to the end. If you walk away from the deal because you found something else, you shouldn't have put the offer in. If you know and accept the risks associated with short sales then stay committed. If you cancel after doing this the seller has to start all over.

6. A foreclosure isn't always looming. Many buyers believe that if there is a short sale, the owner must be facing foreclosure, so they low ball the price or wait until it becomes a foreclosure. This isn't true. While that scenario is happening a lot right now, there may be other reasons the sellers are trying to sell the home. The sellers may be getting a divorce, a job transfer, a military order, etc. Whatever the reason, low balling doesn't work. The bank approves the price based on appraisal and other information.

7. There is no guarantee of approval and circumstances may change. I had someone recently contact me for my opinion. She waited out a short sale approval for 7 months. She was using an FHA loan. Because FHA condo approval requirements changed while she waited, she could no longer buy the home. Laws and policies when buying a house changes rapidly and the circumstances you faced when making an offer may be different than what is happening when the approval is given. Plus, even if you wait it out there is no guarantee that the bank will approve the short sale.

So how do I protect myself? The short sale approval process is finally getting some attention. Hopefully we'll see some changes soon that speed up the approval process. If you pursue a short sale you are at the mercy of the bank. Some things to keep in mind:

First, in the offer you can include a provision that you must get approval from the bank by a certain date or you can cancel the contract. I have yet to see a bank respect the date, but at least it gives notice of how long you are willing to wait before looking for a different home.

Second, ask your agent to get as much information as possible about the seller and the loan. Sometimes that information will help you decide whether or not to make an offer.

Third, offer a realistic price so that the bank doesn't have to reject the short sale because it's lower than the appraised value.

Fourth, if the bank responds wanting a higher price or additional cash from you, and you can't go forward because of it, see if the bank will negotiate. The bank doesn't always respond well to this, but if the change is something that keeps you from buying the home, then it may helpful to try negotiation.

Um...I Changed My Mind...Sorry

Deborah Engel, San Diego Homes & Property (Prudential California Realty) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:38 -0800

"I've Changed My Mind."

On Friday at 3:00 pm I put a new home listing on the San Diego market. By Sunday, we had multiple offers and were over asking price. Out of the offers, two were particularly strong and the sellers accepted one of them. Before letting the other agents know, I confirmed with the buyers' agent to make sure they wanted the home (yes, they did and even visited the home a second time and "loved" it).

This morning the buyers' agent let me know that the buyers had "changed their mind."

While I understand buyers canceling escrow for different reasons, a change of heart within 12 hours of getting the home makes me believe they put in an offer without really wanting it. With short sales and REOs it seems common for buyers to put many offers out there since they have a slim chance of getting any of them. I have several buyers who have had to put in 15 or so offers over many, many months until getting one, and it's almost anticlimactic when they actually get their offer accepted. I get it. However, this is a traditional sale and the sellers took all offers very seriously, respected the offers' expiration dates, and negotiated in good faith.

It seems that these buyers were not really committed to buying the home. If they weren't, they shouldn't have put an offer in. All this did was create extra work for everyone and an illusion of commitment. The other buyers who made an offer and were truly committed were probably disappointed that their offer wasn't accepted. It's not so easy for another buyer to hear that they can now have the home only because the first choice no longer wants it.

So, to buyers: An offer is serious and can result in a contract to purchase. You shouldn't just throw out offers to see if anything will stick. When you are making an offer you should do this only because you really want the home. Don't make an offer unless you are truly motivated to buy it. If you don't really want it, don't bother making an offer. Move on to something you really want.

Deborah Engel, San Diego, California Real Estate

Carmel Valley (92130) Home Market Update

Homeowners Insurance: Time for an Annual Checkup

Homeowners Insurance: Time for an Annual Check-Up

Tax Credit Extended-You Mean I Can Buy a Home Today and Get the Credit?

San Diego July 4th Fireworks

Buying a San Diego Home through FHA-Common Myths

Classic 2 bedroom La Mesa Bungalow for Sale! $294,500

Maytag recalls 1.7 million dishwashers involving several brands

Buyer's Strategy....Throwing Spaghetti

11:58 am...Pronounced....Sold!

Beautiful Scripps Ranch Home in Quiet Neighborhood For Sale

Don't Lose Your San Diego, California Home Buyer Tax Credit

San Diego Summer Camps

May San Diego Home News

Looking for a New Farmers' Market in San Diego?

You're a Home Owner! Welcome to a Ton of Junk Mail!

Bought a Home? Don't Forget Your Tax Credit

April San Diego Home News

Buying a San Diego Home? More Money for You!

Own a Business? SCORE!

Protect Your San Diego Home During Rain

Carmel Valley, San Diego (92130) Home Market Update

San Diego Ugly Dog Contest this Sunday

Buying a Condo? Don't Forget Insurance

7 Truths About Buying a Short Sale

Um...I Changed My Mind...Sorry