Encinitas Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony – December 3, 2011 in Downtown Encinitas - 11/29/11 10:00 AM
Encinitas Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony – December 3, 2011 in Downtown Encinitas  
It’s time again for the annual Encinitas Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Encinitas, CA. This has been an Encinitas staple for over 50 years and crowds typically number around 20,000!
 
The Encinitas Holiday Parade, with lots of floats and bands, will take place along the Coast Road/Route 101 between D and J Streets, on Saturday December 3 beginning at 5:30 pm.
 
And don’t forget the tree lighting ceremony at the Lumberyard near Starbucks that starts at 5 pm.
 
The theme … (4 comments)

Is Now the Right Time to Buy? - 11/29/11 12:01 AM
 
Is Now the Right Time to Buy?  
That’s a loaded question, but one we hear often in our business.
So how do you answer it?
And more importantly, what do you think consumers are thinking about this question if they are not working with, or consulting, a knowledgeable REALTOR familiar with the local market?
Certainly many headlines and news reports paint a pretty dire picture of the housing market. While we know real estate is local, consumers don’t necessarily, and being plastered with dour predictions and confronted with scary headlines does nothing to inspire confidence, even in the face … (12 comments)

Favorite Sweet Shops and Bakeries in the Carlsbad CA Area - 11/28/11 10:18 AM
 Favorite Sweet Shops and Bakeries in the Carlsbad CA Area
 
Friends and family who know me are well aware of my penchant for sugary concoctions, especially if chocolate is involved. I’ve never met a chocolate I didn’t like, so far, although the better quality the chocolate the happier I am.
Chocolates, desserts, and baked goods go hand in hand, in my opinion, and knowing where to go to get them, when making something simply is not on the agenda or laziness sets it, or just because, is essential.
So, with that in mind, and to satisfy other sweet fanciers in … (12 comments)

Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 3 of 5) - The Inspectional Process - 11/26/11 08:35 PM
Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 3 of 5)  If you missed the first 2 articles in this series you can read them below:
 
Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 1)
Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 2 of 5)
 
This series has been written by Andy Konopacki, Founder and President of Vm3 Environmental in Carlsbad, who I know personally and who graciously agreed to be a guest contributor on this blog

*       *       *       *       *       *       *
 
"HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY PERFORM A MOLD INSPECTION?"

 
This is … (5 comments)

What IS That Bird? It’s the California Brown Pelican - 11/26/11 06:39 PM
 
What IS That Bird? It’s the California Brown Pelican  One of my favorite sights when walking along the Carlsbad boardwalk, next to the ocean of course, are the pelicans flying overhead. These unusual looking birds are fascinating to watch whether on the ocean or flying overhead.  

The California brown pelican, next to the seagull, is probably the most prevalent sea bird we see here along the Southern California coast. These brown pelicans are particularly prevalent at the Agua Hedionda lagoon, just north of the Encina power plant, where they tend to hang out, most likely due to great places … (5 comments)

Escondido Homes for Sale | Escondido Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/25/11 03:15 PM
Escondido Real Estate Market Report for October 2011  

 
Escondido is an inland community, about 15 miles from the coast adjacent to San Marcos. Like its neighbors, San Marcos, Vista and Oceanside, Escondido has seen fairly significant shifts in the real estate market with a large number of short sales and foreclosures.
 
READ MORE: A Tour of Escondido – A Diverse Inland San Diego Community
 
As a buyer or seller in the Escondido real estate market, understanding recent trends and current market conditions is essential in order to make informed decisions; media reports focus on general … (1 comments)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to All From Carlsbad California!! - 11/24/11 04:26 PM
I was visiting my Mom and sister in West Chester, PA a couple of years ago in the fall and found these turkeys up on the roof.
My Mom’s house is a 3-story 1750s colonial so they were WAAAY out of reach.
There were also a couple up in the trees and 1 standing on the table on the patio, although my photos did not turn out all that well.
I thought it an appropriate card to doctor up for the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

 
… (15 comments)

The Glass Ranch in Escondido Celebrates Black Friday November 25th through the 27th, 2011 - 11/24/11 12:29 PM
The Glass Ranch in Escondido Celebrates Black Friday November 25th through the 27th, 2011  
They may not be opening their doors at 10 pm or midnight tonight as some stores are, but the semi-annual Glass Ranch Open House (their 17th) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving (the other is before Mother’s Day), is a wonderful experience for art lovers.
 
The Glass Ranch in Escondido CA, delights in so many ways, from stunning hillside gardens filled with glass creations, to glass blowing demonstrations, to tables filled with all sorts of blown and fused glass art – jewelry, vases, bowls, … (7 comments)

Carlsbad Sellers – Are You Committed to SELLING or to LISTING? - 11/23/11 07:16 PM
Carlsbad Sellers – Are You Committed to SELLING or to LISTING?  
There’s an important distinction here, with potentially profound consequences, depending on how you answer the question.
 
It’s important for me to know, as a listing agent, if my prospective client is committed to selling.
 
Or to listing.
 
And there are ways to tell whether a homeowner really is making a commitment to selling their home, or they are only making a commitment to listing the home.
 
You have a choice, of course, but what you decide will impact the results you achieve.
 
… (18 comments)

Cardiff Homes for Sale | Cardiff Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/23/11 04:53 PM
 
Cardiff Real Estate Market Report for October 2011
As a buyer or seller in the Cardiff real estate market, having information about the current market conditions will enable you to make an informed decision regarding what to do with regard to buying a home in Cardiff, or selling your Cardiff home. 
The Cardiff real estate market is small and very localized, and knowing what is going on with regard to inventory and sales is important for making an informed buying or selling decision. Finding comparables for determining price for either a listing or a purchase can sometimes be tricky … (1 comments)

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale | Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/22/11 03:38 PM
Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report for October 2011
As a buyer or seller in the Rancho Santa Fe real estate market, having information about the current market conditions will enable you to make an informed decision regarding what to do with regard to buying or selling a Rancho Santa Fe home. 
The Rancho Santa Fe real estate market is very localized, and the most expensive community, on average, in San Diego County. Knowing what is going on in the market with regard to inventory and sales is important for making a buying or selling decision. Finding comparables for … (5 comments)

Solana Beach Homes for Sale | Solana Beach Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/22/11 11:07 AM
Solana Beach Real Estate Market Report for October 2011  
 
 
Solana Beach is an affluent coastal town south of Encinitas and Cardiff, and one of the more expensive coastal communities in the North San Diego County area.
 
READ MORE: Solana Beach Real Estate
 
As a buyer or seller in the Solana Beach real estate market, understanding recent trends and current market conditions is essential in order to make informed decisions; media reports focus on general market statistics and therefore will not provide you with an accurate picture of the Solana Beach real estate market conditions.
 
… (0 comments)

San Marcos Homes for Sale | San Marcos Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/21/11 07:35 PM
San Marcos Real Estate Market Report for October 2011
 
 
The San Marcos real estate market continues to evolve, especially with the large number of distress sales. These data do not include any private sales nor manufactured housing; the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate but are not guaranteed.
 
READ MORE: San Marcos - A Thriving Inland Residential Community
 
San Elijo Hills – Award-Winning Master Planned Community in San Marcos
 
Lake San Marcos – Resort and Residential Community in San Marcos, CA
 
Media reports tend to speak in general terms, … (4 comments)

Del Mar Homes for Sale – Del Mar Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/21/11 11:33 AM
Del Mar Homes for Sale – Del Mar Real Estate Market Report for October 2011
Del Mar is a small coastal town in North San Diego County and one of the most expensive towns in the county. Indeed, the Del Mar real estate market currently has the most expensive home for sale in San Diego County (at $61M), and still holds the record for the most expensive property sold (at about $48,000,000). 
READ MORE: Del Mar - Affluent Seaside Town (A Community Profile) 
Having up to date information on the local Del Mar real estate market is important for buyers … (3 comments)

La Quinta Restaurants – I found Another Favorite at The Homestead Restaurant in La Quinta, CA - 11/20/11 10:41 PM
La Quinta Restaurants – I found Another Favorite at The Homestead Restaurant in LA Quinta, CA  

 
During a recent visit to the California desert a good friend treated us to brunch at a La Quinta restaurant she adores – The Homestead in the heart of town.
 
The Homestead oozes charm, from the beautiful patios and outdoor lounging and dining areas to the multiple rooms in a former “homestead,” bookshelves stocked with collectibles, and, well, the list goes on.
 
There are wonderful brunch selections, including the classic Eggs Benedict and a Vegetarian Fritatta (as you can see in the … (5 comments)

Oceanside Homes for Sale | Oceanside Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/20/11 06:42 PM
Oceanside Real Estate Market Report for October 2011  

 
The Oceanside real estate market has undergone many shifts and continues to evolve. This market report does not include any private sales nor manufactured or mobile housing; the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate but are not guaranteed.
 
Media reports speak in general terms, so information may not represent the reality of the local Oceanside real estate market. Having data from a knowledgeable agent about local market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller in making informed decisions.
 
READ MORE: Oceanside … (1 comments)

What Lens Are You Looking Through? - 11/16/11 08:15 PM
What Lens Are You Looking Through?  
We all have different perspectives – different lenses we gaze through which color our interpretation and impact how we behave.
 
I worked for a Sr. VP in one of my corporate roles years ago and he always encouraged us to consider the lenses that others are looking through when a certain situation arises. (photo courtesy of bgottsab on Flickr)
 
It’s certainly an apt analogy in our business.
 
*       *       *       *
 
For example…
 
Sellers often fail to look at their home the way a buyer would. Their lens is … (30 comments)

Encinitas Homes for Sale - Encinitas Real Estate Market Report – October 2011 - 11/16/11 09:21 AM
Encinitas Real Estate Market Report – October 2011    
As a buyer or seller in the Encinitas real estate market, it is important to have information about the market conditions in order to make a more informed decision about what to do with regard to buying or selling your Encinitas home.
 
Here is a summary of the Encinitas real estate market for October 2011 based on statistics from the MLS (private sales are not included nor are manufactured and mobile homes). These data are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed due to how data may be entered into … (1 comments)

Carlsbad Homes for Sale – Carlsbad Real Estate Market Report for October 2011 - 11/15/11 09:05 PM
Carlsbad Homes for Sale - Market Report for October 2011
The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, and the statistics for October show a number of changes from last month. These data do not include private sales or 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 
101 Things to do In and Around Carlsbad
Carlsbad California and Historic Route 101 - The Coast Highway
Media reports speak in general terms, so their information may not represent the reality of our local Carlsbad … (6 comments)

Is there Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 2 of 5) - 11/13/11 10:59 PM
Is there Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 2 of 5) If you missed the first article in this series you can read it below:
Is there Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 1)
This series has been written by Andy Konopacki, Founder and President of Vm3 Environmental in Carlsbad, who I know personally and who graciously agreed to be a guest contributor on this blog
 
*       *       *       *       *       *       *       *
 
To kick off the "mold series" I thought it would be most beneficial to start at the beginning and answer the question; what is mold? … (5 comments)

It’s Not What You Say That Matters, It’s What You Do. - 11/09/11 02:15 AM
It’s Not What You Say That Matters, It’s What You Do.  
Or is it?
 
Consider this:
 
You spout off all sorts of “promises” about the print and on-line marketing you are going to do at the listing presentation, but don’t deliver
 
You imply, or worse state, you will get the sellers a certain price, but fail to deliver
 
Do you just spew out statements designed to impress without thinking about the consequences?
 
In these, and other examples I’m sure you can think of, what you say may NOT be what really matters.
 
It’s … (70 comments)

A Visit to Wiamea Canyon on Kaua’i, Hawai’i - 11/07/11 09:49 PM
A Visit to Wiamea Canyon on Kaua’i, Hawai’i  
One of the many highlights of our trip to Kaua’i was a visit to the Wiamea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
 
And rightly so.
 

 
Wiamea Canyon is about 3500 feet deep, so not quite as impressive as the Grand Canyon, nor is it as wide or long. But Wiamea Canyon views are absolutely spectacular with amazing colors and distant waterfalls, especially in the sunlight. And depending on where you are you can see the ocean about 10 miles away as well. The drive up the … (11 comments)

Good Morning, This is Your Wake-up Call - 11/04/11 02:25 AM
 
Good Morning, This is Your Wake-up Call Getting a wake-up call when traveling  on business is often essential.
Getting one on vacation is not always on the agenda.
But here on Kauai one doesn’t have a choice.
Kauai is riddled with chickens, everywhere. Along the road, in the parks, in fields, in parking lots at the shopping centers, and at our hotel along the ocean.
The roosters, it seems, take their job very seriously.
Whether it’s competition because there are so many, or just because, they start VERY early in the morning and tend to make it their duty to … (19 comments)

Colors of Fall in Southern California - 11/01/11 12:39 AM
I still marvel at the fall changes we see and feel here in Southern California, even after being here for 6 years.
 
Lots of people said that the weather is aways the same in California, which of course if far from the truth. The seasonal changes, including fall, are not nearly as dramatic as we experienced during my 20 years in the Boston area, but changes they are nonetheless.
In addition to the changes in the tree colors, we also had lots of flowers, some of which tend to bloom more in the fall, like the Bird of Paradise. And … (15 comments)

 
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Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360

Jeff Dowler

Carlsbad, CA

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Solutions Real Estate (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)

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