buyers: Yikes, We Just Bought a House!! Now What? - 05/27/12 11:39 AM
Yikes, We Just Bought a House!! Now What?  
The emotions run high when you get word that you just bought a house, especially for first time home buyers.  
 
There’s lots of excitement involved in the search process…exploring the possibilities, envisioning yourself in different houses, dreaming about the future, and perhaps feeling some frustrations, too, at not finding exactly what you want where you want it and for the price you want.
 
There’s the trepidation about making your first offer.
 
Do you make an offer on a house you like? How much should you offer? Should … (34 comments)

buyers: Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 3 of a 3-Part Series) - 05/23/12 12:14 AM
 
Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 3 of a 3-Part Series)  
In this 3-part series we’ve discussing issues related to relocation – challenges to confront and some things to think about.
 

 
In Part 1 we talked about (1) searching for that new home; (2) using a qualified, knowledgeable REALTOR, and (3) doing your due diligence. If you missed this post, you can read it here >>> Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 1 of a 3-Part Series)
 
In Part 2 we discussed (1) the disadvantage of house hunting from a … (7 comments)

buyers: Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 2 of a 3-Part Series) - 05/20/12 03:01 AM

Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 2 of a 3-Part Series)
 

 
In this series we are discussing issues related to relocation – challenges and things to think about.
 
In Part 1 we discussed the issues of (1) searching for that new home; (2) using a qualified, knowledgeable REALTOR, and (3) doing your due diligence. If you missed this post, you can read it here >>> Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 1 of a 3-Part Series)
 
Here are some other important matters to take into account in your relocation planning.
(13 comments)

buyers: Orange Peel on the Walls? Really? - 04/26/12 01:39 PM
Orange Peel on the Walls? Really?  
It’s a strange thing, particularly for someone coming from New England, but orange peel on the walls is pretty odd.
 
I’ve gotten used to it, but I still find it rather “unappeeling” (pun intended), but it sure is common in these parts. Indeed, it seems more common than smooth-surface walls which I am used to from back East. I don’t know why it’s so popular or if there are particular reasons for its use, except that it might be easier to deal with than seams and such from the drywall and applying a … (53 comments)

buyers: Helping Kids Adjust to a Relocation - Things for Kids to Do in Carlsbad and Nearby (Part 2 of 2) - 04/13/12 09:06 AM
Helping Kids Adjust to a Relocation - Things for Kids to Do in Carlsbad and Nearby (Part 2 of 2)  
In the first article in this series I talked about how parents can help their kids adjust to a new move, plus some ways we can be helpful as well. If you missed it check it out.
 
Helping Kids Adjust to a Relocation - Things for Kids to Do in Carlsbad and Nearby
(Part 1 – Things you can do)
 
Here are some specific things to do in Carlsbad that likely will appeal to kids.
 
SPORTS
 
(4 comments)

buyers: Do YOU Know How to Guide Your Buyer in a Distressed Market? - 04/11/12 02:59 AM
Do YOU Know How to Guide Your Buyer in a Distressed Market?  
Working with buyers in a distressed market, even on we have been dealing with for quite some time, remains a challenge.
 
Buyers need to understand the realities of the distressed market, and what these market conditions mean for them, in particular when attempting to buy short sale and REO properties. No doubt many agents have plenty of experience with these issues and know how to assist their clients through the entire purchasing process, including setting appropriate expectations, developing offer strategies, finding the right properties, and qualifying the … (2 comments)

buyers: Hey! Who Put That Pig Farm There? - 04/06/12 12:54 PM
Hey! Who Put That Pig Farm There?  
It’s all about location…so they say.
 
But sometimes the location comes with, well, what some folks feel are annoyances that shouldn't be there.
 
We lived in Bolton MA a number of years ago, a fairly affluent and somewhat rural community along the 495 corridor about 30 miles west of Boston. Definitely a “bedroom community” as the term goes. [photo courtesy of wattpublishing on Flickr].
 
Some of the more rural areas were being developed with expensive, custom-built homes on large lots as the town was growing during the DotCom craze … (47 comments)

buyers: Outdoor Living in Carlsbad California – At Home (Part 1 of 2) - 03/25/12 12:38 PM
Outdoor Living in Carlsbad California – At Home (Part 1 of 2)

Buyers looking for a home in the Carlsbad CA area often have a common request…to have outdoor space for enjoying the Southern California lifestyle.
 
That outdoor space request may mean a simple deck or patio, for those living in a condo. But it might mean a full-blown outdoor kitchen and elaborate entertainment area.
 
Amenities might include a pool (with slide or waterfall), fountain, spa or spool, plenty of hardscape, perhaps on varying levels, firepit(s) or wood burning fireplace, bar area, plentiful seating areas, built-in heat … (7 comments)

buyers: Where to Play Tennis in North San Diego County – Carlsbad & Encinitas - 03/14/12 07:14 AM
Where to Play Tennis in North San Diego County – Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Beyond  
It's not unusual to get a request from buyers for a home in North San Diego County that is near a tennis club of some sort.
 
There are a number of opportunities to play tennis, depending on where you live and whether you want private or public.
 
Master Planned Communities
and Subdivisions:
 
A number of the master planned communities and subdivisions in the Carlsbad area have tennis courts for residents only. Communities include La Costa Valley, La Costa Greens, La Costa Meadowridge, … (15 comments)

buyers: What is the San Diego County Supplemental Tax Bill and Do I Need to Pay it? - 03/13/12 02:00 AM
What is the San Diego County Supplemental Tax Bill and Do I Need to Pay it?  
For those buyers purchasing a new home (new construction or resale) in San Diego County, you will receive one or more Supplemental Tax Bills sometime in the 6 – 12 months following your close of escrow (I got that time frame direct from the San Diego County Tax Office) – the dates may vary for mailing the San Diego Supplemental Tax Bills.
 
All San Diego County real property is required to be reassessed following a change of ownership (or the completion of new … (15 comments)

buyers: Walk to the Beach! Uh, No Frickin’ Way - 03/11/12 01:03 PM
Walk to the Beach! Uh, No Frickin’ Way  
Living along the coast in Carlsbad, I often get requests from buyers seeking primary or vacation homes to enjoy a slice of the Southern California life where they can “walk to the beach.”
 
I get that, as I would enjoy that, too, and have in past homes.
 
It’s a loaded request, since first and foremost it brings with it the issue of price.
 
How MUCH are you willing or able to pay for the privilege of walking to the beach?
 
Many buyers, in the general region but more … (70 comments)

buyers: I’m Off to Preview Homes for Relocating Buyers, and I’ve Got My Preview Kit with Me - 02/11/12 09:47 AM
I’m Off to Preview Homes for Relocating Buyers, and I’ve Got My Preview Kit with Me  
I do a fair amount of previewing of homes, especially for relocating buyers who do not know the area and are not nearby to explore.
 
I expect you do the same, even for clients in your area.
 
So often what sounds great to the buyers in the MLS turns out not to be quite what they want, because of location, views, interior configuration, or other issues. I don’t want to waste their time when they are in town for a house-hunting … (72 comments)

buyers: Buying a Short Sale in 2012 – A Revisit to 2007 - 02/05/12 01:24 PM
Buying a Short Sale in 2012 – A Revisit to 2007  
I wrote Buying a Short Sale in late January 2007 to share my thoughts with consumers and encourage participation in an on-line dialog. I was 5 months into blogging.
 
Little did I know how many comments (well more than 400) this would inspire, and the extent to which consumers would share their stories, good and bad, and ask for advice on short sales. I’ve never had a post with this amount of buyer and seller participation, which is pretty cool.
 
This post has, for 5 years, … (17 comments)

buyers: OMG They’re Taking the Toilet Seat!! - 01/30/12 03:56 PM
OMG They’re Taking the Toilet Seat!!  
MLS listings sometimes list items sellers are not leaving with the home at closing.
 
This is useful, and essential, particularly if the non-conveying items might be important to the buyers, or when normally they would be items left behind as standard practice (e.g., fixtures).
 
Better to know up front what things are not going to remain.
 
The issue of what conveys and what does not can often result in disagreements between the parties if not clarified, in writing, in the contract.
 
I expect this is true to some extent in … (24 comments)

buyers: Let’s Talk Trash in Carlsbad – It’s Gonna Cost You More to Get Rid of It - 01/29/12 03:01 PM
Let’s Talk Trash in Carlsbad – It’s Gonna Cost You More to Get Rid of It  
Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14th is the day in Carlsbad for the public hearing to discuss the proposed solid waste rate increases over the next 5 years, proposed by the City of Carlsbad.
 
The new rates, if approved, will be effective on July 1 of each of the next 5 years, beginning July 1, 2012.
 
Residents should all have received the flyer describing the proposed changes but you can review it below and download the flyer if you like.
 
The City’s … (3 comments)

buyers: “Wow, Buying a New Home is a Lot of Give and Take” - 01/28/12 02:48 PM
“Wow, Buying a New Home is a Lot of Give and Take”  
There’s something pretty profound in that statement, and no doubt something many buyers have discovered.
 
Some have not.
 
One of my clients just said this the other day. Thank goodness it was part of the reality.
 
As real estate professionals dealing with numerous people looking for a new home, whether their first or not, we know that there are always trade offs.
 
“There is no such thing as a perfect home.”
 
How many times have we quoted that to clients, or at … (14 comments)

buyers: Why I Like Living in Carlsbad CA - 01/09/12 09:41 AM
Why I Like Living in Carlsbad CA 
It’s easy for me to help buyers who are moving to Carlsbad, because I know the community well.
 
But I also like living in Carlsbad, a lot, so it’s easy to be enthusiastic about all the great reasons to live here.
 
So that, in many ways, is at the basis of how I choose what to write about - to share what I love, the things I enjoy doing, and what I think others will find interesting, whether they live here or not. If you were considering moving to Carlsbad, wouldn't you want to know why people … (36 comments)

buyers: 6 Things You Should Know About Mello Roos in Carlsbad Real Estate - 12/29/11 01:34 AM
6 Things You Should Know About Mello Roos in Carlsbad Real Estate 
There are 6 things you, the buyer, should know about Mello Roos.
 
First, let’s talk about what Mello Roos are, for those who are not familiar with real estate in California where these taxes exist. I know I didn’t have a clue when I was doing my home search for Carlsbad from my former home in Boston.
 
Mello Roos are named after the creators, Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Michael Roos, of the 1982 bill that was passed to allow local governments and builders to form Community Facility Districts where new subdivisions … (10 comments)

buyers: Buyers and Sellers: How to Use My Blog to Benefit YOU (Part 2 of 2) - 12/20/11 05:49 AM
Buyers and Sellers: How to Use My Blog to Benefit YOU (Part 2 of 2)  
Congratulations. You’ve been searching on-line for real estate information in or around the Carlsbad CA area and found your way to my blog. Thanks for visiting!
 
This is Part 2 of my 2-part series, “a guided tour of my blog” and how to use it to your advantage and get the information YOU want and need.
 
You can read PART 1 about using the Navigation Section of my blog (the right hand side)
 
As I said previously I expect you are … (5 comments)

buyers: Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 5 of 5)? - 12/19/11 03:23 PM

Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home?
~ Part 5 of 5 ~
If you missed the first 4 articles in this series you can read them below:

Is there Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 1 of 5)

Is The Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 2 of 5)

Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 3 of 5)

 Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home (Part 4 of 5)

This series has been written by Andy Konopacki, Founder and President of Vm3 Environmental in Carlsbad, who I know personally and … (6 comments)

 
Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude (eXp Realty of California, Inc.)

Jeff Dowler, CRS

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Carlsbad, CA

More about me…

eXp Realty of California, Inc.

Address: 2647 Gateway Rd. #105-545, Carlsbad, CA, 92009

Office: (760) 840-1360

Mobile: (760) 840-1360


DISCLAIMER: I must disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of, or reliance on, any information contained in this blog, or for the accuracy of comments or opinions expressed by visitors to my blog. The information contained in the articles is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed, and the opinions expressed in these articles are mine, unless otherwise noted. None of the information in this blog is intended to be, or should be construed as, legal, financial, or tax advice. Please consult the appropriate qualified professionals if such advice is needed.


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