I have started a series of articles on Carlsbad area real estate for sale which is within walking distance of amenities including dining and shopping.

Lots of folks are interested in being able to live in certain neighborhoods and then walk to dining and shopping - something that is not always easy to do in Southern California, and in many cases comes at a hefty price, since many town centers in North County San Diego are very close to the beach. Close to the beach means high real estate prices.

But there ARE options in and around Carlsbad, and I will be featuring these over the next few weeks.

Proximity to amenities by walking can be very personal - for some, a walk of 15-20 minutes is fine, and other want a 10 minute walk.  I will be using my own knowledge of these markets plus Walkscore data.

READ more about the Walkscore here.

CARDIFF's WALKING DISTRICT

Let's start our series with perhaps the most walkable area, the Walking District in Cardiff (more formally, Cardiff-by-the-Sea).

Cardiff is a charming town on the ocean just north of Solana Beach. The town is built on the hills overlooking the sea, with many homes (those west of the 5 and some on the east side) making views AND being within walking distance of shopping, services, dining, and of course surfing and the beaches.

Quaint stores (a broad mix of retail), small business services, places to eat (Pipes cafe is THE best breakfast place around), and the Seaside Market are within 5 - 15 minutes of many homes located on the hills of the Walking District near the main commercial center at San Elijo and Chesterfield.

READ MORE:

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Artists by the Sea Gallery in Carfiff by the Sea

Like to Walk - live in the Walking District of Cardiff

Of course what goes down must go up, so if you walk DOWN the hills to the town center and the ocean, then one must walk back up. But think of the exercise, especially after dining. Lot so folks do so, with surfboards under their arms, so you can too. A small price to play to live in a charming Oceanside town that, despite growth, is resisting becoming a gentrified tourist stop. Thank goodness.

Cardiff is not right for everyone - ya want a Starbucks? They have one. High end shopping and boutiques? Limited. Malls? Nah. 4-star dining? Nope. But the views are fabulous and the ambiance of the Walking District is unique. Terrific beaches and a host of casual fun restaurants, a number of which are oceanside.

Detached homes in Cardiff's Walking District range from Somewhat Walkable to Very Walkable (68 to 78 in terms of walk score) - pretty darn good. There are 9 detached Carlsbad homes for sale in the Walking District, from $799,000 (2 BR, 1 BA) to $1,950,000 (4 BR, 5 BA). Attached homes for sale (there are 7 - these are all twin homes, not condos) run from $625,000 to $1.425M.

Obviously walking distance is very subjective, and any prudent buyer will check this sort of thing out, if it is important to the purchase of a home. What I feel is walkable or is deemed walkable by the walk score may not quite fit with your ideals.

If you need more specific information about the Walking District or more details about particular homes or the Cardiff real estate market in general, please feel free to ask.

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If I can provide more information about Solana Beach, Carlsbad 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 © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits