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Carlsbad, CA Real Estate News

By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Flower Fields Up Close I attended a CRS Networking Event with 25 other Southern California Realtors this past Thursday for a couple of hours at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.  It was fun to see my CRS friends as well as to meet other agents I didn’t know. There was time to talk with each other before taking a tour. After the group photo we split up into small groups to leisurely walk through the gardens, and of course take lots of photos.  While I have often driven by the Flower Fields on Armada Drive on the hill above to the east which offers great panoramic views of the flowers and the ocean, I haven’t seen the flowers and the venue itself up close for years.   It was a sunny day with a cool ocean breeze, although the marine layer moved in before the event was over so it was pre...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2024 Carlsbad Village Street Faire is May 5 One of our more popular arts and craft fairs returns to Carlsbad Village on Sunday May 5, 2024. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire is reportedly the largest outdoor 1-day fair in the US, other than its counter-part, the Carlsbad Village Faire in November. This is the 50th year for this fair! The Carlsbad Village Street Faire takes place from 8 am until 5 pm, so there is ample time to enjoy over 900 vendors and shop all you want. The Carlsbad Village Faire takes place in the heart of the Village, along Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson. The Faire spills over onto side streets, too. (photo is from another art fair in the Village in the same area).  Given the number of vendor booths much of the public parking will not be available ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Our Monarch Caterpillar Nursery The nursery is doing well and so are the 10 Monarch Caterpillars, doing what caterpillars do. The Monarch Butterfly visited our back patio several weeks ago and spent quite a bit of time landing on the milkweed plants repeatedly. We didn't see any eggs left behind but that may simply have been our vision as Monarch eggs are supposedly quite small. A couple weeks ago my wife saw a couple of very small caterpillars on one of the milkweed plants and now there are 10 (there were a couple others but they didn't make it for long). They have grown pretty substantially which we hope will help at least some of them survive and move into the next phase (chrysalis), and not become a tasty meal for one of the many birds in our yard. I suspect the mortality rate for c...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Today's Weather Forecast in Carlsbad Today - HOT!!  It feels like a warm summer day in Carlsbad right now. No, make that hot! According to my iPhone the temperature is 95 degrees, but our thermometer says 102. Either way, it's unusually hot for this time of year. And rare for it to be this warm even during the summer near the beaches, except when the Santa Ana winds blow.  It's only been in the low 60s recently during the day, so it's nice to have the warmer weather for a couple of days before the cooler days return. No doubt the beaches, and the ice cream stores, are mobbed today!! It's not good for the increased fire risk, however.
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad's TGIF Concerts in the Parks Series June 24 - August 19, 2022 The first day of summer is June 21, and the annual TGIF Concerts in the Parks series starts a few days later. There’s no doubt the free TGIF Concerts in the Parks are a highlight of summertime in Carlsbad. Plus it’s exciting to have the live concerts again after being canceled in 2020 and only virtually in 2021. This free outdoor concert series may be the best entertainment option around North San Diego County! You can’t go wrong with a combination of great live music, in one of our beautiful Carlsbad parks, on a Friday summer evening, for free. It doesn’t get much better! 2022 will be the 35th season of Carlsbad’s popular TGIF Concerts in the Parks series, presented by the City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office. TG...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Home Sales for March 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with changes from last month and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Current data, and analysis, about the local market conditions will benefit you so you can make educated purchase and/or sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 104 homes sold in Carlsbad in March (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 17% more than in February, anoth...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Planning to Sell Your Home? Where Are You Going to Go? There’s a lot to think about if you are planning to sell your Carlsbad home. This is true whether you are an experienced seller, or selling for the first time. Let’s start off with an important and practical question if you are planning to sell. Where will you go? SOME KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDEROf course this has always been an important question for home sellers to consider, and plan around.Do you plan to buy a replacement home, and if so when?Are you planning to relocate somewhere else?Do you plan to rent?Do you already have another home you can move to?Are you moving in with someone else, e.g., a friend or family member? Because of the housing market conditions this becomes a much more complicated issue, depending on your personal...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Village Makers Market is April 2 The 2nd Makers Market of 2022 takes place Saturday April 2nd, hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association. This is the 6th year of the Carlsbad Village Makers Market events, with multiple fairs during the year. The Carlsbad Village Makers Market takes place on the campus of St. Michael’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church. St. Michael’s is at 2775 Carlsbad Boulevard south of McGee Park. The Makers Market: A Crafter’s Showcase is open from 9 am until 4 pm. Attendance is free, and 50 or so artisans will showcase their handicrafts. Don’t forget those credit cards and cash for shopping!  The Makers Market Crafter’s Showcase offers a wonderful shopping opportunity, with self-designed and handcrafted items from local and regional artisans. (photo is from a pr...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
First Day of Spring in Carlsbad Well, of course it's the 1st day of spring in lots of places, and no doubt many are pretty pleased. Let's hope the weather cooperates in those wintry places.  Today was a beautiful day and a wonderful time to relax for a bit at the beach in Carlsbad. All you needed was this gorgeous weather and the sound of the waves to slip right into relaxed mode. Didn't take me long at all!  
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The 2022 EGGStravaganza Spring Festival~ Coming Soon to Carlsbad ~ Daylight Saving Time is now a slightly distant memory, Spring arrived today, and Easter is just 4 weeks away! The popular Carlsbad EGGStravaganza Spring Festival is back, and will take place the day before Easter, Saturday April 16th, in Carlsbad’s beautiful Poinsettia Park, from 10 am until 1 pm. Poinsettia Park is at 6600 Hidden Valley Road, south of Palomar Airport Road. Carlsbad EGGStravaganza offers lots of fun, with multiple activities including cookie decorating, face painting, “Soak the Bunny,” crafts, plus a fun zone. Kids can enjoy Carlsbad’s largest Egg Scramble (Activity Cards are required) from 10:30 until 12:30 (or until eggs run out), with 2 competitive fields.  There will be one field for ages 6 and older...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad RanchWednesday 3/16/2022 The iconic Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA opened to the public on Tuesday March 1st and are well into bloom. Here’s a photo I took Feb. 25, several days before opening day – not terribly impressive, although far better than just brown fields a few months earlier, but you could see the potential.  We stopped by this afternoon, March 16, to check out the fields from my favorite vantage point – Armada Drive looking down on the fields and out to the ocean – and they were spectacular, perhaps even full bloom.  I toyed with the idea of doing a series of photos, maybe weekly, as Rainer George Souto  does with his blog series every fall of the leaves (check it out if you haven’t seen it – here’s the 7th blog in the progression of colors). He ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Huge Community Clean Up in Carlsbad VillageSunday March 20th The largest community clean-up we’ve had is this weekend and volunteers are needed! The Community Clean Up is Sunday March 20 at the Village Faire Shopping Center from 9 am until 12 noon. Participants are to meet at the fountain in the central courtyard. In case you don’t know the Village Faire is at 300 Carlsbad Village Drive. It’s just west of the train tracks on the north side. The Carlsbad Village Community Clean Up is a collaboration among Visit Carlsbad (our city tourism board), the Carlsbad Village Association, Engel’s and Volkers Carlsbad, the Carlsbad High School C3 Clean Up Club, and Richness of Giving (ROG). Richness of Giving (ROG) will organize volunteers into groups to focus on different areas of the Village that...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2022 Pirate Plunge in Carlsbad~ Saturday March 26th ~      NOTE: THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT (per the website 3/24/2022)The Pirate Plunge is back, hosted by the Alga Norte Aquatic Center in the La Costa area of Carlsbad. This fun aquatic event takes place on Saturday March 26th from 5 – 8 pm, 2 weeks from tomorrow. Kids will enjoy a range of pirate-themed activities in the pool (e.g., Ship Raiders, Diving for Treasure), race across the floating obstacles in the pool, and there are plenty of photo opportunities. You can walk the diving board plank!! And there’s a pirate ship slide and a treasure hunt on land, too. The Splash Pad will be open for the younger children to enjoy. The Pirate Plunge ends with a popular movie on the big outdoor screen, “Treasure Planet” (rated PG). The movie starts ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
3 Things You Should NOT Do In Carlsbad With a Touch of Sarcasm We often hear about things you should do in Carlsbad…for a variety of reasons. But we don’t hear about what you should not do. So here are the top 3 Don't Do's. Number 1 – DON’T go shopping. Why? Well, let me tell you. There are so many different stores and places to shop in Carlsbad, in the Village and elsewhere, that it will drive you crazy trying to figure out where to go and what to buy. Problem is you head out to buy an item that you need, or perhaps someone actually wants a gift, and before you know it you’ve spent hours in multiple stores, bought all sorts of things you really didn’t plan to buy because of the great sales and the nice sales people, your arms ache from all the bags you are carrying, and you are feeling...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for February 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to shift, with some changes from last month and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Current data, and analysis, about the local market conditions will benefit you so you can make educated purchase and/or sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 89 homes sold in Carlsbad in February (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 22% more than in Ja...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Spring is Almost Here  Spring arrives officially in about 3 weeks on March 20, but the spring flowers are out at the local nurseries and Home Depot, and ready to buy and plant.   We were actually in the market for some herbs but didn't find what we wanted yesterday - more looking ahead.  But it sure was a visual delight to see all the colors even if we weren't in the market for flowers.
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch ~ Opening Day March 1, 2022 ~ The iconic Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA open to the public on Tuesday March 1st. 2021 was certainly different for this popular attraction. Due to the pandemic the Flower Fields implemented some new procedures to make visits as safe as possible following the closure for much of the 2020 season. As in 2021, visitors must book their tickets online (none sold at the gate) for a specific date and arrival time. The U-Pick Blueberry Patch, with its own parking area, was a new feature last year. As part of a visit to the Flower Fields you can enjoy picking blueberries, or go separately using the parking lot on Cannon Road at the North end of the Flower Fields. A 1-pint basket costs $5. Be aware that picking may not always be avai...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Finding out What Buyers Want? Or Helping Them Figure It Out? The question “what are you looking for?” or some variation, is a common one when talking with a new buyer. Or should be. It’s obviously important to know what they are seeking, along with their budget, in order to be effective in helping them find the right property. And in this market it’s perhaps even a more critical question, with limited options and plenty of competition. You need to know what you are dealing with. One question that arises, of course, is…are they being realistic? Can you really help them find what they say they want, and need? Budget, given the available inventory, is a key issue here. If there is a significant mismatch between what you are told they want, their budget (based on a pre-approval, of course),...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Crows at SunsetI was out in the front yard at sunset yesterday, watching the crows gathering in the trees and on the roofs of many of the houses.  It's typical behavior for them late in the day, and the crows in this one bare tree seemed to be checking out the sky as well. They were certainly making a lot of noise for some reason. We have what we call "crow shows" often, and the grandkids love to watch them. They spend a lot of time gathering in the evening (I understand they are communal sleepers and gather in groups to roost at night), typically in the trees across the canyon from our house although the venue changes during the year and isn't always near our house. I wonder how they decide where to go?  Then, all of a sudden they will all take off , making quite a racket. Som...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Yesterday was a picture-perfect day at the beach.  So we decided to take a picnic lunch and sit on the bluff at a favorite spot to enjoy the views and just relax. I can't complain about 70 degrees at the beach in February, and this week is supposed to be sunny and warm (up to 75 or so) every day. A far cry from what we used to experience in February in New England.  It seemed like everyone was out yesterday - not a surprise - and parking was a challenge. We were hoping to see some whales that tend to migrate at this time of year but none appeared...or I at least missed them.  Aaahhh, the Carlsbad beach life! 
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for January 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with some shifts from last month and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are derived from the MLS and are believed to be accurate at the time they are reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports usually speak in general terms, and therefore do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Current data, and analysis, about the local market conditions will benefit you so you can make educated purchase and/or sale decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 73 homes sold in Carlsbad in January (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 41%...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Single Story Homes for Sale in Carlsbad Market Update as of January 23, 2022 It’s not unusual that some Carlsbad buyers prefer a 1-story single family house when looking for a new home.  The reasons vary. It may simply be a preference for 1-story living. In some cases there is a medical need. Some buyers are open to buying a 2-story home as long as there is a master bedroom with full bath on the main floor. But that type of floor plan tends to be harder to find; often the 1st floor bedroom is a smaller guest room and the bath may only be a half bath. The overall Carlsbad inventory remains tight (here’s the December 2021 Housing Market Report for Carlsbad) and demand is still strong. At this time all single story listings are resales – there are no new construction 1-story homes listed i...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Art Wall January 2022 2022 is the 8th year of the Carlsbad art wall, and the 1st mural for the year is beautiful. The most recent Carlsbad Art Wall was completed on January 10 and 11 by @HannasMurals. Check out Hanna’s website, too, for more of her amazing art works. The Carlsbad Art Wall is a special addition to the Carlsbad public art scene, with new murals several times per year. Bryan Snyder, a well-known Carlsbad artist, founded the Carlsbad Art Wall (CAW) in 2015, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. This visible venue gives residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and occasional international artists.   Even if you aren’t aware of the #CarlsbadArtWall name, you’ve probably ...
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