Mewborn Team Real Estate Consultants: CoastalLuxurySanDiego.com

August 31st, 2009

Have You Reduced Your Carlsbad Property Taxes?

Categories: Carlsbad, Carlsbad Market Trends, La Costa, La Costa Market Trends, Real Estate FAQ

Your Carlsbad property values have probably fallen over 20% in the past two years.  You know it.  We know it.  The San Diego County Assessor knows it.  But they don’t reduce your Carlsbad property tax bill without you contacting them to reduce it!   Even though you may have missed the May 2009 deadline for property tax reduction, the San Diego County Assessor is giving you another opportunity to reduce your property taxes – through a property tax appeal.

What To Do Next:
1.  Fill out the San Diego County Assessor’s form. 

2.  Provide all the necessary documentation – current Carlsbad property tax bill, opinion of new value, and your Carlsbad neighborhood comparables (back up of opinion of value).  Please contact us at (858) 205-2000 for your comparable values.  Please be prepared to provide your name, address, email address, home square footage, and number of bedrooms and baths.

3.  Mail to the San Diego County Assessor.
Upon completion, mail your forms to:
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Assessment Appeals Services
1600 Pacific Coast Highway Room 402
San Diego, CA 92101

Please contact The Mewborn Team for more information.

Tags: Carlsbad Property Taxes, Carlsbad real estate

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 29th, 2009

La Costa Oaks Neighborhood Watch

Categories: Communities, La Costa Oaks

La Costa Oaks Neighbors,

The La Costa Oaks neighborhood watch is underway.  We have spoken to a number of La Costa Oaks neighbors who are eager to get the watch up and running.  Here are a couple of things to know about the La Costa Oaks neighborhood watch:
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: La Costa Oaks, La Costa Oaks Neighbors

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August 27th, 2009

Leucadia Art Walk – Sunday, August 30

Categories: Community Events, Community Favorites, Leucadia

Leucadia Art Walk returns with its 5th Annual event. 

Leucadia Art Walk is on Sunday, August 30th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm along Highway 101 in Leucadia. 

Whether you live in Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, La Costa, or anywhere on our lovely San Diego coast, this free community event has something for the whole family. 

The day will showcase local artists and galleries.  There will also be live entertainment, children’s activities, and much more.  For more information, visit the Leucadia 101 Main Street website.

Tags: Encinitas Community Events, Encinitas Favorites, Leucadia Community Events, Leucadia Favorites

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 25th, 2009

Time Running Out For First Time Buyer Credit!!!!

Categories: Buyers, Carlsbad Market Trends, Encinitas Market Trends, Home Loans, La Costa Market Trends, Oceanside Market Trends, Real Estate FAQ, Relocation, San Elijo Market Trends

Carlsbad, CA – If you are a Carlsbad, La Costa, Oceanside, or San Marcos buyer who was hoping to take advantage of the first time home buyer’s tax credit – YOU BETTER HURRY! We are finding a number of things in the current market place:

1. The tax credit expires on December 1st, 2009.  That means all real estate purchases have to be CLOSED before then.  You can not still be in escrow. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Carlsbad real estate, La Costa Real Estate, Oceanside Real Estate

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August 24th, 2009

Carlsbad Real Estate For Sale – Is a Rent To Own Right For You?

Categories: Buyers, Carlsbad, Foreclosure Prevention, Home Loans, La Costa, Oceanside, Real Estate FAQ, San Marcos, Sellers

Carlsbad, CA – With Carlsbad real estate buyers scarce and Carlsbad mortgages tight, some home sellers are offering rent-to-own options to potential buyers in place of your traditional transaction.

Rent-to-own contracts, usually require buyers to pay a premium on each month’s rent and sometimes an up front fee/deposit of about 5% of the purchase price. The regular rent then goes in owner’s pocket (presumably to pay the mortgage), but the additional payments are used to buy down the price of the home. Read the rest of this entry »

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August 22nd, 2009

Are You Considering Downsizing?

Categories: Buyers, Carlsbad, Market Trends, Relocation, Sellers

Carlsbad, Ca – According to the US Census Bureau, for the first time since 1994 – the average home size dropped. Home size actually went down by almost 7%.

There are many possible reasons for smaller homes:
1. Aging boomers: As people are living longer, more Carlsbad couples are selling the big houses in favor of a smaller, single story home with less yard (and maintenance). We are finding that La Costa and Carlsbad single story homes are often on the market for a fraction of the time as a similar square footage two-story. The demand for these homes are increasing dramatically! Also as baby boomers are becoming empty nesters, many are choosing to trade in their big home for an RV or more vacations.

2. Affordability – We often find that Carlsbad real estate buyers stretch to buy the biggest, best house they can afford. In times of economic distress – layoffs, declining property values, decreasing wages, people just can’t afford the big house any more. Factor in increases in San Diego energy and water costs, more homeowners are realizing that maybe they need to revisit their monthly housing expenses.

3. Tight credit markets – Any loan above $417k is still a jumbo loan. Even though homes within the expanded limits are often called high balance conforming loans – these and other jumbo mortgages are harder (and more expensive) to get. As Carlsbad interest rates rise, home buyers will be able to afford less and less.

If you have any questions Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, and other north county coastal San Diego real estate or mortgage topics, please contact us. We are always happy to answer your questions.

Tags: Carlsbad, La Costa

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.

August 20th, 2009

La Costa Town Square project approved

Categories: Carlsbad, Communities, La Costa, La Costa Oaks, La Costa Town Square

The Carlsbad City Council this week approved La Costa Town Square, a combination shopping center, office and residential project on 83 acres at the northeast corner of Rancho Santa Fe Road and La Costa Avenue. According to the project developer, Aspen Properties, the center could begin construction as soon as summer 2010 and open by the end of 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: La Costa Town Square

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.