Xtend Barre Carlsbad is located in Carlsbad Village Faire, upstairs across from Vinaka Cafe.  Your first class is always free to try it and see what everyone’s talking about.  For first time clients, there are two current specials running… one month unlimited for $125 or three months unlimited (to REALLY get that bikini body) for $400.

Come take a class.  See what everyone’s talking about.  It’s hard, fun, and WORKS!  I truly believe that if every girl in Carlsbad knew something could work like this, every girl in Carlsbad would be doing it!

Whether you are looking to dine in Coronado at Peohe’s, 1500 Ocean at the Hotel Del, or Coronado Boathouse 1887, George’s at the Cove or the Marine Room in La Jolla, or maybe Jake’s or Pacifica in Del Mar, the Chart House in Solana Beach, or Blue Fire Grill in La Costa, there are options for everyone!

Now, in its fifth year, San Diego Restaurant Week is an absolute hit. This was started in 2004 to bring patrons to restaurants for a week after the summer boom, when kids are back in school, and business is typically down. Popular, exclusive restaurants started offering three course prix fixe menus consisting of an appetizer, a main course, and dessert for either $20, $30, or $40.

If you look at many of the restaurants’ menus, you will find that many of them are offering the entire three course meal for less than just the main course on a typical night. For those of you who know me and Mike, you know, we love to do nice things on a budget. I guess it is that financial advisor in me! So, we look forward to San Diego Restaurant Week each year. We always use it as an opportunity to visit some old favorites – or take a new culinary adventure!

This year, due to the lagging economy, the restaurants added a second San Diego Restaurant Week. According the San Diego Restaurant Week published reports, the January 2009 week was the most successful ever – with over 180 participating restaurants and a 22% increase in diners over the 2008 event!

At the San Diego Restaurant Week’s website, you will find a comprehensive list of participating restaurants that can be sorted by price, type of cuisine, or location.  Have fun and happy dining!

If you have anything you would like to see covered in our blog, please let us know.  We are always here to answer questions and meet your San Diego real estate needs.

Click below for menu, etc.

But right across the street from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, we have had both a new PF Changs and a BJ’s Restaurant open in the past few weeks, just in time for the holiday rush.  As PF Changs has been open less than three weeks, it has been packed every time we have gone in.  Also, as we are in November, and the real holiday shopping starts this week across the street at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, expect
PF Changs to be busier than normal.

PF Changs’ menu is diverse enough for any Carlsbad foodie!  They offer Gluten-free options, vegetarian options, and then your typical Asian fare.  You can order a meal large enough to share for under $15 - or you can order your own and have leftovers for days!  At a time when Carlsbad families are typically being a bit more frugal, it is great to have a couple more moderately priced family restaurants!

Carlsbad, CA - According to the Public Utilities Commission, the amount of numbers available in the 760 area code was about to run out. In order to combat this problem, they chose to adopt an area code overlay.

Effective October 24, 2009, Full Number Dialing Will Be Required For All Local and Long Distance Calls. This will apply to land lines AND cell phones.

New Dialing Rules Checklist
Update your contact information with security and alarm companies.

• Re-program speed dial, auto dial, modems and other telephone equipment with your ten-digit number.
• Update the contact information of friends, family, neighbors, family doctor, etc.
• Start providing your area code when you give out your phone number.
• Inform family and friends of the need to dial 10 digits.

Carlsbad, CA

Starting at 8 am, there will be a pancake breakfast, food, vendors, live entertainment, a beer garden, and children’s activities. 

The event runs till 4 pm and will be held in the Carlsbad Village.  Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street (and all the cross streets in between) will be closed for the event.

If you don’t want to fight for parking around the village, there will be shuttles from Westfield Camino Real and from the Poinsettia Coaster Station running all day.  If you have any questions, call the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce at 760-931-8400.

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.

If done properly, a rent to own (or lease option) may be a great way for a buyer to build up down payments and improve their credit scores, while living in that home they wanted to buy.

An example that we have seen was this – On a $600,000 Oceanside home, the buyers paid $3,300/mo – $1,000/mo more than market rent. After three years, there would be $36,000 accrued in an account for their down payment and closing costs. If the buyer could not perform at the end of 36 months, the contract was void.

The real risks are to Carlsbad real estate buyers. The contracts are typically written to protect the sellers. Some specific risks:

Loss of your payments to date – often if you fall behind or can not perform, you are not entitled to a refund of any previously paid fees, deposits, or rent premiums paid.

Lack of Financing - Most Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Marcos buyers are entering into lease option contracts because they can’t get financing in the current market place. If you can’t get financing at the end of the lease option contract, you forfeit everything you have paid to date.

Falling home prices - Most lease options establish a set price at the time the contract is signed. As we have seen over the past couple of years, prices don’t always go up. If after signing the contract, Carlsbad home prices fall, the buyer may not want to continue with the purchase, but that still doesn’t mean that they get their money back.

The House Going Into Foreclosure – Some Carlsbad renters have paid their inflated rent payments on time, only to find out the seller hasn’t been paying the mortgage. Instead the house goes into foreclosure, with the buyer/renter being evicted, never benefiting from their inflated payments.

Although these rent to own options seem like a great solution when it is hard to make a deal, there are plenty of pitfalls to consider.

If you have any questions about Carlsbad, La Costa, Oceanside, or San Marcos real estate or mortgages – please contact us.   Talk to a professional and make sure that YOUR interests are represented!   We are always happy to answer any Carlsbad real estate or mortgage questions.

The average Oceanside home sold for ONLY 1% less than list price. And the average Oceanside real estate – days on market declined from 69 to 58.  Although this is only one month’s data – the news continues to lead experts to believe that MAYBE we have seen the worst of it for now!

If you are interested in Oceanside or other San Diego coastal real estate, please contact us.  You only have a couple more months to take advantage of the buyer tax credits!

July 2009 – Oceanside Real Estate – Oceanside Homes For Sale
Oceanside Market Statistics 92054, 92055, 92056, 92057, 92058

Del Mar Racing

Whether you live in San Diego, Del Mar, Oceanside, Encinitas, Carlsbad, or La Costa - this is a San Diego summer must. 

General admission is $6 for Stretch Run and $10 for Clubhouse.  Additional fees apply for reserved seating.  Opening day pricing is $10 for Stretch Run and $20 for Clubhouse.

Visit Del Mar Thoroughbred Club  for maps, directions, and daily race information.  Have a fabulous day at the races.

If you have any Oceanside, Carlsbad or other north county coastal real estate questions, please contact us.  We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

June 2009 – Oceanside Real Estate – Oceanside Homes For Sale
Oceanside Market Statistics 92054, 92055, 92056, 92057, 92058