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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.)
The 3rd Annual ArtWalk Carlsbad was held this weekend along Armada Drive overlooking the Flower Fields (not very exciting at this time of year since there are no flowers but a great view nonetheless) and the ocean in the distance.It was a gorgeous day with clear skies in the upper 70s and, fortunately, with a nice ocean breeze. Over 150 fine artists showcased their creations, a diverse array of art work in many forms of media.  You can check out the artists and their creations here.There was a good crowd, as expected, and the free parking was abundant close by in the adjoining corporate office park, at and near the Museum of Making Music.There was a Kids' Interactive Area, wine and beer, live music, and plenty of food (a food truck and multiple booths).We thoroughly our visit, with some...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
2022 Carlsbad Oktoberfest is October 1 The 40th annual Carlsbad Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 1! Carlsbad’s popular annual Oktoberfest Family Fall Festival, for years traditionally taking place the 1st Saturday in October, will be held at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company. The festival is from Noon to 8 pm. Sponsored, as always, by Carlsbad’s 2 rotary clubs – the Rotary Club of Carlsbad, and the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club. The festival is a major fundraiser for the Carlsbad Rotary Clubs. There are a number of other event sponsors, too. Come enjoy a traditional German meal from the well-known Tip Top Meats in Carlsbad. And of course there is a Bier Garten with draught and can beer and wine. The Oktoberfest DJ will provide music from 12 noon to 4 pm. Then the Bavarian Beergarden Band w...
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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 August 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with changes from July and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, thus they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you so you can make informed buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 113 homes sold in Carlsbad in August (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 15% more than in July...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Squirrels Love Our Carlsbad Beaches, Too! We see a lot of ground squirrels in our area, especially living on a canyon in Carlsbad. We don't enjoy the damage they can do to the garden but their antics can be entertaining. But the squirrels love the Carlsbad beaches, too, although I suspect it’s not the views they appreciate. The bluffs are easy to dig in, which makes for easy, and abundant house-building along the beach – no permits needed, and the squirrels can thumb their noses at the California Coastal Commission and the City of Carlsbad Building Department's regulations on what can be done along the bluffs. And there are plenty of plants that thrive at the beach that provide seeds and other delicacies the squirrels enjoy year-round. But the squirrels know that beaches mean plenty of ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
5th Annual Taste of Carlsbad Village~ October 13, 2022 ~ The popular Taste of Carlsbad Village returns in 2022 for the 5th time, taking place in the Village on October 13th. So why announce this so early? First, the Taste of Carlsbad Village is historically very popular, and usually sells out. And second, tickets go on sale September 5 so you may want to put that on your calendar. Carlsbad food lovers will spend 3 hours on Thursday October 13th on a self-guided tour with map and Passport (the ticket), tasting their way around our charming Carlsbad Village. The appeal? Why, enjoying bite-sized samples from dozens of local popular restaurants - meat, seafood, vegetarian, vegan. This is a terrific opportunity to check out eateries you don’t know or haven’t tried, and enjoy your favorites, ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
ArtWalk Carlsbad is September 24 and 25, 2022 The 3rd Annual ArtWalk Carlsbad is just around the corner, on September 24 and 25. No doubt artists and art lovers alike are thrilled The inaugural ArtWalk Carlsbad was held in 2018 and was a winner – I had a great time (See Slideshow below)! The 2020 and 2021 events were unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic.  ArtWalk San Diego, the organization that produces the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy and the ArtWalk @ Liberty Square, is the organizer of this 2-day art festival in North San Diego County. There are multiple sponsors, too, that help make this art event affordable for attendees and participating artists. This year ArtWalk Carlsbad is free to attend, and will offer around 150 local, regional and international artists. Art...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Clean-Up August 20th in Carlsbad Village Need something to do this weekend and live nearby? Come join the Carlsbad Village Clean-Up on August 20th. The Carlsbad Village Association (CVA), along with Richness of Giving, Visit Carlsbad, and Pure Project Carlsbad and Handel’s Ice Cream are co-sponsoring another clean-up effort in Carlsbad Village. Cigarette butts and tobacco waste will be a focus for this clean-up (but don’t ignore other trash!). Visit Carlsbad is providing t-shirts for all volunteers. The clean-up takes place from 9 am to 11 am, starting in the Village Faire Courtyard at 300 Carlsbad Village Drive. The clean-up hosts, Pure Project and Handel’s Ice Cream, will provide participants with cleaning supplies, available while they last. Participants are welcome to bring their ow...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Carlsbad Art Wall July 2022 The 3rd mural of 2022 for the Carlsbad art wall, now the 8th year, was painted in mid-July by artist Matthew Perdoni, and it’s great fun. It took me a while to get by and take a photo but finally managed it. The sun was casting interesting shadows from a nearby palm tree of this whimsical mural capturing Carlsbad beach life. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded by well-known Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder, in 2015, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. Bryan also founded the Carlsbad Alley Art Wall.  The Carlsbad Art Wall offers residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and sometimes international, artists. The public also has the chance to watch the artists at work o...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Give Blood in Carlsbad Village September 24, 2022 Residents have another opportunity for Carlsbad to help our community, in particular the San Diego Blood Bank, with their need for blood. The 2nd Heart of the Village Blood Drive for 2022 takes place in Carlsbad Village Saturday, September 24th. Donations will be taken from 10 am until 3 pm. The blood drive is at Carlsbad Village Music at 505 Carlsbad Village Drive in the heart of downtown. Blood donations will be taken at the San Diego Blood Bank Bloodmobile. Over 225 pints have been donated through previous Heart of the Village Blood Drive events over the last 5 years! What a success story, and thank you to all the donors! The Carlsbad Village Association is the sponsor, with a special thank you to the host business, Carlsbad Village M...
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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 July 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with some changes from June and 1 year ago. These statistics do not include private sales, mobile homes or multi-family housing (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, thus they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read Real Estate is Local - But How Local ?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you so you can make educated buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 98 homes sold in Carlsbad in July (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 23...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
A Special Anniversary Day July 28, 2022 We celebrated our anniversary this past Thursday. We always do something on this special day but it can vary from being fairly simple…a dinner out at a favorite restaurant…or something much more elaborate. And we take turns planning the celebration. Last year we spent a night in San Barbara followed by a night in Marina Del Rey (LA - SEE PHOTO BELOW) with a visit to see the grandkids. In 2019 we spent 7 days in Maui.  While living in Boston we made a 3-day trip to the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach FL (I set up this surprise trip with several weeks of clues, 1 each day – my wife did not know where we were actually going until we got to the airport in Boston!). And a few years ago my wife set up a catered dinner on the beach in Cardiff by the Sea – was...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Fun in Carlsbad~ An ActiveRain Point Store Offering ~ The ActiveRain Point Store was open for business for July 2022. There are a number of wonderful offerings requiring a range of points from AR members in case you didn’t see them. Picking 1 offering was tough but it was a fun post to write. And it’s been entertaining to read what others selected and why. As a second option we can offer our own special deal in the AR Point Store. Here’s mine. It’s a special trip to my corner of the world on the Left Coast. And it's yours for 35,000 AR points. You can bring 1 guest - just let me know so we can plan a bit. Your 3-night Carlsbad Getaway (yes, that’s the beach town of Carlsbad CA not the Carlsbad Caverns in NM) starts with a flight from your home town via private jet from the Banana Jet Se...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Leo Carrillo Film Festival in Carlsbad Our weather and pleasant evenings offer a great opportunity to enjoy time outdoors. And if you enjoy historic movies, the film festival at the former ranch of Hollywood actor Leo Carrillo may be right up your alley. The Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park in Carlsbad will host the 16th Annual Leo Carrillo Film Festival. The festival is on 3 consecutive Friday nights - August 19, August 26 and September 2. The Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park is a  beautiful preservation of the land, hacienda, and other buildings owned by popular Hollywood film and TV star Leo Carrillo. Leo Carrillo is perhaps best known as Pancho in the 1950s TV series “The Cisco Kid”. A visit to this historic park in the heart of the Rancho Carrillo master planned community, and its ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Aloha Plunge 2022 in Carlsbad Are you looking for something fun to do? Carlsbad will celebrate the 2022 summer with the Aloha Plunge on Saturday July 23rd!  That’s just 1 week from today. This popular annual event was canceled in 2022 but returned last summer. The Aloha Plunge takes place at the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Center beginning at 5 PM. For those who aren’t aware, Alga Norte Park is in the La Costa area of Carlsbad off Poinsettia and east of El Camino Real. The Aloha Plunge is limited to 500 participants, and registrations tend to go fast. The cost is $10 per person. Children ages 3 and under are FREE but must be identified at check-out online. Don’t wait too long – register online, and get your wrist bands now so you don't have to wait in line. The online site sh...
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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 June 2022 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, 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 believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms, and as a result do not reflect our local Carlsbad housing market conditions. Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefit you so you can make educated buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 127 homes sold in Carlsbad in June (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 7% more than in May. Here a...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Red, White and BOOM in Carlsbad 2022and Other Celebrations Summer and the July 4th holiday are here. So of course you can expect celebrations and fireworks in and around Carlsbad, along with private festivities, cookouts, and picnics. And of course beach time! Now that schools are out, the summer crowds have picked up, restaurants are busy, and public parking at the beaches, and in the Village, will be harder to find, especially this holiday weekend. But what a great time of year!  Red, White and BOOM at LegolandThis popular annual celebration with fireworks is at Legoland California in Carlsbad on July 4th. Here’s the Event Guide for more details about what to expect. There is fun for all ages, with rides, live performances, relay races, and a picnic! Why not come dressed for the holid...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
Brush Fire North of Carlsbad Village ~ June 25, 2022 ~ Yesterday afternoon was a bit scary, especially for some residents, with a brush fire at the Buena Vista Lagoon just north of Carlsbad Village. About 1:00 pm we noticed what appeared to be a low marine layer moving in quickly at our house. But it was clearly smoke, and there was ash floating around in the light ocean breeze. I couldn’t find anything immediately online and there were no emergency alerts on my phone. But there was clearly a fire burning somewhere nearby to the west. Turns out there was a 10-acre brush fire at the Buena Vista Lagoon just north of Carlsbad Village and a residential area on the lagoon. Here’s a video from CBS-8 San Diego on YouTube. There were a number of evacuations given the location, along with a numb...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The 2022 Flicks at the Fountain Are Back July 7 in Carlsbad Village Summer is in full swing in Carlsbad, with some pretty nice weather, and plenty of outdoor activities. This is a friendly reminder the popular Flicks at the Fountain series kicks off on July 7th. This year there are 5 movies, instead of 4, and movies are on Thursdays instead of Fridays. It's nice to not conflict with the ongoing TGIF Concerts in the Parks on Fridays from June 24 through August 19. Some people no doubt want to attend both events. The Flicks at the Fountain run through August 4th, hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association. The movie titles were decided by popular vote. Here’s the movie schedule:Encanto – July 7Goonies – July 14Sing 2 – July 21Top Gun – July 28The Greatest Snowman – August 4 You’ll find th...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
TGIF Concerts in the Parks Series Begins June 24, 2022~ Volunteers Needed ~ Many now know the annual TGIF Concerts in the Parks series is back for 2022. The first concert is TONIGHT, June 24th, at Stagecoach Park. Tonight will feature the Back Pocket Whiskey Fellas and the Bayou Brothers. Volunteers are needed for the concert series for a variety of tasks. These may include greeting attendees, handing out programs, helping with opportunity Drawing Tickets and perhaps more. Volunteers hours are 3:30 to 7:30 but they are happy to have people to help for less time, too! Those interested can sign up at the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts website. The TGIF Concerts in the Parks are a highlight of summer in Carlsbad, and is perhaps the best summer entertainment available in North San Diego Count...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The Story Behind my AR Summer Profile I imagine we all have different reasons for posting the particular profile photos we use on AR. And perhaps changing them up now and then, say at Halloween or the Christmas holiday. There are professional ones, of  course, and those that might show off our more personal sides. And every now and then you see one that makes you wonder. I started a tradition about 12 years ago, posting this profile photo for summer. I have to admit it does not always happen on the first day of summer, nor does it disappear promptly when fall arrives. And I missed a year or two – hard to believe that could actually happen. I don’t have a good excuse, and it wasn’t a calendar reminder. Some may remember noticing this photo before at least once. Maybe not. I took this sel...
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