Remember that nice bank office you were sitting in the other day?  The big building with empty desks?  Guess who's paying for that?     YOU ARE!   Searching for the right mortgage company can be a daunting task even in a small city like Encinitas.  Banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, brokers or direct lenders.  Who to use?  All will have very similar rates because they get their money from the same sources.  The difference is the cost of running their business.  Quit paying for the show and hire someone who knows.   Mortgages in Encinitas since 1977!   We know you want the lowest rate and lowest fees.  Financing a home over 30 years adds up to a lot of money!  We're sensitive to that.  Three things you must do to save money: 1)  Complete a loan application 2) Provide us the nece... 08/02/2010

The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act) was passed on July 30, 2008.  This law gave states one year to pass legislation requiring the licensure of mortgage loan originators according to national standards and the participation of state agencies on the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). According to the NMLS Resource Center, the SAFE Act is designed to enhance consumer protection and reduce fraud through the setting of minimum standards for the licensing and registration of state-licensed mortgage loan originators. Up to this point, mortgage loan originators (MLO's) in California had to be either licensed by the CA Department of Real Estate (DRE), the CA Department of Corporations (DOC), or work for a bank/credt union.  I have had my D... 07/30/2010

We have Encinitas home and loan info in one place! Encinitas real estate Encinitas loan info: enter your information in our quick quote below. No need to leave personal information. We display mortgage rates for California along with estimated closing costs. We don't play the hidden fee game. Our quotes are accurate and include estimated title, escrow and appraisal fees. Rates updated every 30 minutes. Fast - efficient - competitive www.encinitashomeandloan.info 07/29/2010

  Why I love Encinitas Florist- Leucadia Floral & Plant... a.k.a The Plant Lady is pretty simple. Debi McCarver is a sweet person that loves what she does and it sure shows!  At Leucadia floral & Plant, you can find a wide variety of cut flowers, succulents, California native plants, green house plants, ivys, hanging baskets, and great gift ideas; just to name a few. If anyone from the San Diego area has driven south on the 101 through the small community of Leucadia (the artsy, funky part of Encinitas), you might have noticed Leucadia Floral & Plant. I have to say I still call her The Plant Lady, because that is what is painted on the wall in front of her shop on the 101 in Leucadia! They are located at 1114 N. Coast Highway 101.     Debi is not just a master of the picked bouquet, at ... 07/27/2010

I realize that there are a lot of people that want to live near the beach.  I am actually one of those people. However, I also think that it is important to have an open mind as to other opportunities that may exist because the properties by the beach tend to be quite a bit more expensive than the ones just a little bit inland. When I start working with a buyer my intention is to get them the best home to suit their needs all the while remaining within their means...if not just a bit under if at all possible.  If someone says let's stay under 450K...I'm shooting for 375-425 in my mind because the last thing I want is for you to spend so much on your home that your constantly at work to pay for it.  I want you to be able to take a weekend off every once in a while to go camping with your... 07/27/2010

Encinitas Wine Shops - The 3rd Corner   Looking for a good wine shop in Encinitas with a restaurant combination? The 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro in Encinitas is a delightful place to dine, and with the size of the crowd last night, a very popular one.  The 3rd Corner wine shop concept is simple, and a good one. There is a retail wine shop in the midst of the restaurant with a good selection of wines at prices that seem reasonable (not Costco or BevMo but decent). You buy a bottle, and it will be uncorked for you by your server for $5.  End of story.  We dined for the first time at The 3rd Corner in Encinitas (there are 2 other locations - Ocean Beach and Palm Desert) last night with friends and had a white varietal called Evolution which I love, for $22.95. I can't think of a single... 07/25/2010

San Diego Real Estate Market... Which direction is it going? Answer: Sliding sideways with a little down hill! I have used our MLS "Multiple Listing Service" to give me an indication of what the impact from all the Bank Owned Properties and Short Sales. Since July of last year 42% of all the Sales in San Diego were either a Short Sale or Bank Owned Property. As of right now our current market of Active homes it is a staggering 56%... I heard on the news just a few days ago this year we will have 1 Million homes in default pending foreclosure. They also said in 2006 the typical amount was 100,000. I guess it is safe to say times are a changing and it is time to adjust. So what are the solutions? How much lower can interest rates go? Where is the job market going? Where are the up and com... 07/19/2010

  FHA is in full swing with the Manufactured Home industry on both forward and reverse re-fi's but there is a hook. The home must have an Engineered Certification, Affidavit of Affixture and if you're in California you will even need a 433a documentation verifying that your home is on a HUD compliant "Engineered Foundation System". Sound complicated? Not really. All you need is a Nationwide, one-stop shop, turn key, one size fits all company that can make the entire process perfectly painless instead of a pain it the A_____s. So whether you're a RE Broker, Lender or homewoner in need of this type of service there is only one name in the entire USA to add to your phone book, email or text list and that's www.onthelevelcontractors.com. Take a moment to watch our foundation installation v... 07/18/2010

There are a number of personal and emotional reasons to buy a home. But there are also some strong financial reasons to make the investment, especially in a highly desirable town as Encinitas.  Here are just a few of those reasons: Increase Net Worth: Few things have a greater impact on net worth than owning a home. In a comparison of renters versus homeowners, the Federal Reserve Board of Consumer Finance found that the average net worth of renters was just $4,000 compared to homeowners at $184,400. A Big Tax Deduction: One of the largest tax deductions available is the amount of interest paid on a mortgage. In fact, a $150,000 home at a 5.50% interest rate can add up to approximately $8,000 in first year's interest. This amounts to a significant savings - effectively reducing the amou... 07/16/2010

Click below to get July 15, 2010 Encinitas California mortgage rates for 30 year fixed FHA, Conventional and VA home loans.  Refinance and purchase rates.  Please call us for jumbo mortgage rates.  Click picture for current mortgage rates Mortgage rates are updated every 30 minutes. If visiting our rate page on a future date it will reflect current rates for that day. Direct lender with offices in San Diego, throughout Southern California, Northern California and 14 other states.   Encinitas Direct Lender Click logo to visit our website      Encinitas home loans since 1977 First Priority Financial is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate FPF#00654852   Nevin#01366552  (888) 206-5781   Also licensed in Oregon, Washington & North Carolina *Certain credit and income restrict... 07/15/2010

Click below to get July 13, 2010 Encinitas California mortgage rates for 30 year fixed FHA, Conventional and VA home loans.  Refinance and purchase rates.  Please call us for jumbo mortgage rates.  Click picture for current mortgage rates Mortgage rates are updated every 30 minutes. If visiting our rate page on a future date it will reflect current rates for that day. Direct lender with offices in San Diego, throughout Southern California, Northern California and 14 other states.   Encinitas Direct Lender   Click logo to visit our website      California home loans since 1977 First Priority Financial is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate FPF#00654852   Nevin#01366552  (888) 206-5781   Also licensed in Oregon, Washington & North Carolina *Certain credit and income restr... 07/13/2010

We saw some real sun today, for the first time, except for a peek yesterday, in over a week. This photo was not taken today, but we visited the Self Realization Fellowhip in Encinitas last night for an Indian dinner, a play, music and other entertainment for the annual celebration of the founder, Yoga and Mediation master Paramahansa Yogananda, who died in 1952. It's a beautiful place to vist and there are spectacular gardens to waunder on the bluff above the ocean. 07/11/2010

Click below to get July 8, 2010 Encinitas mortgage rates for FHA, Conventional and VA home loans.  There is no need to leave any personal information to get an accurate quote.  Estimated cost of the loan is expressed with APR and a dollar figure so you know what it will cost you including all third party fees.  Because our mortgage rates are updated every 30 minutes, if you visit our rate page on a future date it will reflect rates for that day that you visit.   We are a direct lender with offices in San Diego, all over Southern California, Northern California and 14 other states.   Click picture for current rates   Encinitas Direct Lender Click logo to visit our website    California home loans since 1977   First Priority Financial is licensed by the California Department of Real Estat... 07/08/2010

This Saturday and Sunday, July 10-11, 2010, the San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail Botanical Gardens) will hold its annual insect festival. This unique family activity will take place on both July 10 and July 11 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Spectators can see thousands of "creepy-crawlies including live insects, lizards, snakes, and the famous Madagascar hissing cockroaches." The festival will include bug collecting activities, arts and crafts, and even bug tasting! At 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. both days, Wonders of Wildlife will present "Bugs and Animals that Eat Bugs." This presentation will feature the Monitor Lizard, Blue Tongue Skink, Fennec Fox, Opossum, Naked Neck (Turken), and Indian Runner Duck. Cost: Free for members and children 12 and under. For non-members, click h... 07/07/2010

Encinitas Real Estate Market Report - June 2010   As a buyer or seller in the Encinitas real estate market, it is important to have information about the market conditions in order to make a more informed decision about what to do with regard to buying or selling your Encinitas home.  Here is a summary of the Encinitas real estate market for June 2010 based on statistics from the MLS (private sales are not included nor are manufactured and mobile homes). These data are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed due to how data may be entered into the MLS system.   READ MORE: Encinitas - An Eclectic Seaside Community  Leucadia- Surfers' Beach Community in Encinitas CA In June 2010, 37 homes sold in the Encinitas real estate market, a drop of 46% over last month which followed a 12% increase ... 07/04/2010

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer,your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this seriesright here. About 25 miles north of downtown San Diego is the City of Encinitas: In the 2000 Census, Encinitas had about 58,000 residents. The 2005 estimate of median household income was $86,520. It's one of San Diego County's more affluent cities. On the eastern side of Interstate 5 in Encinitas is the somewhat rural community of Olivenhain, featuring two-lane roads, wood rail fences, and parks and trails for pedestrians, bicycles, and even horses. Most of the homes are single family residences at the upper end of the price scale. Olivenhain has a "dark skies" policy which limits outdoor lighting so as not to interfere with the view of the nighttime sky. The Colony had ... 07/03/2010

As I run the streets of my local coastal town of Encinitas, Ca., I am disgusted by the amount of trash littering the streets.  Old Encinitas, west of I-5 along Coast Hwy. is strewn with thousands of cigarette butts, discarded food containers, wrappers and an abundance of miscellaneous garbage. And, it doesn't stop there!  Our city, in addition to the surrounding areas, including Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos & Escondido have a high visability of litter on the freeways, off ramps, vacant lots, business areas, schools and many neighborhoods. Our home is located in a high traffic area leading to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.  Consequently, we experience 1000's of visitors and locals alike, especially during summer months, transiting our neighborhood in route to the beach, mindless... 07/03/2010

Last Friday, we learned that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.7% in the first quarter, which was actually less than previously reported.  GDP is a measure of a country's overall economic output. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment increased to 76, the highest since January 2008, from 73.6 in May.  This Index provides, among other things, a near time assessment of consumer attitudes on the business climate, personal finance, and spending. After this news, there has been another nice rally toward lower rates. Mortgage rates are low because investors, nervous about global economic stability and a volatile stock market are plowing their money into Treasury debt and mortgage securities, assets that investors perceive to be relatively safe bets. This is continued good news... 06/28/2010

ENCINITAS ORCHIDS     Encinitas is known for beautiful flowers in its nurseries, gardens and at retail and whole sale growers. This beauty was one of many I spied at an orchid nursery in Encinitas just off the freeway. Of course if you want a gorgeous orchid arrangement, I would recommend ENCINITAS ORCHIDS owned and created by my friend Don Doerfler.   06/27/2010

Not just another Italian Restaurante, the Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria's menu offers tasty, eclectic choices made solely from locally grown, organic ingredients.   After a busy real estate day, writing two offers and showing property, my wife and I enjoyed a much needed evening break. And, while there is no shortage of restaurants in the Village of Encinitas, we've been eager to try one of Encinitas's newest restaurants, recently opened by owners/operators Wade and Kristi Hageman.  With years of collective experience and obvious pride, they have created a wonderful environment in which to enjoy their fresh and tasty offerings. My wife Jami started by ordering a French Syrah (Shiraz), while I enjoyed a chilled 20 oz. Arrogant Bastard Ale.  We began with the Blue Ribbon "Little Gems" Caes... 06/27/2010