Excitement is mounting as the new Total Woman Gym and Atmosphere Day Spa opening in Encinitas is approaching. The Total Woman Gym and Atmosphere Day Spa will be the ONLY women-only facility of its type in the Encinitas/Carlsbad area since the closing of Elite recently. I had a sneak preview yesterday of the equipment at their pre-sales office, and spoke with General Manager Lisa Fitting about what makes this gym and spa so special. The gym and spa facility will be state of the art, and luxurious! Ever heard of an infinity sink, in granite? The photos of the planned facility were most impressive and will compare favorably to other high-end spas in the area like the Four Seasons and La Costa Resort and Spa. BUT see the note below on pricing for a pleasant surprise! RATES? Well, you can't ... 06/05/2009

Hello and Welcome to Encinitas California Foreclosure Auction, Bank Owned REO, and Homes for Sale. Understanding the foreclosure property auction (also known as Trustee Sale) process takes time, due diligence, and understanding.  Saavy Real Estate investors can find some of the best deals around buying at these auctions, but is it right for everyone.   We would like to help explain further about these auctions and the benefits and downsides of buying Real Estate at them. Understanding the process is the key, and here is how the process goes as an overview: Pre-Foreclosure (Also known as Notice of Default).  Pre-Foreclosure is usually when the current homeowner is 90 days past due on their Mortgage.  The current lender files with the County Recorders office a Notice of Default.  When thi... 06/04/2009

In a small Encinitas strip mall near the Henry's Fresh Food Market is a very cool little shop called Cookies In Bloom.   As the name implies, this wonderful shop, hidden away in the west side of this small mall for the last 10 years, offers an amazing array of cookie bouquets, suitable for just about every occasion and sentiment you can imagine.     Birthdays - Closing gifts for real estate clients - Thank you for vendors - House Warmings - Anniversaries - Weddings - New Baby in the home - Get Well - Businesses   The list goes on and on. In addition to the cookie bouquets, you can also buy boxes of gourmet cookies as well. With over 300 shapes of hand-decorates sugar cookies to choose from, the opportunities are endless. I have a box of cookies (a thank you from a friend) and a big flow... 06/01/2009

Encinitas California Auction, Foreclosures & Bank Owned REO Real Estate We have added a new Pre-Foreclosure and Foreclosure Auction Search feature to our website.  You can now search every Pre-Foreclosure, Foreclosure, and Auction property in San Diego County.  This new capability, along with the ability to search all active Foreclosure, Short Sale, and REO listings, along with the entire San Diego County MLS, makes the Four Seasons Realty Website one of the most up to date and informative websites in the region.           Click the Yellow Map Below to search Pre-Foreclosure, Foreclosure, and REO Properties.   April 2009 Foreclosure, REO, and Short Sale update. According to Foreclosure Radar (A service which tracks every single foreclosure daily in the state of California) in the month ... 05/27/2009

So you passed your real estate test.  Put your "shingle" out.  And you're in business, right?  But there's much more to being a real estate professional than just getting a license and printing business cards.  If you've been an employee previously, then you will realize that being an entrepreneur involves a shift in mentality. The first critical skill to being a business owner is thinking like a business owner.  You will need to view yourself as a business owner, and to constantly promote your services.  You must invest in yourself and your business for the long term, working to build a strong foundation.  You will have to make many sacrifices for the good of your business. A real estate professional is a self-employed person:  a small business owner.  As such, each real estate profess... 05/26/2009

   Encinitas California Foreclosures, Short Sale, REO & Homes for Sale Real Estate Silver lining or too early to tell? April 2009 Encinitas California Foreclosure, REO, and Short Sale update. According to Foreclosure Radar (A service which tracks every single foreclosure daily in the state of California) in the month of April Foreclosure notices in the state of California saw a decline while foreclosure sales rose in the state of California. Sales at the actual foreclosure auction rose by 35 percent overall.  According to estimates foreclosure sales sold to third party investors at an average of a 28% discount from estimated market value. Notices of default dropped by an estimated 18.2% from the record level set the prior month.  Notices of Trustee sale (Foreclosure Auction) also droppe... 05/17/2009

If you are looking for something fun and interesting to do, and have any interest in the history of the Encinitas area, you might enjoy attending the upcoming San Dieguito Heritage Museum's 21st Annual BBQ on May 16, 2009.   READ MORE: Visit the San Dieguito Heritage Museum   This popular annual event is a great way to enjoy some terrific food (this year the BBQ will be Santa Maria style, hosted by Brett's BBQ in Encinitas) and learn more about the area's history by touring this wonderful museum. Food is served from 12 noon until 2:30 pm. In addition to the great food, there will be a trick roping show and entertainment by the Tierra Caliente Dancers, exhibits, activities for the kids, a raffle and a bake sale. This annual fundraiser will be held at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum at 4... 05/09/2009

Hello and Welcome to Encinitas Foreclosure properties. During the recent down turn Encinitas home prices have experienced declines due to the overwhelming number of foreclosures and the tightening of credit. The region also faces pressure due to the recent rises in unemployment. So the question to ask, Is there opportunity to buy in this market? We believe the answer is Yes, but only with the right approach. The potential silver lining and opportunity here is the following: According to Dataquick, in the month of March, 2009 there were 3,020 sales in San Diego county which represents a 43% increase in sales volume over March of 2008. The median home prices in Encinitas for that same period have fallen by 34.4% to a median price for Encinitas of 480,000 making Encinitas as affordable as... 05/08/2009

As a buyer or seller in the Encinitas real estate market, it is important to have data 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 April 2009 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.  In April 2009 there were 28 homes sold in Encinitas (a 10% decrease in sales from March but 22% ahead of February). Here's the breakdown of overall activity.    TOTAL HOMES Detached Attached Number 28 (down 10%) 19 (up 6%) 9 (down 31%) Days on Market 61 46 92 Median Sales Price $627,500 (up 26%) $872,350 (up 42%) $385,000 (down 18%) ... 05/04/2009

This Saturday is the Annual Encinitas Street Fair, which promises, as always, to be a fabulous outdoor event in one of North County San Diego's neatest coastal towns.  READ MORE: The 26th Annual Encinitas Street Fair This Coming Weekend  But, there's more.  Surfing enthusiasts can surf to win, and help a great charity [CLICK ON LOGO ABOVE].  Saturday is the annual SoCal Firefighters Club, South Fire, Carlsbad High School Make a Wish Club and CHS Surf Club amateur surf contest at the area's nicest beach, Moonlight Beach.  There are a number of age groups for children, plus the firefighter/four man team category.  All proceeds will go toward the Make a Wish charity and the Girls Leadership Institute.  You can read more and register to participate at Surfin Fire, who, by the way, also offe... 04/24/2009

The spring weather has been fabulous and we are starting the parade of outdoor fairs and festival that are so popular here in America's Finest City and surrounds. Encinitas is a seaside town about 25 miles north of San Diego and will be hosting its annual street outdoor fair this coming weekend. April 25th and 26th. The Encinitas Street Fair is a terrific event, attended by thousands of folks who appreciate the many vendors and activities in the downtown area of Encinitas along the famous Route 101 from D to J street. Like the huge fair in Carlsbad, they expect about 100,000 folks to descend on the town to enjoy 450 vendors with an amazing array of things to look at and buy.  This is the 26th Annual Street Encinitas Street Fair, and well worth your visit. You can expect some parking iss... 04/19/2009

******************************** Subscribe in a reader If I can provide more information about Encinitas, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net. All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits 04/04/2009

As a buyer or seller in the Encinitas real estate market, it is important for you to have data 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 March 2009 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. In March 2009 there were 31 homes sold in Encinitas (a 35% increase in sales from February). Here's the breakdown of overall activity.   TOTAL HOMES Detached Attached Number 31 (up 35%) 18 (down 16%) 13 (up 650%) Days on Market 41 34 51 Median Sales Price $500,000 (down 17%) $615,000 (up 1%) $466,961 (up 26%) Average Sales Price... 04/04/2009

As a buyer or seller in the Encinitas real estate market, it is important for you to have data 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 February 2009 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.  In February 2009 there were 23 Encinitas homes sold (a 21% decrease in sales from January). Here's the breakdown of overall activity.    TOTAL HOMES Detached Attached Number 23 21 (same as Jan.) 2 Days on Market 61 65 22 Median Sales Price  $605,000 (up 11%)  $607,000 (down 5%)   $370,750   Average Sales Price $820,519 (up... 03/04/2009

Folks who know me know that I have quite a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate. Elizabethan Desserts, in Encinitas, helps to fulfill the need for sweets in many ways. Oh so many ways! I have been acquainted with pastry chef Elizabeth Harris for several years now since she opened her fabulous Elizabethan Desserts bakery shop at the Sunshine Gardens nursery in Encinitas near Moonlight Beach (just a short hop from Carlsbad). Yes, it is a totally unexpected place to find a sweet shop, but who cares?! You go buy some flowers, and you stop in to buy sweets, or just visit for the sweets.   While I like everything Elizabethan Desserts offers (her dedication to freshness and flavor, the use of organic fruits), there are some top faves - the red Velvet cupcakes are probably my #1 (top photo, s... 02/27/2009

The Seaside Bazaar in Encinitas is an intriguing outdoor shopping venue, held every Saturday and Sunday during the year. The Bazaar offers an eclectic range of vendors (perhaps 40) with all sorts of products (and I suspect it changes each week as well, a little bit like the local farmer's markets do, with the regulars and then the newbies)  The Seaside Bazaar is held in a large parking area (on the coast road) just north of downtown Encinitas, a short hop from the La Paloma Theater, and before you reach Encinitas Boulevard (right on the Coast Road). I drive by it all the time but have never stopped by, since I am usually heading to an appointment. This past Sunday, on the way back from a listing appointment in Del Mar, I dropped by to see what it was all about. It never ceases to amaze... 02/24/2009

I am a big fan of art, as folks who know me can attest. AND a big fan of The Andrews Gallery in Leucadia, the newest, and brightest, addition to the art scene in North San Diego County. My opinion. But I think others agree. And it's right next to Carlsbad. The Andrews Gallery opened, with quite a bit of fanfare, last October 2008 (here's my post from the opening reception). Drew Snyder, curator, owner, and artist, continues to bring excitement and vision to the art community in North County, and the latest show (I missed the opening reception, being out of town) featuring never-before-seen collage works by Susan Snyder, is a visual treat. A well-known and established artist for years, Snyder uses bright colors, intriguing images, and even 200-year-old paint chips from her home in Mexico... 02/22/2009

Here we go again, shocking ourselves with our open and honest - yet prideful gesture of letting you all know where you should with out a doubt stop by if you're in the beautiful San Diego area! Swami's has been an [Encinitas] Local hangout for as long as we can remember. Whether you're stopping by for a quick cup of java before work, a smoothie between errands or refueling after an exhaustive tanning or surf session - Swami's takes care of you & your friends. With a casual and comforting (outside) ambiance, smiling hosts and talented Chef's, Swami's offers a broad menu which accommodates everyone's taste buds & appetites. Breakfast, lunch & dinner with a tremendous smoothie/juice bar - you will feed your body and mind the most healthy & wholesome selections, most locally grown. Our favo... 02/17/2009

We have been hearing for quite some time now of layoffs from many companies throughout the country, retailers as well as most other industries. Given how things are in the current economy we can likely expect more store closings. Recent big news of layoffs included Home Depot, with the announcement of closing their Home Expo showrooms that carry higher-end home remodeling supplies and furnishings for every room in the house. Our local Home Expo Store in Encinitas (right over the Carlsbad line off of El Camino Real and Leucadia Boulevard) is included in those closings. The time could be right to stop in and see what kind of deals remain on all the great products they offer for your kitchen, bath, your floors or elsewhere in your home. My understanding from friends is that things are get... 02/11/2009

Shopping lovers will have something to keep their interest for an entire day very soon. Encinitas is having a citywide sidewalk sale on SATURDAY February 21st from one end of town to the other, along the coast road/historic Route 101 that runs through the downtown area just several blocks from the beach.  READ MORE: Encinitas Shopping and Dining Extravaganza  This event will be huge! ALL retailers, businesses or services that are registered with the City of Encinitas are invited to participate (so this includes Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia and Olivenhain), and IT'S FREE to do so. Imagine the possibilities, for both businesses AND consumers along this popular stretch of road just a short hop from Carlsbad?   I know Queen Eileen's, a very cool shop in the heart of town, will be participa... 02/11/2009