Folks who know me know that I am particular fond of the beach. Always have been. And being here in Southern California presents wonderful opportunities to enjoy beach life and to appreciate the beauty of the sun, sand, shoreline and water. In between open houses and errands, I stopped by Stone Steps Beach in Encinitas, one of my favorites (more about the beach in another post). I was fortunate enough to be there when the local beach artist came by and so I spent time watching him create his living artwork on the beach, while the tide did its part of erase it. I was also struck by the beauty of this particular beach and snapped a few photos of the art created by Mother Nature - the eroding bluffs form incredible shapes and colors which change constantly on the light as the sun was settin... 10/19/2008

Tonight was the official opening of The Andrews Gallery in Leucadia. I wrote about this just recently but wanted to share the festivities of the opening and reception. There was a eclectic, lively crowd enjoying the band(our favorite owners of Sanctum, next door, were there), the gallery looked stellar, and the food was wonderful (of course, being catered by our fave restaurant, Le Papagayo). Drew's paintings looked even better than when I was last in, now that they are hung and the lighting is complete, and the gallery space is inviting and warm, minus the stark minimalism one sees so often in New York. This place FITS in Leucadia. I talked with Drew for a bit tonight, and he is very excited about his new venture and looking forward to bringing on some other artists with differing styl... 10/17/2008

Another foodie alert for Encinitas. When I am up for pizza, Domino's and similar places just don't cut it for me. I'm spoiled I guess. The Sammy's Woodfired Pizza chain is good, but for something local to South Carlsbad and for folks in Encinitas, head to the Tuscan Sun Italian Deli and Pizzeria. The Tuscan Sun Italian Deli and Pizzeria is located in a shopping center, as many restaurants are in Southern California. That doesn't mean they aren't worth a visit, although the image of malls and dining conjures up the classic food court. Yuck. The Tuscan Sun Italian Deli and Pizzeria can be found at the Encinitas Ranch Town Center off El Camino (which, BTW, has a large selection of stores, including larger retailers like Ross Dress for Less, Best Buy, Office Depot, Target, and is across the... 10/16/2008

The word is out and it's good! Leucadia has a terrific new gallery, officially opening on October 17, 2008 (but you can grab a sneak peak here, or just stop by). The Andrews Gallery is already receiving quite a bit of attention, and it's not even officially open. I stopped by the other day to meet Drew Snyder and get a first hand look at his new space and his art work. Being an art collector (and past gallery owner myself), my interest was, well, more than passing interest. I love this part of town (and it's right next door to Carlsbad) and having another terrific addition to the community is pretty exciting. The gallery is in a very cool part of Leucadia (the funky, eclectic north end community of Encinitas), in the same block as my FAVORITE restaurant, Le Papagayo, and next door to a ... 10/10/2008

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  Because the media reports report data on a regional basis, what you see may not at all represent the reality of the local market, so having data from a knowledgeable agent about Encinitas market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller. Here is a summary of the Encinitas real estate market for September 2008 based on statistics from the MLS (private sales are not included). These data are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed. In September 2008 there were 42 homes sold in Encinitas. Here's the breakdown of overall activity.        TOTAL HOMES    ... 10/05/2008

How often do you hear that question? It's a seemingly simple question, with 2 choices...and profound implications. Depending on what you need them for at home, one choice may be preferred over another. The choice USED to be bag (paper) or no bag. And it is becoming that choice again in some places. San Francisco already has a ban city-wide that restricts plastic bag availability. So do Oakland and Malibu. And I understand that Santa Monica (near LA) is also considering it as well. And now the options around plastic and paper are being bantered about in ENCINITAS, California (next door to Carlsbad). Read Paper vs. Plastic - The Shopping Bag Debate for more information on the pros and cons. The Coast News covered this issue with regard to the pending proposal in Encinitas. Some support th... 10/05/2008

I wrote an article some time ago about the exciting plans for the new Whole Foods Market coming to Encinitas. At the time there was still lots of debate (and there are still many folks that are not in favor, for a variety of reasons) and concerns remain about the impact on traffic, and the changing landscape of this popular coastal town. A drive by just the other day indicates that Pacific Station construction is under way, at least getting the ground prepared and utilities in place. Pacific Station is a $40 million dollar mixed use facility between E and F Streets along the east side of the Coast Highway (Route 101) in downtown Encinitas, right next door to Tastes, a popular wine store retailer and restaurant. The older metal warehouse that formerly occupied the side was taken apart a... 10/02/2008

The week of October 5th through the 11th is Fire Prevention Week - a sad, but important reminders of the disastrous fires we experienced in San Diego County last year beginning in mid October. READ MORE: San Diego Fires Oct. 22 - 26, 2007 On October 4, Encinitas will host a Fire Prevention Expo as part of National Fire Prevention Week from 10 am until 2 pm at the Moonlight Beach parking lot (3rd and C Streets). The focus for the 2008 campaign is prevention of home fires, and raising awareness around the leading causes of fires in the home - cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking. There will be a number of exhibits of fire and rescue equipment including a helicopter, an interactive fire safety trailer, free safety information, fire extinguisher demonstrations and much mo... 10/01/2008

The 29th Annual Wavecrest Woodie Meet is being held on Sunday September 20, 2008 at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, just north of downtown. You can read more about the Wavecrest Woodie Meet from last year's article. This woodie meet is supposedly the largest of its kind in the world, with hundreds of these famed cars, and many more car admirers, in attendance. There are a number of prize categories, and folks gather to admire, trade stories, surf, barbecue and just hang out at one of the best beaches in the area. The event officially runs from 7 am until 3:30 pm, but many hang out beyond then to enjoy the sunset. There's even a National Woodie Club for those who are true admirers and collectors. (NOTE - These are photos I took at the event in 2007).         This event is being held on the... 09/06/2008

We have a great couple looking for a San Diego condo near the beach. They were hoping to locate second-home with a price under $250,000–and were more concerned about a coastal location than the size of the unit. We looked at condos in Oceanside, in Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach. What we didn’t expect to find was a lovely one-bedroom condo in Encinitas–at the gated community of Pacific Pines. It offers granite surfaces, brick fireplace, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove/microwave and washer/dryer. It is small at 650 square feet, but the price was remarkable at $195,000. The gated community of Pacific Pines offers a pool, spa, tennis courts, club house, BBQ areas, picnic tables, sandy volleyball court, racquetball court, nearby hiking trails, and a location exquisitely close to the San Eli... 08/30/2008

Let's talk about an attention grabber--- BUG! Realty made a smashing debut during the INMAN Connect days last month, getting well-deserved press with their innovative marketing approach for real estate as they intoduced their mobile office! Fututistic? Ahead of it's time? NOT BY MUCH if you've been listening, if you're tuned in to the marketplace turning into all things mobile, then you'll grasp the brilliance of this moveable BUG! on wheels for deals in real estate. Isn't this the kind of creative genius needed for our times?  Innovation & excitement filled the hall with cutting-edge vendors, but the BUG! REALTY corner was spotted everywhere--- on the bridge, in the streets, in the hands of many who donned their bright, red carry bags (oh so cute!). In another magical moment of my conf... 08/27/2008

What do you really know about the ductwork attached to your clothes dryer? If you're answer is 'not much', what you don't know could hurt you and be a fire hazard in your home.   The ductwork is the piping that runs from the back of your dryer to whatever style of dryer vent you have outside your home. The whole job of the aluminum duct system is to remove the hot air from the dyer (along with any lint or dust it has removed from your clothes) and send it outside your house.    Heat Removal   Can you imagine how hard your air conditioning would have to work to counter the effect of all the hot air from your dryer coming into your home? Even a massive home air conditioning unit likely couldn't compete with all that heat.  But thankfully, you have something that will keep some of that hot... 08/27/2008

The Encinitas real estate market has remained fairly strong, despite the downturn in the overall San Diego housing market. Its proximity along the coast, a wealth of things to do, wonderful weather, shopping and dining all combine to make the Encinitas real estate market a popular destination for many buyers. Getting into the market for the first time in Encinitas is a challenge for many because of prices, especially if the desire is for a detached single family home. There are several areas that provide a good in-road to homeownership for first time buyers, one of which is Cambria. READ MORE - Encinitas Market Report for July 2008 Cambria is a newer housing development of attractive tract homes located on the hill just west of the Encinitas Town Center on El Camino Real, the main shopp... 08/23/2008

Encinitas is a favorite coastal town in North County San Diego. Located about 25 miles north of San Diego, Encinitas offers a diversity of things to do and places to live, and couple with great weather and wonderful beaches, well it's a pretty popular place. If you are hoping to buy a home here, already own one, or are planning on visiting, here are some things to know about and do. BEACHES - being beach lover, one would be hard pressed to not find a beach here that appeals along the several miles of coastland. At the far north Grandview is a favorite, followed by Beacon's and Stonesteps. The best overall beach, IMO, is fabulous Moonlight Beach, just north of the downtown area. You can read more about Moonlight Beach here (or enjoy a video tour), but know that there are a wide range of ... 08/21/2008

The Encinitas Community and Senior Center is located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive and provides a wide of services and activities for children, adults and seniors of all ages. Read more about the Center here. ENCINITAS COMMUNITY CENTER The community center is a facility of 39,000 SF with a banquet hall, kitchen, meeting and conference rooms and much more. Rooms can be rented for various community activities. Here's a Recreation Guide. Outreach and Community Information Offices are located here as well. ENCINITAS SENIOR CENTER The seniors center, which is part of the community center, provides a broad range of activities during the week (hours are 10 - 4 Monday through Friday) and is a social hub for area seniors. There is a seniors game room, library, and computer room . The Out and About... 08/17/2008

The 4th Annual LeucadiArt Walk is coming to Leucadia on Sunday August 31 from 10 - 5 pm. This annual art festival is a popular event along the historic 101 corridor, with about 1 mile of artists and shops to explore. There are musical and dance performances, a raffle, art demonstrations, children's activities and so much more. This is a terrific family event and a great chance to see what artisty we have in Leucadia, the next door neighbor to Carlsbad. Plus you get a chance to support the local artisans along Mainstreet and experience the cool, funky feel of Leucadia (the community at the northern end of Encinitas). A 50s style roadmap lays out the route and the participants which includes galleries as well as artists clustered at various locations. A large crowd is expected, based on p... 08/16/2008

If you live in Southern California in a detached home, there is a fairly good chance you will have a spa, spool, hot tub or pool. Those in condos have to share with others in the complex, so taking care of the water feature is handled by someone else. Knowing where to buy your supplies to keep your water looking good, and healthy to use, is essential. Some folks opt to have a pool service come in to take care of these details weekly, or on some other schedule. I guess I prefer to do it myself...and so do many others. Leslie's Pool Supplies is located in the heart of the shopping area on El Camino Real about ½ mile north of Encinitas Boulevard (so folks in Cardiff, Carlsbad, and Encinitas have easy access). Not only do they seem to carry just about every sort of product needed to take ca... 08/15/2008

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. Because the media reports report data on a regional basis, what you see may not at all represent the reality of the local market, so having data from a knowledgeable agent about Encinitas market conditions benefits you as the buyer or seller. Here is a summary of the Encinitas real estate market for June 2008 based on statistics from the MLS (private sales are not included). In June 2008 there were 43 homes sold in Encinitas. Here’s the breakdown of overall activity. TOTAL HOMES 42 (Detached - 30; Attached - 12) Size Range 924 SF – 5612 SF (Detached: 924 SF – 56... 08/08/2008

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act: Tax Credit The tax credit is for First Time Homebuyers (not owned a primary residence for the past three years) whose loan closed between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. The highest amount of the tax credit will be $7,500 for individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning no more than $150,000. The amount of the tax credit declines when the income rises and phases out completely when the single tax payer earns $95,000 and a couple earns $170,000. A tax credit is much better than a tax deduction. A tax deduction is added to all of the other deductible items on Schedule A (medical expenses, charitable contributions, home interest, property taxes, unreimbursed employee expenses, etc.) and then that amount is deducted from the adjusted gross in... 08/05/2008

TELEPHONE (760) 634-3220 Builders, designers and homeowners...listen up. There is a terrific candy store in town with the best prices and deals around. Builders Trading Company in Leucadia (Encinitas), founded in 1992, is now known as the Builders Candy Store (760) 634-3220. The reason? Well, there are some pretty sweet deals here, with tremendous discounts on dozens of home products like Pella windows, European Marble and Sierra Pacific. The aisles are stocked full of all the doors and windows you could want. And it's just around the corner from Carlsbad. But in addition to large price reductions on the well-known builder items (including overstock and canceled custom orders) there are loads of other salvage items, especially doors (some are fabricated by the owner with customized iron... 08/01/2008