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

Encinitas area buyers (including those in Carlsbad) who are exploring the Leucadia real estate market will find a lot to like here. This funky community along the coast highway (Route 101) has a reputation for being eclectic, not mainstream, and a terrific place for summer vacations, surfing, and beach life in general. It is not a place you will want to live if having boutiques and high-end eateries in your neighborhood is important. Leucadia is very much what you would expect for a beach town with a strong surfing history in Southern California. Where trailer parks, high-density rental apartments and vacation units, bungalows and cottages, and nurseries co-exist with million dollar ocean view and frontage homes as well as new construction. Folks like Leucadia the way it is, and there i... 07/17/2008

If you know anything about Encinitas, or live in the area (right next door to Carlsbad), you are likely acquainted with LEUCADIA, the cool, funky part of Encinitas at the north end. The community exudes surfer-beach-eclectic funkiness, which is what appeals to the folks who live and visit there. From the local donut shop to a collection of very cool but casual restaurants (Le Papagayo, Auggie's House of Crab), from the terrific beaches to the neighborhood bars, surf shops and a host of retailers, Leucadia has what people expect to find in a casual seaside community that has yet to be hit by the gentrification bug. The bumper stickers "Keep Leucadia Funky" say it all. If you are not acquainted with Leucadia or would like a refresher, read Leucadia - Surfers' Beach Community. I like visit... 07/15/2008

For those who believe they cannot move or sell their home: Doug and Suzy Martin ( real names changed) decided to change their lifestyle.  They had a large, beautiful home by the beach in Encinitas, CA.  They decided to look around to see how they could simplify while improving on their quality of life.  They put together a plan and implemented it.  After a short search, they found a perfect home in nearby Carlsbad.  They wanted to put an offer on the home, but they had to sell their current home for the down payment.  The Carlsbad house was perfect: 1/2 acre, large home, pool, great schools and still close to the beach.  The Martins knew this home would not be on the market for long.  They contacted a friend of theirs who is a Realtor to strategize.  That's where I came in.  They needed... 07/10/2008

As a dedicated foodie, finding new restaurants, and visiting the favorites, is a passion of mine.That’s not to say I am out eating at some eatery daily or even multiple times a week – after all, the food at home is some of the best, IMO. But now and then the opportunity arises to check out a new place.I was in Leucadia yesterday visiting Sanctum, a relatively new gallery along the Coast Highway, and since it was lunch time my wife and I decided to check out a new Leucadia restaurant - Auggie’s House of Crab founded by Agostino Scalercio (Auggie)...owner, cook, you name it.Auggie’s House of Crab is on the coast road at the northern end of Leucadia (Encinitas) and well worth a visit, especially if you are a seafood lover. Leucadia is a funky beach town and Auggie’s fits right in.  No pret... 07/04/2008

Leucadia is the funky part of Encinitas, California, at the north end of town, just a short hop from where I live in Carlsbad. You’ll know as soon as you drive through – it has the feel of a surfing community, without the glitz, boutiques, and fancy dining eateries you encounter in other beach towns. And folks who live in or frequent Leucadia like it that way. Witness the bumper stickers you see regularly to “Keep Leucadia Funky.” But Leucadia will surprise you with the neat little shops and cool restaurants to enjoy mixed in among the vacation rental properties, surfing shops, liquor stores, the Leucadia Donut Shop, and a myriad of other small businesses and services. And you may find a new sanctum here at an 8-month old shop appropriately called Sanctum Gallery. Located just behind my... 07/03/2008

Summertime in Encinitas presents us with lots of things to do. Of course the year-round fabulous weather allows folks to be outside almost all the time. The summer months bring a host of outdoor festivals and concerts to the Encinitas area, and the Sunday Summer Concerts by the Sea at Moonlight Beach is worth a visit. Read about Moonlight Beach On 4 Sundays in July and August (July 6, July 20, August 3 and August 17) you can enjoy a terrific beach, great weather, and music and dancing from 3 - 5 PM. Musical styles vary, and with the gorgeous beach, a comfortable chair and the beautiful Pacific in distance, what could be a better way to spend Sunday afternoon. Here's the schedule: July 6 - Ione Angeles and the Island Vibes - reggae July 20 - The Bigfellas - rock/pop August 3 - Lee Coulte... 06/26/2008

Encinitas, California, in North County San Diego, offers a lot to love for residents and visitors. Located about 25 miles from San Diego and about 100 miles south of Los Angeles, there are many things to like about living in this seaside community. Here’s the top 10 list (in no particular order): Terrific weather – well, that can be said about America’s Finest City in general, but it really is true about the area. It never gets too hot or too cold (average temperature is around 72 degrees) in Encinitas. Surfing – you may not be a surfer, but surfing here is a big deal. Famous beaches like Swami’s area known to surfers far and wide as a terrific place to ride the waves. And you can learn to surf, too – check out Surf eCo where you can learn to Hang 10 AND help save the rainforest in Cost... 06/23/2008

Encinitas Foreclosures San Diego Encinitas has foreclosures for sale in 2008 and in 2009 will also have many bank owned homes on the market. Bank owned properties or REO's in Encinitas are filling the San Diego MLS with reduced priced homes. Home and condo buyers wanting to buy a home or condo in the Encinitas area can take their pick. There are many Encinitas homes and condos already foreclosed on by the bank or mortgage holder and many more foreclosures are on the way. We have helped many San Diego home buyers buy a foreclosure and most have saved thousands and even tens of thousands buying a foreclosed home or condo. I just did a BPO "Broker Price Opinion" on a home in Encinitas that sold for about $2.3 Million in 2007 and the BPO came out at $1.3 Million. Buying foreclosures in Enci... 06/04/2008

Moonlight BeachSomething for Everyone in Encinitas CA Moonlight Beach is an attractive activity-oriented beach located just a few blocks from the down town Encinitas area. Plus there is lots of stuff to do nearby depending on your mood and what you enjoy doing.  You can learn more about the Moonlight Beach area by checking out the links below: Read: Encinitas Dining and Shopping Extravaganza for a tour of the downtown area and information on shopping and dining (restaurants and other information may have changed since this was written!) Encinitas Things to Do - Visit the Meditation Gardens at the Self-Realization Fellowship Retreat  The Moonlight Beach video below will give you a good idea of why this beach is so popular with locals and visitors.  With shopping nearby, plenty of restaur... 06/01/2008

It's now official - escrow has closed, and the $1.53 million dollar Boat Houses in Encinitas are now preserved as part of the eclectic history of this seaside town. After more than a year, the Boat Houses are now owned by the Encinitas Preservation Association and are preserved for posterity. There are plans for making them open to the public. Read my previous article on the Boat Houses. This was not only a tremendous endeavor in terms of dealing with bureaucracy and process around preservation, but also in terms of raising the necessary funds to acquire the properties. What a tribute to area residents, the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association (DEMA), the Encinitas Historical Society and other civic leaders and community groups who provided funding (The Lofts at Moonlight Beach, an... 05/29/2008

There is burgeoning interest in work-live lofts in North San Diego County – a concept that has moved from the major cities to smaller communities – and Encinitas real estate is now no exception. Carlsbad has BluWater Crossing, work-live lofts under construction just a hop, skip and jump from the ocean and the Coaster station, and now the Encinitas real estate has The Lofts at Moonlight Beach. Read about The Lofts at Moonlight Beach – Residential for details on the 18 Encinitas residential homes currently under construction. The Lofts at Moonlight Beach also offer 18 commercial units for purchase, located on the bottom floor of the 3-story complex on the edge of downtown Encinitas and just 3 blocks to the beach. Units may be acquired for personal business use, or you can buy one for inve... 05/20/2008

There’s a new loft in town, and it’s going up mighty fast. If you are seeking a new town house at the beach in Encinitas, these new homes could be just the ticket. Walk to Moonlight Beach – perhaps the best all-around beach in the North San Diego County area (just 3 blocks…you can hear and smell the ocean) Walk to downtown Encinitas for shopping, galleries and dozens of restaurants Work and live in the same complex (stay tuned for post on the commercial units to be offered just below these residential units – need an office? Want a commercial income property?) The Lofts at Moonlight Beach are located at the edge of downtown Encinitas at the corner of Encinitas Boulevard and the Coastal Road/Route 101. These town homes are located on floors 2 and 3 of the complex (the commercial units ar... 05/19/2008

A Zillow questioner asks if he or she should wait to buy a home in San Diego--or until the market levels out. It is a question that seemed to beg an answer from me, if only because we are personally struggling with that very issue as I write this post. We have an opportunity to buy an Oceanside property that should yield a mildly positive cash flow with a 20 percent down payment. It is new construction, close to Oceanside beaches, and the only hurdle is finding financing that is reasonably acceptable for our circumstances. (But that is another story.) This Zillow questioner is asking about the advisability of buying San Diego real estate as his or her home in today’s market. So much depends on location and local market conditions. My advice? You may want to explore home financing option... 05/18/2008

(Note on 7/19/08: I've also posted some images that were extremely difficult to create on my new post at http://activerain.com/blogsview/600282/HDR-Interiors-on-the which you may also want to review.) I apologize for our absence of late.  I thought I would share some our newest marketing images because they show how we've changed our photographic work.  In the past, we took multiple exposures of a room and John blended those images in photoshop to achieve a blended image.  We have now moved to an approach where we combine non-HDR/strobe photography with high dynamic range photography.  We like this a lot for a few reasons: Our experience with HDR processing (maybe just OUR HDR processing) is that it can lead to a number of issues: 1) A case of the "flats."  The exposure value range is a... 05/18/2008

It was group hug time Friday afternoon when we received confirmation that our 10-month short sale ordeal in Encinitas Ranch had successfully recorded and closed. Kudos to the patient buyers of this Encinitas home, because they truly got a terrific deal ($890,000). Welcome relief is also due the out of area young seller, who had been unwittingly pulled into a raunchy real estate transaction by a couple of sleazy mortgage brokers (one of whom was the seller) , a credit “packager” –and escrow, title and appraisal personnel who surely knew better than to facilitate such a sham. Our first time home buyer-turned-seller from Los Angeles, with excellent FICO score (and no savings), was lured by the promise of buying an “undervalued” $1.2 million home (100 percent financing) in San Diego that he... 04/27/2008

If I can tear myself away from Oceanside Terraces real estate this weekend, you will probably find me wandering around in comfortable shoes, eating fun food and shopping for funky jewelry at one of the 450 vendor booths on Highway 101( between D and J Streets) in wonderful downtown Encinitas. Hopefully, though, I will be an early visitor (they open at 9 am) because over 100,000 shoppers are expected at the 25th Annual Encinitas Street Fair and parking will be tight. If I didn’t need to have a car for the Oceanside trip, I would consider taking the NCTD Coaster to this fun Southern California beach town event. For the Coaster schedule, go to: http://www.gonctd.com/coaster_schedules.htm Entertainment will be available on both Saturday and Sunday, and will be staged at both the Karl Straus... 04/26/2008