I am not just a Carlsbad real estate agent. I am a Carlsbad real estate advisor. I will help you make informed choices about San Diego County real estate ownership.
In a perfect world, every house is held in a trust, so that inheritance is easy. (Click here to read my article about how to sell an inherited property that is held in a trust.) So what happens if there is no trust in place? What happens if there is only a will, or if there is no will? If you think a probate might be necessary, here’s how to get started. Is a probate
The Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption is for certain military veterans, or their unmarried surviving spouses. Who is eligible for the tax exemption? Basic vs. Low-Income Exemption – what are the income limits? When do I file for the exemption? If I miss the deadline, can I still file late? How do I file? Who is Eligible? This exemption is for veterans who, because of injury or disease from military service, are: blind in both
Are you thinking about setting up a trust, or how to sell a trust inheritance? This article covers how to set up and how to sell real estate as a trust inheritance: How to Set Up a Trust Inheritance A property owner can set up a plan to leave their real estate as a trust inheritance. Here’s how it works: Named Successor Trustee vs. Beneficiary The distinction between a beneficiary and a successor trustee is
Do you want to take out a reverse mortgage? First, consider how much it’s going to cost. Here are the basics, and costs, of reverse mortgages. This article covers: Reverse Mortgage Basics – loan requirements, how much you can borrow, and when to pay it back. Loan Options – there are different Reverse Mortgage programs to choose from. Reverse Mortgage Costs – fees, interest, insurance. Example of a reverse mortgage, and the costs associated with
☃️ Happy Holidays! 🎄 It’s hard to believe that we only have two weeks before the new year…! As we head into 2026, we see the usual market slowdown. During the month of November, no new sales records were set. You can see in the graphs below that prices have slightly declined during the second half of 2025. How much inventory is left? At the end of July, the number of homes available on the
I can’t imagine buying a home without Mimi! She made our first home buying experience a breeze. No matter what step of the process we were on, she was always there to answer our questions and explain what was next. She is responsive, organized, and a genuinely kind person. I am looking forward to working with Mimi again, whenever we are ready to purchase our next home. Thank you, Mimi, for everything!h! Savannah M.Vista, CA
Multifamily Property – Buy with only 5% down payment! Did you know that you can buy a multifamily property with only 5% down payment? If you live in one unit, and rent out the other units, you can use an owner occupied loan to purchase! Loan Limits for Multifamily Properties For properties that include more than one single-family residence, the 2026 San Diego loan limit is higher: Duplex (a home divided into two residences): $1,599,375Triplex
UPDATE: After receiving multiple offers, we have an accepted contract, and are scheduled to close escrow in February! Welcome to Santa Fe Hills!Proudly offered by its original owner, this beautifully maintained home is ready for you to make it your own. The inviting floor plan features an open-concept main level and three spacious bedrooms upstairs. The kitchen shines with upgraded cabinetry and granite countertops. A separate laundry room, with washer and dryer included, adds convenience.
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 We only have ONE months of 2025 left (!!), and as we go into December, we see the usual market slowdown. During the month of November, no new sales records were set. You can see in the graphs below that prices have remained steady throughout 2024 and 2025. So what about inventory? At the end of July, the number of homes available on the market peaked. Between late October and late November,
2026 Mortgage Loan Limits Mortgage loan limits will increase on January 1, 2026. In San Diego, the jumbo loan limit for a single family home will be $1,104,000. Here is a current list of the limits for all counties in the United States. San Diego County Effective January 1, 2026, here are the three tiers of mortgages for properties in San Diego County: When lenders talk about mortgage loan limits, they’re referring to conforming loan limits.
Proposition 19 – Property Tax Reassessment Exemption UPDATE: This article now includes SB 539 information. SB 539, signed into law on September 29, 2021, helps to clarify the implementation of Proposition 19. Proposition 19 changes tax basis portability for certain California homeowners. These changes were made effective April 1, 2021. Certain homeowners may transfer the taxable value of their primary residence to a replacement primary residence. This can happen anywhere in California (no County restrictions),
Conventional home loan programs are the most common loan programs used to buy a home. They make up around 60% of all mortgages. NOTE: You can also check your eligibility for two other popular loan programs, FHA Loan Programs and VA Loan Programs. FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and down payment starts at 3.5%. VA loans are insured by the Veteran’s Administration and offer no down payment, and no monthly mortgage insurance.
What Is the FHA? FHA Loan Programs are a type of federal assistance to make home buying possible for those who may not be able to qualify for a conventional loan. The FHA, or Federal Housing Administration, is not a direct lender. It is a government agency that insures loans from private lending institutions. The FHA has insured home loans since 1934. The FHA is the only government agency that operates entirely from its self-generated income (in the
UPDATE: After only 6 days on the market and multiple offers, 15027 Caminito Ladera SOLD with an all-cash offer! Congratulations to the Buyers and Sellers! Welcome to 15027 Caminito Ladera! This single story detached home is located within the gated community of Las Vistas in Del Mar, near Solana Beach. Here is a rare single-story opportunity in one of Del Mar’s most desirable gated communities. This turnkey Plan 1 has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths,
Turf replacement programs are available for San Diego County residents . Yes, you can get paid to kill your lawn! With the news coverage of our catastrophic drought and water shortage, you may have already heard of turf replacement programs in San Diego County. These programs essentially pay you to kill your lawn and install a water-wise landscape, including trees. This is an environmentally responsible move for many reasons. I am a long-standing proponent of killing lawns and
Happy Halloween! 🎃 We only have two months of 2025 left (!), and as we go into the holiday season, we see the usual market slowdown. During the month of October, no new sales records were set. You can see in the graphs below that prices have remained steady throughout 2024 and 2025. So what about inventory? At the end of July, the number of homes available on the market peaked. Three months later, the
Property Tax is Boring. Read This Anyway. Why am I writing about property tax calculation? Because I’m not just your real estate broker, I’m your real estate advisor. I want you to have the freedom to make informed choices throughout your entire real estate experience: when you buy a home, while you live in it, and when you sell it. Almost everyone thinks that since real estate property tax is inevitable, there’s no good reason to
Now that we have dispelled some myths about wildfire, here’s how to reduce your risk. The first step is to fireproof your house. Houses are your first target, because they are highly flammable. As a result, when houses burn, they burn at hotter temperatures than vegetation. UPDATE: Please click the link below to read Greg Rubin’s response to the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires – Response to 2025 LA Wildfires by Greg Rubin Fireproof Your House:
Believe it or not, summer is over, and fall is here. It has been a hot, dry summer, so I’m waiting for temperatures to drop, so I can spend more time in the garden. Over the summer, Escondido set an all-time high for July sales. Detached homes had a median sales price of $1,044,000, which beat the previous record of $1,040,000, set in June 2024. During the month of August, no new sales records were
We’ve purchased 6 homes over the past 35 years so I feel we have some experience when I say this; Mimi is the absolute best realtor I have ever worked with! In this digital age where everything is online, I actually thought I didn’t need a realtor and began looking at the discount realtor or for sale by owner. I was quite convinced but read I should interview 3 realtors and I am so glad
UPDATE: We closed escrow on September 5 with a final sales price of $1,320,000. Congratulations to the happy Sellers and Buyer! 760 Avenida Leon in Santa Fe Hills is for sale! Come see the largest floor plan in all of Santa Fe Hills! Welcome to Santa Fe Hills! Here is your opportunity to secure the largest floor plan on a 9229 sf lot: 3555 square feet, five bedrooms and three full baths plus a bonus
Welcome to the one-of-a-kind hilltop gem community that is Emerald Heights! This gorgeous house is uniquely positioned as the last home on the main drive that drops into a huge cul-de-sac, offering an unparalleled sense of seclusion. With only one neighboring property and no homes behind or across the street, you’ll be able to enjoy uninterrupted panoramic valley views, refreshing sea breezes, and spectacular sunsets, as these original owners have for many years. You can
I can’t thank Mylene “Mimi” Merlo enough for being a dedicated, professional, and genuinely nice person while selling my home. From the professional pictures/video and presentation through closing day Mimi was best in class!! Do not hesitate to contract with her to sell your home. You’ll be very pleased with the results!! Lisa MossSan Diego, CA
Hello, Summer! While lots of people are talking about how prices are going down, June sales in North County doesn’t show lower prices. For June sales of detached homes, both Carlsbad and Vista set new all-time highs last month. In other North County cities, prices are stable. Many stay close to their all-time highs – and most of these records were set in the past year. So what about inventory? More homeowners are deciding to
