Carlsbad Real Estate Advice

521 Orange Avenue, Space 99 in Orange Tree Mobile Home Park in Chula Vista is FOR SALE

Welcome to Orange Tree Mobile Home Park, a private gated 55+ community where you own both home and land—an incredible opportunity for low-maintenance living at a great value! Video coming soon! This lovingly cared-for home has been in the same family since it was purchased new, and reflects true pride of ownership throughout. Step inside to an inviting open floor plan featuring a spacious living room, dining area, and separate family room. Natural light fills

1973 Felicita Road in Escondido is FOR SALE

Finally on the market—the rare property that truly checks every box! Tucked away on a peaceful private road, this exceptional .6-acre estate offers not one, but two single-story residences. This creates the perfect setup for multi-generational living, rental income, or a private guest retreat. Open House Update This property will be open to the public on Saturday, May 2 – contact me for more details. The main home is a beautifully upgraded 4-bedroom residence designed

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – April 2026

Even though rates are high and sales have slowed, the real estate market continues to remain consistent. Since the beginning of the year, we have more inventory, more buyer activity, and stable prices. Usually, inventory rises gradually during the first few months of the year. Detached inventory in North County increased 12% between late March and late April. During the month of March, no new sales price records were set. Still, you can see in

2658 Worden Street #223 in Point Loma Tennis Club is FOR SALE

Welcome to resort-style living, only 2 miles from Ocean Beach! Point Loma Tennis Club offers the best of San Diego – ocean breezes, easy beach access, low maintenance, and a central location close to everything. Check out Zillow 3D tour HERE This two-bedroom residence features no neighbors above or below, providing the privacy and feel of a single-family home. Inside, you’ll find in-unit laundry, triple-pane windows, central HVAC, and a comfortable, light-filled layout designed for

Home Buyer Mail Scams – Junk Mail Alert!

Buying a home is exciting – you finally have a home, and a mailbox, of your very own! Now… the sale is public record, and that the mailbox will be filled with junk mail. While most junk mail looks harmless, there are mail scams for new home buyers that look like legitimate bills. Many pretend to come from government agencies. These “bills” are from companies who are trying to take advantage of you. When you purchase or refinance

Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption – How to Apply

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

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – March 2026

As we enter the spring season, we are experiencing more inventory, more buyer activity, and stable prices. Usually, inventory rises consistently during the first few months of the year. I was surprised to see that detached inventory in North County has increased 13% between late February and late March. During the month of February, no new sales records were set. You can see in the graphs below that the prices are holding steady, relative to

What are Home Seller Closing Costs in California?

How much does it cost to sell a house, besides agent commissions? Ever wonder how they calculate title fees, escrow fees, and other home seller closing costs? The cost to sell a house depends on a number of factors, including the final sales price, the type of property, and the terms of the purchase agreement. It’s impossible to know exactly how much you will need to pay ahead of time. The final closing costs aren’t calculated

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Kirk B.

Mylene helped us sell one home in 2016 … and 6 years later, when we were ready to move back, there was no one I would trust more to help us buy a new home. She did FaceTime walkthroughs with us, communicated all important information to the selling agent, but also buffered the agent and the seller from us for a smooth transactions. Delays in our contingent sale did not phase her. She knows real

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Henry S.

Thanks again for all your help Mimi. Thank you for being a friend and good neighbor to my father and helping me navigate getting the house fixed up and sold. Really appreciate you! 🙏🏻❤️ Henry S.San Marcos, CA

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – February 2026

Two months into 2026, we are still waiting for the market to warm up. Usually, inventory rises consistently during the first few months of the year. I was surprised to see that inventory of North County has decreased, albeit very slightly, between late January and late February. During the month of January, no new sales records were set. Listings are taking longer to sell: the number of Days on Market for sales is higher than

San Diego Native Plants – CNPS 2026 Native Garden Tour

I am super happy to be a sponsor of the 2026 CNPS Native Garden Tour! Have you thought about ditching your lawn for a more waterwise garden? If you’re looking for inspiration, come check out this year’s California Native Plant Society (CNPS) San Diego Native Garden Tour. Why Native Plants? Here are some reasons I love native plant gardening, and I want more native gardens in my community: As a real estate broker, I love

AB 628 – Stove and Refrigerator – NEW Landlord Law for 2026

Effective January 1, 2026, California landlords need to provide a stove and refrigerator for their tenants.(Link to the text of the Assembly Bill here.) Here’s everything you need to know about this new California law, AB 628: Who Has to Follow AB 628? Any landlord who amends or extends a residential lease after January 1, 2026, is subject to AB 628. If you currently have a tenant on a month-to-month lease, and you haven’t amended

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Manuel S.

I had the pleasure of working with Mylene during an Estate Sale of my father’s house. The sale presented many challenges as conflicting parties could never come to an agreement; however, throughout the entire process, Mylene was extremely patient, responsive and very communicative. I have worked with many agents buying and selling multiple properties, and I can say she was one, if not, the best I have worked with. On top of it all, she

San Diego Moderate Income Down Payment Assistance – NEW for 2026

Here’s some great news for San Diego home buyers! New for 2026, there is down payment assistance available to those with moderate incomes. The County of San Diego’s Housing and Community Services provides the funding for this Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCCA) program. The San Diego Housing Commission administers this program on behalf of the County. This article will cover: Program Details Moderate income, first-time home buyers may qualify for a low-interest, deferred

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – January 2026

🎉 Happy New Year! 🥳 As we head into 2026, we see the usual market slowdown. As of late January, inventory has dropped 5% since late December. During the month of December, 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 market peaked.

1031 Exchange – How Real Estate Investors Defer Capital Gains Tax

Do you want to sell investment property, and then defer capital gains tax through a 1031 Exchange? Thanks to Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, you are allowed to postpone capital gains taxes, if you reinvest the proceeds in investment property. Here’s what you need to know about 1031 Exchanges: Qualifying Property The replacement property must be like-kind: if you sell investment real estate, you will need to acquire investment real estate. Like-kind property is defined as any real property used

Probate Sales – How to Sell a House in Probate

In a perfect world, every house is held in a trust. This is because inheritance through a trust is a simpler process. In many cases, when you inherit property that is held in a trust, the courts don’t need to be involved. (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

Trust Inheritance – Inheriting and Selling Real Estate from a Trust

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

Reverse Mortgage Costs – Turn Your Home’s Equity Into Cash

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

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – December 2025

☃️ 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

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Savannah M.

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

Buying a Multifamily Property in San Diego County – Duplex, Triplex, Quadriplex

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

1347 Avenida Pantera in Santa Fe Hills, San Marcos – SOLD!

SOLD in 16 Days – $945,000 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. Upstairs, enjoy brand-new carpet and plank flooring, and a well-appointed primary suite