Carlsbad Real Estate Advice 2 - Mylene Merlo - North County San Diego Real Estate Advisor

FHA Loan Programs – Down Payment as Low as 3.5%

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

15027 Caminito Ladera in Las Vistas, Del Mar – SOLD!

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 in San Diego County – Get Paid to Kill Your Lawn!

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

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – October 2025

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 Calculation for San Diego Real Estate – Tips for Homeowners

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

San Diego Wildfires, Part 2 of 4: Fireproof Your House

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:

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – September 2025

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

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Angelini Family

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

760 Avenida Leon in Santa Fe Hills – SOLD

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

2199 Woodland Heights Glen in Emerald Heights, Escondido – SOLD

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

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Lisa Moss

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

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – July 2025

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

San Diego Rent Cap Law – Rent Increase Limits – 2025 Edition

Fox News interviewed me about the rent cap law – see it here. The rent increase limit, or rent cap, became effective on January 1, 2020. And, even though this happened over FIVE YEARS ago, I have trouble finding accurate information, or even a decent guide explaining what IS the rent cap maximum for San Diego County. So, here we are. If you have experienced the same frustration, I hope this article helps. If you

AB 2016 – Probate and Real Estate Inheritance – New 2025 Law

Here’s some good news for those who inherit property not in a trust. Effective April 1, 2025 – there is a new law in California that affects probate and real estate inheritance. If you are either a named beneficiary in a will, or the heir of someone who died without a will, this may benefit you. This article covers: AB 2016 – New Limit for Avoiding Full Probate is $750,000 California Assembly Bill 2016 (AB

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Janae Gilliam

Mylene Merlo is hands-down the best real estate agent we’ve ever worked with! From start to finish, her professionalism, expertise, and genuine care made our home-buying experience seamless and stress-free. Mylene took the time to understand our needs, patiently guiding us through every step of the process with unmatched knowledge of the market. Her attention to detail, quick responsiveness, and skillful negotiation ensured we found our dream home at the perfect price. Mylene’s warmth and

Testimonial for Mylene Merlo – Zach G.

Mimi has been a true blessing for our family over the past few years. She sold two of our homes with incredible care and expertise, ensuring we got the best deals possible. Her deep understanding of the market and tireless effort made both sales smooth and successful. Recently, Mimi went above and beyond to help us buy our new home in San Diego, even though we were still living out of state. She made the

Rent increase limit – San Diego County rent cap law

Rent Increase Limit in San Diego County – updated for 2025 2025 UPDATE: Includes the updated CPI, which was released April 10, 2025. Also, Fox 5 News interviewed me about the rent cap law – check out the interview here. The rent increase limit, or rent cap, became effective on January 1, 2020. And, even though this happened over FIVE YEARS ago, I have trouble finding accurate information, or even a decent guide explaining what

4025 Florida Street Unit 14 in North Park – SOLD in 2 Days!

UPDATE: After only 2 days on the market and 1 open house, this North Park condo closed escrow! Listed on June 12, closed escrow on June 27 – at $6,000 above asking price! Welcome to Florida Park! Here’s your opportunity to live in the sought-after gated community of only 14 units, where comfort, style, and location come together. Rarely on the market, this updated 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo offers single-level living on the second floor, and

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – June 2025

We are almost halfway done with the year! Prices are still high – and Carlsbad set a new all-time high last month. The median sales price for detached homes in May 2025 was $1,950,000. 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 put their homes on the

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – May 2025

As we begin the last month of Q2, we see that the real estate market has shifted since the beginning of the year. Prices are still high – and San Marcos set a new all-time high in April 2025 – median sales price for detached home: $1,340,000. In other North County cities, prices are stable, many close to their all-time highs, most which were set in the past year. Significant increase in inventory: more and

4910 1/2 Old Cliffs Road in Allied Gardens – SOLD

Welcome to the best of Allied Gardens! This immaculate Cavco West manufactured home offers three bedrooms and two full baths, in an open 1307 square foot floor plan. It was built in 2020, and first occupied in 2022. 4910 1/2 Old Cliffs Road is in a quiet location within the park. There are upgrades throughout, including ceiling fans, recessed lighting, and upgraded kitchen and baths. The kitchen features a large island, wood cabinetry, subway tile

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – March 2025

The first quarter of 2025 is almost over, and as the weather warms up, so does the San Diego real estate market. The winter season was busier than most people expected, and many expect even more activity during spring. No sales records were set in February, but prices remain stable, and inventory has already increased 17% since January. The number of days on market started growing at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025.

San Diego Wildfires, Part 1 of 4: Myths and Reality

San Diego Wildfires: Myths If you live in San Diego County, you already know that wildfires are a common hazard. First, we need to dispel some common myths about wildfire. Second, we need to learn how to prevent wildfires, so that we can protect ourselves in the future. 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 “San Diego

Disaster Relief Assistance for Wildfire Victims

Here’s a list of some of the resources available to wildfire victims in Southern California. US Small Business Administration – Disaster Relief Loans for Home and Personal Property The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has established Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Southern California. Homeowners and renters can apply for home and personal property loans. Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair or replace primary residences. Homeowners and renters can borrow up to $100,000 to