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.
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
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
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: 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
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
Welcome to a new year! I kept all of 2023 and 2024 in the price and inventory graphs below. Usually, we expect December to be a relatively slow month for real estate. There aren’t as many homes on the market, and many people put their home buying on hold for the holidays. So imagine my surprise when Oceanside set a NEW RECORD for sales price, at $1,031,000. Also, there was very little change in inventory
Mimi is always available to answer all my real estate questions, as soon as I’m ready to sell my condo, I will be calling her. She is the best and super honest realtor. José RodriguezSan Marcos, CA
Mimi helped me buy my first home and investment property last year. She handled all of the steps, and she continues to follow up to answer any questions. I recommend her to anyone who wants a professional to guide them and continue assistance long after the sale. Heriberto JuradoSan Marcos, CA
Mimi is not just who helped us buy our first condo couple of months ago, but has also become someone we call our friend.We had been looking for a long time, but she remained patient with us throughout the process.When we knew we saw the one!, she helped us beat out multiple offers, and we’re so grateful for all of Mimi’s help during the negotiations and the escrow process.She was even kind enough to have
Mimi helped us sell two houses and some additional vacant land last year. It was a complicated property and frankly quite a headache in a number of respects, but Mimi was unfailingly diligent, patient, and helpful, and went out of her way to make things as easy and smooth for us as possible. She went above and beyond to figure out solutions to problems, handled all the details, and brought a truly kind and thoughtful
Mimi Merlo is a great person and realtor, hard to find these days. She helped us on the purchase of our first home. Mimi was always a phone call away when we had any questions. Always willing to talk about our future home. Very knowledgeable about her work. Also a great baker. Very thankful for all the help and work she did for us. Olga L.Murrieta, CA
Mimi is fantastic! She was instrumental in helping me buy a home in 2021. It was a difficult, highly competitive market, but she was very diligent, knowledgable, and helpful with all aspects of the buying process. We looked at a lot of houses over several months before we finally found the perfect one, and she got my offer accepted over higher ones! I’m so grateful to her for all of her hard work, and for
California Residential Landlords: here are some new laws for 2025. AB 2493 – Tenant Screening Fees & Credit Reports AB 2493 applies to all residential tenancies of more than 30 days. Tenant Screening Fees Landlords can only charge an application fee when a unit either is available, or will be available within a reasonable period of time. Waiting list fees are no longer allowed. When it comes to charging fees for rental applications, landlords now
San Diego County homeowners – here’s a new way to keep track of your property tax bills. The San Diego County Assessor’s Office has set up an e-billing notification system. Homeowners can sign up to receive electronic bills, with a link to pay online. I have paid my property tax online before – so what’s new? In the past, we have been able to pay our property tax bills online, but until now, we have
Throughout 2024, we have seen a stable market, although it has been slow and often frustrating for home buyers. The high rates are keeping many would-be sellers from losing their below 3% mortgages. At the same time, the 7% rates are limiting choices for would-be buyers. Looking at November 2024 sales numbers, and, same as last month, North San Diego County hasn’t set any new price records. Still, prices remain high, and inventory has dropped
Mortgage Waiting Periods After a Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, or Short Sale How long do you have to wait before you can get a new mortgage? Mortgage waiting periods depend on what type of loan you want to use for your next home. The good news is, you may only need to wait as little as 2 years! To that end, here’s a breakdown of the waiting periods, based on the event. Mortgage Waiting Periods After Bankruptcy
Happy Thanksgiving! I just checked October 2024 sales numbers, and this is the first time in a while that North San Diego County hasn’t set any new price records. Still, prices remain high, and inventory has dropped by almost 10% in the last month. At the same time, today’s inventory is 45% higher from one year ago. Compared to September sales, the number of days on market for October sales was slightly lower. Earlier this
Is home staging really worth it? Why do so many people recommend staging when selling your home? Does it really make that big of a difference? Here are some examples of before and after photos, so you can decide for yourself. Is Home Staging Really Worth It? Staging isn’t cheap. Many home sellers pay between $2,500 – $10,000 to professionally stage their home. Why are they willing to front that considerable expense? Is it really
One of real estate’s best-kept secrets is the Renovation Loan. Renovation loans can help buyers afford to buy and rehab a home. Both the purchase price and the renovation costs are tied into one single mortgage. Your loan is closed in as-is condition, utilizing the after-improved value. Renovation Loans aren’t just for home buyers – if you currently own a home, you can refinance your home with a Renovation Loan, to pay for improvements. Here’s what renovation
Happy Halloween! The weather is finally showing signs of cooling off, just in time for the beginning of the holiday season. As usual, though, the San Diego real estate market doesn’t show any signs of slowing down or cooling off. Last month, Carlsbad and San Marcos set NEW records for detached home sales prices! In spite of high sales prices, one number has changed over the past two months. The number of days on market
Mortgage Affordability Calculation – The First Step for Home Buyers Almost all home buyers begin with the same question: How Much Home Can I Afford? Only your lender can give you a definitive answer, but Nick Richardson at JMJ Mortgage has provided a simple formula to get you started. Use the 43% Rule for a quick mortgage affordability calculation. You can also use my Mortgage Approval Estimate Worksheet to help you determine how much home you can buy. Lenders Approve a Total
Wood Burning vs. Natural Gas Fireplaces After growing up with wood burning fireplaces, I was surprised to learn that natural gas fireplaces are the cheaper, cleaner, and more energy-efficient option. If you have a wood burning fireplace with a gas starter, consider making the change to natural gas. Reasons to Stop Burning Wood Here are some reasons why you should stop burning wood: It isn’t good for the earth. Wood burning emits a lot of
Seller Escrow Timeline Congratulations! You have accepted an offer for the sale of your home, and opened escrow. So what’s next? How long should everything take? Is there a general escrow timeline to follow? It usually takes between 30 to 60 days for an escrow to close. Sometimes the escrow timeline is shorter. Sometimes it’s longer. You and the Buyers agree to a timeline during the contract negotiation. Here’s a general escrow timeline for home
Fall is already here, and the real estate market continues to hold steady. Last month, August sales prices set a new all-time record for Oceanside detached homes. The number of days on market in North County is still low. Most homes sell within two weeks of listing in the MLS. But what about interest rates? The good news is that the Federal Reserve dropped the federal funds rate by .5% last week. However, that doesn’t
