Carlsbad Real Estate Advice 5 - Mylene Merlo - North County San Diego Real Estate Advisor

Choosing the Right HVAC System for Your Home

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Many homes in coastal San Diego County were built without a central air conditioning system. As summers are getting hotter, more and more homeowners are installing air conditioning. Central air conditioning systems often cost anywhere between $5,000 – $10,000. In addition, if you have an inefficient air conditioner, you could experience high utility bills during the summer. Before you install a new air conditioning system, here are

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – May 2022

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2022 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory As summer approaches, we’re seeing more inventory all over North County. Between April and May, inventory went up significantly in all six markets. It appears that more would-be sellers are seeing the market slow down, and want to hurry up and

Home Appraisal – Buying and Selling a Home

If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance that congratulations are in order! If you’re a home seller, you have accepted an offer on your property. Or, if you’re a home buyer, you have successfully submitted an offer, and opened escrow. In the next week or so, you probably need a home appraisal. Here’s what you should know about home appraisals, and how they can affect a real estate transaction. Home Appraisal vs. Home

Home Inspection – What to Look For When Buying A House

Congratulations! The sellers accepted your offer, and you have opened escrow. The next step is to order a home inspection. Home inspections help buyers learn more about their house. Sellers are required to disclose information they know about the property (read more about Seller Disclosures), but it is the buyer’s responsibility to conduct their own investigations. Remember the movie, The Money Pit? Tom Hanks and Shelley Long played unsuspecting home buyers, stuck with a delapidated house that required an expensive

Rental Property Cost Analysis for Investors – Real Estate Investing 101

Have you considered buying a rental property, or converting your current home into a rental? Here’s a rental property cost analysis guide to help you get started. If you’re thinking of converting your current home into a rental, read my article about converting residences to rentals. You can count 75% of market rent toward your income qualification for the purchase of your next home. Rental Property Cost Analysis – Collect the Data Here’s what you

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – April 2022

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2022 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory As we enter the spring season, we’re still seeing low inventory all over North County. Between March and April, inventory went up in all six markets. Still, you can see in the charts below that the inventory is historically very low.

5004 Los Morros Way #2 in Oceanside – SOLD above asking!

5004 Los Morros Way #2 – Stonemark at Los Morros, Oceanside UPDATE: After one open house, and multiple offers, 5004 Los Morros Way #2 closed escrow on April 15, setting a new record for the neighborhood at $500,000! Welcome to Stonemark at Los Morros! Stonemark is a private gated community in Oceanside. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo has a 900 square foot floor plan, plus a patio with a laundry closet. It is a

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – March 2022

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2022 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory As we enter the spring season, we’re still seeing low inventory all over North County. Between February and March, some areas experienced an increase, others a decrease, and others no change. You can see in the charts below that the inventory

Military Investors – Real Estate Investing for VA Borrowers

Are you eligible for a the VA loan program? If so, then you are a potential military investor. San Diego County has thousands of people who can become military investors. Within the greater San Diego area, there are approximately 95,000 uniformed military personnel. In addition, there are more than 77,000 retired military personnel who reside within a 50-mile radius of Camp Pendleton. First of all: THANK YOU for your service to our country. And: Do you

How Much Solar Do I Need for an Electric Vehicle?

Electric Vehicles are becoming more and more popular. I have also noticed that there are more all-electric vehicles, in addition to plug-in hybrids. (Check out this LA Times article about electric vehicle sales.) Not only is California the largest car market in the country (10% of all car sales), Californians buy almost 50% of all plug-in cars bought in the United States! Often, new construction homes include a 220 Volt outlet in the garage to

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – February 2022

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2022 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory There is some good news for home buyers – the inventory did increase significantly between early January and early February. At the same time, inventory tends to drop during the holiday season, and you can see how it’s still unusually low,

What are Home Seller Closing Costs in California?

[widget id=”youtube_responsive-3″]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

Canceling Mortgage Insurance – What You Should Know

Is Your Mortgage Insurance Cancellation Overdue? Mortgage insurance, or PMI (private mortgage insurance), doesn’t last forever. In this article, you can read about: Who is eligible to cancel mortgage insurance. Different ways to cancel mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance refunds. What happens if your lender refuses to cancel mortgage insurance. Who is Eligible to Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance? Mortgage insurance cancellation rules apply for all conventional mortgages made after the passage of the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – January 2022

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2022 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory You can see in the charts below, that the inventory in early January is even lower than in December. Inventory tends to drop during the holiday season, but you can see how it’s unusually low at the very beginning of 2022.

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – December 2021

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2021 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory As you can see in the charts below, the inventory is still very low, and it continues to drop as we reach the end of the year. The biggest factor driving the market, as has been the case all year, is

12640 Springbrook Drive #A in San Tropico, Sabre Springs – SOLD

12640 Springbrook Drive #A in San Tropico, Sabre Springs UPDATE: After only 4 days on the market and 12 offers, this property SOLD for $56,000 above asking price! Congratulations to the lucky Buyer and happy Sellers. Welcome to San Tropico in Sabre Springs! 12640 Springbrook Drive #A is a single-level upstairs townhome, with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths in a 1,082 ft2 floor plan. The townhome features an attached one-car garage and private one-car driveway. Check out

Mortgage Qualification Tips – Getting Your Pre-Approval Letter

Buying a home is often the largest purchase we might ever make, and we usually need to take out a mortgage to pay for it. Unless you are paying cash, the first step to homeownership is mortgage qualification. And, while mortgage qualification used to be a daunting task, today’s technology has simplified the process. The mortgage qualification steps are the same, whether you are applying for a conventional, VA, or FHA mortgage. Start Your Mortgage

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – November 2021

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2021 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory (plus a brief rant about the 2021 market) As you can see in the charts below, the inventory is still very low, and it continues to drop as we enter the holiday season. The biggest factor driving the market is the

6828 Camino de Amigos in Meadowood, Carlsbad – SOLD

6828 Camino de Amigos – Meadowood, Carlsbad [widget id=”youtube_responsive-4″]Welcome to Meadowood, in the La Costa region of Carlsbad – only 5 miles inland! 6828 Camino de Amigos has 4 bedrooms upstairs, plus an office/optional bedroom downstairs, and 3 full baths, in a 2,569 ft2 floor plan. The floor plan also includes separate family and living rooms, and a separate laundry room with plenty of cabinet storage. The main suite features dual walk-in closets, an in-wall safe,

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – October 2021

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2021 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. Housing Inventory As you can see in the charts below, the inventory is still very low. Luckily, we have seen more homes go on the market over the past couple of months. Everyone is hoping that inventory will increase into the holiday season.

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – September 2021

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2021 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. COVID Update Assistance for homeowners, renters, and landlords is coming to a close… COVID Assistance For Homeowners is Ending Many homeowners have received some financial assistance through COVID-19 assistance programs and the California property tax penalty cancellation request program. FHFA has extended the

9570 Sunset Avenue in Grossmont, La Mesa – SOLD

9570 Sunset Avenue – Grossmont, La Mesa 9570 Sunset Avenue is a mid-century home, located in the Grossmont neighborhood of La Mesa, near Mt. Helix. Enjoy mountain views and privacy from this hilltop estate. 9570 Sunset Avenue has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, in a 1,712 ft2 floorplan. This classic 1953 home is nestled in the center of a half-acre lot, at the end of a long, private driveway. The location offers privacy and panoramic

6 Ways to Finance Energy Efficient Upgrades for Your Home

Energy Efficent Upgrades for your home can improve your property’s value, make your home healthier and more comfortable, and lower your utility bills. They can also cost thousands of dollars. So what’s the best way to finance energy efficient upgrades? If you are thinking of buying a home, there are programs to finance energy efficient upgrades into your first mortgage. If you are a current homeowner, there are many ways to finance energy efficient upgrades, either as

North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report – August 2021

Update: The Real Estate Market in North County San Diego Data Source: Mylene’s Real Estate Market Report uses data from CRMLS for 2018-2021 and represents properties listed or sold by various brokers. COVID Update In spite of rising COVID cases, including breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated people, the real estate industry is operating normally. We can host open houses, and tour properties with other members of the public. The only restriction we have to follow

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