This monthly Real Estate Market Report describes the real estate market conditions in Coastal North County San Diego, and how they have changed over the past month and year.
But first, a friendly reminder….
Property Tax Bills are Due by April 10th
In response to the 2018 tax code changes, some San Diegans paid all property tax for 2017-2018 in 2017. Most homeowners still owe their 2nd installment of 2017-2018 property taxes. If your lender doesn’t pay your tax bills on your behalf, be sure to get that payment to the Assessor’s Office by April 10th to avoid penalties.
Contact me for more information about your property tax bill. You can also read my property tax calculation article.
What’s Happening in the North County San Diego Real Estate Market?
Fortunately for home buyers, inventory has increased since February. Fortunately for home sellers, sales prices also increased between January and February.
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In Carlsbad, inventory for both detached and attached homes has increased by 7% over the past month. The January median sales price for detached homes increased slightly, from $957,500 in January to $975,000 in February. Attached home sales prices increased from $532,500 in January to $535,000 in February. For February sales, most homes in Carlsbad were sold within 15 days.
In Encinitas, inventory for both detached and attached homes increased by 21%. The median sales price for detached homes increased by 4%, from $1,185,000 in January to $1,236,000 in February. The sales price for attached homes decreased slightly, from $614,500 in January to $610,000 in February. The median number of days on market was only 7 for detached homes and 5 for attached homes. Most homes sold within one week!
In San Marcos, inventory for both detached and attached homes increased by 29% from one month ago. The February median sales price for detached homes increased 5%, from $655,000 in January to $692,000 in February. For attached homes, the sales price decreased by over 6%, from $416,000 in January to $444,500 in February. Most homes sold within one week. The number of days on market for detached homes increased from 22 in January, to 8 in February.
In Vista, inventory for both detached and attached homes is almost identical to one month ago. The median sales price for detached homes increased 4%, from $554,000 in January to $577,000 in February. The median sales price for attached homes increased 25%, from $327,500 in January to $410,000 in February. The number of days on market for February Vista sales decreased from 3 weeks to 2 weeks.
Consult the Real Estate Market Report for Your Area
My Real Estate Market Report covers the areas of Carlsbad, Encinitas/Leucadia/Cardiff-by-the-Sea, San Marcos, and Vista.
North County San Diego Real Estate Market Report March 2018
2018 Mortgage Limits
The mortgage limit for conventional, VA, and FHA loans in San Diego County is $649,750. The conforming loan limit is $453,100. Loans at or below this amount usually offer the lowest interest rates.
Loans between $453,100 and $649,750 are called super conforming, or high balance loans. Any loans above $649,750 are jumbo loans.
Interest Rates
Interest rates recently increased to 4-year highs. Fixed mortgage rates for 30-year terms hover around 4.75% for conventional loans. VA and FHA loans have enjoyed lower rates, closer to 4.5%.
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Loan Program Update
FHA Loan Programs offer mortgages with only 3 1/2% down payment. VA Loan Programs offer $0 down payment mortgages to eligible military active duty and veterans, with no monthly mortgage insurance. Conventional loans are available starting at only 3% down payment, and some of these conventional loans are available with no monthly mortgage insurance.
All of these loan programs can be used for new purchases, or for refinancing existing mortgages.
Have you had a bankruptcy, short sale, or foreclosure? Find out how long you need to wait to buy again, which depends on the event and the type of loan you want to obtain.
Solar Rebates – 30% Federal Tax Credit Available through 2019
THERE’S STILL TIME TO BUY SOLAR! Federal tax code allows for a one-time 30% Residential Energy Credit to purchase home solar photovoltaic systems. The credit may include any repairs necessary to install the panels, including roofing repairs. Check with your tax professional. This 30% incentive will be available through December 31, 2019, before tapering to 10% in 2022. Read my Solar for Homeowners article series.
Tree Trimming Season is Over (for now)
Nesting season has begun, so please postpone any tree trimming until autumn. Read more about when to prune your trees.
Cooler Weather = Time to Switch to Waterwise Landscaping
You can get paid to switch our your turf for more sustainable landscaping. Read my article about rebates for turfgrass removal. If you want to learn more about water-wise landscaping, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers free California Friendly Landscape classes online. The San Diego County Water Authority also offers free California Friendly Landscape Training classes throughout San Diego County.
Down Payment Assistance
Low- to median-income borrowers may qualify for down payment assistance. Some programs can be layered on top of each other, to maximize your benefit.
Use the California Association of REALTORS® Down Payment Resource Tool to check all available programs. Here are links to my articles about some popular down payment programs:
- CalHFA Down Payment Assistance – deferred loans for first-time home buyers (haven’t owned a home in 3 years) – new updates for 2018!
- San Diego Housing Commission – deferred loans and grants
- Fannie Mae HomePath Ready Buyer Program – grants up to 3% for Fannie Mae owned homes
- Golden State Finance Authority – grants up to 5% for down payment and closing costs
What’s Next?
Selling Your Home
Are you curious about how much your home is worth? The Real Estate Market Report is a good start, but if you’re interested in the market value a particular property or area, contact me for a specific market analysis. In addition to my Real Estate Market Report, I also provide information about seller closing costs, to give you the true cost of selling a home.
You can also use my Seller Net Proceeds Worksheet, to estimate your bottom line. You can also read about the seller disclosure process. If you need to sell one home to buy another, here’s how to sell and buy a home at the same time.
If you’re a real estate investor and want to defer paying capital gains taxes by exchanging one property for another, then read my article about 1031 Exchanges. Thinking about becoming an investor? Read my article about how to choose a rental property.
Buying a Home
If you’re thinking of buying a home, use my Cost to Buy a House Worksheet and my Monthly Housing Costs Worksheet, to help you budget and plan for the future. You can also estimate your Mortgage Approval Amount. Learn more about the Cost to Buy a House and the Cost to Own a Home. If you are a cash buyer, read about Closing Costs for Cash Buyers.
For information about mortgages, you can read my articles about Choosing a Lender, How to Get Mortgage Approval, and How Much Home You Can Qualify to Buy.
If you’re interested in buying a fixer property and hiring contractors to make repairs and renovations, you can consider a Renovation Loan. Renovation loans finance both the property and the renovations, in one single mortgage payment. Renovation loans can be used to finance energy upgrades, like insulation, solar panels, and electric heat pump water heaters. Before you invest in energy efficiency, read about 7 Ways to Finance Energy Upgrades.
Any questions? Send me a message.
