The Carlsbad Flower Fields Open March 1, 2012 in Carlsbad CA

The ever-popular, and beautiful Carlsbad Flower Fields will be opening for the spring blooming season this Thursday, March 1, 2012 in Carlsbad.

The Flower Fields, quite simply, are one of the most amazing arrays of flowery color on the hills overlooking the ocean just behind the Carlsbad Premium Outlet Mall on Paseo El Norte.

Acres of colorful ranunculas will amaze you, whether seen from a distance, a stroll along the perimeter, the outlook on Armada Drive to the east or on a tractor-drawn cart through the fields. What is more amazing, in some ways, is the transformation from a field of brown dirt just a few short months ago to a field of colorful flowers.

There are other flowers displays as well, and several fun events, including a Bluegrass Day on April 14 and a Mother’s Day Celebration on closing day, during the Flower Fields season, March 1 – May 13, 2012.

Tickets and season passes may be purchased on-line on the Flower Fields website.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

5704 Paseo del Norte

(760) 431-0352

Carlsbad, CA  92008 (by the Outlet Mall and the Windmill)

4^th Annual Brasil Jazz Festa 2012 in Encinitas was Outstanding

We attended, with a bunch of friends, the 4^th Annual Brasil Jazz Festa at the Encinitas Public Library in Encinitas today. Having been to all the prior concerts, I can tell you it’s always great fun and the music is terrific. There aren’t too many venues where you can sit within 7 – 10 feet of the artists and truly experience an intimate setting, plus some wonderful music and singing.

As in the past, the concert featured 3 groups, with a mix of musicians and vocalists, some of whom appear every year to the delight of the audience.

This year the Brasil Jazz Festa featured Allison Adams Tucker and her group, the Danny Green Quartet, and David Scheid (from Brazil) featuring Mark Lamson on drums.

This has become an annual event so consider it for next year if you missed this year’s concert or prior years. For $20 this is wonderful opportunity to enjoy some talented musicians and Brazilian jazz, with some classics you are sure to recognize but lesser known and original compositions in the Brazilian style as well.

Enjoy the videos below to get a taste for the talent.

Brasil Jazz Festa 2012

Encinitas Public Library

540 Cornish Drive

(a couple blocks east of downtown and Coast Road/Route 101)

Encinitas, CA

How Can a REALTOR Take Photos That are so Bad?

This from an experienced buyer I know who was looking at houses in the Carlsbad area on-line.

“They ought to be shot.” (the REALTOR, that is).

In this age of inexpensive digital photography, one does have to wonder. We complain about it all the time but the reality remains that many agents either do not know how to take a decent photo, or they simply don’t care, perhaps because they don’t feel it makes a difference.

Perhaps with REOs and short sales, or price points where there is high demand, it really doesn’t matter all that much since there are people who are interested and are going to want to see those homes, no matter what. And with many of the lower priced units (under $300K in our area), even those with just 1 lousy photo, there are multiple offers almost right away.

On tour the other day with one of my first time buyers, she commented on one unit that we were in, and out of pretty quickly, that “wow, those MLS photos can really distort how some homes look!” This in a short sale condo that was, well, in pretty bad shape. You never would have guessed from the photo.

I’ve heard plenty of comments about the lack of photos, or crummy ones, from buyers, and there have been a myriad of articles about this issue (this being yet another). We know that buyers want to see them, the more the better, and that they do make decisions to pursue homes or not on the basis of what they see.

THE FIRST OPEN HOUSE IS ON-LINE, remember?

Taking decent, or even quite good, real estate photos is not that hard, and many of us here, who are not photographers by any stretch of the imagination, do so all the time. And it costs you nothing but a bit of time once you buy that camera, which today will cost you less than a month of Starbucks mocha lattes.

It takes only a few minutes to grab a bunch of photos to make sure you can cull out the ones that suck, leaving you a quality product. Take lots of each “scene” to be sure. Or hire someone if you are so incredibly busy that you can’t perform one of the duties you should to market your client’s property. Here are “My 10 Photo Commandments.” I include this is my pre-listing kit now.

And you need to look at what you took on-line before you put them out there for the world to see. I often find what looks good on my camera is actually pretty bad on the computer screen. And sellers are usually more than happy to look at photos and help decide what showcases the home the best. Better that than to have them see your listing plastered all over the Internet and call you to complain that the photos are not very good, or worse.

Below you will find some suggestions for improving your photography from a professional, taken from an educational session SCOTT BASILE conducted for some CRSs here in San Diego that I arranged. These are some great tips and easy to implement. Feel free to print out or download to your computer.

Poop911

Well, this is a specialized service if I ever heard of one.

This service is a bunch of crap, literally.

I was heading home this morning from an appointment and saw this car on the freeway that was a complete ad wrap.

I would have snapped a pic but, well, at 80 mph on the freeway by yourself, it ain’t cool.

Poop911 is a Tulsa based company that will clean all the crap - dog, that is - out of your yard.

You can even set up a regular service – sign up on-line for as low as $7.95/week.

Wonder if they do dog parks and elsewhere where people sometimes let Fido’s #2 lay around? The cities could hire them!

They now offer liter box cleaning, too, plus dog walking services in some cities. Commercial services are offered as well as residential. Given all the crap we see out there, I bet business is booming!

You can even own your own franchise.

I’m not s----ing you, seriously.

I love the Poop911 tag line – “Your dog’s #2 is our #1.”

For those owners too lazy to scoop the poop, Poop911 will do it for you.

Hey, listing agents – here’s another service you can offer your sellers! LOL. I see listings occasionally where it’s noted “be careful in the backyard due to dogs,” or worse, NOT noted. Get the hint?!

Get the scoop on doggie doo. There are some good health reasons to not have all that crap laying around.

Owner Jon Wood can be reached at 877-Poop911

Sunset Watching in Carlsbad by the Sea

Sunset watching in Carlsbad is a popular activity, especially when the weather is gorgeous, as it was yesterday, and the sky is relatively clear.

People line the Carlsbad boardwalk and the beach, stare from their homes or hotel rooms along the coast road, park along the bluff, or sit on the jetties, cameras in hand, to relax for a few moments as the sun makes its way below the horizon.

Best Places to Sunset Watch in Carlsbad California and Nearby

The Santa Ana winds brought the winter coastal temps well into the 70s and last night was a perfect time to enjoy a walk along the Carlsbad boardwalk and enjoy the sunset. Last night was particularly nice as we could watch a school of dolphins frolicking in the waves.

Taking a few moments to relax and appreciate nature is always wonderful, but so rare sometimes.

Enjoy the end of the day at the edge of the continent in Carlsbad.

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Seaside Estates Homes for Sale – Homes for Sale in Seaside Estates in Carlsbad

Carlsbad home buyers have lots of options, depending on their budget and location interests.

Buyers looking for spacious 4 and 5 bedroom detached single family homes in the $900K to $1.2 million range might consider the Seaside Estates homes for sale.

Located in the 92011 area near Aviara (off Aviara Parkway and east of Hidden Valley) and the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort and Golf Course, Seaside Estates homes in Carlsbad offer buyers an established neighborhood on the hills less than 2 miles from the ocean, with great breezes and some views depending on the home’s location.

The homes for sale in Seaside Estates are generally at least 2600 SF or larger, primarily two-story, and with beautiful, lush landscaping and trees.

Average pricing in the last year of Seaside Estates homes in Carlsbad has been around $--- for the 4 homes sold. Currently there are only 2 Seaside Estates homes for sale priced at $995,000 and $1,175,000 (the latter is a short sale home). A number of higher priced Seaside homes that were listed over $1 million did not sell in the last 6 months and were taken off the market.

Children in Seaside Estates attend the Carlsbad Unified Schools. And the Seaside Estates community is close to Poinsettia Park, one of the nicest in Carlsbad and a site for 3 of the free summer TGIF Jazz in the Parks concerts.

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ENJOY THE CARLSBAD LIFESTYLE IN THE SLIDE SHOW BELOW!!

New Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas are Open in Carlsbad

The former UltraStar Movie Theater in Carlsbad at the Plaza Paseo Real Center (Vons Shopping Center) in La Costa has been replaced by the new CarlsbadCinépolis Luxury Cinemas, which opened about a week ago.

What has been popular for some time in LA, and other areas, has made its way south – the Carlsbad Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas offers reclining leather seating, waiter service, food and a full bar, following the opening of the same chain theater in trendy Del Mar to the south.

There are 6 theaters at the Carlsbad Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, 2 of which are 21+ because of serving alcohol within.

With 532 total seats these theaters are pretty small, about 88 seats each.

The lobby at the Carlsbad Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas features a full bar, waiting area, and a concession stand selling gourmet food. You can also order food and drinks during the movie by pressing a button at your seat that alerts the server.

I haven’t been to the Carlsbad Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas for a movie, just to gander, and may not go, given the cost of $19 per person PLUS the cost of whatever you decide to eat or imbibe. But no doubt it will be popular with some folks.

I talked with one of the employees and business is great, and people really enjoy working there, he said. I could tell, and that’s a good sign.

I have to wonder though – how much room is there in the theater, and is having servers running around waiting on people disruptive to those trying to watch the movie?

I think I’ll wait to get the word from several friends who are serious movie goers and no doubt will test this out before I jump on the bandwagon. Sitting at home in my own family room with a glass of wine and watching a DVD on the good ol’ flat screen with surround sound works for me. And the price is right, plus I don’t have to drive.

Carlsbad Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas

Plaza Paseo Real Center

6941 El Camino Real (at Aviara Parkway)

Carlsbad, CA  92011

Hours:  11 am until 1 am

(760) 603-8638

Check out their Menu below the photos.

Your Camera is Your BFF in Real Estate

Your camera is a pretty important part of your real estate arsenal these days – true of many who are not agents, too.

Indeed, your camera just might be your BFF in real estate. For some it IS their business!

For sake of argument I’m including that camera that’s part of your Smartphone, but for some uses I think the digital camera is far better in terms of quality.

Yet, there are some who seem to have a fear of their camera, don’t like taking it anywhere in public, or otherwise act like it’s non existent. Fools!

I venture to say there are a myriad ways YOUR camera can help you  - working with buyers, marketing a property, blogging, and the list goes on.

Here are a few ideas; perhaps you can add to the list?

There is the obvious, of course, the MLS photos of the house, exterior and community. They need to be GOOD (how many articles do we see on THAT subject, yet so many seem to ignore the obvious – buyers WANT photos and make decisions about homes they want to see from them, right or wrong).

Help buyers remember the homes they visit when touring

Sharing information on homes you preview, especially those listings where the agent views photography as a disease to be avoided

Showcasing the neighborhood of your individual listings. And those photos should become part of your community posts, which themselves can be used in so many ways, including marketing listings

Documenting inspectional items such as potential repair issues. There are lots of inspectors who use the camera as a vital part of their inspectional and record-keeping process.

Showcasing neighborhoods you service – these can be the basis for your community profiles, which you should do for your blog

Documenting events you attend and places you visit: fairs, festivals, tourist stuff, art shows, openings of new facilities, restaurants, shopping destinations

Photos of interesting architecture, signs, sights, and landmarks in your community, etc. Sometimes a great photo will be the start of a blog post. What’s the history of that fountain or statue? The depot? The oldest building in town?

Build your repertoire of photos for blogging (I have over 10,000). You know by now, of course, to not copy other people’s photos. And sometimes clip art just doesn’t cut it. What are the photos that reflect you, your personality, and your community?

Take a collection of photos of your buyers’ new home to share with them after closing. Don’t you think they will love this and share them with friends?

Photos for use in marketing your services – your office, signage, equipment you use, marketing materials

Staging - those before and after photos are pretty important for your portfolio

Create tips for preparing your home for sale by using before and after photos

Conversation starter. I’ve had some people stop by to ask what I was doing, so I tell them about my blogging and being in real estate.  It also works well with business owners – stop in and ask about doing an article about their business with photos. Don’t forget to share that post with them!

It’s a portable copier. Snapping a quick pic of a document, a check, etc. when you are out on the road makes lots of sense. And on that Smartphone you can email the photo where it needs to go on the spot later print it out for your file if you want.

Photos are more important on-line than ever before and those you post WILL get picked up by the search engines if labeled correctly (remember those keywords) and will help with SEO.

I’d say treat your camera as an appendage. Take it wherever you go so you never miss an opportunity to snap a photo. I can’t tell you how many great pics that got away before my camera became a constant companion. The more you use it, the more you’ll use it!

Got any other thoughts?

Condos for Sale in Encinitas – Encinitas Condos for Sale:

The Lofts at Moonlight Beach Are Available Again (February 2012)

Buyers who want to be close to the beach and who are looking for condos for sale in Encinitas take note.

Yes, it’s true, the Lofts at Moonlight Beach are available for purchase again.

The Lofts at Moonlight Beach were completed back in 2008/2009 and were marketed for sale, at pretty hefty prices I might add, despite being 3 blocks from the best beach in Encinitas – Moonlight Beach – and a short distance to the heart of the Encinitas shopping and dining area.

These contemporary condos (there are commercial units, too) did not sell, despite significant price reductions and they were acquired by several investors and rented in early 2009.

Read more: Buying a Loft - Make Sure It's What you Want

The Lofts at Moonlight Beach are again for sale and at significantly reduced prices. 14 of the 18 units are either sold or in escrow but 14 remain in the $865,000 to $1,210,000 range with living space from 1581 SF to 2283 SF (in the $500/SF to $550/SF range where formerly they were priced in the mid $700/SF to mid $800/SF range).

Read more: Moonlight Beach in Encinitas CA – Terrific Beach, Great Area to Live

There are multiple floor plans, with 2 bedrooms, and 2 to 3.5 baths on multiple levels. Some units come with roof decks, or a den or family room. Garage parking is provide (some units had 2 spaces and others have 1 space and an outside parking space).

Units are occupied by tenants so showings are by appointment in advance. I toured these homes several times before and the location is great. Give me a call at (760) 840-1360 and I will arrange a personal tour for you, answer your questions about the area, and help/represent you through the process.

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Leucadia New Homes for Sale – New Homes for Sale in Leucadia (Encinitas) CA

There aren’t many opportunities to buy a new home in Leucadia, but the time is right now.

READ MORE:

Encinitas – An Eclectic Seaside Community

Leucadia - Surfers' Beach Community in Encinitas CA

There are new homes for sale in Leucadia at the Leucadia Collection, a small enclave of only 13 uniquely-styled homes several blocks east of the Coast Highway, and thus near the beaches (Grandview, Stone Steps, Beacon’s). I took a tour yesterday now that homes are well under way and I was pretty impressed.

Apart from the architecture, which is different from the typical tract home, we see in new SoCal home communities, the new homes for sale at the Leucadia Collection offer Millgard wood windows instead of the usual vinyl, and all doors to patios and such are French doors rather than sliders.

The Leucadia Collection new homes are now selling (2 are already gone with several in reserve), offering both single story and 2-story floorplans ranging from 2880 SF to 3372 SF. Pricing starts at about $930,000 which is impressive given the proximity to the beaches, the area and being new construction. Lot sizes are generous, too, many more than 12,000 SF!

Monthly HOA fees are only $142, low for new homes, and Mello Roos are only $800 per year, also low for a new community in our area. Great Encinitas schools, too!

Enjoy the coastal Southern California lifestyle in these new homes for sale in Leucadia. I’m happy to introduce you to the builder, take you on a tour and help you take advantage of the impressive buyer incentive!

And if a new construction home in Encinitas and Leucadia is not of interest, or your budget is something else, start your search for homes for sale in Leucadia and Encinitas below:

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