Carlsbad Real Estate News and Views

Here's the REAL scoop on living in Carlsbad ~ beaches, things to do, places to eat, community events, and of course neighborhoods, homes and the Carlsbad real estate market in general, including surrounding communities like Encinitas, Cardiff, San Marcos, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Del Mar.

Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 3 of a 3-Part Series)

 

Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 3 of a 3-Part Series)

 

In this 3-part series we’ve discussing issues related to relocation – challenges to confront and some things to think about.

 

The Surfing Madonna mosaic in Encinitas

 

In Part 1 we talked about (1) searching for that new home; (2) using a qualified, knowledgeable REALTOR, and (3) doing your due diligence. If you missed this post, you can read it here >>> Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 1 of a 3-Part Series)

 

In Part 2 we discussed (1) the disadvantage of house hunting from a distance, and (2) timing issues related to buying, selling and your actual relocation. You can read Part 2 here >>> Serious Real Estate Challenges for Serious Relocation Buyers (Part 2 of a 3-Part Series)

 

Here are some final things to think about as you embark on your relocation to your new home:

 

BE FLEXIBLE

 

Relocation may require more flexibility than moving locally. With the timing and distance issues, differences in the new vs. old housing market, and all the tasks you must accomplish, the inability or unwillingness to be flexible could make life miserable.

 

And that includes having contingency plans when things go awry which is more than likely to happen at some point. This is not to discount the importance of being flexible in ANY real estate transaction but relocation adds a new dimension. Being as organized as possible from start to finish will help tremendously.

 

 

FINANCIAL

 

Relocation can cost you extra moneyYou will have the same financial issues with selling a home and buying a new one, but probably some additional, and perhaps significant, costs.

 

Factor in moving your household goods a long distance, travel (airfare or car + hotel + food), possible temporary living costs, and more in your relocation budget.

 

A relocation package from a new employer can help, depending on what it covers, but you may experience an increased tax burden as a result. Check with your new employer on the details of any relocation package so you know what to expect.

 

 

LIFESTYLE CHANGE

 

Could THIS be a lifestyle change for YOU??!Often a relocation results in a lifestyle change, due to the new location. Consider how different living in California will be than Boston (I know that well), for example – differences in weather, style of dress, things to do, etc.  I think some who relocate think things will be the same as in their old home and find the adjustment tough; others are deliberately seeking a lifestyle change and embrace the many changes.

 

You won’t know, of course, until it happens but it’s something to keep in mind – things likely WILL be different and that can be stressful and take a period of adjustment. And that can vary from person to person.

 

 

Relocation can be tough in many ways, and each scenario is different. I highly recommend being as planful as possible, asking lots of questions, setting up contingency plans, and of course working with a REALTOR in your new area who can be your voice of reason and a terrific resource.

 

If I can be a resource for you in your relocation to Southern California, just let me m know.

 

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365 Things to Do in Carlsbad (and Nearby) on Facebook   Lifestyle Search on AtHomeInCarlsbad.com - Jeff Dowler

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Click to Search for All San Diego Homes          First Time Home Buyer Central Website          Relocation A to Z blog

Home Owner's Short Sale Guide

 

   Southern California Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists (CRS)

 My New Brokerage - Solutions Real Estate in Carlsbad CA

 

ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.

Internet Aids to Help You in Your Relocation to Carlsbad

Moving to Carlsbad from afar? Or is your relocation taking you somewhere else? 

Help for your Carlsbad relocation - Jeff Dowler

You have a big job ahead of you before you get settled in your new home. And finding that new home is one of the big challenges ahead of you. 

Fortunately, buyers these days who are relocating to Carlsbad have the Internet to help them research communities and all the other stuff they want and need to know. I have assembled a few Internet Aids to help in your Carlsbad relocation

SCHOOLS

Help for your Carlsbad relocation - Jeff DowlerSchools are one of the biggest concerns for many buyers, even those without school-age children because of the impact schools have on market value. Here are several sites my buyer clients recommend using, in no particular order:

 

And if you know which school district you are moving to, simply do a Google Search to find information on that district - here's the Carlsbad Unified School District. And here are some others in the North San Diego County area: 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Help for your Carlsbad relocation - Jeff DowlerThere are lots of ways to explore different communities on-line. A Google search for that town will likely bring up a Chamber of Commerce site (Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce), the city website (Carlsbad), and other sites that may be of interest, like the Wikipedia Carlsbad site. NOTE - go to the Main Page to search for YOUR town. Also many town websites follow the format "http:www.townname.AA (the two letter state abbreviation).gov 

Try these:

CRIME STATISTICS

Help for your Carlsbad relocation - Jeff DowlerHere in California buyers may want to conduct a search on the Megan's Law database to search for registered sex offenders in the area they are moving to as part of the due diligence (it's noted in our CA Residential Purchase Agreement [RPA], Item 5 - Statutory Disclosures, letter C). Agents have no expertise in this area so if it concerns you, do the research. You can search the Megan's Law Database in other states, too. 

Buyers often ask about crime statistics and safety, once again a good area to research. City Rating provides statistics for many communities in the US. Calling the local police department will likely yield the most up to date and accurate results. 

HOUSING MARKET INFORMATION

Help for your Carlsbad relocation - Jeff DowlerI create custom market reports monthly on my Carlsbad Real Estate News blog for the communities I service so folks will know what is going on with home sales, pricing and more. Here are some sample recent reports, but feel free to ask for your own custom report for other communities. 

If you are relocating to Carlsbad and need any assistance whatsoever, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me in the manner that works best for you - email, text, or phone. I'm here to assist when the timing is right for you.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

Search for Homes Community Information First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

 

My Jeff Dowler signature

 

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365 Things to Do in Carlsbad (and Nearby) on Facebook   Lifestyle Search on AtHomeInCarlsbad.com - Jeff Dowler

Jeff Dowler's Flickr Profile  Jeff Dowler's Facebook Profile   Jeff Dowler's YouTube Profile  Jeff Dowler's StumbleUpon Profile  Jeff Dowler's Twitter Profile  Jeff Dowler's Friendfeed ProfileSubscribe to this blog Jeff Dowler's LinkedIn Profile

Click to Search for All San Diego Homes          First Time Home Buyer Central Website          Relocation A to Z blog

Home Owner's Short Sale Guide

 

   Southern California Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists (CRS)

 My New Brokerage - Solutions Real Estate in Carlsbad CA

 

ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.

How to Write a Winning Blog for Relocations and Win Clients

One of the glorious views in Carlsbad, California - Jeff Dowler

I've done a bit of relocating (not just casual moves but significant distances) so I know a fair amount about what it's like, things you need to think about, and issues that can arise. I know how to move with pets, kids and multiple cars, and how to go about home searching in a community I have never seen before in a different part of the country. 

I also write fair amount about relocation: Relocation A to Z. Indeed, relocation is a focus of my real estate business, and the majority of my buyer clients are out of the area and from other states

Writing a winning blog for relocations is something anyone can do, if you choose to do so AND are interested in specifically working with relocations. Given my own experience, and coupled with the feedback from my relocation clients about my blogs,

I have a few thoughts on what you can do to write a terrific relocation blog AND win clients.

USA mapHave a mindset about helping folks relocate. This doesn't mean blab about being a relo expert, yada yada yada. But you need to have in mind that your writing should focus on information that relocating buyers want and need to know. Having the right mindset will be reflected in your writing and your attitude. And they will come to understand you are an expert on relocation and the local area. 

USA mapWrite about housing communities with a diverse perspective. If you don't have a good handle on the various communities in your area and what they offer, go out and research them and learn. Folks from other areas will not know about the housing and prices and that is key information for most. You need to understand the different types of communities and what they offer, since your relocating buyers will have varied wants and needs. 

USA mapShare what you know about the local community - services, places to visit, shopping, dining, touristy stuff, the art and theater, farmers' markets, and so on. Write your Localism posts with flare. Are there special things about the area relocation folks might be interested in knowing - colleges, public transportation, hospitals, industry, services (child care, medical, wellness).

USA mapFocus on being visual. People who are relocating may never have been to the area, but they are interested. So you need to provide them with a visual experience that will be enticing and give them a feel for what it's like to live there. I write about beaches, the weather (good and bad) and much more, and use lots of photos, slide shows and videos. Sadly, I see many posts that just don't impress because there is so little visually happening. Folks from out of the area have asked me for videos and photos, and I have sometimes created customized galleries of pictures and area videos to share with my relo clients. Believe me, it works.

USA mapConsider the lifestyles in your area and write about them. Are you in a beach community? A resort? Urban or rural? Is golf popular? Folks coming from other areas often are seeking a particular lifestyle, and if they see that YOU understand they will be attracted to you. And some don't really know what they are getting into, so you can be the lifestyle expert and educate them. Southern California is very focused on the outdoor lifestyle year-round, and I make it a point to talk about what this means. 

In summary, you need to convey that YOU are the expert and know the area. THAT'S what relocation buyers need. They are likely hooked up with multiple websites and perhaps not working with a dedicated agent so the playing field is wide open.

At some level they want to know WIIFM (you know, what's in it for me?). If you can clearly demonstrate that you can help them with their home search and educate them about the area, chances are you will be the one they will call for help.

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Subscribe in a reader

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

Search for Homes Community Information First Time Home Buyers Relocation Services and more How to get in touch with me

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

 

 

 

My Jeff Dowler signature

 

**************************************

365 Things to Do in Carlsbad (and Nearby) on Facebook   Lifestyle Search on AtHomeInCarlsbad.com - Jeff Dowler

Jeff Dowler's Flickr Profile  Jeff Dowler's Facebook Profile   Jeff Dowler's YouTube Profile  Jeff Dowler's StumbleUpon Profile  Jeff Dowler's Twitter Profile  Jeff Dowler's Friendfeed ProfileSubscribe to this blog Jeff Dowler's LinkedIn Profile

Click to Search for All San Diego Homes          First Time Home Buyer Central Website          Relocation A to Z blog

Home Owner's Short Sale Guide

 

   Southern California Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists (CRS)

 My New Brokerage - Solutions Real Estate in Carlsbad CA

 

ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.