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.

Why I Like Living in Carlsbad CA

Why I Like Living in Carlsbad CA

 

It’s easy for me to help buyers who are moving to Carlsbad, because I know the community well.

 

But I also really like living in Carlsbad so it’s easy to be enthusiastic about all the great reasons to live here.


So that, in many ways, is at the basis of how I choose what to write about - to share what I love, the things I enjoy doing, and what I think others will find interesting. If you were considering moving to Carlsbad, woudn't you want to know why people enjoy living there?


When I relocated from Boston to the West Coast we had lots of choices of where to live in coastal San Digeo, and after a bit of seaching we chose Carlsbad. So here are some of my reasons why I like living in Carlsbad.

 

View of Carlsbad (La Costa area) from the hills overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon and the ocean

 

WEATHER

What else can I say about the weather except that it’s great – not too hot and not too cold. They don’t calling living here “paradise” for nothing. Yes, it will get into the 40s at night in the winter but you will get days of temps in the 60s or even 70s. And in the summer it’s rare to get over 80 except when the Santa Anna winds blow.

 

EDUCATION

There are 3 school districts for children living in Carlsbad depending on where you live. School rankings are high in general (check out SchoolDigger.com) with a number of award-winning schools – Carlsbad Unified School District, Encinitas Union/San Dieguito Union, and San Marcos Unified School District.

 

DINING

There are numerous dining options in Carlsbad varying from budget and fast food to upscale/high end restaurants, with a broad range of food types, and places with some great views.

 

The famed La Costa Resort and Spa in South CarlsbadCATHINGS TO SEE AND DO

You won’t run out of things to do and see in Carlsbad. We have 7 miles of great beaches so you can enjoy all that beach life has to offer – surfing, boogie boarding, kite flying, swimming, sunning yourself and al fresco dining. There are multiple arts and crafts fairs, golf, world-famous Legoland, the Flower Fields, the Museum of Making Music, 2 terrific libraries, the city-owned Cannon Art Gallery with multiple exhibits throughout the year, the free TGIF Jazz in the Parks 9-concert series in the summer, plentiful shopping, multiple art galleries, and the list goes on.

 

 PROXIMITY

Carlsbad is on the coast with a major north-south freeway providing access to San Diego (30 – 45 minutes) and Los Angeles (abut 2 hours). You can get to the California desert cities in about 2 – 2.5 hours, to Mammoth and Big Bear in less than 4 hours, and to Las Vegas in about 5 hours.

 

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

Car (with plenty of good commuting routes including easy access to the 5, 15 and 78 freeways); the Coaster commuter rail running between Oceanside and San Diego with 2 stops in Carlsbad; the Breeze, a public bus system; Amtrak (The Surfliner) to Los Angeles (the stop is in Oceanside). And of course you have your feet, surfboards, skateboards, in-line skates, bikes and even some horses.

 

AND OF COURSE HOUSING

There is a wide range of housing in Carlsbad to suit every taste and budget, from bungalows to condos to oceanfront estates, with prices ranging from about $110,000 for a small 2-bedroom condo to $29,000,000 for a gorgeous oceanfront home. Whether you want a primary home, a vacation home, or a rental property, you are sure to find it here in Carlsbad, our paradise by the sea in Southern California.

 

 READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBAD: 

  Carlsbad Village by the Sea 

 101 Things to do In and Around Carlsbad

 Carlsbad California and Historic Route 101 - The Coast Highway

 

 

SEARCH FOR HOMES

 

 Search for Carlsbad Homes for Sale

 Search for Homes with Views in Carlsbad

 Search for Waterfront Homes for Sale in Carlsbad

Take a tour of life in Carlsbad below!!

 

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   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.

Carlsbad Residents Go To School | The Carlsbad Citizens Academy

Carlsbad Residents Go To School at The Carlsbad Citizens Academy 

A really cool program for Carlsbad residents begins on March 24, 2011 at the Carlsbad Citizens Academy.

Alt Karlsbad in downtown Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad CAThe Carlsbad Citizens Academy is a 7-week program on consecutive Thursday evenings offering dinner and class sessions in varying locations throughout Carlsbad.

Free and open to all (age 15+), the goal of the Carlsbad Citizens Academy is to provide residents the opportunity to: 

  • see the city's facilities (e.g., City Hall)
  • learn how the City of Carlsbad runs
  • meet council members, department heads and staff
  • get to know the city projects, understand growth management and the budget
  • participate in discussions about Carlsbad's future - environment, traffic, recreation and more 

Classes run from 5 until 8 with a city bus tour on one day at noon. 

For more information call 760-434-2800.

You can register here

Another session will be held in the fall 2011.

 

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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.

Carlsbad, CA - My New Home

Carlsbad, CA – “Village by the Sea”

 

 La Costa area of Carlsbad seen from the hillsCarlsbad is a coastal San Diego community, located about 35 miles north of the city, offering a broad range of housing, activities and scenery for its residents and tourists. I moved to Carlsbad 18 months ago from Boston, and wanted to share why I love living here. (NOTE - all pictures except the sunset are clickable too)

This town of approximately 95,000 has grown dramatically since its incorporation in 1952, when there were 7,000 residents.

Covering about 42 square miles, the town has annexed communities around its original core during its history, the most well-known being La Costa (the area known best for the world-famous La Costa Spa and Resort (below, left) possibly the best known US spa in its heyday, and a former playground for the Mafia and the Rat Pack), so in addition to Olde Carlsbad and “the village,” Carlsbad includes other the well-known residential areas of Aviara (site of the Four Seasons Aviara Resort - happy hour on the terrace is sublime, overlooking the lagoon and ocean), Calavera Hills, and Rancho Carrillo (named after preservationist Leo Carrillo, who owned a ranch in southeast Carlsbad that is now a historical site).

 

  The La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad CA

Carlsbad offers diverse, beautiful scenery for all to enjoy: about 8 miles of coast with beautiful beaches (the best known, perhaps, being South Carlsbad State Beach), dramatic hills just inland, offering beautiful ocean and panoramic views of the coast and back-county, and several lagoons (the well known Batiquitos Lagoon, a tidal wetland and wildlife preserve bordering the south end of town, Aqua Hedionda and Buena Vista).

 The Four Seasons Aviara and the BAtiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad CA

 

CARLSBAD REAL ESTATE

 

The main reason we bought in Carlsbad was the housing. Although less expensive than its southerly neighbors, the median price for a detached home is currently $774K, and it is almost impossible to find a detached home under $500K, unless it is manufactured housing (and those are primarily in 55+ communities).

Prices rise as high as around $7million, although the typical high-end home is in the $2 - $4 million range. You get more land with housing, in general, and the homes, for the price, are larger.

“Old” homes were built in the 60s for the most part, and there are many subdivisions that have been built since the mid-90s, some of which are gated, a number of new developments in the midst of construction and new sales (e.g., La Costa Greens, La Costa Ridge, La Costa Oaks, Bressi Ranch), and one planed development under review. The town also offers several 55+ communities, a range of assisted living, skilled nursing and Alzheimer’s facilities (Glen View being the best known), and multiple apartment complexes, including 2 new facilities (351 units) being built to meet affordable housing requirements. Because of the topography, there are many different vistas - of the lagoons, the ocean, hills, back-country, distant mountains, and evening lights.

 

 Egret in the trees at the Batiquitos Lagoon in Aviara area of Carlsbad CAThe services and activities that Carlsbad offers are impressive, and appeal to a broad range of residents and visitors. During the summer there are 10 free jazz concerts (TGIF Jazz in the Park), a 20-year-old series that rotates among 3 of the town’s largest parks, drawing several thousand people to wine and dine while enjoying jazz, blues or latin music.

The Friends of the Arts Commission also supports the terrific Cannon Art Gallery, with 5 – 7 shows per year, each of which includes a free reception and a family activity day. Art Splash is a large outdoor arts fair in the village and the town also has several craft fairs and a large business expo.

 

Carlsbad also has an excellent reputation for its schools, with a territorial crossover to the San Marcos schools, and the San Dieguito School District in Encinitas, depending on where you live.

 

 The Flower Fields in Carlsbad CAOther well-know attractions include The Flower Fields (acres of gorgeous flowers from March until May - at left) and Legoland. Carlsbad has its own airfield, Palomar Airport, and The Coaster (train) services 2 stops in town, enabling easy access to San Diego and towns in between.

Motorists have the choice of several major roads and the 5 for access north/south and east/west.

Tourism is a mainstay of Carlsbad, and visitors can select from rental units, hotels and several campgrounds along the beach to enjoy their stay, or for more upscale living, enjoy La Costa and the Four Seasons Resorts.

 Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the world-renowned facilities at both resorts, and shoppers can enjoy and tremendous arrays of stores along El Camino Real, in the Village, the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, and upscale shopping at The Forum.

 

Despite its growth and a significant corporate presence, Carlsbad retains the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere of a beach town (see South Carlsbad State Beach at right) with a wonderful year-round climate and temperatures that rarely go above 80 (summer) or below 50 (at night in winter).

 

What more could you want?

 

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.