Sales prices continue to climb. For detached home sales, both San Marcos and Vista set new record high sales prices for March 2024 sales. In Oceanside, the median sales price matched the record high set in July 2022. Inventory continues to stay low, but there was a significant jump between early March and late April. Many would-be home sellers are waiting for interest rates to drop, as they may have doubled since their last refi. Carlsbad – $1,830,000 All-time high: $1,930,000 – April 2022 Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea – $2,397,500 All-time high: $3,100,000 – September 2023 San Marcos ..read more

Multifamily Property – Buy with only 5% down payment! Did you know that you can buy a multifamily property with only 5% down payment? If you live in one unit, and rent out the other units, you can use an owner occupied loan to purchase! Loan Limits for Multifamily Properties For properties that include more than one single-family residence, the 2024 San Diego loan limit is higher: Duplex (a home divided into two residences): $1,288,200 Triplex (3 residences): $1,557,150 Quadriplex (4 residences): $1,935,150 5% Down Payment Examples Here are some examples of how much down payment you need, for ..read more

Buyer Escrow Timeline Congratulations! Your offer was accepted, and you have opened escrow on your new home. So what’s next? How long should everything take? Is there a general escrow timeline to follow? It usually takes between 30 to 60 days for an escrow to close. Sometimes the escrow timeline can be shorter or longer. You and the Sellers agree to an escrow timeline during the contract negotiation. Here’s a general escrow timeline for home buyers. While every sale is different, this should give you a good idea of what to expect. Week One – Inspections and Disclo ..read more

Real estate in Q1 of 2024 has remained stable. For detached home sales, both Carlsbad and Vista reached or nearly reached their April 2022 record highs. Inventory continues to stay very low. Many would-be home sellers are waiting for interest rates to drop, as they may have doubled since their last refi. Carlsbad – $1,920,000 Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea – $2,454,000 San Marcos – $1,116,368 Vista – $950,000 Oceanside – $949,000 Escondido – $910,000 Interest Rates Rates have been hovering in the 6-7% range this year. Now more than ever, your credit score makes a huge dif ..read more

The Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption is for certain military veterans, or their unmarried surviving spouses. Who is eligible for the tax exemption? Basic vs. Low-Income Exemption – what are the income limits? When do I file for the exemption? If I miss the deadline, can I still file late? How do I file? Who is Eligible? This exemption is for veterans who, because of injury or disease from military service, are: blind in both eyes, OR have lost the use of two or more limbs, OR are totally disabled. Totally disabled means that the United States Veterans Administration or military ser ..read more

Rent Increase Limit in San Diego County UPDATE: I have added new updates to the Tenant Protection Act – effective April 1, 2024. Also, Fox 5 News interviewed me about the rent cap law – check out the interview here. The rent increase limit, or rent cap, became effective on January 1, 2020. And, even though this happened over TWO YEARS ago, I have trouble finding accurate information, or even a decent guide explaining what IS the rent cap maximum for San Diego County. So, here we are. If you have experienced the same frustration, I hope this article helps. If you are a landlord, renter, or pot ..read more

513 Cassou Road in Twin Oaks Valley, San Marcos is now for sale. Built in 1935, it is one of the oldest structures in Twin Oaks Valley. The property is 1.25 acres in total, and located only 10 miles inland. Here’s a great opportunity for an investor to build a dream home in a beautiful neighborhood. This property is located in unincorporated San Marcos. There is SDG&E electricity connection and Vista Irrigation District water supply. San Diego County zoning rules allow detached structures, in addition to expanding square footage of the home. This property is listed at $550,000. Offers wil ..read more

Welcome to The Cliffs Mobile Home Park in Allied Gardens! Built in 2017, this newer Golden West home offers three bedrooms and two full baths in a double-wide, 1325 square foot floor plan. 4806 1/2 Old Cliffs Road is located in a quiet area of the park. There are no neighbors directly behind. You can just enjoy the shade of lovely oak trees for your backyard. The kitchen features a large island, quartz countertops, gas cooking, and stainless steel appliances.  The indoor laundry room has plenty of space for full-size appliances, including an extra refrigerator. The main suite has a walk ..read more

Can you afford a monthly mortgage bill, but need San Diego down payment assistance? Good news! There are San Diego down payment assistance programs for low- and median-income home buyers in San Diego County. Here are some details about the Housing Commission’s San Diego down payment assistance programs, including how to qualify, and how to apply. Deferred Loans DCCA CalHome Down Payment Assistance – Outside San Diego City Limits The DCCA CalHome program is one of two deferred loan programs.  The DCCA CalHome program is for properties outside San Diego city limits. DCCA stands for Down pay ..read more

San Diego County residents qualify for reduced-cost rain barrels! Why Rain Barrels? You already know that we are in the midst of a devastating drought. Even though we had snowfall in the Sierras in 2023, we do not have a surplus of water. Farming activities in the 20th century have dried up our natural water tables. Today, we use so much water from the Colorado River, that it dries up 90 miles before it’s supposed to drain to the Pacific Ocean…! It also takes large amounts of energy to produce potable water. So, we need to conserve water whenever possible. One way to conserve water i ..read more