Archive for July, 2009

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Subdividing mobile-home park – Encinitas

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

On July 15, the Encinitas City Council voted to allow the owner of a mobile home park on 101, The Sands, to convert the rental lots to individual ownership. The Sands will now offer buyers the ability to buy a mobile home west of 101 within walking distance to the beaches and own the land too.

The final parcel map for the Sands mobile home park conversion was approved by the Planning Commission on May 7th, and now the state’s Department of Real Estate will have the final approval of the standards for the mobile home park conversion as early as August.

The Sands will convert the park’s 56 individual spaces of land at 1624 N. Coast Highway 101 into resident-owned plots. Lots at the park range in size from 700 – 750 sq. ft. The Sands Residence Association represents approximately 40 residents at the park and was formed in an effort to negotiate with the park owner.

Barring any problems with the final approval, the opportunity to own both a mobile home and a lot at the Sands should be available soon.

Posted in Community Information, Encinitas Community, Encinitas Real Estate | No Comments »

Cruise the Coast Leucadia, Cardiff, and Encinitas

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Residents and visitors to Cardiff and Encinitas now have a new way to cruise the Coast, from Leucadia at the north end of Encinitas, to Cardiff at the south end. The new Coast Cruiser Shuttle is operating all summer between Encinitas and Cardiff.

The Shuttle will run every weekend through Labor Day, from 11am to 9pm, with hourly stops. Look for the colorful Coast Cruiser Bust Stop signs at 11 stops along the coast.

A nominal fare will be collected at either $1.00 per ride or $5.00 for a weekend pass.  Passes can be purchased at the Cardiffe 101 Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Downtown Encinitas Main Street Association and the Leucadia 101 Main Street offices.

The bus runs on bio-fuel and is part of the city’s Greening our Community efforts, intended to help promote movement between all three coastal communities while reducing traffic congestion. Take advantage of this to see the beautiful beaches, shopping, and restaurants of Encinitas and Cardiff.

Posted in Cardiff Community, Community Information, Encinitas Community, Leucadia Community | No Comments »

Website set up to provide county health information

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Over the next two years, more than 1 million veterans are expected to return home from overseas assignment.  Studies show that hundreds of thousands of them might suffer from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

In response to anticipated increases in requests for assistance and information, County health officials have announced a new “one-stop” website with important information for our area’s veterans and service members.  The site includes information about housing, counseling services, career advice and employment assistance, among other things.

“The transition from soldier to civilian can prove challenging,” said Nick Macchione, director of the county Health and Human Services Agency.  The county “is making efforts to ease that transition.”

Anyone who may suffer from mental illness can call a 24-hour crisis line at (800) 479-3339.  The Veteran’s Assistance web address is www.sandiego.networkofcare.org.

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Cardiff Cares – Monthly Community Cleanup

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Cardiff Cares – Monthly Community Cleanup of Carpentier Parkway

Beautifying Carpentier Parkway has been a longtime project of the Cardiff Botanical Society, a committee of the Cardiff 101 Chamber of Commerce that leases the land from the North County Transit District.

The park, a patch of colorful wildflowers and native plants, is sandwiched between San Elijo Avenue and the railroad tracks and stretches from Birmingham to Chesterfield drives; providing a popular pathway for area residents who bike, jog or walk dogs along the high-traffic route.

In addition to reflecting the uniqueness and independence of the beach town, the spruced-up parkway adds to the aesthetics and appeal of surrounding businesses.  Businesses that look out on this now have a beautiful ocean view.

Volunteers pitch in the last Saturday of each month to help keep the parkway from becoming debris-laden and overgrown by weeds.   The success of the project depends on plant and monetary donations from the community, as well as the manpower of interested and caring community members.  Volunteers are the lifeblood of the park and always welcome!

To get involved, just show up at one of the monthly community cleanup days on the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.

Don’t have the time or physical abilities to help?  No problem!  Call (760) 436-0431 and find out what you can do to help.

Posted in Cardiff Community, Community Information, Encinitas Community, Leucadia Community | No Comments »

August Events in Cardiff, Encinitas & Leucadia

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Downtown Date Nights Every Tuesday night, multiple restaurants in downtown will be offering special prix fixe menu offerings at discounted prices starting at $30/couple. Some will offer two or three-course menus with a glass of wine or beer at a discounted price. For a list of participating restaurants or more information visit www.encinitas101.com.  August 4, 11, 18 & 25, 5-8pm

Cardiff Dog Days of Summer Looking for something fun to do with your dog?  How about a little exercise, socialization and bonding in addition to FUN?  Come enjoy dog contests, vendors displaying the latest in custom pet and dog products, and animal adoptions.  For a list of participants, visit www.cardiffdogdaysofsummer.com. August 8, 10am to 3pm

Fairy Festival Celebrate summer with song, dance, stories and crafts at Quail Botanical Gardens. Look for photo opportunities with Queen Tatiana and King Oberon, and of course, beware the impish Puck!  Costumes are encouraged and don’t forget to bring your camera!  For information, www.QBGardens.org.  August 8, 10am to 2pm

Garden Expressions featuring Pearl Fryar and Selected Regional Artists The Gardens will be buzzing with artists of every kind, creating and selling their work.  Children’s art activities will be offered for a small fee.  “A Man Named Pearl” will be shown throughout the event and Pearl will demonstrate his amazing ability to turn ordinary plants into fanciful creations. Free with admission to Gardens. For information, www.QBGardens. August 23, 11am to 6pm

Classic Car Cruise Nights The streets of Downtown Encinitas rock and roll when the Encinitas Classic Car Cruise Nights come to Downtown.  Placed in the setting of Downtown Encinitas, historic cars, a historic road and an award winning downtown are an unbeatable combination. Cars park along Hwy 101 between “D” Street and the Lumberyard for public display.  Live music plays in front of Encinitas Smog at 682 S. Coast Hwy 101. For information, www.encinitas101.com. August 27, 6-9pm

20th Annual Taste of Main Street One of the largest and most successful events of its kind in the County. 34 participating restaurants offer delicious samples of a vast variety of food encompassing numerous taste sensations. Tickets are $25, strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  If you are unable to get a ticket, come downtown anyway to mingle with friends, listen to good music and enjoy a meal at any of the featured restaurants. For information, www.encinitas101.com.  August 27, 6-9pm

5th Annual LeucadiART Walk “101 artists” displaying art in all media along the west side of Highway 101 in Leucadia.  Free and fun for the whole family. There will be art demos, live entertainment, children’s activities, and new this year, wine tasting!  The Coast Cruiser shuttle bus will be free to the public for that day only. Participants are encouraged park at the Encinitas Civic Center and Coaster Station parking lots on Vulcan at D Street, where a shuttle bus stop will be located. For information, www.leucadia101.com.  August 30, 10am to 5pm

Posted in Cardiff Community, Community Information, Encinitas Community, Leucadia Community | No Comments »

2009 Coast Cruiser Shuttle Bus Schedule

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Shuttle runs hourly, 11am to 9pm

Saturdays and Sundays ONLY

June 6th through September 7th

Tickets are available on the Shuttle –

$1 per ride or $5 for a weekend pass

Weekend passes may be purchased on the bus or at:

the Leucadia 101 Main Street office, 386 N. Coast Hwy 101

the Downtown Encinitas Main Street office, 818 S. Coast Hwy 101

the Cardiff 101 Chamber office, 124 Aberdeen Dr. in Cardiff

Stops:

Stop 1 – NCTD Station on Vulcan     On the Hour

Stop 2 – A Street & Hwy. 101, East side

Stop 3 – Avocado St. & Hwy. 101, West side

Stop 4 – Phoebe St. & Hwy. 101, West side

Stop 5 – Basil St. & Hwy. 101, West side

Stop 6 – Moonlight Beach, lower lot  On the ½ Hour

Stop 7 – K Street & Hwy. 101, West side

Stop 8 – San Elijo Campgrounds, Hwy. 101 West side

Stop 9 – Yogi’s, Hwy. 101 East side

Stop 10 – New Balance Shoes, Birmingham & Newcastle

Stop 11 – The Lumberyard, Hwy. 101 East side

The exciting new Coast Cruiser Shuttle will cruise along Hwy 101 from Leucadia to Cardiff, making stops near your favorite attractions, beaches, restaurant and shops.   The bus is intended to help promote movement between all three coastal communities without creating traffic congestion.

Since this pilot project has been developed to gain insight and to gauge public support for the project as a PERMANENT beach cities shuttle, I encourage all residents and their guests to support this project and ride the Shuttle!

In hopes of encouraging more people to take the new shuttle, organizers have teamed up with restaurants along the route for special discount program. People who show their cruiser weekend bus pass can gain discounts at Bull Taco in the San Elijo campground; JamRoc101 Caribbean Grill; Bamboo 2 U and Tikis Too; Queen Eileen’s; and Moonlight Beach Snack Shop!

Posted in Community Information | No Comments »

4 Tips for Cooling Down Your Energy Bills

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

August is approaching.   Temperatures are heating up.  Even here on the coast, air conditioners seem to constantly hum and staying cool is on everyone’s mind.

But many home owners are equally concerned about how they can cut down on their energy consumption and reduce their monthly cooling bills.

Here are a few suggestions from The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE):

1.         Clean or replace filters in air-conditioning units to keep cool air moving and to reduce electricity consumption.

2.         Have an air conditioner tune-up performed by a qualified contractor.

3.         Make sure your attic, which traps a lot of hot air, is adequately insulated.

4.         Replace old equipment. A new high-efficiency unit not only pares down utility bills, it can help you qualify for a federal income tax credit. But before you buy something new, do your research. “Often people are so desperate to replace their equipment that they don’t take the time to research the investment, locking themselves into high cooling bills and less comfort,” says ACEEE researcher Katie Ackerly.

For more information log on to www.energytaxincentives.org/consumers

Posted in My Real Estate Blog | No Comments »

Encinitas Named #3 Best Surf Town

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

From Surfer Magazine, July 2009 – California Beach Culture Defined.  Almost all of Southern California’s oceanfront communities can be classified as “surfy,” but Encinitas seems to embody this spirit better than most. You’d be hard pressed to find a lineup—or a line at the local Starbucks—that isn’t occupied by some level of surf celebrity or industry insider. Add the fact that fun-to-excellent surf can be ridden here almost every day of the year—if you’re willing to drive the coast for 30 minutes in either direction—and that you’re plugged into a laidback microcosm that harbors all the best qualities of the greater San Diego surf community (without the snob-factor of La Jolla, the post-collegiate-party-factor of Pacific Beach, and the street-kid-factor of Ocean Beach), and you’ve got a surf town that stands out among a dense—and very inviting—pack.

Waves

There’s Seaside, Cardiff Reef, Swamis, and D Street if you’re looking for the obvious. And if you’re not, just show some ingenuity and scout out the miles of beachies, reefs, jetties and river mouths that all have their day. Outside of the official “Incorporated Encinitas” city limits, Blacks, the La Jolla reefs, and Ocean Beach to the south, and Oceanside and Trestles to the north are all easily within striking distance for even the most travel-challenged waverider. Crowds can be brutally thick in this part of the world, but, then again, it’s 100 percent possible to surf alone—if you’re motivated.

Culture

Some towns have “real” culture—you know, like plays and museums and stuff—and some towns have “beach” culture. Encinitas is loaded with the latter. Nearly every garage, in every neighborhood, west of the 5 freeway sits choked with boards. The roads bump with cars that bristle action-sport accoutrements and have floor mats caked in sand. The menus of local eateries list burgers, omelets, and burritos named after nearby waves. And the population, as such, looks and plays the part. If you’re looking for “real” culture, move to Paris. If you’re looking for surf culture, Encinitas is your place.

Quality of Life

Everyone raves about Southern California’s climate—for good reason. You know a place is perfect when 50-degree temps at dawn, the occasional spell of rain, or a few weeks of overcast skies come June are grounds for complaint among the locals. Plus, there are tons of great bars, restaurants, and eateries, and a “bro-ette” for every bro. The only real quality-of-life drawback: the crowds. But if you weigh the pluses (good weather, winds, and waves) with the minuses (too many people), the population density starts to make sense.

Posted in Community Information, Encinitas Community | No Comments »

Statistics for single-family properties in Carlsbad

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Here are the 7-day market statistics for single-family properties in Carlsbad as of July 14, 2009. If you are a home buyer in any Carlsbad zip code, these statistics are very important for you to know.

The median list price for Carlsbad is $779,000.  This number reflects the fact that Carlsbad has four zip codes, and this number includes some high-end homes and others which are priced more competitively for the current market.

The total inventory of homes available in Carlsbad is 174. In the past 7 days, 19 homes have gone into escrow. The average days on the market in Carlsbad is 113. That number is about average for the San Diego real estate market right now. We are seeing homes on the market for at least 90 days. There have been 17 new listings of single-family homes in the past 7 days.

If you are a home buyer in Carslbad, take a look at the single family homes available. Carlsbad has some very good values, both near the coast and a little farther inland. The Carlsbad school systems are rated very high, and La Costa Canyon High School is one of the best. Carlsbad also offers a wonderful variety of shopping, restaurants, a very large outlet shopping mall, and Legoland and the Flower Fields.

Posted in Buyers, Carlsbad Real Estate | 1 Comment »

Statistics for single-family properties in Cardiff

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Here are the 7-day market statistics for single-family properties in Cardiff by the Sea as of July 17, 2009. If you are a home buyer in Cardiff, these statistics are very important for you to know.

The median list price for a home in Cardiff is $1,119,000. This number reflects many high-end homes in Cardiff’s Walking District and Cardiff’s Composer District.

The total inventory of active properties for sale in Cardiff is 53, and the average single-family home size is 2353 sq. ft. The average days on the market of these homes is 129, Again, this reflects the number of high-end homes now on the market in Cardiff, and they are taking longer to sell. There have been two new listings in Cardiff in the past seven days.

If you are a home buyer in Cardiff, please take a look at the single-family homes available. The Cardiff elementary schools are rated very high, and Cardiff offers great neighborhoods for families. Also, you can walk everywhere in Cardiff — to the post office, library, Cardiff Seaside Market, the gym at Cardiffit, Starbucks, Harlan Jewelers, and two new restaurants in the Cardiff Town Center, Zenbu and Rimel’s Rotisserie. And if you cross Highway 101 in Cardiff, you are in the State Campground and have easy access to the Cardiff State Beach.

Posted in Cardiff Real Estate | No Comments »

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