The gang is on the water!!!

Check out this group. Nice!

The gang is on the water!!!

This week in Oceanside: The California Surf Festival (click here)

Parts of this look like real fun. Last year was a big deal. This year should be even better.

http://www.californiasurffestival.com/

Median price report article

North County Times printed this interesting article this morning.

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Staying put? Remodeling? Recycled teak is both "green" & beautiful!

Origin Teak is owned by a very good friend of mine, Jason Nedelman. He can help you add value and beauty if you are staying put forever or just until the market improves. Make use of recycled teak. Be green and have the type of decor that people talk about.

Unusual yard?




















Cool bath?






















Kitchen that doesn't look like all of your freinds kitchens?













http://www.originteak.com/

Here is what the owner has to say:
"We make custom recycled teak cabinetry that has a cradle to cradle life cycle, will never end up in landfill, made by adults under ISO certified workplace conditions that far surpass Indonesia standard workplace conditions, with a micro-lending program in place, a tree planting program to offset our carbon footprint, and using Triple Bottom Line accounting to take factor the social, envionmental, and economic bottom line into our business practices." And it is custom-made to your specifications, the highest quality and beautiful.

October Median Prices in Various North County Zips

North San Diego County HomeDexTM
October 2009 Summary Report
Single-Family Detached Homes

Single-Family Detached Home Prices and Affordability by North County Zip Codes
• Rancho Santa Fe (92067) reported the highest median SFD price at two million
dollars followed by Solana Beach (92075) at $1.75 million with Del Mar (92014)
and Cardiff (92007) at over one million.

• Bonsall (92003) had a median SFD price at $984,000 and Carmel Valley (92130)
at $861,500 with Encinitas (92024), Rancho Bernardo (92127), and Carlsbad
(92011) reporting median prices in the high $700,000s. Carlsbad (92008, 92009)
reported median SFD prices in the mid $600,000s with Rancho Bernardo (92128),
Rancho Penasquitos (92129), San Marcos (92078), and Carlsbad (92010)
reporting median prices ranging between $504,000 and $570,000, Escondido
(92029) at $490,000, and Poway (92064) at $450,300.

• Vista (92081, 92084), San Marcos (92069), Escondido (92025, 92026), Ramona
(92065), Valley Center (92082), Fallbrook (92028), and Oceanside (92054,
92056, 92057) reported median SFD prices between $301,000 and $368,000 with
Escondido (92027), Pala (92059), and Vista (92083, 92084) under $300,000

Prepared for the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS® by Robert Brown, Ph.D. Department of Economics California State University, San Marcos.
Data source: Sandicor, Inc. Comparisons are not based on identical samples of homes sold and do not imply statistical significance.

North County Surf Real Estate Comments:
Sold prices are still creeping up from the LOW lows. They might stay flat during the slow winter months but, if there are no further catastrophies, look out for Spring 2010.
Interest rates still under 5%. High 4's...are you kidding???
Values are out there now. Don't chase the market up like last time when you can buy at a great value NOW. Ride it up from the bottom instead.

Real estate purchases should be compared to renting costs (costs go up with no appreciation on your outlay). If you can get in near the bottom, and stay within your realistic monthly budget, buying real estate can really make alot of financial sense. It should always be looked at as a longer term investment.

As always, I'm here if you need me. Phil SDRealtor@cox.net

U.S.+National+Debt+Clock+%3A+Real+Time

U.S.+National+Debt+Clock+%3A+Real+Time

Sit down first

Weekend surf forecast looks good!

From WetSand.com:
Saturday the 7th should see NW swell fill in more, increasing size in SoCal as the energy traverses from the north to the south. According to this morning's model run, this swell should start filling in around SB/VC early to mid morning, but not hit SD until possibly the late afternoon. When it does fill in, west facing breaks would be looking at consistent head high sets with some sets running 2-3 feet overhead. The overhead pluses though are likely to be infrequent on Saturday until possibly the afternoon or early evening. Winds are expected to be from theNNE early in the morning, possibly 8-12 mph from LA north (calmer in OC and SD), calming mid day, and then turning moderately onshore in the afternoon. Tide will still be an issue, nearing the 6-foot mark around 11:40 AM.

Sunday the 8th the NW swell should make full impact in SoCal. This is expected to place most west facing breaks in surf running 2-3 feet overhead, and with standouts goingDOH . Swell is likely to be consistent, with even the smallest waves in the sets running at least head high. Winds are expected to be from theNNE early in the AM, and may become a bit strong around VC and SB (to perhaps 15 mph max at times), but most areas should see NNE winds 10 mph or less in the AM.

Monday the 9th should still see some waves out of this NW'er, but with the swell backing down, size around west facing breaks is expected to max out around head high.

North County says: "YAHOO!!!"

News from the CA Assoc. of Realtors

1. Loan limit extensions signed into law
President Obama late Friday signed a congressional resolution to extend through 2010 the current conforming loan limits of $417,000 for most areas in the U.S. and $729,750 for high-cost areas, including many in California.
2. Pending home sales rose 6.1 percent in September
NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index rose 6.1 percent to 110.1 in September compared with 103.8 in August. The index now is 21.2 percent higher than its September 2008 reading of 90.9, the largest annual increase on record, and is at its highest level since December 2006 when it stood at 112.8. The Pending Home Sales Index in the West increased 10.2 percent to 143.8 in September and is 23.7 percent higher than a year ago.

“What we’re witnessing is a rush of first-time buyers trying to beat the expiration of the tax credit at the end of this month,” said NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Home values will stabilize sooner rather than over-correcting. That, in turn, will mean wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families and lay the foundation for a durable economic recovery.”

North County Note:
The loan limits stand, the rates are still low, the $8,000 1st time buyer program is extended and now has a provision of $6,500 if you've owned for more than 5 years, home prices are down and many feel that we are at or near the bottom for prices. Time to buy??? The chance may never be better.

Contact me if you need me at SDRealtor@cox.net

Time to buy? New 1st time buyer credit on the way?

Photo By Matt Rourke, AP

Pending home sales rise for record eighth straight month
The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September.

By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY
Sales of pending homes hit a record in September as homebuyers rushed to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time home buyers — a pace that could continue if Congress takes steps this week to extend and expand the stimulus set to expire at the end of this month.
Pending home sales saw their eighth straight month of gains, marking the longest streak since the measurement begin in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors. The data, which is based on contracts signed in September, showed that sales of pending homes rose 6.1% over August. It's also 21% higher than September 2008.

"I did not anticipate such a huge rise," says Lawrence Yun, chief economist with NAR. "This is getting home values to start to stabilize. First-time buyers have clearly responded to the tax credit. With the passage of an extension, more move-up buyers will respond as well."

North County Comment:
It sure looks like we are going to get an extension of the 1st time buyer credit. That has been good for our sales in San Diego County thus far. With loan rates still low, buyer credits looming, & prices stabilizing is it time for you to get off of the fence and buy a home? There is a good chance that it is!

Just use good sense when establishing your budget and, in the long term, you should do great. Need to get your budget set and pre-approval going? Try these 2 lenders that I've worked with in the past:
Jim Gibson jim.gibson@mortgagefamily.com or 760-815-2534
Tray Trevino 760-415-2417 or trayinsd@yahoo.com