Here is the latest going on in Carlsbad:

Carlsbad Predator Alert: A predator has been hanging around the Aviara/South Carlsbad area. He apparently tried to get a young boy into his car in an Aviara neighborhood and approached the same child at Aviara Park later this week. The man is caucasian, 25-35 years old and well-built, has short black hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo above his upper lip of wings and a pitchfork and flames. He has been seen driving both an older dark green Toyota van and an older red Toyota Matrix. He has two dogs: a white Pit Bull and a Rottweiler. Please be cautious and contact police if you see anything suspicious.

TGIF Jazz in the Park Concert Series Starts June 24: The wonderful summer concert series begins soon at Carlsbad Parks. This is a great chance to pack a picnic and bring the family over for dinner and live jazz outside. All concerts begin at 6:00. For the schedule visit http://news.carlsbadca.gov/pr/ca/tgif-jazz-in-the-parks-concerts-202463.aspx

Library Film Series in May and June: The Dove Library offers a film series weekly. For example, on Wednesdays at 6 p.m you can view documentaries like Waiting for Superman (May 11), Sicko (May 18) or Exit Through the Gift Shop (May 25). There are also novel films being shown in June. For the schedule visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/library/Pages/default.aspx?&Redirect=1 and click on May/June Calendar under Library News – you can download the schedule and print it out. The library also offers computer and CPR classes, and don’t forget about the summer reading program – teens can sign up now to participate in helping younger students with the program. There is always something exciting going on so check it out!

Celebrate Carlsbad Day is May 14th: I have blogged about this before, but it is worth another mention. This wonderful event is put on by the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. You enjoy a visit to Legoland and pre- pay for tickets for only $20 each. There will be performances from local area schools (from 3-5 at the Fun Town Stage) and it will be a fantastic day to spend with the Carlsbad community. Tickets must be purchased before next Saturday so hurry up and do so at local Carlsbad schools and other venues. To find out where and to get further information visit http://www.CarlsbadEd.org.

In case you haven’t heard, rumors that our housing market is going into a double-dip are once again alive and kicking. Several people have asked what I think of this in relation to North San Diego, and whether it really is true. My answer: yes and no (you didn’t think it would be simple, did you?)

The latest news, just released yesterday by Clear Capital, states that prices fell in March and April, compared to the same time last year and the prior low in March of 2009. They credit the bank owned inventory (REOs) as the main culprit, stating that there has not been a rate of decline this strong since 2008 – the rate was cited as 11.5% over the previous 9 month period. As more than one third of home sales nationwide are REO the company predicts that prices will continue to drop, since these properties typically sell for less than regular sales, thus bringing down comparable solds.

Although it is true that the Western states were cited as particularly effected by the above data and predictions, it is a misnomer to compare this data to the hyper-local North San Diego market. Let’s take a look at Carlsbad to compare:

1. Average median sales price: Although the average median sales price – $540,000 – dropped slightly from January to March (by an average of $35,000, or -0.6% decrease compared to last year), home sales were up 5.8% compared to last year. The median sales price appears to have remained steady over the last several months, with only slight drops. Comparing to the Clear Capital report for the nation, Carlsbad’s prices have fallen slightly less than the national number (.06% to .07%).

It appears that we are seeing prices drop slightly, but not quite as much as in some other areas, such as the midwest, where they have already entered into a true double dip market.

2. Lower number of REOs compared to other areas. Right now there are currently 31 REO properties on the market in all four zip codes that comprise Carlsbad. There are 695 total active properties listed, so REO listings comprise only .04% of total actives.

3. Lower number of short sale properties: There are currently 95 short sales in Carlsbad, or 0.14% of listed homes are considered short sales. This number is undoubtedly smaller than other areas across the country like Las Vegas or Phoenix. In this light I think Carlsbad and other north coastal areas are fairing quite well. In fact, Carlsbad 92011 in the past had been the zip code with the lowest number of foreclosures in the entire county (I am looking into whether this is still the case, but I assume if not is it surely still one of the lowest).

Even some areas in our own county have higher numbers, like Chula Vista for example. Of 769 active listings in Chula Vista, 98 (0.13%) are REOs and 350 (0.45%) are short sales. These numbers are three times as high as Carlsbad’s numbers. Areas with less distressed properties will not likely see drops in price quite as large as one may see in markets saturated with these types of properties.

The bottom line is that yes, prices have dropped slightly in North San Diego. But you really do need to focus on a specific areas rather than the big picture if you are a buyer or seller. Not doing so is a common mistake many people make, so if you are thinking of buying or selling consult a local, experienced agent in your specific area to provide a complete analysis of prices and sales.

If you would like live market data for North San Diego cities (like the chart above and with different categories to choose from), please visit my website at http://www.LaMarRealEstate.org. Click on the resources tab at the top right, and then Live Market Data. You can even sign up to receive weekly reports.

After months of planning and development I am excited to announce the new website of LaMar Real Estate is now fully functional! I created this site with the needs of the buyer and seller as my first priority.

The new home search links provide more detailed searches, and there are links to helpful tools and articles, localized live market data reports, real estate news, social media links and of course, my blog. In the coming months look for helpful vlogs to be added to the site, which will provide information about basic questions buyers and sellers ask, including information on how to sell distressed properties.

I wanted to capture the beauty of North Coastal San Diego with this new website, and I have highlighted some of the cities and areas in which I work on my Communities page. The great school information is still accessible, and you can enjoy the stunning photos that are displayed.

I am excited to offer this site to everyone interested in North San Diego coastal real estate, as well as those who already live here and want to keep up with local issues, news and trends. I welcome suggestions–if there is anything you would like me to highlight in my blog or something you feel would be helpful on the site, please let me know! If you are not there already you can visit the site at http://www.LaMarRealEstate.org. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite times of the year here in Carlsbad, our beautiful Village by the Sea. Our city offers events for the whole family, a time to get out and enjoy why it is so wonderful to live here. Here are a few of my favorite things that will be going on in May, so grab the entire family and enjoy being outside.

Celebrate Carlsbad Day at Legoland, May 14: Legoland carries on the tradition of Celebrate Carlsbad by discounting tickets to $15 for the day. This is a huge discount off the regular price–which is more than 4x that.. The catch is that tickets must be purchased in advance, so if you would like to spend a day at Legoland and enjoy the great prices, you need to call the Carlsbad Educational Foundation at 760-929-1555, or email info@carlsbad.org. You can also purchase tickets at some of our local schools, like Aviara Oaks Middle School.

The best part of Celebrate is that it is hosted by the Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), which benefits local schools, so come on out and support our schools! For more information on CEF and how you can help, visit their website at http://www.carlsbaded.org/events.aspx.

Carlsbad Vilage Street Faire, May 1: the famous and fabulous street faire will once again be open for business. If you have never been I highly suggest it–great food, entertainment for all ages, rides for the kids, shopping, crafts…the list is long. Come on down to the Village and mingle with fellow Carlsbadians and enjoy the sunshine. For a list of road closures and to figure out where to parke visit the City’s website at http://news.carlsbadca.gov/pr/ca/carlsbad-village-faire-road-closures-202169.aspx.

There is a lot to do this Spring in Carlsbad, the beautiful Village by the Sea. Here are some of the great events and places you can enjoy:

The Flower Fields: The rununculas are in bloom and spending time at the Flower Fields is always fun and beautiful. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., there is so much to do at the Flower Fields–wind through the sweet pea maze, mine for gem rocks, spend time in the play area, see a performance and walk the fields or take a hay ride. For more information visit http://www.theflowerfields.com/index.html.

Trail Volunteer Event, April 9: Join local nature lovers in another great trail clean up event from 8:30-11:30 at the Calavera Trails. Meet at the Leo Carillo Elementary School in the west parking lot. For more information call 760-434-2978.

Challenge Golf Event April 17 at the Crossings: If you love to golf or know someone who does, get ready for a scramble golf tournament at the crossings. Starting time is 8 a.m. and the cost is $85 a person or $70 for Crossings members. For more information visit http://www.thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com/layout10.asp?id=182&page=9089

Eggstravaganza, April 23 10:00-1:00 at Poinsettia Park: Stop by Poinsettia Park for some great fun for the children, including an Easter egg hunt, crafts, bounce house, a slide, a fun zone, a chance to “soak the bunny,” and photos with the Easter bunny. To participate in this event you must purchase a prepaid $5 card. The cards can be purchased April 18-22 at the following locations only: Calavera Hills Community Center, Harding Community Center and Stagecoach Community Center. Purchases must be made in person and are non-refundable. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the event.

Arbor Day Celebration April 30 8:30-10:30 at Poinsettia Park: Come on over and help plant trees and learn all about Arbor Day from local garden centers, tree experts and vendors. For more information and to download a volunteer application prior to the event, visit http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/Pages/arbor-day.aspx

“How is the market doing?” This is the most frequently asked question I receive. Neighbors, friends, clients all want to know what is going on in the market. Here in North San Diego the market is doing quite well, actually, and things seem to be picking up.

The HomeDex statistics show that while inventory levels in San Diego county declined in February (slightly over 12.5%), both pending and sold numbers were up. Pending property numbers rose for the second month in a row. Prices have dropped a bit as well, with both single family homes and condos showing lower median prices than the same time last year (2.2% drop in median price from the same time last year for single family homes, 10.2% for condos). Heading into the spring and summer buying seasons this is good news for buyers, and if the inventory picks up it will continue to be a strong buyer’s market.

The one thing we have seen quite a bit of is cash buyers. In February these buyers accounted for 33% of existing home sales, while first time buyers accounted for 34%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Some cash buyers are investors and others are purchasing first or second properties, but all in all there is a rise in these transactions.

Another thing that seems to be on the increase is the number of buyers from out of the country. According to the National Association of Realtors 28% of U.S. Realtors have reported working with at least one foreign buyer in 2010, an increase from 23% in 2009. Reports indicate that Asian buyers are still active in the market, and recently one report said that Israelis are snatching up commercial real estate in the U.S. I have buyers from Australia and Asia right now, so I agree with the reports that there is an influx of out of area buyers.

The dollar is weak in the U.S. compared to other currencies, so now is the ideal time for people to buy. It will be interesting to see whether the disasters in Japan have an effect on Japanese buyers. For many of these buyers our real estate is inexpensive. In fact, one person I know told me that the price per square foot in China in the cities is about $600, so our real estate here is a great buy to those who have the opportunity.

San Diego county is one of the top-rated tourist destinations in the country. Our beautiful weather and coastal, outdoor lifestyle are the envy of many, and if you are in the market to purchase property there is no time like the present.

Are you one of the countless homeowners who tried to obtain a loan modification under HAMP (the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program) but were denied? If so you may not have been given a reason, which makes all the time you spent, the hopes you harbored, the pages and pages of documentation you compiled, seem like a complete waste of time. Disclosure requirements have now changed for loan modification denials under HAMP, making it doubtful others will go through the same difficulties.

As of February 1 of this year lenders are required to send disclosure letters to some borrowers who applied for modifications under HAMP but were denied. Yes, I said “some,” so not everyone will receive such information (and I am not sure how this is determined). The letters must reveal up to 33 data points. These are points that the servicer uses to determine whether the borrower qualifies under HAMP, in order to satisfy the net present value (NPV) test. The goal is to make sure the new loan would be in the lender’s best interests so as to prevent future default.

If the borrower feels information used to deny the modification was incorrect, he may appeal the modification to the servicer within 30 days of receipt of the letter. Appeals must be in writing, supported by evidence explaining the perceived correct values. An example is if the home was valued incorrectly. If the borrower has a recent appraisal that changes the valuation she could present that as evidence in the appeal process.

The U.S. Treasury Department is currently creating a website where borrowers will be able to go to run their own HAMP tests to see if they meet the HAMP criteria for a modification. The site should be ready in late springtime. It may be of help to those who want to understand the 51 HAMP data points that are taken into consideration when applying for a modification under the program.

Community Play Date February 5: 10:00-noon at the Stagecoach Community Center. If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend with the whole family, look no further! The City of Carlsbad is hosting its Build legos, play tennis games, try county line dancing, belly dancing or karate, have fun with arts and crafts, try your skills at an obstacle course and much more. The community center is located at Stagecoach Park, 3420 Camino de las Coches, Carlsbad, just east of Rancho Santa Fe Road near La Costa Canyon High School.

Trail Volunteer Event March 12: If you frequent all the beautiful trails here in Carlsbad you know they are well-maintained. That is thanks in part to the numerous volunteers who help keep our trail systems pristine. Why not join them at Lake Calavera from 8:30-11:30 to offer a hand? All you need to bring is water, gloves, sunscreen and a hat.

World in the Village, March 19: Come on down to the village by the sea from 1:00-5:00 and enjoy art, delicious local cuisine, jump houses for the kids, live music and performances, storytelling and more. It will be a day of fun for the entire family.

Last week the city of Carlsbad and developers of Carlsbad’s first oceanfront resort celebrated with a ground-breaking ceremony. Perched on a bluff atop beautiful Ponto Beach, the $75 million Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort and Spa is scheduled to open in 2012. It will join the likes of other world-class Carlsbad resorts, like the Grand Hyatt, La Costa Resort and Spa, and the Carlsbad Sheraton. But this new resort will have the best location of them all, in my opinion.

The hotel will have 215 guest rooms and a 5,000 square foot spa, meeting space, beautiful gardens, and pools with cabanas. Of course, one of the best beaches in North County is only steps away.

This new resort will be just another great reason why Carlsbad is so special! For more details on the resort you can visit the City’s website: http://news.carlsbadca.gov/pr/ca/new-beachfront-hotel-breaks-ground-191236.aspx