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San Marcos, CA Real Estate News

By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
With the shortage of water an ever present concern in Southern California, many homeowners in the area are looking for different options besides the long rolling lawns we've historically had.  The use of landscaping water often accounts for up to 70% of a household's water use.  We're actually planning to alter our front landscaping once my husband and I can both agree on what to put in ;-)!  In the meantime, here's a great article by our neighbor Guenter Schott about research he did on landscaping designed to use minimal water.
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By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
North San Diego County is home to one of the busiest flyways in the United States.  The variety of birds we see always amazes me.  Growing up in Mississippi I have fond memories of the beautiful red cardinals and the noisy blue jays.  My Dad always enjoyed the Magpies at our Idaho home.  Although, we don't have those particular birds making appearances here, we do have a few others of intrigue!  From large to small, we have an egret surveying the neighborhood, a roadrunner dashing along a fenceline, and a hummingbird approaching the feeder at dusk.
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By Steve Hall, Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
(RE/MAX United)
I thought this would be a good time to repost this from a few years ago.  Very helpful information! I belong to the Kiwanis Club of San Marcos and at our weekly meeting this morning Melissa Chaty from the Alzheimer's Association presented some very helpful information. Among other items, Melissa provided us with a list of "10 Warning signs of Alzheimer's disease"      1) Memory Loss (more than occasionally forgetting a name or an apointment)      2) Difficulty performing familiar tasks      3) Problems with language      4) Disorientation to time and place      5) Poor or decreased judgment      6) Problems with abstract thinking      7) Misplacing things (Putting your watch away in the freezer)      8) Changes in mood or behavior      9) Changes in personality     10) Loss of initiativ...
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By Steve Hall, Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
(RE/MAX United)
Jack's Pond is great little rural piece of the City that is hidden in a small canyon below the Walnut Hills area in San Marcos. There is a very easy 1 mile trail with abundant wildlife all around. I do not believe that most residents even know that it is part of our community. I took a stroll through the other day and snapped a few photos. You can locate more information about the San Marcos Trail System on the City's web site at City of San Marcos, CA
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By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
One of my neighbors, Guenter Schott, fell in love with our community of San Marcos as much as I did.  As you can see, he is very talented at putting his thoughts in a digital format.  I hope you enjoy his description of San Marcos as much as I did.  Perhaps, if you are a local, it will give you more incentive to enjoy what we have here.  If you are not local, it will give you all the more reason to come visit our wonderful community.  Guenter, thanks for sharing and giving me permission to put this on my blog and website!  San Marcos, Our Home Town
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By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
Twin Oaks Toastmasters is a remarkable group!  I'm privileged to be an active member in San Marcos area club.  Each week, two speakers deliver prepared speeches.  Each of those speeches is evaluated orally and in writing by another club member.  There is also a round of impromptu speaking called "Table Topics."   Our meeting's theme yesterday was "Motivation" as determined in advance by our Toastmater or "emcee" of the day, Brita Bolane.  Not at all surprising, the meeting was very well run (Brita runs a business about organizing called "Pare It Down").  Our two speakers were great --  James Fields, a senior at Cal State San Marcos, entertained us with a topic about Welcome Back!  James spoke about Welcoming kids back to school, parents back to more normal routines ;-) and other adults ...
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By Steve Hall, Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
(RE/MAX United)
Below are a few photos from around Discovery Lake in San Marcos, which is a nice little gem hidden in Discovery Hills.                                                                                         The photo in the bottom right corner is a little (ok extremely) hard to see but there is a duck feeding a chick. Discovery Lake is at the end of Foxhall just beyond the small park and tot lot. The loop around the lake is part of the San Marcos trail system, which includes over 50 miles of hiking/biking trails throughout the community.  
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By Steve Hall, Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
(RE/MAX United)
Among the many initiatives and propositions coming to voters this November, one is specifically for San Marcos and has potentially devastating ramifications for the citizens and the City of San Marcos.  Seifert Consulting Group was commissioned by the City to offer an unbiased fiscal impact report.  That report, combined with the initiative itself, speak volumes.  There are several areas that are of concern financially to the City and to the taxpayers should this Proposition O pass.  The initiative, submitted by two community activists, is an initiative that has been called legally flawed by both the Seifert report and the City Attorney. These flaws contain a number of core questions and likely legal pitfalls that will almost certainly cause the City to have to defend the initiative in ...
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By Steve Hall, Make the Call to Hankins and Hall
(RE/MAX United)
If you walk your own farm or contract out the work there are a few rules to keep in mind: 1) Try not to walk across home owner lawns. 2) Never leave your literature at properties that are already listed by another agent. 3) Always provide something of value in your door drop material. 4) Always wear a smile. Be friendly and acknowledge neighbors if they are out. 5) If the property has a stack of papers, literature, newspapers, etc, don't add to the stack.  Simply make a note of the address and mail your information to that home. 6) If you are approached and asked not to leave your information at a specific property any longer, make a note to skip that property during future door drops.  Based on your conversation with the neighbor, future farm material might be able to be mailed. 7) It...
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By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
Sell now?  Sell Later?  Lease Out?  Sit tight? Buy investment property?  What should we do?   If you have been asking yourself these questions, please give us a call!  We can help you analyze options and point you to great resources!   Is making mortgage payments a challenge?  A loan modification may be a better option than a short sale!   We are familiar with the short sale process and can help, but you may want to seriously consider other options first.  We can help you ask the right questions to make the decision that best works for you.   Need to sell, but wish you had more equity?  We've received so many requests for property management recently, that we wanted to let you know that it is now part of our real estate practice.  As you know, we are both full-time Realtors and we live ...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
The San Elijo Hills master planned community in San Marcos continues to be a popular residential neighborhood. With affordable housing, and a range of attached and detached homes from the $300s up to around $2 million, and the walkability of this new community, San Elijo Hills remains a destination of choice for many. READ MORE: San Elijo Hills: Award Winning Master Planned Community Fall in San Elijo Hills Gorgeous views, upscale construction, a location atop the highest point in North County San Diego, reasonable affordability (as compared to the coastal communities) and a host of community services combine to make this a popular community for first time buyers and those who are moving up or even downsizing. READ MORE: San Elijo Hills Real Estate: Elite Homes in San Marcos But all is ...
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By Lela Hankins, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI
(RE/MAX UNITED)
  JD Built in Escondido, CA helped us create a phenomenal wrap that makes our client moving van stand out!  Our clients have appreciated the use of our van as one less thing they have to fret about when moving.  We also make it available to local charities.   We've encouraged other agents in the office to use it and to make a concurrent donation to Susan G. Komen Foundation, Elizabeth Hospice or Children's Miracle Network
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By Lorraine or Loretta Kratz, Certified Negotiation Consultants
(Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions.)
      July 2008 Detached Active Sold Days on Market % of Sales Price Total Homes for Sale Total Sold 92069 Detached 31 31 239 89     92069 Attached 25 12 324 78                 138 Homes in 92069 & 92078 110 Homes in 92069 & 92078 92078 Detached 42 40         92078 Attached 40 27         Total 92078 92069 Detached 73 71         Total 92078 92069 Attached 65 39              
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By Lorraine or Loretta Kratz, Certified Negotiation Consultants
(Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions.)
Junes' Statical Data For Homes Sales In San Marcos, California.     June 2008 Detached Active Sold Days on Market % of Sales Price of listing Price Total Homes for Sale Total Sold 92069 Detached 42 6 135 89     92069 Attached 22 0 98 78                 125 Homes in 92069 & 92078 9 Homes in 92069 & 92078 92078 Detached 43 1 137 90     92078 Attached 18 2 68 92     Total 92078 92069 Detached 85 7 109 88     Total 92078 92069 Attached 40 2 83 85          Sell your home now, with out all the stress that is involved in a traditional manner. Find out how you can sell your home in weeks not months. Contact: Lorraine @ 1-888-882-1198
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By Sheron Cardin, ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!
(California Moods Inc)
I was in San Diego County recently and I was in my car looking for an electronics store when suddenly this truck and trailor (gardener?) shot by me on the right and he was leaning his head out the window shouting obscene words and making obscene gestures and I wondered what had made him like that. All he gained was being in front of me at the next signal but boy, was he boiling over. I felt sorry for him, sent him a warm mental hug, and hoped he would feel it. What put such a destructive spin on an otherwise beautiful day? Other than the obvious level of stress caused by a shortage of money or an angry spouse, I believe it begins at home. My guess whatever caused the stress/anger/frustration can be prevented. Can road rage can come from a little thing like not being able to find one's c...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
San Marcos is a growing and thriving community just east of Carlsbad. A broad range of housing that is more affordable than it's westerly neighbor, similar weather, and a large commercial and retail area have contributed to the growing popularity of San Marcos for many local buyers and those who are relocating. Buyers looking at San Marcos real estate will be encouraged by the inventory and diversity of newer and homes, and a variety of different communities. Read: San Marcos - A Thriving Community On the northern edge of San Marcos is the large residential community of Santa Fe Hills. Located within a mile or two of much of the San Marcos shopping (the newly expanded Grand shopping center features Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls and a host of other popular retailers), with Palomar College ne...
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By Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
San Elijo Hills is a recently built (still under construction) master planned commnunity in San Marcos, built on the highest point in North County San Diego. Fabulous views, quality builders, a focus on walkability, and a feeling of a self-contained village combine to make this one of the more popular residential neighborhoods in north San Diego. Real estate in San Elijo Hills varies widely, with both attached and detached homes ranging in price from the $300,000s to around $2 million for the most expensive and newest homes being built at the summit at Symphony and Masterpiece. You'll find homes in both gated and ungated communities. You will find both brand new San Elijo Hills homes as well as resales. Read: San Marcos - A Thriving Community San Elijo Hills - Award Winning Master Plann...
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By Lorraine or Loretta Kratz, Certified Negotiation Consultants
(Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions.)
Detached Homes in Zip Code 92078.  New Listings 78 Average List Price $591,398 Listing Sold 37 Average Sales Price $534,040 Homes are selling for 90% of the list price Average days on market are 83. Months of Inventory are 4.   Detached Homes in Zip Code 92069.  New Listings 65 Average List Price is $453,943. Listings Sold 24 Average Sales Price is $407,839 Homes are selling for 89% of the list price. Average days on market are 43. Months of Inventory are 5   Attached Homes in Zip Code 92078.  New Listings 40 Average List Price is $304,679 Listings Sold 20 Average Sales Price is $278,000 Homes are selling for 91% of the listing price. Average days on market are 57. Months of Inventory are 4.   Attached Homes in Zip Code 92069.  New Listings 19 Average List Price is $189,000. Listings So...
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By Lorraine or Loretta Kratz, Certified Negotiation Consultants
(Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions.)
The city unnveiled plans to revamp several blocks of Mission Avenue west of the civic complex at the Richmar Specific Plan Workshop on May 6.  For several years the City Hall area of downtown has been an incongruous island of development surrounded by old and uncoordinated properties. The project envisions the city as a modern mixed-used development similar to the successful Plaza de Paseo to the west.  The new project includes 65 acres of property and is roughly bounded by Richmar Ave to the north, Woodward Street to the east, Pico Ave to the west and Autumn Dr to the south. Three new parks will be built in the project area as well as a senior housing project. Area Traffic flow is also under scrutiny for improvement.     This information was obtain from the recently City Council meeting.
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By Lorraine or Loretta Kratz, Certified Negotiation Consultants
(Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions.)
San Marcos, California is facing a decision, whether to slow growth down or promote a no growth movement. The City of San Marcos, is looking at voting in a slow to no growth movement. This has brought a lot of attention to the many projects that are pending. The City Council is going to hold hearing on this issue. Please pay attention to this issue, when it comes up for the discussion via the City Council. Participate, this is something that will impact you as a residence. Check out the upcoming dates for discussion of this issue. Go to:ci.san-marcos.ca.us/com.   
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