• The median list price of Carlsbad Homes for Sale this week in February is $629,500. The 369 Carlsbad properties have been on the market for an average of 147 days.  The Carlsbad housing market has shown some evidence of slowing recently. Both prices and Carlsbad home inventory levels are relatively unchanged in recent weeks.
• The median list price Of Oceanside homes for sale this week in February is $325,000. The 470 Oceanside homes have been on the market for an average of 133 days.  Oceanside homes inventory has been lightening lately, though days-on-market is increasing, these are mildly positive indications for the Oceanside housing market.
• The median list price of Escondido homes for sale this week is $299,000.  Inventory of Escondido homes and days-on-market are climbing. The trends imply a weakening Escondido real estate market.
• The median list price of Vista CA homes for sale this week in February is $329,450. The 256 properties have been on the market for an average of 134 days.  Vista homes inventory days-on-market is trending higher.
• The median list price of Encinitas homes for sale this week in February is $850,000. The 151 properties have been on the market for an average of 140 days. Encinitas homes inventory has been lightening lately and days-on-market is increasing.

To get more information on San Diego North County market statistics, or to see great North County homes, contact Gary Harmon, your Five Star Award Winner.

Five Star Professional conducted research to determine the North County real estate agents in the San Diego area who rated highest in overall satisfaction. Clients, peers and industry experts participated in research that resulted in Gary Harmon’s selection as a Five Star Real Estate Agent.

How was Gary Harmon selected?

Our research team contacted consumers in the San Diego area and asked if they had experience working with a real estate agent. Consumers who agreed to participate in the survey provided the name of the real estate agent and rated that individual according to key criteria such as integrity, negotiation and closing preparation.

Surveys were sent to San Diego area residents who recently purchased a home over $150,000 (more than 40,000 households) within a 12-month period (April 2010 to April 2011) and 1,000 subscribers of San Diego Magazine. An additional 250 surveys were sent to mortgage and title companies.

The survey data was collected and scored, resulting in the list of 2012 San Diego Five Star Real Estate Agents.

These results place Gary Harmon in the top 7% of all Realtors in San Diego County.

As a Five Star award winner, Gary Harmon will be listed in the special advertising section of San Diego Magazine and on the Five Star Professional website.

You can get the same personal service that made Gary Harmon a Five Star Award Winner.  Contact Gary Harmon, for your best move ever.

The December 2011 HomeDex™ Report provides November 2011 San Diego housing statistics. Information in this report is used by permission from the North San Diego County Association of Realtors® (NSDCAR). Gary Harmon, your Real Living Lifestyles Realtor, has been a member of NSDCAR for over 21 years.

• The median price for all North County home sales – attached and detached – decreased to $350,000 in November 2011 compared to $354,500 in October 2011.
• Detached homes in North County declined 2.21 percent to $400,000 in November 2011 from $409,058 in October 2011; Monthly median prices have declined during the past 7 months of 2011.
• The countywide median SFD price declined 2.03 percent from $357,250 in October 2011 to $350,000 in November 2011.  Year-over countywide median SFD price decreased 10.26 percent from November 2010.
• The number of North San Diego SFD listings (active and contingent) declined 6.9 percent from October 2011 compared to November 2011.
• The number of sold North San Diego County SFD units jumped 9.28 percent in November 2011 compared to October 2011, and increased 13.92 percent year-over compared to November 2010.
• Median days-on-market for single-family detached homes sold in North County rose to 65 days in November 2011 compared to 63 days in October 2011.
• The HomeDex affordability percentage for all homes in North San Diego County – attached and detached – increased to 44 percent in November 2011 compared to 41 percent in October 2011.
If you like San Diego North County home statistics, you can always be up to date with Gary’s Altos Research Reports by major North County communities. Follow these links: Carlsbad homes, Oceanside homes, Encinitas homes, Vista homes, San Marcos homes, and Escondido homes.

To schedule a personal tour of homes in San Diego North County, contact Gary Harmon, your Real Living Lifestyles Realtor. If you would like to search for properties on your own, just click on the community of interest listed under “Current Listing” in the column immediately to the right.

Showing properties 1 - 25 of 500+. See more city of San Diego real estate.
(all data current as of 2/8/2012)

1. $2,849,000 : 8220 Caminito Santaluz East E, San Diego
   
   5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 6,364 sq ft

   Year built: 2005

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 11
2. $1,595,000 : 3947 La Cresta Dr, San Diego
   
   5 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 3,100 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,200 sq ft

   Year built: 1927

   Parking spots: 8

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 57
3. $1,050,000 : MLS # 120007120 in San Diego
   
   4 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,176 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,800 sq ft

   Year built: 1914

   Days on market: 2
4. $1,190,000 : 700 W E St 2701, San Diego
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,465 sq ft

   Year built: 2007

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 88
5. $775,000 : 1431 Pacific Hwy 809, San Diego
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,192 sq ft

   Year built: 2009

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 89
6. $799,000 : 10190 Pinecastle St, San Diego
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 3,282 sq ft

   Year built: 2005

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 2
7. $899,000 : 13173 Polvera Ave, San Diego
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,749 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.05 ac

   Year built: 1984

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 3
8. $969,000 : 5187 E Bedford Dr, San Diego
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,290 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,860 sq ft

   Year built: 1929

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 49
9. $605,000 : 8545 Park Run Rd, San Diego
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,287 sq ft

   Year built: 1986

   Days on market: 2

   Walk Score®: 25
10. $379,000 : 12622 Springbrook Dr E, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 3 full baths

    Home size: 1,492 sq ft

    Year built: 1993

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 34
11. $515,000 : 1501 India St 214, San Diego
    
    2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

    Home size: 1,492 sq ft

    Year built: 2002

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 94
12. $412,500 : 300 W Beech St 1810, San Diego
    
    2 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 938 sq ft

    Year built: 2004

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 91
13. $529,000 : 7925 Deerfield St, San Diego
    
    5 beds, 3 full baths

    Home size: 2,976 sq ft

    Lot size: 9,200 sq ft

    Year built: 1974

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 26
14. $369,000 : 9076 Kirby Ct, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,134 sq ft

    Lot size: 5,100 sq ft

    Year built: 1976

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 29
15. $420,000 : 13044 Cayote Ave, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,199 sq ft

    Lot size: 6,100 sq ft

    Year built: 1975

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 63
16. $419,900 : 14080 Paseo Cevera, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,423 sq ft

    Year built: 1976

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 43
17. $475,000 : 2958 Briand Ave, San Diego
    
    4 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,400 sq ft

    Lot size: 18,500 sq ft

    Year built: 1964

    Parking spots: 4

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 40
18. $225,000 : 1240 India St 1605, San Diego
    
    1 bed, 1 full bath

    Home size: 680 sq ft

    Year built: 2003

    Parking spots: 1

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 92
19. $292,500 : 550 Front St 1007, San Diego
    
    0 beds, 1 full bath

    Home size: 669 sq ft

    Year built: 2005

    Parking spots: 1

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 92
20. $359,000 : 3857 Pell Pl 306, San Diego
    
    2 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,052 sq ft

    Year built: 2005

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 89
21. $279,900 : 6750 Saranac St, San Diego
    
    2 beds, 1 full bath

    Home size: 840 sq ft

    Lot size: 12,500 sq ft

    Year built: 1939

    Parking spots: 6

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 85
22. $236,500 : 10906 Via Abaca, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,010 sq ft

    Year built: 1979

    Parking spots: 1

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 66
23. $234,900 : 3688 1st Ave 36, San Diego
    
    1 bed, 1 full bath

    Home size: 707 sq ft

    Year built: 1969

    Parking spots: 1

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 91
24. $252,900 : 6658 Glidden St, San Diego
    
    2 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 934 sq ft

    Year built: 1988

    Parking spots: 2

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 58
25. $329,950 : 11011 Polaris Dr, San Diego
    
    3 beds, 2 full baths

    Home size: 1,407 sq ft

    Lot size: 6,502 sq ft

    Year built: 1971

    Days on market: 2

    Walk Score®: 66

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Click here to have the angel above light the Christmas Tree!

See Carlsbad Christmas!

San Diego County Homes Residential Locations

ALLIED GARDENS, 92120
7048 Hillsboro St. Off Waring and Princess View. Dec. 10-24, dusk-10 pm.
CARMEL MOUNTAIN RANCH, 92128
Fairway Village, east and west side of Stoney Gate Pl. 85+ homes decorated. Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 5:30-10:30 pm. Neighborhood Block Party on Dec. 17 with food, entertainment, Santa, musicians, carolers and more from 6-10 p.m.
CHULA VISTA, 91910, 91911, 91914, 91915
Whitney St./Mankato. Circle between First and Second Ave. off H St. & 1st Ave. “Christmas Circle.” 55+ homes decorated. Dec. 10-26, 5-10 pm.
CLAIREMONT, 92117
Lana Dr. & Jamar. Off Mt. Abernathy Ave. Circular street. 40+ homes deco-rated. Dec. 10-27. 4670 Norwalk Ave. Off Clairemont Mesa Blvd./ Moraga Ave. Dec. 11-Jan. 1, 7-10 pm, weekends7-11 pm.
EAST SAN DIEGO, 92113
1523 48th St. Off Federal Blvd. & 48 St. Dec. 4-24, 5-10 pm. 4641 Craigie St. Off Highway 94 and 47th. Dec. 10-24, dusk-10 pm.
EL CAJON, 92021
Jingle Bell Hill (also known as Pepper Dr. Lights). Solomon Ave./Pegeen Pl. and surrounding area. Off 67 & Bradley. “Celebrating the Reason” theme. Dec. 9-26, Mon-Th 6-9 pm, Fri-Sun 6-10 pm. 11456 Pegeen Pl. “Nightmare Before Christmas” theme, complete with Jack, Sally, Zero, the Mayor & Oogie Boogie. Dec. 5-26, Mon-Th 6-9 pm, Fri-Sun 6-10 pm. 1838 El Pico Dr. Off Hacienda Dr. 48th year of decorating the 20-ft. star over 100 ft. in air, overlooking El Cajon valley from Nov. 27-Dec. 31. Also see a 55-ft. train. Dec. 10-31, dusk-10 pm.
LOMITA, 92114 (near Lemon Grove)
689 Meadowbrook Dr. Off Jamacha Rd. South of Lemon Grove. Dec. 8-Jan. 1, dusk-10 pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus may be out from Dec. 17-23.
POWAY, 92064
12631 Stoutwood St. Off Twin Peaks Rd. & Deerwood St. Nicknamed “The Griswolds.” Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 5:30-10 pm week-days, 11 pm weekends. Hickory Ct./Hickory St., 12659 Butterwood Ct. and Rockrose Ct. All off Twin Peaks Rd. &
Silverset St. named “Candy Cane Courts.” Entire cul-de-sacs are lit up. Dec. 10-24, 6-9 pm.
RANCHO PEÑASQUITOS, 92129
Oviedo St. Off Black Mountain Rd. “Christmas Card Lane.” Also enter off Twin Trails Dr. & Carmel Mountain Rd. Ellingham St., Renato St., Oviedo St., Twin Trails Dr., Barrymore St., Rotherham Ave., Talca Ave., Talca Ct., Allenbrook Way, Daven-port Ave., Amber Sky Ln. Dec. 11-31, dusk-10 pm.
SAN CARLOS, 92119
6296 Lake Arrowhead Dr. Between Dallas & Lake Murray. Lights, Santa Claus, animated window scenes. Dec. 5-27, dusk-10 pm. Block of 7900 and 8000 Hillandale Dr. Off Mission Gorge & Deerfield. Dec. 1-31, 5-9 pm.
SAN MARCOS, 92069
1639 Knob Hill. Off Nordahl Rd. Between Tam O’ Shanter Dr. & Augusta Dr. 23rd year of decorating. 90,000+ lights plus Carnival, North Pole and Santa’s Wild Animal Park themes. Nov. 24-Dec. 30, 5-9 pm. See Santa from 6:30-8 pm from Dec. 10-23. www.ChristmasOnKnobHill.com
SANTEE, 92071
Sunburst Santee. Tomel Court, off Magnolia. Many homes, Starlight Circle. Dec. 17-26, 7-10 pm. 9835 Pebble Beach Dr. Displays on house and yard set up to music. Dec. 1-31, dusk-10 pm.
SERRA MESA/MISSION VILLAGE, 92123
2621 Raymell Dr. Yard decorated like Christmas Town from “A Nightmare Before Christmas”. Dec.10-30, dusk-10 pm. 2133 Seagull Ln. Horse & carriage, doe, tree & gifts. Dec. 10-24, dusk-10 pm.
TIERRASANTA, 92124
5306 Belardo Dr. Off Via Valarta & Via Playa DelCortes. 95,000 lights, including many homemade decorations, all sequenced and animated to music. Tune radio to 89.7 FM to hear the lights dance. Nov. 26-Dec. 26, 5:30-10 pm.www.belardolights.com 11626
Papagallo Ct. Off Colina Dorado or Calle De Vida. “Thomas the Tank Train Engine”
theme. Dec. 3-30, 6-10 pm. 10927 Baroque Lane. A “North Pole” themed Christmas featuring a 20-ft lighted Santa and a Christmas Village. Dec. 9-28, 6-9:30 pm.
VISTA, 92081
1 505 Roma Dr., corner of Lupine Hills and Roma Dr. Inflatable’s and over two
2 dozen homemade plywood cutouts of Disney and other holiday characters. Nov. 26- Dec. 31, Sun-Th 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6 pm-midnight.

Commercial Holiday Light Displays

Del Mar Fairgrounds Holiday of Lights
Jimmy Durante Blvd./Via De La Valle. Off Highway 5. Animated holiday lights. Nov. 24-Jan. 1, Sun.-Thurs, 5:30-10 pm; Fri.-Sat., 5:30-10:30 pm. Closed Nov. 28, Dec. 5 & 12. $14/vehicle (up to 5 people), $19/van or car (6 or more), $49/bus. 858-755-1161. www.sdfair.com., www.holidayoflights.com. Gaslamp for the Holidays Downtown San Diego. www.gaslamp.org.
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave. Tree in the lobby is beautifully decorated plus 100,000 lights illuminate the resort from Nov. 30-Jan. 1. Lighting of the tree outside Nov. 30, 4-7 pm. 619-522-8490. www.hoteldel.com.
LEGOLAND Holiday Snow Days
Real snow! Snowball targets, build a snowman with LEGO accessories, see holiday LEGO displays. Nov. 19-Jan. 2. Nightly tree lighting at 5 pm, Dec. 1-24. Nightly fireworks, Dec. 26-31. 760-918-5346. www.legoland.com.
Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights
Over 100 vessels. Begins on Quivira Basin. Dec. 10, starts at 7 pm, fireworks at 9 pm. 858-488-0501. www.missionbayparadeoflights.org.
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights
Boats decorated in holiday lights circle Oceanside Harbor. Sponsored by the Oceanside Yacht Club. Dec. 10, 7 pm. 760-722-5751.
San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights 2011
40th Anniversary, “Back to the Future” theme. Dec. 11 & Dec. 18. Fireworks, 5:30 pm then parade til 9 pm. Starts off Shelter
Island, goes through the harbor and ends at the Ferry Landing, Coronado. www.sdparadeoflights.org.
San Diego Botanic Garden “Garden of Lights”
230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas. 100,000+ lights illuminating the plants and trees. Dec. 8-23 and Dec. 26-30, 5-9 pm. Nutcracker ex-hibit, marshmallow roasting, live music, kid crafts. Adults, $12, children 3-12, $4. 760-436- 3036. www.SDBGarden.org.
San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells
Balboa Park. Dec. 11-23, Dec. 25-Jan. 2. Lighted animal figures, bell ringers, nightly tree-lighting ceremony, “Night Before
Christmas” interactive show. 619-231-1515. www.sandiegozoo.org.
SeaWorld Christmas Tree of Lights
The Skytower lights will sparkle after dark. Nightly at 6 pm. Weekends Nov. 19-Dec. 11, daily Dec. 17-Jan. 1. www.seaworld.com.
Victorian Mansion/The Forward House
108 Ivy St., corner of First and Ivy, downtown San Diego. Nov. 24-Jan. 1, 5-10 pm. See Santa on the roof on Dec. 16 from 5:30-8:30 pm. 619-533-7900.

Twenty three years ago, I went to work for Prudential Anne Winton Realtors.    Anne Winton dropped the Prudential franchise and I left to work for Merrill Lynch.  A few months later, “Prudential” started selling franchises and Prudential Real Estate took over all the Merrill Lynch franchises.  The local brokerage under Steve Games, Prudential California Realty, took over my Merrill Lynch office in Rancho Bernardo.   Now I worked for Prudential Real Estate again.  After over 22 years at  California Realty, I joined Real Living Lifestyles, a franchise of Brookfield Residential Property Services.  A large percentage of Real Living agents were my friends and came from Prudential California Realty also.

Today came the big news, Brookfield Residential Property Services aquired Prudential Real Estate and Prudential Relocation Services.  See article below photo for more information on Kissing Cousins.

Today Brookfield Residential Property Services (“Brookfield”), a Brookfield Asset Management Inc. affiliate, announced that it has purchased Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services (“PRERS”), a recognized leader in employee relocation and real estate franchising from Prudential Financial, Inc. Prudential Relocation Services operates as Pricoa Relocation in Asia and Europe.  Brookfield also sells all the “Real Living” franchises which already has over 10,000 agents.

The addition of PRERS to Brookfield’s existing residential real estate franchising and employee relocation services businesses establishes Brookfield as the world’s second largest employee relocation services provider and the third largest residential real estate franchising business.

Under a licensing agreement, Prudential Real Estate brokerage affiliates will be able to continue to use the Prudential brand based on the terms of their franchise agreements until the expiration of their franchise agreements. 

“This transaction creates a global employee relocation services and real estate franchising leader,” explained Graham Badun, CEO, Brookfield Residential Property Services. “We have now increased the breadth and depth of our service offering, keeping pace with the evolving needs of our clients around the world.”

A North American & Global Leader

Through its various brands, Brookfield’s residential real estate franchisees are now present in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and Portugal, with a network of approximately 80,000 real estate agents, 2,800 real estate brokerage locations and more than $150 billion in annual residential real estate transactions.

U.S.-based Brookfield Global Relocation Services moves nearly 85,000 families in and out of over 125 countries around the world each year. With the acquisition, more than one-third of Fortune 100 companies are its clients. In addition, Brookfield is now the largest provider of relocation services to government, with long term relationships with the U.S. and Canadian governments.
The acquisition greatly strengthens Brookfield’s existing U.S. business and results in the expansion of its operations in nine countries, with a rapidly growing presence in China, Brazil and India.

“Today, Prudential’s real estate and relocation services businesses join a global company with a track record of over 100 years of success,” said Earl Lee, President of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. “We’re excited to become part of a company that is focused on and deeply immersed in the real estate sector and is in the business for the long-term.”

Earl Lee will continue to lead the U.S. real estate business, and Rick Schwartz, President, Brookfield Global Relocation Services, will assume responsibility for the combined global relocation services business.

Brookfield’s parent company, Brookfield Asset Management, is a global asset manager with approximately $150 billion in assets under management. Brookfield is co-listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbol BAM and on NYSE Euronext under the symbol BAMA.

That is how Real Living Lifestyles and Prudential California Realty became “kissing cousins.”  To get more real estate information or to see current real estate listings of San Diego North County homes, contact Gary Harmon, your Real Living Lifestyles Realtor.  See “Carlsbad Christmas.”

San Diego Boat Parade

No place like Southern California offers so many Christmas boat parades. Here in San Diego County the main event is the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is on December 11 and December 18th. Fireworks begin at 5:30 and the Parade of Lights starts immediately after the end of the fireworks.  Parade last until approximately 9:30 pm.  If you have a boat that you would like to enter, entry fee is $40.  Get boat parade entry form.

The parade takes approximately one hour to one and a half hours to pass any given point along the parade route. The approximate arrival time of the parade at various locations are:

• Shelter Island (start of parade) – 5:30pm
• Harbor Island – 6pm
• The Embarcadero – 6:30pm
• Seaport Village – 7pm
• Ferry Landing on Coronado – 7:30pm

A more detailed parade routing is shown below the photo.

• Start Time: 5:30 P.M. for Light Parade. Led by US Coast Guard Cutter.South end to north end of Shelter Island.
• North end Shelter Island across America’s Cup Harbor entrance to west end Harbor Island
• West end Harbor Island to east end of Harbor Island.
• East end Harbor Island to just west of Maritime Museum’s ferry Berkeley.
• Pass Berkeley and Star of India.
• Parallel the Embarcadero to the “G” St. Mole.
• Pass Seaport Village and the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.
• Past Marina Park, turn south. Cross Bay to the Marriott Coronado Hotel.
• Proceed west to the Coronado Ferry Landing.
• Proceed to Finish at buoy 22a.

Another popular parade in our area is the Mission Bay Parade of Lights – 12/10/2011.

Mission Bay Parade of Lights

More than 60,000 people are expected at San Diego’s Mission Bay Park on Saturday, December 10 at 7 PM for the annual Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights followed with a fantastic firework display at 9:00 p.m. This free, distinctly California celebration features boats decorated for the holiday season that will sail around Mission Bay starting from the Quivira Basin area. A highly anticipated event in the San Diego community, more than 100 vessels take to the water for the parade. The best viewing is from Riviera Shores, Crown Point, Santa Clara Point, the east side of Vacation Island and west side of Fiesta Island.

San Diego’s North County Coast

Due to the hilly terrain of the beach towns along San Diego’s North County coast, many residential homes and condos boast of spectacular Ocean views and whitewater views. This location and geography has created the perfect place for spectacular Encinitas ocean view homes, Carlsbad ocean view homes, and Oceanside ocean view homes. San Diego North County is ideally located to offer an impressive selection of ocean view homes for sale. Ocean view real estate ranges from small condos and townhomes with seaside views, to estate-sized properties boasting sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

Gary Harmon – Your Ocean View Realtor

Gary Harmon, your ocean view Realtor, provides extensive knowledge and experience in assisting home buyers with ocean view homes for sale. Feel free to browse the current inventory of single family homes by clicking on the links above the ocean view photo. If you are looking for condos or townhomes, contact Gary Harmon, and he will do a custom search for you. 

See “Carlsbad Christmas.”

 
Pending home sales in California rose in October 2011, and were up from October 2010. Additionally, distressed home sales rose in October 2011 from both the previous month and year, ® (C.A.R.) reported on November 21st.

Pending home sales:
California’s pending home sales climbed 3.1 percent in October and were up from October 2010, according to C.A.R.’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)*. The index was 122.0 in October, based on contracts signed in that month, up from September’s index of a revised 118.2. The index also was up 10.7 percent from October 2010. October marked the sixth consecutive month that pending sales rose from the previous year. Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, providing information on the future direction of the market.

“October’s increase in pending sales is encouraging, especially the six straight months of year-over-year increases,” said C.A.R. President LeFrancis Arnold. “Despite all the challenges the housing market has faced this year, California home sales continue to perform modestly well and should be on pace to match or better last year’s level.”

Distressed California housing market data:

•  At 53.9 percent, equity sales made up more than half of home sales in October, down from 55.5 percent in September and 55.2 percent in October 2010.
• While equity sales have edged down from their peak of 57.1 percent in July 2011, they are up from the beginning of the year when less than half (46.5 percent) of sales were non-distressed.
• The total share of all distressed property types sold statewide rose to 46.1 percent in October, up from September’s  44.5 percent and 44.8 percent in October 2010.
• Of the distressed properties sold statewide in October, 20.7 percent were short sales, slightly up from the previous month’s share of 20.1 percent and up from last October’s share of 19.7 percent.
• At 24.9 percent, the share of REO sales was up from September’s 24.0 percent, and slightly up from the 24.8 percent reported in October 2010.

Data supplied by California Association of Realtors (C.A.R).

Find out how state data compares to six San Diego North County real estate communities.   See current market statistics by community:

1. Carlsbad Statistics
2. Oceanside Statistics
3. San Marcos Statistics
4. Encinitas Statistics
5. Vista Statistics
6. Escondido Statistics

To see homes anywhere is San Diego North County, contact Gary Harmon, your best move for your next move.

Thanksgiving Day here in San Diego North County will be celebrated November 24th.   See below photo for Thanksgiving Tips and Thanksgiving History.

Thanksgiving Day Tips

How to Best Use Your Appliances with a Turkey in the Oven

On Thanksgiving day ovens across the country are busy roasting turkeys.  Really busy.  The typical bird cooks for more than five hours.  If you have a bevy of other holiday dishes in queue for dinner, consider using your other appliances and keep the meal on schedule.
The Grill can be used as a second oven or as a stovetop.  Use it to grill corn, toast bread, or keep ready meals warm.Use your Stovetop to make side dishes and sauces.  Cook dishes in Dutch Ovens that will need to go under the broiler or be baked later.
 

Display gravies and sauces in Fondue Bowls.

They can be set up any place and turned on at any time.  Crockpots are a simple and space efficient place to keep food warm and fresh.  Mashed potatoes, stuffing, creamed vegetables and soups will be easy to serve and stay on buffet tables.  The Freezer can store premade meals for at least a week; and The Refrigerator will keeps salads, dips and cold appetizers fresh about a day.  Your Oven will be free again when you take the turkey out to rest.  Leave the turkey covered in tin foil for 30 minutes or more before carving to retain the most juices – And, give you enough time to reheat other plates.
 
Make a Timeline of When to Cook and When to Serve
Keep your Thanksgiving celebration on schedule with a simple serving timeline.  Just start at the end and work your back.
Ask yourself, when do you want to serve dinner?  Mark it down at the far end of the timeline.   Then fill in all the preparations needed to make it on time.
Let’s say you want to have guests sit down for dinner at 6:00; then you’ll need to pull the Turkey out of the oven and start the last round of re-heats at 5:15.   During that 45 minute span you can set out room temperature dishes and heat gravies on the stove top.  Side dishes can be cooked at 4:30 while guests enjoy appetizers and drinks…
 
Use Post It Notes to Plan Serving Dishes and Table Settings
Dishes like green bean casseroles and sweet potato pies can often be served in the same container they were cooked in.  Other items (like your freshly carved turkey or smashed potatoes) will need to be served on a new plate.

Set out your serving plates as you want them – whether on the dinner table or nearby buffet table.  Use Post It Notes to label the serving dishes and mark places for the other food.  If you have food coming right out of the oven, set out hot plates.  Feeling extra ambitious?  Set out serving utensils next to each item and avoid any last minute scrambles.
  
Put up a Chalkboard Menu to Whet Appetites

Thanksgiving dinners fill homes with mouth watering aromas.  Build excitement further by displaying a Chalkboard Menu of what’s to come.  Got kids?  Then give them a handwritten list and ask that they write it on the chalkboard.   Family and friends who are contributing to the meal can add on their dishes as they arrive.  Got an extra board?  Then make a second menu for drinks.
 
Share your Favorite Recipes with Family and Friends

Every family has their share of highly coveted recipes.  Do you make the perfect pumpkin pie?  Or have you discovered the secret to homemade stuffing?  Think about the recipe requests you get most and proactively plan to share them with guests. Print out your best recipes on festive cards.  Not only will they be appreciated by your admiring diners, but they can also be a great way to add to your table décor.  Display cards in coaster stands or business card holders; give them some flair with T-day stamps or stickers.  Encourage people to take them home so they can recreate your masterpieces.   Have a guest brining a dish you love?  Ask them early to bring copies of the recipe or email it to you so you can print it out.
 
Make the Kids Table the Coolest Place to Sit

A “Kids Table” comes with a certain stigma.  Break those bad vibes by making it to coolest place to sit in the whole house.  First, be sure to give kids enough room to be comfortable.  They don’t want to be stuffed in a corner without room to relax any more than adults do.  Turn the table into an activity station by covering it in kraft paper (it looks like a paper bag).  You can pick up a roll at a local craft store or order it online.   Then make ‘centerpieces’ out of art supplies.  Fill a pretty pot with colored pencils and a bowl with stickers.
Not only is this an inexpensive way to cater to children’s needs; it’s also great for clean up! 
  
Turn Giving Thanks into a fun Game for Guests

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on things in our lives that bring us joy and share thanks.  You can take this holiday tradition one step further by turning ‘giving thanks’ into a fun game that will brings guests together.  Pass out 2-3 index cards and a pen to each guest.  Ask everyone to use the cards to write down specific things they are thankful for and discretely place the cards into a basket.  (Note:  Tie a colorful ribbon around the basket and it can be part of your decorations.  Keep the index cards and pens in the basket until you are ready to play).

After dinner while everyone is still gathered around the table, take out the basket of thankful messages.  Give them a shake, pull out a random card and read the message out loud.  Can you guess who wrote the message?  Expect a lot of laughs and pointing as everyone tries to figure it out.  Pass the basket down and let the next person read a message out loud.  There’s no need to keep score, just enjoy the pleasure of sharing thankful messages and getting to know your Thanksgiving guests better.
 
Don’t Let Leftovers be an After Thought
If I am expecting 15 people for Thanksgiving, I cook for 32.   And I know I am not alone!  We all tend to go a little over board preparing our Thanksgiving feasts.  Most families have enough leftovers to last a week!  Rather than leaving leftovers as an after thought; plan ahead and make them a part of the sharing process.  Visit a craft store and pick out a nice set of ‘doggie bags’.  You’ll find tins with cardboard lids (like most restaurants use), folding cardboard boxes and attractive plastic containers.  Pick up the set that speaks to you, and a stack sticky labels and some holiday decorations.   Use the labels to personalize a to-go kit for your guests.  Let your kids decorate the containers and put them on display.  When it’s time to go, guests can ‘revisit’ the buffet line and pack themselves meals to take home.  By planning ahead, everyone will leave with a fantastic Thanksgiving mix to enjoy later. 

Save Money by Shopping for Next Year’s Decorations Now

As soon as Thanksgiving is over the stores will dramatically discount all the holiday decorations.  Drug stores, food stores, craft stores and card shops will all mark down prices 30 – 70%!  Set aside some time to pick out a basket full of Thanksgiving decorations for the following year.  You’ll find wreaths for the front door, kitchen towels, fragrant candles, holiday serving platters, fake leaves, table runners, cloth napkins and all types of other goodies.  Pack it all neatly in a box, label the box for next year and relax!  Though not for too long, because Christmas is right around the corner…
 
{tips provided by Erica Vautier Liodice, Real Living Lifestyles}

Thanksgiving History

 Thanksgiving day is full of history for our country, so I thought it might  be helpful to share a little Thanksgiving history.  Thanksgiving Day is celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada.  Thanksgiving is a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships.  Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.  That is why I use a photo of the horn-of-pleanty.  Thanksgiving for most of us is the day off and way too much good food to eat.

Thanksgiving Day falls on the fourth Thursday of November.   This year it is November 24, 2010.  

 Thanksgiving hasn’t always been on the fourth Thursday in November.  See the article below the photo to see how this day was selected.

Two Thanksgiving Days

On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1939, Franklin Roosevelt carved the turkey at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, and wished all Americans across the country a Happy Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, his greeting went unanswered in some states.  Many Americans were not observing Thanksgiving on the same day as the President.  Instead, they were waiting to carve their turkeys on the following Thursday because November 30th in many states was the official Thanksgiving Day.  Two Thanksgivings Days?  Why were Americans celebrating a national holiday on two different days?

At the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, Thanksgiving was not a fixed holiday; it was up to the President to issure a Thanksgiving Day proclamation.  Thanksgiving Day was always the last Thursday in November because that was the day President Abraham Lincoln observed the holiday when he declared Thanksgiving Day a national holiday in 1863. 

25 Shopping Days Until Christmas

Since statistics showed that most people did not do their Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving, business leaders feared they would lose money, especially during the Depression, because there were only 24 shopping days between Thanksgiving day and Christmas Day.   Business leaders ask Roosevelt to make Thanksgiving one week earlier.  FDR considered their request and moved the date of Thanksgiving up one week.  Now Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth day of November.

I know economic times are tough, but I hope you still have many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day.  I know, I sure do, especially friends and family.  So Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.  If you have any San Diego North County real estate needs during the Holidays, please contact me, Gary Harmon, 760-745-1220 or garyharmon@prusd.com.  I want to be you North County real estate agent.

Helpful real estate information can be found on my main website: HomeInfoSanDiego.com.  On the main website you can search by using the main search buttons: Foreclosure Search, MLS Search, Over 55 Homes, Ocean Hills C C, Ocean View Homes, La Costa Homes, and Contact Gary.  If you want know more about the San Diego North County real estate communities you can go to the community buttons of: Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido, Vista, San Marcos, or Encinitas.  Your search possibilities only start with the main search buttons.  There are over 200 pages of custom, relevant, San Diego North County homes real estate content available.

 Current Listings of Ocean Hills Country Club Homes for Sale

• Ocean Hills Country Club Homes – OHCC Main  - A brief narrative and link to all current real estate listing of Ocean Hills Country Club homes
• Ocean Hills Country Club - Buyers – Info buyers need to know including Gary’s generous Senior Discount
• Ocean Hills Retirement Living – Sellers – Explains how sellers can get the most for their Ocean Hills homes through agressive marketing
• Ocean Hills Country Club Floor Plans – Floor Plans – Gives model names, estimated square footage, and floorplans
• Ocean Hills Country Club faq – OHCC faq – Gives answers to most frequently ask questions about Ocean Hills retirement living
• Ocean Hills Amenities - Amenities – Describes golf course, club house, pool, and many other things Ocean Hills has to offer
• Ocean Hills – History – Provides a detailed history of this active senior community in San Diego
• Ocean Hills Real Estate – Real Estate – Details on the OHCC real estate area

The links above provide the most comprehensive information about Ocean Hills Country Club on one website.  Contact Gary Harmon, your Ocean Hills senior specialist, for more information or to get your personal tour.