If you need more information about your property tax, take a look at the county treasurer’s frequently asked questions.
North County and San Diego County Events – March 2017
The Flower Fields
March 1 – May 14
Location: Carlsbad, 5704 Paseo del Norte
For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch® in Carlsbad, California, are in bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year – from early March through early May – literally bringing the famous fields back to life. This annual burst of color, which has become part of the area’s local heritage, also is one of nature’s official ways of announcing the arrival of spring here in southern California.
- Hours: Open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Prices: Adults: $14.00 Seniors 60+: $13.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $7.00 Children 2 yrs. & under: Free
- Season Passes: Adults: $30.00 Seniors 60+: $25.00 Children 3-10 yrs.: $16.00
The Flower Fields are an alcohol and tobacco free environment. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted onsite. No Bicycles, hoverboards or drones are permitted.
Continue reading North County and San Diego County Events – March 2017
February 2017 San Diego County Real Estate Report and Interest Rates
The San Diego County and North County real estate markets are still sizzling hot. But due to rising interest rates and low affordability, experts are predicting a slowdown in both value growth and home ownership rates. Clear Capital predicts appreciation in San Diego County to be a low as 0.9 percent in 2017.
When Does One-Half Equal More Than Five?
Since the election, interest rates have started going up. This will have a direct effect on the cost of housing. A one-half percent change in interest rates can affect your monthly payment more than a five percent change in home prices.
When does one-half equal more than five? When interest rates increase! Here’s what a change in interest rates costs you compared to a rise in home prices.
I’ve used a $500,000 purchase price with a 20 percent down payment. Interest rates are broken down in 0.25 percent increments from 0 to 1 percent. Price increases are broken down in 2.5 percent increments from 0 to 10 percent.
Continue reading When Does One-Half Equal More Than Five?North County and San Diego County Events – February 2017
Museum Month: Half-Off Admission
February 1 – 28
Location: Multiple Locations
Arts, entertainment and culture collide for Macy’s Museum Month in San Diego. This February the San Diego Museum Council and Macy’s have teamed up again for Museum Month, giving patrons a chance to discover what’s new at more than 40 area museums with savings only seen once a year.
Participants can pick up a Museum Month Pass at any area Macy’s store to enjoy half-off admission to all of the participating museums through the entire month of February. Passes will be available beginning February 1 at all San Diego, Temecula and Imperial Valley Macy’s
Continue reading North County and San Diego County Events – February 2017
January 2017 San Diego County Real Estate Report and Interest Rates
Interest rates continued to increase, but the San Diego County and North County markets didn’t seem to care. San Diego edged up to number five on the hottest U.S. markets list from realtor.com® last month.
Real Estate 2017: What to Expect
One of the most common questions I get at this time of year is, “What’s going on in the market?” It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners always want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is the American real estate market is strong and healthy. Home values are up, prices and sales are strong, and millennial, first-time buyers are eager to become homeowners.
We often use national real estate numbers to give us a clearer view of our local market. However, real estate is local, and while statistics and predictions help us understand the overall real estate market, our local market may be different. If you’re thinking of buying or selling, or just want to know how much your home is worth, give me a call!
Continue reading Real Estate 2017: What to ExpectNorth County and San Diego County Events – January 2017
Lux Art Institute Welcomes Resident Artist Xawery Wolski
January 1 – 7
Location: Encinitas, Lux Art Institute, 1550 South El Camino Real
Xawery Wolski was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1960 and currently lives and works in Mexico City. Educated both stateside and abroad, Wolski’s work has been exhibited internationally and is included in the permanent collections of Fonds National d’Art Contemporain (Paris, France), National Library of France (Paris), Mordena Museet (Stockholm, Sweeden), and Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, among others.
Wolski’s residency provides him the perfect opportunity to produce a new sculptural work related to the idea of a dress, a consistent sculptural theme within his work. The concept of the dress continues to fascinate Wolski, and Lux’s locality would allow him to utilize his favorite material— local clay that gives rise to terra cotta. His new piece created in residence will be the creation of several hundreds of elements—dried, fired, sewn together using strong thread into the form of a dress. Once complete, this piece would accompany the other works on display, thereby representing Wolski’s practice that is informed by travel. This addition would also act as a link between the exhibited works that were inspired by his trips to Poland, India, France, Mexico, Thailand, Peru, Italy, and Myanmar, among others. Currently, the United States of America is missing from this link, and Wolski’s residency piece will bind the US to his oeuvre.
The Artist Pavilion is open 1:00 to 5:00 pm Thursday and Friday and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday.
Continue reading North County and San Diego County Events – January 2017
December 2016 San Diego County Real Estate Report and Interest Rates
The Fed hiked interest rates by .25 percent this week and expect continued increases in 2017. With rising interest rates and prices already putting pressure on affordability, what’s in store for the future? Here are predictions from eight real estate experts.
8 Scams to Watch Out For This Holiday Season
The holidays are a happy time for celebrating with family, friends, and co-workers. Unfortunately, this time of year can also be turned sour by a wide variety of clever frauds, unauthorized debit and credit card transactions, and bogus person-to-person scams. By the end of 2015, individuals, retailers, charitable donors, and companies were victimized to the tune of $1.5 billion. That number is expected to have gone up in 2016.
Just as you protect your home with an alarm system, you should set up defenses for your credit and identity. During the holiday season, fraudulent activity spikes. Here’s how to protect yourself from the eight most common scams.
Continue reading 8 Scams to Watch Out For This Holiday Season