My Thoughts on Blogging

As you know from reading my blog here, I write quite a bit. And as I have mentioned in the past, I write on several other blogs as well.

My Relocation A to Z blog focuses on relocation issues for buyers and sellers, especially those moving here to Carlsbad and the San Diego area.

My First Time Buyer Central blog is for buyers, new and experienced. Those interested in Carlsbad homes (and other areas) will find lots of useful information about the process and issues to be aware of in our housing market.

I also write on the ActiveRain network, which is for professionals in the business as well as consumers (community articles for buyers and sellers are found on Localism).

I see a tremendous value in blogs for consumers who are buying and selling. It's a way for me to share information about the buying and selling process. It is also a great vehicle for sharing community information, for those who live in the area as well as those who are considering a move here. And consumers can get to know me through my blogs.

Now and then I like to poke fun at various things, and recently wrote a tongue-in-cheek article about why I don't like blogging. There is a tad bit of sarcasm there, of course, since I really do enjoy it (or I would NOT have written over 1000 posts in the last year on my 4 blogs).

So for a bit of humor and perhaps a laugh or two, read about why I don't like blogging.

My New Carlsbad listing

I don't write much formally about my business here, but did want to mention a new listing I have in Carlsbad. There's a neat photo tour and lots of information here.

If you or someone you know is looking at Carlsbad homes for sale, feel free to pass along the link. Let me know what you think of the photo tour - it's something new I am trying.

Thanks.

Construction Everywhere

I have been amazed at the amount of construction going on here in the San Diego area, since arriving here less than 2 years ago. now that may seem somewhat surprising, coming from someone who lived in Boston and put up with the BIG DIG for 16 years, beginning in 1991. Granted, the Big Dig was a monumental project of unprecedented proportion and budget (yep, they overran the budget by, I believe, $50 billion), and Bostonians and visitors have been putting up with the aggravation, traffic jams, detours and overall mess for an incredibly long time. And there have been a myriad of delays and recent defects have been discovered. Oh, and yes, the lawsuit. But I digress.

First, there is the housing construction. Since I am a real estate professional I take more notice of these things, I suppose. The hills near my house in La Costa (which used to be almost bare and that I can see from my yard) are now mostly covered with houses at La Costa Greens. And La Costa Ridge is now being built atop the highest hill in La Costa. Bressi Ranch is nearby and the hundreds of homes there have changed the California landscape forever (and not, IMHO, in a good way). Should I mention San Elijo Hills (yes, I think it offers alot for buyers, but wow what a change to the area. And the on-going obliteration of the terrain along Rancho Santa Fe Road. Incredible. I have to acknowledge that I am more used to seasonal construction (for the most part) in Boston due to the weather, but here it is all year long.

There is also all the new housing that has been built at Santaluz, and at The Bridges and The Crosby in Rancho Santa Fe. And the new luxury condos in La Jolla. You can't help but notice the pages of new construction information in the Sunday Union-Tribune.

So what else? Well, Oceanside is seeing dramatic changes to the downtown area and in the redevelopment zone (6 projects, I believe, in the works or planned). The pic to the left was taken during one of my picture-taking journeys around the Oceanside area - the view is from The Strand right along the ocean.

Then there are the massive changes going on with the widening of the freeways, especially the 805/5 junction - at that point in Sorrento Valley I believe there are 21 lanes (new lanes to open in a few days I believe). Amazing.

Some other construction...we have a new racetrack surface being installed at the Del Mar Racetrack, that will supposedly be safer and help avoid the tragedies of this most recent racing season (28 horses had to be euthanized - so sad). And Del Mar voters will get to vote on the proposed median to be installed on Del Mar Heights Road - now that should be a fun construction project. Imagine the traffic at rush hour! And then there is the new public golf course, The Crossings, being built in Carlsbad and due to open in July of this year.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the numerous condo/high rise and commercial projects in San Diego - completed, in progress, or planned - with hundreds of new homes in the financial area, near the marina, in the Gaslamp District, etc.

I could go on...and this is just in the areas I normally travel to. But it's amazing to see especially when you see old photos of the area, even just a few years ago. I guess it's progress.

La Costa Ridge - Another Carlsbad Master Planned Community

La Costa Ridge is the last of the three La Costa Villages being built high on the hills of La Costa (La Costa Greens and La Costa Oaks being the other two).

If you are looking for Carlsbad homes for sale with fabulous views (panorama, ocean, lagoon, back country?), great floorplans, and terrific amenities, then take a look.