The Lawhead Team would like to share our latest listing at 2120 Softwind Lane Encinitas, CA.

• Fabulous Encinitas location on cul de sac with no one behind you.
• 3 car garage
• Huge useable yard
• Freshly painted inside and out
• Lots of storage in the garage
• Huge balcony/deck accessed by two secondary bedrooms upstairs
• Romantic fireplaces in the family room and master bedroom
• Walk to elementary and middle schools
• Community pool, spa, tennis courts & playgrounds.

Check out the full listing for more photos at Coldwell Banker Homes

The Lawhead Team would like to share the latest key points from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® January 2016 resale housing report.

• The number of active listings increased for the first time in five months, increasing 3.1 percent from December on a statewide basis. At the regional level, total active listings increased from the previous month in Southern California (5.3 percent), and the San Francisco Bay Area (8 percent), but declined slightly in the Central Valley (1.6 percent).

• C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index rose to 4.3 months in January from 2.8 months in December, primarily due to slower sales and an increase in active listings. The index stood at 4.9 months in January 2015. The index indicates the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. A six- to seven-month supply is considered typical in a normal market.

• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home increased in January to 44.5 days, compared with 39.5 days in December and 49.5 days in January 2015.

• According to C.A.R.’s sales-to-list price ratio*, properties are generally selling below the list price, except in the San Francisco Bay Area, where a lack of homes for sale is pushing sales prices higher than original asking prices. The statewide measure suggests that homes sold at a median of 97.9 percent of the list price in January, up slightly from 97.1 percent at the same time last year. The Bay Area is the only region where homes are selling above original list prices due to constrained supply with a ratio of 100.3 percent in January, up from 100 percent a year ago.

• The average price per square foot** for an existing, single-family home was $227 in January 2016, down from $230 in December and up from $212 in January 2015.

• Mortgage rates dipped in January, with the 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaging 3.87 percent, down from 3.96 percent in December and up from 3.67 percent in January 2015, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates also dipped, averaging 2.98 percent in January, down from 3.04 percent in December and up from 2.89 percent in January 2015.

*Sales-to-list price ratio is an indicator that reflects the negotiation power of home buyers and home sellers under current market conditions. The ratio is calculated by dividing the final sales price of a property by its last list price and is expressed as a percentage. A sales-to-list ratio with 100 percent or above suggests that the property sold for more than the list price, and a ratio below 100 percent indicates that the price sold below the asking price.

**Price per square foot is a measure commonly used by real estate agents and brokers to determine how much a square foot of space a buyer will pay for a property. It is calculated as the sale price of the home divided by the number of finished square feet. C.A.R. currently tracks price-per-square foot statistics for 38 counties.

The previous key points are from January home sales and price report.

Find out the latest for single family attached home prices in the North San Diego County area from the North San Diego County Association of Realtors^® HomeDex Report:

• The North San Diego County median-priced single-family attached home (SFA) decreased 4.72 percent, from $337,000 in January 2014 to $321,083 in February 2014.  Non-North San Diego County single family attached home median price increased 3.51 percent, to $295,000 in February 2014 from $285,000 in January 2014.
• North San Diego County SFA median price increased 11.10 percent year-over, from $289,000 in February 2013 – continuing a 26 month of a year-over price increases.  Non-North County single family attached home median year-over price increased 31.70 percent, compared to $224,000 in February 2013.
• San Diego County SFA home median price dropped 1.64 percent, from $305,000 in January 2014 to $300,000 in February 2014.  Year-over county median price was up 20 percent compared to February 2014.
• The median number of days-on-market for North County SFA homes sold declined, from 36 days in January 2014 to 30 days in February 2014.  The average number of days-on-market fell from 54 in January 2014, to 52 days in February 2014.
• The number of sold single family attached home units increased 5.45 percent from January 2014 to February 2014; the number of sold SFA units in non-North County Zip Codes increased 3.12 percent from January 2014 to February 2014.
• Year-over single family attached home sales in North San Diego County decreased 11.79 percent, from February 2013. Non-North County year-over sold units increased 1.54, compared to February 2013.
• SFA listings (active and contingent) in North San Diego County decreased 1.59 percent from January 2014 to February 2014, and decreased 6.55 percent yearover from February 2013.
• San Diego County single family attached home listings (active and contingent) increased 0.85 percent from January 2014 to February 2014, and increased 1.81 percent year-over compared to February 2013.

All information can be found from the North San Diego County Association Of Realtors® HomeDex Report.

The Lawhead Team would like to share Coldwell Banker’s article on what to include in your home’s listing. Please read if you plan to put your home up for sale and don’t forget to call The Lawhead Team, “Because Two Lawheads Are Better Than One^TM“!

This article is from Coldwell Banker and can be found in their Seller Resources tips:

Details to include in your home listing.

Individuals who are selling a home typically place a great deal of emphasis on the home listing. The details included are instrumental in attracting potential buyers and afford owners the opportunity to paint their home in the best possible light. However, there are a few details that can be the deciding factor in a ho-hum listing or one that makes buyers excited about contacting a real estate agent.

Include details that are not apparent from photos. There may be several features, amenities and benefits of a home that sellers cannot include in pictures. In many cases, these details get left out altogether and buyers don’t know about them unless they decide to come to a showing. It’s easy to take pictures of the best parts of a home and include these details in the listing as well. However, adding information that is apparent from the pictures may not be the most efficient use of space in a listing, according to MSN Real Estate. Instead, homeowners can optimize the space they are given by taking pictures of the most appealing areas of their home and including details of other areas in the actual text. For example, if the property has several fruit trees, a private driveway or easy access to downtown amenities, these should be included in the listing.

Choose your words wisely. A big turn-off for buyers may be a home description that uses several adjectives, but does not truly describe the home. Most owners want to paint their home in a good light by using descriptive terms, but overkill can quickly make homebuyers skeptical. Instead, use descriptive words, such as “beautiful,” and focus on painting a picture for buyers. Certain terms, such as “spacious” are relative. Instead, try to describe the floor plan to give more insight, MSN Real Estate explains.

Make the emotional connection. The true value of a home is the memories and emotional tie that a homeowner develops over time. While it is important to give an accurate description of the home in terms of square footage and number of rooms, it is also important to showcase the personality of the home. A pool with a backyard may take upkeep, but think about all the great backyard parties it will be surrounded by!

Read entire article from Coldwell Banker about listing your home.

The following are the latest housing industry statistics from North San Diego County’s Association of Realtors:

• The median price for all North County home sales – attached and detached – decreased to $482,500 in October 2013 compared to $499,950 in September 2013.
• Detached homes in North County remained constant in October 2013 at $570,000. Year-over median price for SFD homes in North San Diego County increased 19.37 percent, compared to $477,500 in October 2012, a 15-month trend of year-over median price increases.
• Detached home prices OUTSIDE North County decreased 3.22 percent to $435,000 in October 2013 compared to $449,450 reported in September 2013. Year-over non-North County median price jumped 18.46 percent compared to $367,200 in October 2012, continuing a 19 month trend of year-over median price increases.
• Attached home prices in North County San Diego decreased 10.92 percent to $316,250 in October 2013 compared to $355,000 in September 2013. Year-over SFA North San Diego County median price jumped 19.34 percent, compared to $265,000 in October 2012.
• Non-North County attached home prices decreased 0.31 percent to $285,000 in October 2013. Year-over non-North County SFA median price increased 23.11 percent.
• The number of North San Diego SFD listings (active and contingent) decreased 6.58 percent in October 2013 compared to September 2013, and fell 0.66 percent year-over compared to October 2012 – the 26th straight month of year-over declines in listings.
• The number of sold North San Diego County SFD units rose 8.18 percent in October 2013 compared to September 2013. Year-over sold SFD units declined 6.93 percent compared to October 2012.
• Median days-on-market for single-family detached homes sold in North County increased to 30 days in October 2013 compared to 25 days in September 2013.
• The HomeDex affordability percentage for all homes in North San Diego County – attached and detached – was 31 percent in October 2013.

Read entire article from the North San Diego County Association of Realtors.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some tips on how you can save money when you are selling your home.

1. Find a good listing agent – If you want to squeeze every dime possible out of selling your home it is important to hire the right listing agent. Check around and interview various real estate agents to find out who is going to do the best job.
2. Price your home right – The longer your home sits on the market the less it is worth according to the buyer’s eyes. Price the home in line with comparable sales and that will get buyers interested enough to see it. Go tour open houses in your neighborhood when selling your home to look for trends and note what makes one home more appealing than another.
3. Prepare your home to sell – Consider getting some work done to your home that has been overdue. It may cost some money up front but you may be able to get more back in return. Set aside a certain amount you can afford for repairs and sprucing up the home. You may want to consider hiring a home stager. If you cannot afford it, study some books on staging your home when selling.
4. Examine the fees – Make sure to study the list of fees buyers and sellers are expected to pay. All these costs are usually negotiable when selling. If the buyer is asking for 3% towards closing costs, consider increasing the sales price to compensate.
5. Close closer to the first of the month – Closing closer to the first and not the end of the month could save a lot on interest charges when you are selling your home. Keep in mind however FHA loans are excluded from this.

Have questions on selling your home? Please call The Lawhead Team, “Because Two Lawheads Are Better Than One!”

Check out The Lawhead Team’s helpful tips to get your home in its best shape to sell.

A refined and polished home will appeal to more buyers, sell faster and sell for a higher price. Not to mention buyers will feel more comfortable purchasing a home which appears to be well cared for.

Spend as little money as possible when preparing your home to sell. There is a difference between minor repairs and purchasing an entirely new roof. The following are some helpful tips to get your home ready to sell:

1. Keep your curb appeal looking nice. Mow the lawn, trim hedges, and make sure you have healthy looking plants out front.
2. Keep your garage door closed and store RVs and beat up cars elsewhere while your home is on the market to sell.
3. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door. Keep in mind, the exterior of your home is the first impression potential buyers will get of your home when you sell your home.
4. Repair and/or replace any loosed siding and caulking on the outside of your home.
5. Perform a thorough deep cleaning of your entire home and remove all clutter. Just this simple step will help your home look bigger and brighter.
6. Remove as much as you can from kitchen counters, closets and attics. This makes these areas much more inviting and even larger looking when you sell your home.
7. Repair any cracks, holes or damage to your walls, wallpaper, paint, or flooring.
8. If your paint inside your rooms, living rooms and kitchen are brightly colored you may want to paint over with a more neutral color so the potential buyers can easily picture themselves living in your home.
9. Hire a professional cleaning service every few weeks while your home is on the market to sell.
10. Repair leaking and dripping faucets and showerheads. You may also want to buy new “for show” towels for the bathroom to be brought out when prospective buyers come to look at your home.

The Lawhead Team would like to share the HomeDex Report’s latest for single family attached homes, such as town-homes and condos, in San Diego’s North County.

• The North San Diego County median-priced single-family attached (SFA) home increased nearly 5.9 percent, to $353,000 in July 2013 from $333,450 in June 2013.  Non-North San Diego County SFA home median price increased 3.51 percent, from  $285,000 in June 2013 to $295,000 in July 2013.
• North San Diego County town-homes and condos median price increased 33.21 percent year-over, compared to $265,000 in July 2012, an eight month trend of year-over price increases exceeding 20 percent.  Non-North County SFA median year-over price increased 34.09 percent, compared to $220,000 in July 2012.
• San Diego County condos and town-homes’ median price increased 6.48 percent, from $301,000 in June 2013 to $320,500 in July 2013.  Year-over county median price increased 36.41 percent compared to July 2012.
• The median number of days-on-market for North County condos and town-homes sold increased, to 16 days in July 2013 from 14 days in June 2013.  The average number of days-on-market decreased, from 39 days in June 2013 to 35 days in July 2013.
• The number of sold SFA units increased 5.56 percent from June 2103 to July 2013, and the number of sold SFA units in non-North County Zip Codes increased 11.07 percent from June 2013 to July 2013.
• Year-over SFA sales in North San Diego County jumped 31.03 percent, compared to July 2012. Non-North County year-over sold units increased 23.53, compared to July 2012.
• Condos and town-home listings (active and contingent) in North San Diego County increased 3.59 percent in July 2013 from June 2013, but decreased 37.19 percent year-over from July 2012.  San Diego County SFA listings (active and contingent) increased about 6.3 percent in July 2013 from June 2013, and decreased 28.61 percent yearover compared to July 2012.

Housing Affordability – Single-Family Attached Homes

• The monthly payment – including principal, interest, property taxes, and insurance – for the median-priced SFA home in North County increased, from $1,564 in June 2013 to $1,679 in July 2013.  The monthly payment for the median-priced SFA home in non-North San Diego County zip codes increased, from $1,336 in June 2013 to $1,403 in July 2013.
• The percent of San Diego County households able to afford the median-priced condos or town-homes in North County decreased, to 50 percent in July 2013 from 53 percent in June 2013.
• The SFA home affordability level for non-North San Diego County zip codes decreased, from 60 percent in June 2013 to 58 percent in July 2013.
• 60 percent of county households were able to afford the median-priced SFA home in North San Diego County in July 2012, and 75 percent were able to afford the median-priced SFA home in non-North County zip codes.

Each month we make sure to send out the latest report on what is happening in San Diego’s housing market – North County in particular. Please check out the key points from August’s HomeDex report:

• The median price for all North County San Diego home sales – attached and detached – fell slightly to $494,000 in July 2013 compared to $495,000 in June 2013.
• Detached homes in North County San Diego dipped 0.18 percent in July 2013 to $564,000 compared to $565,000 in June 2013. Year-over median price for SFD in North San Diego County jumped 28.40 percent, compared to $439,250 in July 2012, making 12 months of year-over median price increases (the last five months exceeding 20 percent).
• Detached home prices OUTSIDE North County increased 1.22 percent to $435,000 in July 2013 compared to $429,750 in June 2013. Year-over non-North County median price jumped 22.54 percent compared to $355,000 in July 2012, the sixteenth month of year-over median price increases.
• Attached home prices in North County San Diego increased nearly 5.9 percent to $353,000 in July 2013 compared to $333,450 in June 2013. Year-over North San Diego County median price jumped 33.21 percent, compared to $265,000 in July 2012.
• Non-North County attached home prices increased 3.51 percent to $295,000 in July 2013 compared to $285,000 in June 2013. Year-over countywide SFA median price jumped 34.09 percent, compared to July 2012.
• The number of North San Diego SFD listings (active and contingent) increased 3.53 percent in July 2013 compared to June 2013, but decreased 22.09 percent year-over compared to July 2012 – continuing a 23-month trend of year-over declines in listings.
• The number of sold North San Diego County SFD units increased 5.12 percent in July 2013 compared to June 2013. Year-over sold SFD units jumped 15.98 percent compared to July 2012.
• Median days-on-market for single-family detached homes sold in North County decreased to 17 days in July 2013 compared to 19 days in June 2013.
• The HomeDex affordability percentage for all homes in North San Diego County – attached and detached – remained at 34 percent in July 2013.

The Lawhead Team came across a great article from USA TODAY about the recent inventory of homes for sale growing – a plus for home buyers!

More homes being listed for sale expand buyers‘ choices and may help to moderate price increases.

Julie Schmit, USA TODAY 9:04 a.m. EDT August 13, 2013

More homes are coming on the market, which is a good sign for buyers.

In July, the inventory of homes for sale nationwide was only down 5.2% from a year ago, Realtor.com says.

That’s an improvement from January, when for sale inventories were down 16% from the year before, according to Realtor.com.

More markets are also seeing inventories grow.

The for-sale inventory for buyers was up year-over-year in 25 markets in July, compared to just seven in April, Realtor.com says.

Three of those were Riverside, Calif., where inventories were up 26% year over year; Atlanta, up almost 18%; and Sacramento, Calif., up almost 17%.

All three cities have seen rapid price appreciation in the past year, in part because of super tight inventories.

“Larger inventories, especially in the hotter markets that experienced rapid price increases in the spring, are expanding buyers‘ choices and helping to moderate price increases,” says Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, which operates Realtor.com.

The national median list price increased 5.3% in July year over year, Realtor.com says.

Home prices were up 11.9% in June year over year, according to the latest data from market researcher CoreLogic.

The supply of homes for sale in June changed only a little.

In June, the supply stood at 5.2 months, the National Association of Realtors says, up from 5 months in May.

That means at June’s sales pace, all homes would sell in that time frame if no new inventory was added.

Inventory conditions will continue to broadly favor sellers for months and contribute to above normal price growth, the National Association of Realtors has said.

Check out complete article here:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/13/july-for-sale-home-inventory/2645411/