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Equal
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Cal Coast Realty Resources & Helpful Links
We intend to provide resources to educate
consumers in real estate, finance, and home ownership related issues.
Our goal is to help you make a more informed decision, and to help you to save
and maximize your resources in your real estate transaction. Although the
following websites generally offer good content, Cal Coast Realty does not vouch
for the veracity or reliability thereof. The following links are provided
only as
convenient research
resources:
 | Carlsbad New Homes: Carlsbad
New Homes Here are
the newest up-and-coming master planned communities in Carlsbad, in the
North San Diego County coastal area. You may click-through the links
below to get information on the communities including floor plans.
Remember that to retain your rebate eligibility on a new construction home
purchase, you must call Cal Coast Realty before you contact the sales
center!
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| Search the MLS: 
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| Education: School
Wise Press Compare local schools' test scores before you decide to buy in a
neighborhood. Good schools create higher resale value neighborhoods,
whether you have children attending there or not!
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| Financial News: Bloomberg |
| Investments: Vanguard
Excellent mutual fund investment company with low costs, like Cal Coast
Realty and Americor Financial, an efficient resource to 'get rich slowly' and safely. |
| Lifestyle: Sunset
Magazine This classic magazine offers great ideas about western home design, home improvement,
cuisine & travel. Cal Coast Realty & Americor Financial
clients receive complementary subscriptions to Sunset. |
| Local Government Links:
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| New Urbanism & Neo-Traditional Communities: Congress
for the New Urbanism is
the organizing body for coherent urban planning and architecture that
advocates development or redevelopment that is designed to create livable
communities centered around a town square. The idea integrates a
mixed use of buildings, placing residences within walking distance to work,
shopping, schools and parks while preserving open natural spaces on the
periphery or in greenbelts. New
Urbanism encourages walking and deemphasizes the automobile by providing
proximity to public transportation hubs. This style of development has
higher density, with much smaller yards than typically sprawling suburban
communities, but this closeness fosters more intimacy between neighbors and enables large
expanses of adjacent open spaces to remain natural. Front porches are
prominent and garage doors are relegated to rear alleys or at least are set
back from the street, avoiding the ugly yet ubiquitous 'snout forward' look
of most American residential tracts. New Urbanism communities are also
referred to as Neo-Traditional communities and somewhat resemble European
villages where mixed use properties are centered on a town square or village
green. Small businesses exist in street level buildings with their
shopkeeper/owners residing in the connected town homes directly upstairs. Here are some examples of successful New
Urbanism communities and Neo Traditional villages in America:
 | Bressi Ranch, Carlsbad, California: Bressi
Ranch is the newest master planned community designed in
the New Urbanism school of thought. It combines a mixed use
village with higher density housing located at the center and around
village squares, village greens and 'vest-pocket' parks. There is
a band of commercial office use along the north boundary and dedicated
open space on the other three sides. Beautifully landscaped trails
lace the community to encouraging walking and roundabout intersections
calm traffic on residential streets instead of four-way stops. A
Trader Joe's market is planned as part of the retail village and the
30-acre Alga Norte Park, including water park features, is being built
to the west of Bressi Ranch. |
| Celebration, Florida:
Celebration
is a master planned community developed by The Walt Disney
Company, near Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. While Disney's EPCOT Center was originally planned as an
"Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow", financial and
other practical considerations dictated that the dream of Walt Disney be
changed from a prototype city to a gated attraction. Celebration is
Disney's grand effort to create a functional planned community in the New Urbanism style, including a downtown,
health center, school, post office, town hall, golf course, single
family homes, townhouses and apartments. Disney utilized top-name
architects in developing Celebration: Cooper, Robertson & Partners
and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Celebration opened July 4, 1996
and a visit is worthwhile; it's just a couple of miles south of Disney
World. Like Seaside (see below), Celebration has been so positively received that the real
estate values there have increased dramatically making it affordable
only to a well endowed gentry. |
| I'on, Mount Pleasant, South
Carolina: I'on
Village is a Neo-Traditional community in the 'Low country' located across the bay from
historic Charleston, SC. I haven't yet visited here but have
always loved the charming character of old Charleston. I'on is
virtually surrounded by thousands of acres of protected forests. |
| Seaside, Florida: Seaside
is one of the first New Urbanism designs. Seaside does not have
a significant employment center except for recreation related
enterprises. Seaside has
become a 'victim of its own success' because escalating real estate
values have turned it into more of an expensive vacation resort or retreat for the
wealthy instead of a thriving village. It does have a 'Disney-esque'
charm with a soft pallet of pastel colors, impeccable vernacular
architecture and immaculate landscaping. However, it has a compelling beauty and charm that
complement the pristine beaches that make it worth experiencing. I have visited there twice and would highly
recommend it if you're passing through the Florida panhandle. |
| San Elijo Hills, San Marcos, California:
San Elijo
Hills is the local North San Diego County village
community that won the national 'Master Planned Community of the Year'
in 2002. Here too, the workplace component is marginal and the
retail component has not yet been established. The relative
isolation makes retail business propositions weak until the community is
built out and Twin Oaks Valley Road is completed, connecting San Elijo
Hills through the Twin Peaks pass with the center of San Marcos.
This community currently lacks public transportation access so the New
Urbanism design rules were flexed. However, it does have a certain
appeal to many. If developed, The San Marcos
Studios, would be the largest sound stage outside of Hollywood, and an Albertson's market
will provide a much needed boost to business in the community. The
close proximity of San Elijo Hills to the adjacent wealthier areas of
South Carlsbad, La Costa, Encinitas, Olivenhain and Rancho Santa Fe make it a less
costly alternative to homes with the more prestigious addresses.
San Marcos offers virtually the same location amenities and benefits of
its more expensive neighbors, like the best weather in
the United States, if you happen to like mild weather. |
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| Non-Profit Organizations with whom Cal
Coast Realty and Americor Financial affiliates and supports:
| California Coastal Coalition: Cal
Coast Advocate for coastline preservation and clean
beaches. |
| Disabled American Veterans: DAV
The DAV is a charitable organization
with a mission, to help those who have sacrificed themselves in the
service of our nation. |
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| Rancho Carrillo: Early California style master planned community with vast open spaces centered along a nature preserve
canyon & stream with panoramic hillside & some ocean views.
Rancho Carrillo has a community clubhouse with pool, spa and cabana, an
onsite child care facility and an active community activity schedule that
includes seasonal celebrations, an annual golf tournament and other social
activities. Rancho Carrillo has an extensive network of hiking
and biking trails and the successful Carrillo Elementary School. Cal Coast Realty is based in this
South Carlsbad community located just west of Rancho Dorado, in San Marcos,
and just east of the new Bressi Ranch community. Rancho Carrillo
concluded new home sales in 2003 but resale homes are available.
| Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic
Park The park contains the center of
the historic Leo Carrillo Rancho, currently serving as a recreational amenity
located within Rancho Carrillo. This is where Clark Gable and
Carole Lombard honeymooned, at the ranch of their friend, Leo
Carrillo. Leo Carrillo was a preservationist of 'Californio'
culture, funded by his success as a character actor in Hollywood.
He created a working rancho in the style of the 'Californios', the
gentrified descendants of Spanish and Mexican Dons, who settled
California with the Franciscan Friarsgranted vast ranchos from Mexico
after |
| Friends of Leo
Carrillo guides private and public efforts to preserve
and improve the ranch. The historical barbeque was recently
restored with a $20,000 grant. |
| Rancho Carrillo HOA
The Homeowners Association (HOA) for Ranch Carrillo. |
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| Real Estate:
| California Dept. of Real
Estate Consumer affairs information, real estate regulations, laws, and
real estate license
status checks. |
| Inman News
Service
Generally good articles by top real estate journalists like Bob Bruss, Jack Guttentag
(the Mortgage Professor) and Diane
Hymer. |
| Realty
Times
Real estate industry news and consumer advice relative to
real estate ownership. |
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| Sports:
Cal Coast Realty Membership Organizations
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