You thought that with amazing neighborhoods, affordable housing, incredible weather, and competitive education and employment options, life in Carlsbadcould not get any better. You were wrong!

While most cities talk about the healthy outdoor lifestyle and community improvements, Carlsbad goes well beyond that and supports the community with public state-of-the-art community parks. Living in Carlsbad has a list of advantages that is nearly endless, and the park system is among the real gems.

Most recently, the city council approved the contract to build Alga Norte Community Park, a 32-acre multi-use complex located at the corner of Poinsettia  Lane and Alicante Road.  Construction of the park is schedules to begin in June with the pools and major amenities expected to be completed by late 2013.

The new park is set to include exciting amenities such as pools, ball fields, and a dog park. The approved design of park features includes:

• A 56-meter “Olympic sized” competition pool with viewing bleachers
• A 25-meter, 12-lane swim instruction pool
• A 22-foot diameter 6 inch deep kids pool
• A “spray-ground” play area for young children
• Three lighted softball/baseball fields
• One lighted full basketball court and one half court
• Batting cages and a concession stand at the ball fields
• Picnic areas with barbecues
• Playground with 100 percent universally accessible play equipment
• An off-leash dog park divided into areas for larger and smaller dogs, including obstacle course-type play equipment
• A 18,500-square-foot lighted skate park that will include a “street course” section, an area with challenging elements for more skilled skateboarders and a beginners’ area

One of the reasons Carlsbad attracts new residents is that every day brings something new to enjoy. In fact, you could live a lifetime here and never exhaust the opportunity the community affords. Whatever your passion, Carlsbad is the place to live and explore the best that life has to offer.

Do you have questions about city amenities or available housing?

Contact us today.  Shayla Hope & Associates is an award winning team of real estate industry experts specializing in short sales. Our goal is to be a community resource, whether you need a highly skilled agent, or simply information on what is new and exciting in the neighborhood. Give us a call (760) 972-6899

One of the things that attract so many people to California is the stunning coastline. With over 2,700 miles of shoreline, California offers plenty of amazing coastal towns from which to call home. None, however, top Carlsbad.

Dramatic cliffs and rolling hills, exciting costal living, and nearly endless opportunities in work and education make every inch of the city prime real estate. If you are thinking about a move to the coast, here are the top reasons to consider Carlsbad:

No. 1: The Beauty of Coastal Living
There is just something inspiring about coast living. Perhaps it is the soft sea air, the powerful rush of the ocean waves, the lush landscape, interesting architecture, or the distinctly coastal attitude that gives it its allure. Quite simply, coastal living envelopes every fiber of your being and you are never quite the same.

No. 2: Near Perfect Weather
If there is a place in the world that enjoys better weather, we do not know of it. Winter nights rarely dip below the 40s and winder days rarely require anything more than a sweater with daytime temperatures ranging in the 60s and 70s on average. In summer, you can play beneath the clear blue sky in temperatures that rarely get above the 80s.

No. 3: Plentiful Job and Business Opportunities
The job market in Carlsbad is very favorable. While the city retains a small town feel with plenty of open spaces, it has a population of over 90,000 with a diverse business base to support the population. The city is favorable to new business, so many people move to Carlsbad to start a business in the city in which they live. If working outside the city is desirable, its close proximity to other major cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles and easy access to 3 major freeways, commuter rail, and Amtrak expand the job possibilities even further.

No. 4: Superior Education
Education is a top priority in Carlsbad with award winning public schools and numerous private schools including the Army and Navy Academy. The city is also home to the world famous Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Located just outside the city in neighboring cities, other outstanding schools of higher learning provide a wide base of learning so you can pursue everything from the culinary arts to medicine.

No. 5 Outstanding Recreation and Entertainment
If you are looking for things to do in Carlsbad, the only question will be what to try first. The seven miles of beaches naturally provide a perfect setting for everyone from sunbathers to thrill seekers, with no end to the outdoor pleasures, including swimming, surfing, sailing, fishing and more. Do not stop there though, Carlsbad offers so much more than fun in the sun. Excellent dining, parks, art galleries, museums, and of course the world famous Legoland all call the city home.

No 6: Plentiful Housing and a Favorable Market
One of the best things about Carlsbad is the wide range of affordable housing. Whether you want a cozy starter home, a condominium, vacation home, or luxury estate, the Carlsbad real estate market has something to offer you.

If living on the coast is your dream, Shayla Hope & Associates can help make it your reality.

Home Affordable Refinance Program

The Obama administration is changing a refinancing program so that more underwater borrowers can qualify.
What is HARP?
The Obama administration in 2009 rolled out HARP to refinance borrowers whose loans were backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and who were current on their payments. The idea was simple: If you were making your payments on time but didn’t have enough equity to refinance, you would be able to lower your rate without having to pay down your mortgage balance or take out mortgage insurance.
Initially, the program was limited to borrowers who owed between 80% and 105% of the value of their homes. In mid 2009, the program was opened to borrowers who owed up to 125% the value of their homes. But a series of unforeseen “frictions” have led fewer borrowers to take up on the offer lower rates. Fewer than 900,000 homeowners have refinanced under HARP over the past 21 years, and just 72,000 of those borrowers have loan-to-value ratios between 105% and 125%.

Will I be able to refinance through HARP if I’ve already used the program once?
No. The program will continue to be limited to loans that were delivered to Fannie and Freddie before June 2009, which means that anyone who has already refinanced under HARP won’t be able to refinance again. What other changes are being made to improve HARP?
One of the most important changes addresses the risk that banks will have to “buy back” defaulted mortgages from Fannie and Freddie if the loans are discovered to run afoul of underwriting rules. This has prompted banks to scrutinize appraisals and require extensive documentation of borrowers’ incomes on loans for which they don’t already collect payments, even if Fannie and Freddie already guarantee those loans. As a result, some borrowers can only qualify for HARP by going to their current mortgage servicer, rather than shopping around for the best rate.How will this change help borrowers?
This will streamline the refinance process, eliminating the need in many cases for borrowers to obtain appraisals or to provide extensive income documentation. Instead, borrowers will have to show that they’re current on their mortgage, that they have a job or another source of regular income, and that they meet the other eligibility criteria for HARP.  What if I have mortgage insurance?
Mortgage insurers have also agreed to make it much easier to transfer existing mortgage insurance coverage, which has blocked many borrowers from refinancing. What if I have a second mortgage?
Borrowers with a second mortgage, such as a home-equity loan, need the mortgage owner to agree to “re-subordinate” the loan before refinancing the first mortgage. Federal officials say the largest lenders have agreed to automatically re-subordinate all second mortgages under HARP.What else is being done to lower costs?
Another change involves fees that Fannie and Freddie charge banks for riskier borrowers. The firms, and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, have agreed to waive those fees for borrowers who refinance into loans with a shorter term, such as a 15-year mortgage. They’ll also reduce the fees.When will these changes take effect?
Fannie and Freddie will issue final pricing information and other technical details around Nov. 15, 2011 and some banks could begin taking applications under the new program as soon as Dec. 1, 2011. The HARP program will also be extended through 2013, beyond its current expiration date of June 2012, in order to encourage lenders to invest more resources into staffing up the program. How do I find out if Fannie and Freddie own my mortgage?
You can look that information up online for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What if Fannie or Freddie don’t own my loan-can I refinance through this program?
No. That’s a major limitation, of course, because “jumbo” mortgages aren’t held by Fannie and Freddie, and many of the most underwater subprime mortgages are in privately held mortgage securities that weren’t issued by Fannie and Freddie. How many mortgages could be refinanced as a result of the changes?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency estimates that another 800,000 to 1 million borrowers could refinance through HARP as a result.    Source: Associated Press