San Clemente homes and condos sold for the month of August 2009 were up 13.5% from 2008, representing the eigth consecutive month of increased home sales.  September also appears to be following the same trend with 61 homes and condos under contract at the end of August as compared to 38 in 2008, respresenting a 60.5% increase.

The average sales price for San Clemente real estate was $713,653 compared to $892,740 prior year, representing a 20.1% decrease.  While some of this is attributable to the market still adjusting, it should be noted that 87% of sales in 2009 were under $1 million as compared to 71% in 2008.  Much of this is due to the trouble in the jumbo financing market as well as people not purchasing as many luxury goods in the current recession. 

A more promising statistic for the market to better gauge how San Clemente home values have been holding up is the average price per square foot sold.  At the end of August the average price for San Clemente homes and condos sold was $360 per square foot, up 13% or $42 per square foot from the low in February of 2009.  Since the beginning of the year, the average price per square foot of San Clemente real estate sold has shown steady signs of increasing, a sign that the market may be stabilizing.

The current months of inventory on the market is 6.6, just slightly above the 5-6 month range that historically has indicated a stable market.

For more information on sales in a specific area such as Talega, your neighborhood, or what your home may be worth in today’s market, please contact us and we will gladly provide a free over the net report.

In an effort to raise the necessary funds to complete the long-planned La Pata/Vista Hermosa Community Park, the City Council of San Clemente has approved the sale of 14.8 acres of land adjacent to the development’s site to Target.  According to this article in the San Clemente Times, the sale will be for $13.8 million, with all proceeds from the sale contributing to the construction of the park.  If the deal is finalized, this will bring the total alloted amount of money set aside by the city for the park to $32.8 million, which covers the $32 million cost estimate of constructing this new park.

Obviously this is fantastic news for San Clemente residents and visitors.  The corner of Avenida La Pata and Avenida Vista Hermosa has long displayed signs of this proposed project, but like the long-delayed Marblehead Coastal development, the money has not been there to begin and finish construction.  Now that the City Council has approved the land sale to Target, not only will residents and visitors be able to enjoy the various sports’ fields and state-of-the-art aquatic’s center, but San Clemente will be gaining a great store in Target.  This will add more jobs to the area, both in construction and running the new Target, which can only be a good thing in these tough times.  The park will be a fantastic addition to the city of San Clemente, and a new Target is just icing on the cake.

To learn more about the La Pata/Vista Hermosa Community Park, including the proposed layout and features of the park, please visit this website.

To combat a large budget shortfall in the parks department after the new California state budget was recently adopted, state parks have decided to increase their fees to raise money in an effort to prevent closures of up to 100 parks.  In yesterday’s Orange County Register, this article highlighted the increases pertaining to San Clemente State Beach.  Day use camping has increased by $5 per day, and tent camping sites have increased by $10 per day.  RV camping saw the largest increase, going from $34 to $60 per day.

While price increases in a bad economy are never a good thing, in this case the ends definitely justify the means.  One of the great things about being a California resident is our access to a variety of campsites and recreational areas throughout the state.  From the mountains to beach camping, this is a relaxing and affordable way to take a vacation and makes California such a great places for residents and visitors alike.  With California in a budget crisis, the state legislature had to make cuts to a variety of areas, including $14.2 million from the parks department.  Facing potential closures of up to 1/3 of the total state parks and recreation areas in California, the department was left with no choice but to increase fees.  To risk the closing of 100 of these natural treasures is something this state should avoid at all cost.  I for one would be very disheartened if my wife and I would lose the ability to take our yearly camping trip to San Clemente State Beach.  Even though we now have to pay a little more to enjoy this fantastic place, the thought of losing the ability to go there at all makes the extra cost an easy decision and investment into our struggling parks department.

For more information on California state park fee increases and potential closures, please visit the parks department’s official website.

According to the San Clemente Times, NY Firm D.E. Shaw has bid $195 million to buyout some of SunCal Properties, including Marblehead Coastal, after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers.  Marblehead Coastal real estate will be one of the last new developments along the Orange County coastline and encompasses 247 acres on the western side of Interstate 5 between Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida Pico.  The hearing regarding this bid is expected to occur in October.  Hopefully this will bring back life to this fanastic development to come offering custom lots with ocean views, villa style homes, and new upscale dining and shopping.

For more information about Marblehead Coastal, please visit our page exclusively dedicated to this new development or give your exclusive San Clemente realtors a call at (949) 281-5444

As addressed in our previous blog, the City of San Clemente has taken a survey of city residents to obtain their feedback on what they like about San Clemente and things they would like to see changed as part of putting together a 20 year plan for the city called “Vision San Clemente.”  Here is a summary of what residents have voiced from the Vision San Clemente survey:

• 97% of residents view the quality of life in San Clemente as excellent or good
• 86% said they want to preserve unique village character of San Clemente, especially Downtown / Central San Clemente
• Residents believe the most important thing the City should preserve for the future is the proximity and quality of the local beaches
• Residents want to keep San Clemente neighborhoods more desirable as 97% believe that adequate parking is somewhat important and 93% value being within walking distance to parks, green spaces, and/or beaches
• San Clemente residents want to spend more time in the city, requiring additional restaurants, entertainment options, and shopping for necessities

For more information on San Clemente, feel free to contact your exclusive San Clemente real estate consultants.

According to the City of San Clemente, Vision San Clemente is the city’s first step in creating a general plan update over the next 20 years and they are looking to San Clemente residents for participation.  The city plans to use participants’ input to sucessfully plan for the future of the city by identifying current strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.  In addition, priorities will be outlined and a plan put in place on how to achieve such objectives. 

While the community survey has already been completed, the first community workshop will be July 9th at San Clemente High School Triton Center from 6:00-8:30pm.  San Clemente High School is located at 700 Pico Avenue.  The second workshop will be July 29th at the same time and place.

For more information, please visit the City of San Clemente’s web page dedicated to Vision San Clemente or view this brochure.

According to the San Clemente Times, a group of San Clemente residents are planning legal action against the City of San Clemente if they do not resolve the increased level of train noise due to the pedestrian crossings along the Beach Trail from North Beach to Calafia.  There are currently five beach crossings along the path and as mandated by Federal Law in 2006, trains are required to sound the horns no matter the time of day when crossing over these pedestrian crossings.  The group QUIET - Quit Using Intense Ear-Splitting Train noise) is not after money, but rather is after the peace and quiet so they can get a good night sleep along this beautiful stretch of ocean front San Clemente real estate.  The head of the group claims the city of San Clemente knew about the issues and failed to take any action.  The solution is to underground the pedestrian passes so the trains would no longer have to sound their horns along the coastal corridor, each of which would cost around $500,000 or $2.5 million in total.

For more information, please visit the City of San Clemente website.

If you are in the market to buy a San Clemente home or condo for sale and are a first-time homebuyer, you can now use the available $8,000 tax credit upfront towards your down payment or closing costs without having to wait for it when you file your tax return for 2009 in 2010.  Here is a summary of how the plan works now:

• Must purchase the home and close escrow no later than December 1, 2009
• First-time homebuyers (i.e. have never owned or have not owned in past three years) can use the $8,000 up front as closing costs or towards down payment
• Only FHA-approved loans are required if tax credit is used as down payment
• While the $8,000 tax credit can be used towards down payment or closing costs, it cannot go towards the 3.5% FHA required down payment.

For more information on using this credit, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.

Come enjoy 4th of July fireworks and festivities at the San Clemente Pier located in the Central / Downtown area of San Clemente.  Fireworks will start at 9pm, however, there will be many people enjoying the beautiful beach for the day.  If you happen to be hungry and want to sit on the water, you can enjoy Fisherman’s Restaurant that has delicious fish and chips, fish tacos, clams, and other food for those non-seafood lovers.  They also have a full-service bar.  If you don’t want to wait long to eat here, you can head up Del Mar street where you can enjoy food at such places as Beachfire Bar and Grill, Selma’s Chicago Pizza, or El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant.  If your are in the mood for more of an upscale place to eat, you can head to Gordon James, White Horse Restaurant and Bar, Village Meditteranean Rim, or The Cellar.

The San Clemente Pier is located off the Avenida Palizada exit of Interstate 5.  If you are heading south on the 5, exit Avenida Palizada, make a left onto El Camino Real and then turn right on Del Mar Street.  As you head down Del Mar street you will see all the local establishments offering great food and shopping.  Stay straight on Del Mar all the way down the hill where at the bottom you will find metered parking at the Pier.

According to the San Clemente Times, the new proposed Ralphs Shopping Center near downtown San Clemente on El Camino Real became a closer reality on Tuesday.  The San Clemente City Council voted 3-2 against requiring an environmental impact report (EIR) and instead decided that a mitigating negative declaration (MND) would suffice.  From a development standpoint, an EIR takes a lot longer to complete and obtain approval on versus the MND and sometimes can be a difference of 12-18 months.  In order to begin construction, either and EIR or MND needs to be approved, so the fact the city council voted in favor of the MND means that this much needed infrastructure could be begin construction sometime in the next 6-12 months.  

Stay tuned for more updates to come!