Home Price Trends in Carlsbad, CA

Top neighborhoods in Carlsbad

Carlsbad is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Diego’s North County. The city offers the combination of the sense of a small community environment and is about a half-hour drive to downtown San Diego.

Residents of Carlsbad have a lot of benefits: they get to reside in a California beach resort area, a pleasant climate with popular attractions, and also have some of the most highly rated schools in North San Diego.

Among the various things to do, there’s LegoLand, South Carlsbad State Beach, Sea Life Aquarium, the Flower Fields and the Village to name a few. This coastal city is great for those who work in biotech, drug and tech industry with companies such as Invitrogen, Isis Pharmaceuticals, ViaSatin.
If your job is in San Diego the commute would be to use I-5, 805, or I-15 south.

carlsbad city boundaries

While the city nicknamed “Village by the Sea”, has a lot to offer, how does it compare to other areas in North County in terms of home price trends?

Have Carlsbad neighborhoods shown substantial gains in the past few years? These are important questions which potential home buyers in North San Diego should think about. This also applies to homeowners who are not thinking of selling their home in the near future. Let’s review a few popular neighborhoods within Carlsbad.

Home Price Trends in Aviara

Located in the South Carlsbad’s hills, Aviara residents enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean, community Golf course and the Batiquitos Lagoon. The city is situated north of Encinitas and west of La Costa.

Aviara neighborhood sign

This is the only area in San Diego county not impacted by the housing collapse in 2008. This neighborhood is arguably among the best choices for real estate in San Diego. As reported by Redfin, the average home price in Aviara is currently $909,000; this represents a decrease of 35.4% from the average home price in 2018.

As with most real estate, holding for a period more than a year, such as 5-10 years, typically results in positive home appreciation. Prices range from the lower $700,000’s for a condo or townhome on up to $2 million for a luxury home. Homeowners enjoy spacious living with peaceful surroundings as there is only one multi-family property (bldg. with more than one residential unit) in Aviara.

Did you know you there’s jumbo loans with as little as 10-percent down on a $2.5 million home?

In terms of list price per square footage, Aviara measures up favorably to the Greater San Diego area in general. The current median sale price per square foot in Aviara is $406, as opposed to the San Diego average of $435 per square foot. This price per square foot is very attractive given Aviara’s desirable homes, ocean and lagoon views, school ratings and ease of access to downtown San Diego.

Aviara Oaks Elementary School and Aviara Oaks Middle School with a rating of 10 and 9 respectively serve this neighborhood.

Aviara’s communities include: Aldea, Aviara Point, Avocet, Azure Cove, Bella Lago, Brindisi, Cantata, Carina, Cristalla, Isla Mar, Marea, Mar Fiore, Pavona, Sandpiper, Serenata, Tesoro de Aviara, Tramonto, Trevira, Viaggio. 7 are gated communities. HOA is managed by Aviara Master Association.

View San Diego Mortgage Rates for Sep, 23, 2023

Price Trends in Calavera Hills Village

Calavera Hills is in Northeast Carlsbad, 5-10 minutes east of I-5 and south of Highway 78 for quick access to the adjacent cities of Vista and Oceanside.

Homes near Calavera Lake

Residents get to enjoy the recreation at Calavera Lake, over six miles of trails on the “Nature Preserve”, the impressive 21-acre Calavera Hills Community Park with basketball and tennis courts, athletic fields, and top-rated Carlsbad schools.

Based on the data, home values in the Calavera Hills area appear to have dipped a bit during this 12-month period in 2018. According to Redfin, Calavera Hills home values have decreased by 29% from last year. However, the price per sq. ft is $403 which is up 6.6% from last year. What this means is more homes are selling in the mid-point range.

The median home value in Carlsbad is approx. $825,000, while the median sale price is $610,000 in Calavera Hills according to Redfin. Hope Elementary School with a rating of 9 serves this wonderful neighborhood.

Prices range from $400,000 up to $1.5 million. Residence options condos, townhomes detached homes to luxury estates.
Calavera communities within include: Barrington, Capistrano, Montara, Mystic Point, Nantucket, Ravinia, Sheffield, Summerhouse, The Cape, Edinburgh Estates, The Crest, The Knolls, The Villas, The Cliffs, The Colony, The Trails.

Price Trends in La Costa 92009

Located on scenic rolling hills, many La Costa residents have views of the mountains and oceans. La Costa boasts five-star amenities from the distinguished La Costa Resort and Spa and the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort. The neighborhood is very safe and it boasts top ranked schools.

La Costa Ridge Homes

According to Redfin, the average sales price for real estate in La Costa over the course of the May 2019 is $852,000. This represents a 14% drop from the average sales price of 1 year ago. Furthermore, Redfin also posts an average sales price per square foot in La Costa of $392.

The neighborhood of La Costa currently has a wide range of real estate on the market. Home choices range from 1 bedroom condos from $350,000 to large luxury homes asking $3.5 million or more.

La Costa is served by three school districts; Carlsbad Unified School District, the San Marcos Unified School District and the combined San Dieguito Union High School District and Encinitas Union School District.
Among the school choices for minors are La Costa Heights elementary school, Olivenhain Pioneer elementary, Oak Crest Middle School and La Costa Canyon High (LCC).

Popular neighborhoods include: La Costa Oaks, La Costa Valley, Arroyo Vista, Summerwalk, Saddle Ridge, The Ranch, Sonata, La Cresta, Santa Fe Trails, La Costa Knolls, Villagio, La Costa Greens, Tiburon, and Parkside at La Costa.

Related Article: How to Choose the Right Neighborhood in San Diego When Buying a House

Summing It All Up
To summarize, median home values in Carlsbad are priced competitively when comparing to all of San Diego, and especially the coast areas. Median home values have increased in Carlsbad since last year and are expected to stabilize over the next year. If you’re in the market to buy a home, these Carlsbad neighborhoods and nearby are good decisions. Contact your Mortgage Expert to learn more about low down payments and no tax return options or Get Pre-Approved.