With home values down and sales still soft in San Diego, many homeowners will look at ways to improve their existing footprint.  Even when homes start to increase in value again, many homeowners will still opt to stay put and remodel or add on instead of selling.

According to the National Association of Home Builders’ Remodeling Market Index (RMI), hit a five-year high in the fourth quarter of 2011.

[See the 5 Best (and Worst) Home Remodeling Projects.]

Home remodeling decisions are reflective of the times, and resale values.  Here are some trends that are constant:

Home again. Remodelers are seeing a bigger demand for “companion units” (typically called granny flats whether children or parents are moving in) as part of new additions or as a detached building.  Some baby boomers are already reaching their golden years and families are remodeling their homes for aging in place a creative long term care solution.  For many families, this is a lower-cost option than retirement homes or assisted-living.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 62 percent of builders surveyed were working on home remodeling for aging in place 2010.    AARP is working with builders on a designation for Certified Aging in Place Specialists.  There are builders trained in designing and remodeling buildings for the elderly.  Approximately 3,000 builders, contractors, remodelers and architects have already been certified.

Outdoor Spaces. In San Diego, increased property values led to the development of luxury outdoor living spaces like stone hardscapes, gourmet grilling kitchens, and elaborate patios with fireplaces.   The recession may have slightly dinged the remodeling industry when it comes to outdoor spaces, but the concept survives.  The investment in outdoor living spaces is a necessity even for homeowners that are budget minded.  Consumers may be scaling back their wish list, but improving their outdoor living spaces for entertaining and family time is still popular.  After all, families are traveling less, and staying home more.

Efficient Kitchens. Efficient means you can cook meals in a shorter period of time.  At the peak of the real estate market in San Diego, you would hear words like “granite” and “high-end appliances”.  Now, “cost effective” and “value” are key words for kitchen remodeling.  Homeowners are willing to give up a little food preparation area in favor of larger eating areas and family rooms.  Large islands with ample storage and eating areas are very popular and help make kitchens look less like a work space and more like an expansion of the family room.

A small, upscale beach community, Del Mar is located in San Diego County, right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Appropriately, the name Del Mar is Spanish for “of the sea” or “by the sea.” The community is well-known as home to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which hosts the Del Mar Racetrack during the summer as well as the San Diego County Fair.

Facts About Del Mar
•    According to the 2010 census, Del Mar had a population of 4,161, which is down from the 4,389 in 2000.
•    The community has a total area of 1.8 square miles, with 1.7 square miles of land and 0.1 square miles of water.
•    The area was founded by Colonel Jacob Taylor, who purchased 338 acres from Enoch Talbert in 1885 to build a seaside resort for the rich and famous.
•    Del Mar has a warm, sub-tropical climate with mild winters and warm, dry summers. The temperature rarely goes over 85 degrees and rarely drops below 60 degrees.
•    According to government estimates, the median household income in Del Mar in 2005 was $169,348. When adjusted for inflation, the income was $100,982.

Del Mar Home Design
With such a small population with a relatively high median income, you can imagine how large and elegant the homes in Del Mar are. Most of these home designs and styles depict a classic Spanish style with some clear influences from being so close to the beach. Although these styles still remain classy and elegant, the new homeowner may want to consider remodeling and adding more modern flourishes. Homeowners can mix contemporary with Spanish and beachside style to create a home that is comfortable and original.

Located just 25 miles north of San Diego proper, Encinitas is a beautiful, coastal beach city. The city’s largest industry is the growing and cultivating of ornamental flowers, particularly poinsettias. Well-known for its mild climate and surf scene, Encinitas perfectly illustrates the laidback, beach-going vibe of Southern California, great for tourists and locals alike.

Facts About Encinitas
•    The city gained its name in 1669 from Gaspar de Portola, the Governor of Baja California, but the area was settled in 1881 by Jabez Pitcher, who is considered the father of the town.
•    As of the 2010 census, Encinitas has a population of 59,518, an increase from the 58,014 in 2000.
•    According to government estimates, the median household income of Encinitas in 2005 was $86,520.
•    Encinitas has the perfect mild climate, maintaining a temperate 72 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, rarely dipping below 40 degrees or exceeding 85 degrees. Average annual rainfall is about 10 inches. Although it’s generally sunny, the area experiences marine layer cover every so often (June Gloom, May Gray).

Encinitas Home Design
Encinitas is made up of five distinct areas: Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain, Leucadia, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea. As such, it has a wide range of different home designs and styles. While Old Encinitas presents a mix of Spanish styles and beachside bungalows, New Encinitas is composed of larger tract homes. With such a diverse array of styles, it’s easy to remodel your home into whatever style pleases you. From classic Spanish design to breezy and beach-oriented to the sleek, modern-contemporary home, you have a plethora of home design choices in Encinitas.

Home Remodeling
Spectacular views can be gained from many Encinitas homes by adding a second story.  Outdoor living spaces for personal enjoyment and entertaining are also very popular .  Like most areas in San Diego County, Encinitas has its share of homes that need kitchen renovations, bath remodeling, or an exterior facelift.

When asked about the community, most people’s first reactions are, “Where is Bay Park?” Although it’s mostly known for cool breezes and proximity to Downtown San Diego, Bay Park is still a growing community. Bay Park is a relatively new neighborhood in the northern area of San Diego. Built on hilly terrain, Bay Park is bordered on the North by Bay Ho, on the East by Claremont and Linda Vista, Mission Bay and Pacific Beach to the West, and Morena to the South.

Neighborhood Facts

•    Bay Park sits atop hills that overlook Mission Bay, which was first named “False Bay” by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542.
•    Median listing price for Bay Park homes is about $510,000, with
•    Median selling prices around $420,000.
•    The average household income is around $45,000 per year.
•    Bay Park schools include Toler Elementary School, School of the Madeleine, and Holmes Elementary School.

Home and Design

The home architecture in Bay Park is typical of most homes in the San Diego area. Some homes adopt a classic California Spanish style. Other homes incorporate aspects of the beachside cottage, allowing for exposure to beautiful sunsets and cool ocean breezes. Newer homes in Bay Park take into account coastal proximity and home design trends of the day, with some touches that call back to the area’s Spanish roots. Because Bay Park is a developing neighborhood, potential residents can seek home contractors to bring their personalized home design to life, or update an existing home with a kitchen renovation or bathroom remodel.

Located in the northwestern corner of San Diego, Carmel Valley is a wealthy, master-planned coastal community, full of commercial office buildings, residential units, hotels, retail stores, and restaurants. Carmel Valley is bordered to the north by the North City Future Urbanizing Area and Pacific Highlands Ranch, to the east by Del Mar Mesa, to the west by the I-5 freeway and Torrey Pines, and to the south by Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Torrey Hills.

Neighborhood Facts

•    Carmel Valley is named for the Carmelite Sisters of Mercy who established a dairy farm and monastery in the area around 1905.
•    Carmel Valley was master planned and formed on February 1, 1975, though construction did not start until 1983.
•    The area was home to about 42,000 people in 2006.
•    The average listing price for homes in Carmel Valley is about $830,000, but
•    The median selling price is around $670,000.
•    Schools in the area include Ocean Air School, Sycamore Ridge School, and Sage Canyon School (all public, K-6).

Area Home Renovation and Remodeling Projects

Because Carmel Valley is such a new area, it has a wide variety of home designs and styles. Many homes draw off of older Spanish design elements. Others mix the laidback Californian style with the new, modern trends of today. Some parts of the area are still in development allowing for the construction of modern, contemporary-style homes. Carmel Valley home owners can create their ideal home design—whether it’s traditional Spanish style or a breezy, modern dwelling with all the latest eco-advancements. As the median household income is over $120,000, residents can afford higher-end updates, such as the popular kitchen remodels and bathroom remodels.