Frequently Asked Questions
What areas of San Diego do you specialize in?
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Mara specializes in San Diego's most prestigious coastal and inland communities including Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, and Carmel Valley. As a San Diego native with deep roots in North County, she brings firsthand market knowledge that extends well beyond what any search portal can offer. Whether you are searching for an oceanfront home, a private estate in the Ranch, or a village-adjacent luxury property, Mara knows these neighborhoods intimately.
How is working with Mara different from other luxury agents in San Diego?
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What is the average home price in Del Mar in 2026?
What is the average home price in Encinitas in 2026?
What is the average home price in Rancho Santa Fe in 2026?
Mara's background is unlike any other agent in the North County market. Before real estate, she spent nearly a decade working within top luxury fashion houses across Los Angeles, New York, and London, an experience that gave her an instinctive understanding of how high-net-worth clients think, what they expect, and what true service looks like. She is affiliated with Wade Real Estate at Compass, ranked in the top 1% of over 22,000 agents in San Diego County and recognized by The Wall Street Journal, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Real Producers Magazine. You get the resources of one of San Diego's top teams with the personal attention of a dedicated specialist.
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How do I get started working with Mara?
I'm relocating to San Diego from out of state where do I start?
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Relocation is one of Mara's specialties. Having lived in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London before returning to her hometown, she understands exactly what it means to navigate a new city's real estate market from a distance. The process typically begins with a private consultation, either in person or virtually, where Mara listens to your priorities, lifestyle, and timeline before recommending the neighborhoods that best fit your needs. From there she curates a focused selection of properties, coordinates private showings, and manages every detail of the transaction remotely if needed. North County San Diego's luxury market moves quickly. Having a trusted local advisor before you arrive makes all the difference.
How do you approach selling a luxury home in San Diego?
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SellingSelling a luxury property requires a strategy as individual as the home itself. Mara's approach begins well before the listing goes live, with a thorough market analysis, a preparation plan tailored to maximize the property's appeal, and a targeted marketing strategy that reaches the right buyers, many of whom are not searching public portals. As a Compass advisor she has access to Compass Private Exclusives and Coming Soon programs, which allow qualified sellers to build demand and test pricing discreetly before going public. Every listing is presented with professional photography, a compelling narrative, and distribution across Compass's global network. The goal is not just to sell. It is to sell at the right price, to the right buyer, on your timeline.
Compass Private Exclusives is an off-market program that allows sellers to share their home exclusively within the Compass network of 340,000 agents and their qualified buyers before creating a public listing. Compass data shows that homes pre-marketed this way are associated with a 2.9% higher closing price on average, go 20% faster to contract, and are 30% less likely to drop in price compared to listings that went directly to the MLS. On a $3,000,000 home that difference represents $87,000 in additional proceeds. For sellers in North County San Diego who value privacy, strategic timing, and maximum value, this program is one of the most significant advantages Mara brings to every transaction.
What is Compass Private Exclusives and how does it benefit me as a seller?
Can I access off-market homes in Encinitas, Del Mar, or Rancho Santa Fe?
Yes. As a Compass advisor Mara has access to Compass Private Exclusives, a network of off-market properties shared exclusively within the Compass brokerage before they ever reach Zillow or the public MLS. Some of the most desirable properties in Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, and Solana Beach trade privately and never appear on any public search portal. Buyers working with Mara see the full picture of what is available in the market, not just the portion that has been made public. To inquire about current Private Exclusive listings contact Mara directly at 858.480.9948.
The year to date median single family sale price in Rancho Santa Fe is $4,550,000 as of May 2026. The 92067 zip code consistently ranks among the top ten most expensive zip codes in the entire United States, alongside Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Montecito. Many of the most significant transactions in Rancho Santa Fe never appear on the public MLS and trade privately within the Compass network. Working with an advisor who has access to those off-market opportunities is essential in this market.
The median single family home price in Encinitas is $2,457,500 year to date in 2026 (May 2026), up nearly 19% from the same period in 2025. In May 2026 the median reached $2,699,000. Inventory has compressed dramatically with only 58 single family homes available as of May 2026, down more than 43% year over year. Months of supply sits at 2.1, firmly in seller's market territory. Homes are selling at 98.2% of original list price on average.
The year to date median single family sale price in Del Mar is $3,900,000 as of May 2026, up 23% from the same period last year. In May 2026 the median reached $4,050,000. Del Mar is the highest priced coastal market in North County San Diego with homes selling at an average of 96% of original list price. With months of supply at 4.5 it is a more deliberate market than Encinitas or Carlsbad, where buyer preparation and agent relationships matter as much as price.
The first step is a private consultation, a focused conversation about your goals, timeline, and what you are looking for. There is no obligation and no pressure. Mara believes the right advisor relationship begins with listening, not selling. You can schedule directly through the consultation page, by email at maramehdy@compass.com, or by phone at 858.480.9948. Whether you are ready to move now or simply exploring your options, Mara is happy to be a resource.