The house is just a block and up the hill from the beach with great views of the lagoon and ocean. If you're willing to jaywalk and head down a little bit of a steep section you can reach the beach in just a couple of minutes. If you prefer to stay on the sidewalk and cross at the crosswalk, more like five to ten.
The unit itself is the lower floor of a duplex. The upper floor is available to rent separately. If you have upstairs neighbors for your stay (as we did), you can expect to hear their showers and toilets and footsteps, though it wasn't too loud. That unit presumably has better views, but this one has access to the large and well-equipped front yard and views that aren't shabby. You can also expect to hear the train (as you can expect to anywhere in Carlsbad), which isn't far away, but it didn't bother us.
The large common area and the outdoor space are absolutely great.
The unit was well equipped, though we were surprised to find only two coffee mugs in a place with three bedrooms. We enjoyed some fresh produce from the raised beds (cherry tomatoes and parsley) and from the grapefruit tree, after the host confirmed that guests are welcome to enjoy the produce. This was a nice touch. The outdoor shower and locking shed for storage in the back make this house a great option for someone who surfs/boogie boards/etc. They have bikes and boogie boards and various beach supplies (including a wheeled wagon for hauling stuff to and fro) available for your use as well.
I feel a little silly saying this, but it took me a minute to figure out that the black panel on the door will light up as a touch-screen keypad which I needed to enter the code to get in. A mention of this in the entry instructions would have saved me a brief moment of panic as I tried to figure out how to get in late in the evening.
We had an issue that the wifi wasn't working, but a text to the host got that resolved promptly.
You can expect a steady stream of cars parking in front of the house while there is daylight. It is a popular spot for dog walkers, surfers, and beachgoers who want to avoid paying to park while they enjoy their activities. It also seems a popular spot for people who drive around for their work to take a break and enjoy the views while having a snack or a nap or a smoke while parked along the street.