Contact The Lawhead Team if you or someone you know may want to call this lovely property in Aviara home.

The Lawhead Team would like to share our latest listing we have in La Costa.

Located at 7210 Plaza de La Costa, this beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo is located in a gated community and is priced at $410,000.

View the virtual tour of this gorgeous La Costa property here.

When The Lawhead Team isn’t busy helping people find their dream homes, we love to take a break and play golf. We would like to share some helpful tips from the PGA:

• To many people think that a sand wedge is just for bunker shots. The sand wedge should be used for sand shots as well as most pitch shots to the green.  The sand wedge whether a 54-degree or 58-degree has “bounce” on the sole of the club.
• A carpenter’s chalk-line and a CD disc are great putting aids to have in your golf bag. The chalk-line is useful to help you with your alignment and stroke. Find a straight six to ten foot putt on a practice green. Snap a chalk-line from the hole back to desired distance.
• A pitch short or short chip shot from short grass or a tight lie can be a challenge even for the very best players. Make a few practice swings and brush the ground in a way you would do it if the ball was there.
• If you miss the green and your ball ends up in a closely mown area don’t forget about the hybrid putt.  Approach the shot just as you would a putt.  Use your putting grip, stance, pre-shot routine and stroke.  You will find that with a little practice you will start getting up and down.
• When the wind picks up you want to choose a club that is more than what you would normally choose.  Go through your normal pre-shot routine and then swing easy.  The windier it gets the easier you should swing.  You will quickly find that your golf ball is boring through the wind and not ballooning.
• With over 60% of your strokes coming from inside of 100 yards, it is essential that you spend a proportionate amount of time on your short game as you practice.  You should devote most of your short game practice to putting and chipping.  These two shots make up the majority of your short game strokes.
• Is your golf bag organized?  Having your golf bag organized will help you greatly as you improve your skills.  Knowing where each club is within the bag, you will not lose focus on the shot you have planned, while you search for the proper club.
• A greenside bunker shot is so much easier than most think. It is nothing more than a “fat pitch.” In a greenside bunker we want to hit the sand first.
• The easiest way to learn the golf swing is to relate it to another learned movement. The golf swing is a rotary movement; it contains a throwing element similar to baseball. For the non-athletes, it would be like skipping a pebble.

golf tips are from the PGA‘s website.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? The Lawhead Team has compiled some fun events that can fit anyone’s age that are right in your own backyard in North County San Diego!

1. Cruise around Downtown Carlsbad: California’s coast of Carlsbad is home to many cute little shops, countless restaurants and exciting beach clubs. The historical Carlsbad village theater also provides a variety of live performances on its historical stage.
2. Legoland in Carlsbad: If you have kids this is an ultimate destination for the family right here in North County! Rides and attractions for every age, Legoland is one of the newest theme parks in California.
3. Del Mar Racetrack: Now that the fair is over, the horse races will be opening soon. Don’t forget every Friday the Del Mar Racetrack hosts free concerts.
4. Flower Fields: North County’s flower fields of Carlsbad sit on the corner of Palomar Airport Rd and Paseo del Norte and are a treat for any springtime visitor. There is a small entrance fee but well worth it!
5. Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside: In the 1770’s Father Junipero Sierra, a missionary from Spain, sailed to California to convert the native population to Catholicism. During his time here in California, Fr. Sierra built 21 missions with the assistance of the local native people. It was during that time that the Mission San Luis Rey was built in North County’s Oceanside. The mission is a working Catholic church that is open for tours throughout the year.
6. Buena Vista Adobe in Vista: This is one of the original ranchos in North County. Owned by the same family for over several generations, it was also home to one of Hollywood’s leading ladies during the 1940’s. The Buena Vista Adobe is open daily for tours and legend has it the Adobe is haunted so watch for ghosts!
7. Wild Animal Park: A wonderful attraction for North County located in Escondido, the Wild Animal Park originally began as a breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park. In the 60’s the park was opened to the public. There are many exotic animals at the Wild Animal Park such as Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Gazelles, Giraffes and more.

Does it make sense to buy or rent your vacation home? The Lawhead Team has some tips for buying vs. renting your vacation home.

Before you decide to buy or simply rent your vacation home, you should ask yourself some questions.

• How many days out of the year will you be visiting your vacation home?
• Will family and friends take advantage of your vacation home when you aren’t’ using it?
• How long do you see yourself owning it? Will you be traveling to this location on a regular basis?
• Will the property be properly maintained while you are not there?
• Will you rent it out while you are not there? Keep in mind, the peak season will usually be when you want to stay there and when people will want to rent it out.

If you expect to be in your second home for a minimum of four months per year, owning your vacation home may be the right way to go. When you own your home you can come and go as you please with no limitations. The appreciation of real estate can sometimes be a benefit of owning your vacation home as well.

On the downside, you are responsible for any costs of your vacation home ie: real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and upkeep. If you are in a condo association you run the risk of rising condo fees. You are also responsible for the care and maintenance of the property from long distance.

If you already own a home, you know about all the responsibilities and obligations that come with home ownership. If your home owning experience has been a positive one, the thought of a second home may have sparked your interest.

The following are reasons you may want to buy a second home, for either an investment or just vacation.

1. Having a rental property, buying a second home strictly to use to rent out to tenants, can boost your monthly cash flow if rent will cover your expenses. With the real estate market still low, it is possible to buy a second home and be able to rent it out with a positive cash flow.
2. A vacation home can serve as a nice getaway spot for you and your family and friends. Keep in mind however, you need to make sure you can afford the extra monthly expenses since you will not be renting the home out to make a profit.
3. An investment property can be bought for family members, say your son or daughter in college, and can be sold later for a higher price. Or you can use this piece of property to use for future retirement.
4. Upgrade to a newer and bigger second home and rent out your first home you bought. You can possibly receive a positive cash flow on your first home and enjoy the luxuries of your newer second home.

With interest rates and housing prices still at an all-time low, this makes for a great time to buy a second home. If you do decide to purchase a second home, it is important to know that location is everything. We all want to buy a home with the thought that the value of the home will go up. In order to increase your chances of awesome resale value, choose properties in areas like beaches, lakes or mountains.

When looking to purchase a second home, remember the overall costs just to own and maintain your first home. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the real cost of home ownership for a vacation property or rental property.

When it comes to your second home and taxes, there are different rules than you’ve gone by with your first home. With your primary residence you are allowed to exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains ($500,000 if you are married) when you sell your home. The same exemption does not apply to your vacation home when you sell it. In order to get the tax break, you would have to make your vacation home your primary residence for at least two years.

Even more rules apply to your second home if used as a rental property. We suggest getting help from your accountant when it comes to taxes and your second home. Do you have questions about owning a second home? Please comment on our blog or contact us.

Time for the holidays! If you haven’t started Christmas decorating yet or if you need some help on improving the decorations you’ve already put up, we’d like to share some easy Christmas decorating tips.

These Christmas decorating tips are from Real Simple Magazine:

• Flank an Entryway. Give your guests a dramatic welcome: A pair of inexpensive plastic urns from the garden center instantly dress up a front doorway. Place a tall foam cone in each urn, anchor it with sand, then use florist sticks and wire to attach greenery and Christmas balls.
• Make an Easy Table Topper. Buy a garland of greenery (available at garden centers) for Christmas decorating to run down the length of your table. Send your kids out to collect pinecones, and use them as rustic toppers. (You can also buy pinecones at garden or craft stores.)
• Go With a Simple Centerpiece. Another festive idea: Load a simple glass jar or bowl with multiples of the same fruit, nut, or monochromatic ornament. Bowls can be  filled with red apples and green baby artichokes—the colors of Christmas—and walnuts. Or do bowls of lemons and limes.
• Create Outdoor Decor. For subtle outdoor Christmas decorating, gather pine cones of various sizes and arrange them in a window box or in pots on your porch, sprinkling the tiniest ones on top. The weatherproof display should last until spring.
• Give the Kids a Holiday Craft. A perfect, zero-supervision craft for kids is making aluminum-foil ring chains. All you need to give them is squares of foil (cut up a roll yourself or buy a box of precut sheets): no scissors, glue, or sparkles.
• Spell Out Your Message. Stencil letters (available at the stationery store) will say it loud and clear. Back some—or all—of the letters with brightly colored construction paper, then attach with a removable adhesive so painted walls go undamaged.
• String Up Some Starlight. Wind a strand of battery-powered fairy lights around a medium Styrofoam ball. Tie it off, then tape the end of the strand to the ceiling or loop it around a curtain rod. Suspend three or four balls of varying sizes together for an even brighter arrangement.
• Set Up a Forest. Decorate a buffet table with a trio of snowy cookie trees. Make a base frosting by beating together six egg whites and 3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar. Spread a thin layer of frosting on a Styrofoam cone, then, working up from the bottom, overlap vanilla wafers (use straight pins to hold them in place until the frosting dries). Use a small sieve to dust each finished tree with confectioners’ sugar. Makes a great edible Christmas decorating project!
• Build a Snowman. Use the same frosting to make a snowman of oranges or clementines. Stack the fruit, holding the pieces together with toothpicks. Add cloves for eyes, peppermint sticks for arms and a nose, licorice for a scarf. The hat is a vanilla wafer and peppermints layered with frosting.
• Make an All-Purpose Display. Streamline seasonal decorating with a mantelpiece tableau that can take you from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Mix various ivory and pure white candles. If setting up the display for Thanksgiving, tuck wheat around the candles’ bases, adding walnuts here and there. Later, replace with greenery.
• Prop Up Some Art. Blank canvases in assorted shapes make an artful mantelpiece display when wrapped with cheerful ribbons.
• Do Something Sweet. Something as simple as glasses and dishes filled with seasonally appropriate candies can make a sweet table topper, especially at dessert time.
• Make Christmas Decorating Good Enough to Eat. Bake (or buy) gingerbread men to personalize for your guests. Pipe their names on the cookies and use as gift tags, place cards, or tree trimmings.
• Band Together. Make “ornaments” by wrapping rubber bands in a multitude of colors to form balls (maybe you have a few of these started?). Tie on a bit of ribbon and cord and suspend in your windows.
• Take a Cookie-Cutter Approach. String tin cookie cutters of assorted shapes—such as angels, bells, and stars—on pretty ribbons, then tack them to the window casing.

The Lawhead Team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Enjoy your Christmas decorating and remember to send a picture in to us so you can win a $50 Gift Card to La Costa Resort and Spa!

Public transportation in North San Diego County is working hard at making major improvements.  If you haven’t yet experienced taking the Sprinter down to the Oceanside coast and cruising along the Coaster while checking out the beach scene, it’s a must do!

The San Diego Source just published an article on the North County Transit District’s changes to their public transportation. Check it out:

North County Transit District: Radical changes lead to smoother ride.

Oceanside‘s North County Transit District is shaking things up in the transit industry. A new business model, new buses, lower fares, customer improvements, and a lean and mean, forward-thinking board of directors and management team are combining to create more riders and more revenue for the transit district which operates COASTER trains, SPRINTER light rail and BREEZE buses.

History

• In early 2009, amidst the worst economic crisis the country has encountered in a generation, North County Transit District in Oceanside was faced with a looming budget deficit of $15.5 million and two vastly different approaches for how to address it.

The agency could choose to eliminate jobs, increase fares and reduce services or it could make radical changes to its organizational structure and operations.

• The Board of Directors, noting a responsibility to fulfill its commitment to taxpayers and customers to provide services, reached consensus on a new business model that utilizes a strong network of public/private partnerships.

– The board’s actions erased a structural budget deficit and provided for a balanced budget going forward.

– By working with the private sector, along with other cost reduction measures, NCTD is projected to save an estimated $50 million in taxpayer money over the next five fiscal years.

Result

• After implementing changes to its business model to improve its financial condition, NCTD set measurable, strategic goals, outlined in a business plan, to hold it accountable to customers and taxpayers.

– The district is now on strong financial footing to meet its current and future obligations.

– NCTD has identified the funding sources for the $87 million needed to fully implement Positive Train Control, a federal mandate that must be online by 2015.

– Oceanside‘s NCTD undertook a complete evaluation of its fixed-route bus services and developed a Mobility Plan, designed to maximize use and minimize inefficiency by focusing service in the areas of highest demand.

– NCTD continues to look for new revenue sources from its real estate assets as well as identifying new advertising opportunities, such as wraps of the COASTER and SPRINTER rail cars.

Today

The new business plan has put NCTD on solid financial footing. Investing in the system is up with a $12 million jump in capital improvements such as new bridges and technology. The transit district continued to buck national trends by lowering fares in January, 2011 while at the same time expanding service — 80 percent of transit services nationwide have done the opposite.

NCTD’s ridership is up system-wide with a 23.6% year-over-year increase in COASTER ridership and a 13.7% increase in SPRINTER ridership leading the way. After closing a five-year, $80 million budget gap NCTD has increased its financial reserves from $0 to $15 million. The numbers are only part of the story. Customer improvements like free Wi-Fi on select COASTER cars are adding to passenger comfort. The district continually looks at ways to improve its routes such as creating a new BREEZE bus route that takes passengers from the SPRINTER station in Escondido to Palomar Health’s new hospital and nearby Stone Brewing Co.

The wayside horn pilot project in Del Mar has been lauded by residents who praise the quieter horns and may be the model for other neighborhoods and cities. The Positive Train Control system is being developed which should greatly enhance safety on the rail tracks. Other improvements on tap for the near future include a text messaging system that will let passengers get real-time arrival information. The first-ever customer appreciation day will take place on November 16th at the Oceanside, Vista and Escondido Transit Centers and the Sorrento Valley station. March 9, 2013 the district will honor the fifth anniversary of the SPRINTER light rail system which runs between Oceanside and Escondido.

Clearly, NCTD is giving the community and its passengers plenty of reason to celebrate.

Do you like taking advantage of the public transportation available in the heart of Oceanside?  Let us know!

Article Link: http://www.sddt.com/Reports/article.cfm?RID=883&SourceCode=20121029crt&_t=North+County+Transit+District+Radical+changes+lead+to+smoother+ride#.UI8EDGcw_eU

Looking for some Fourth of July fun activities to do with the whole family?  Check out The Lawhead Team’s suggestions.

Fourth of July is a fun time to get together with family and friends, enjoy the summer sun and have some fun. If you are looking for something to do this 4th of July, consider these family activities.

Watch a parade – Most communities have some sort of parade, 5K walk/run or special event happening for Fourth of July. Check your city’s event calendar to find out what’s going on in your area. Many of these events require sign up in advance, so plan ahead. If there isn’t a parade in your community, you can put together a mini parade in your own neighborhood. Dress up the kids in red, white and blue attire and give them flags to carry as they march around block singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Head to the park – Spend the day at the park, beach or lake with your kids on 4th of July. Even though the fireworks don’t happen until after dusk, there’s plenty to do during the day. Pack a picnic, bring a Frisbee and just enjoy some time outdoors with your family.

Brush up on your history – Teach your kids more about Independence Day. Considered America’s birthday, Independence Day is the anniversary of the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress — July 4, 1776. Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. In 1941, Congress declared the Fourth of July a legal public holiday. On 4th of July talk about our country, freedom and liberty. Read Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, as well as age-appropriate books, poems and quotes about the 4th of July.

Create 4th of July crafts – Get crafty on 4th of July. Sit down with your kids and make American flag tissue paper wreaths, a DIY 4th of July banner and other creative and patriotic 4th of July crafts. Making crafts together is great for family bonding.

Host a potluck barbecue – Host a backyard barbecue for family, friends and neighbors. You don’t need to do all the cooking yourself. Make it a potluck. You can supply the meat and your guests can pitch in with side dishes, desserts and drinks.

If you don’t feel like cooking or hosting a party yourself, head to your local amusement park. Many amusement parks, baseball stadiums and other major tourist attractions hold fireworks shows, festivals and other events for Fourth of July. Kids will love it — and you won’t have to do any work.

If you have people over, check out these fun games to play with everyone:

Horse Shoes. Many people already keep a set of horse shoes handy for family picnics. If you don’t have a set of horse shoes check with a few friends. Iron horse shoes are a little more expensive than newer PVC sand-weighted horse shoes. For a true Fourth of July party experience nothing replaces the clink of metal on metal in a game of horseshoes.

Darts. Your BBQ guests will strike up traditional July 4^th fun around an old fashioned game of darts. Dart boards are so inexpensive that you can set up a safety tipped dart board for the kids, and a regular dart board for the adults. Party goers can’t help but get caught up in the competition.

Volleyball. Volleyball is another classic July Fourth game, perfect for your mid-summer party. There is no need for a regulation field for players to have fun. A game or two of volleyball is also a great mixer. If it is an especially hot day, cut the water sprinkler on in spurts, or adjust your game.

Water Balloon Volley. You may think a game involving water balloons is just for the kids at your Fourth of July Part, but chances are the adults will not be able to resist getting involved. Pre-fill one hundred to two-hundred water balloons with water and set up the game like volleyball. Don’t be surprised if the game degenerates into an all out war. Who cares, as long as your guests are having fun!

If you are thinking of moving down to San Diego but still want to have the luxury of keeping that country feel, check out La Costa.  You are very close to the ocean however there is still that country feel to it.

La Costa is a northern San Diego neighborhood made famous for the nationally acclaimed La Costa Resort and Spa, location of the annual Acura Classic tennis tournament and many more international events. La Costa is home to various upscale hillside housing communities, a top-ranked school district, and a few fine dining and entertainment establishments.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some reviews we’ve come across about the La Costa Resort and Spa.

This is best spa ever!  It’s beautiful and very relaxing.  The staff they have for massages and facials are wonderful.  Also, the staff at Kidtopia are really nice too and very flexible.  I had a spa appointment and needed to put my 4 year old in their camp for a half day because his preschool was closed for winter break.  The staff was extremely accommodating and let me enroll my son in the morning program so I could get a relaxing break at the spa.
Thank you La Costa — the happiest place in Southern CA!

If you need to relax and have “your self” time- this is where u need to be!!!! – Sean

Excellent resort! Great golf. Great location. -Gozer

The remodeled La Costa Resort & Spa is a dream come true! An easy drive from anywhere in Southern California, it is a great place for an overnight getaway or a week of spa relaxation and golf or tennis. Service is friendly and a variety of restaurants both on the resort and nearby are available. Be sure to check out the boutique shopping, complimentary exercise facilities overlooking the world-class golf course and the new dining experiences. Families are catered to with Camp La Costa activities and the facilities are great for small and large groups. The state of the art Ballroom is now serving brunch and is available for corporate or private events. -Patricia