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.

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!

Most all of San Diego is a great place to live and each area has its own benefits. Check out these great areas of San Diego to live.

Living in San Diego, you can go to the beach, ski in the mountains and cruise in the sand dunes all in one day.  San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class family attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California. San Diego offers an expansive variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests and residents of all ages from around the world.

Let The Lawhead Team share with you why some of the suburbs in San Diego make great places to live:

Poway: They call Poway the “city in the country” and it very well is. This formerly rustic community off of I-15 just past Mira Mesa has grown up to be a desirable incorporated city with lots of outdoor recreation, family friendly neighborhoods, plenty of amenities, and one of the best school districts around.

Carlsbad: The coastal, well mostly, city of Carlsbad is a nice place if you prefer the north county coast of San Diego. Housing is quite relatively more than the inland selection, but if you can swing it, then it is well worth it. The golf industry is based in Carlsbad (Callaway, Taylor Made, Titleist), and it’s home to LegoLand as well. The downtown village area is the place to go for nightlife and dining.

Escondido: Escondido is the granddaddy of North County San Diego suburbs. It is a self-sufficient city of its own, with arts (California Center for the Arts), shopping, industry, recreation, and even still some agriculture.  From Escondido, everything else in inland North County springs from.

San Marcos: If Escondido is the big hulk of North County, then San Marcos (and by default neighboring Vista) is young upstart. San Marcos is one of the fastest growing cities in California, and with new housing, retail and industry cropping up along the State Route 78 corridor, San Marcos is poised for growth. Plus, it has a budding academic reputation because it’s the home to CSU San Marcos, as well as Palomar College.

Encinitas: If there were ever a “megaburb,” then it would be Encinitas. Back in 1986, the city of Encinitas swallowed up the quaint seaside communities of Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Leucadia, as well as Olivenhein, and it became a bigger Encinitas. Like neighbor Carlsbad, Encinitas has both coastal and inland appeal, and the old Coast Highway business district lends some small town charm.

Whether it is a Buyers Market or a Sellers Market, there are important things to know about each.  The Lawhead Team would like to share some items to keep in mind depending on what type of market we are in.

When the inventory of houses available for purchase in an area is high, then buyers will have an advantage. Sellers may be concerned about their competition and might be willing to come down in price, accept conditions on the purchase or make upgrades to the property in order to secure a buyer.

When inventory is low, then sellers are likely to have the advantage. In a seller’s market there are typically multiple offers for homes and the sellers are not under any pressure to accommodate requests from buyers – as there is likely another buyer willing to purchase without any conditions or at a higher price.

Of course, all real estate is local so you can have buyer and seller markets within a larger market or at different price points.

If you would like to improve your chances of getting the house you want in a sellers market, follow these tips:

• Secure a letter from a lender that indicates you will qualify for a mortgage up to a certain amount and submit that letter with your offer.
• Make an offer that doesn’t include items that will likely discourage the seller such as asking that they pay certain fees that are customarily paid by the buyer. You may also improve your chances by being flexible on a closing date, especially if the seller needs the time to relocate.
• Make your first offer your best offer.  If you are competing with others for the property you may not get a second chance.
• Larger than required down payments and shorter inspection deadlines may also make your offer more attractive.

If you are selling your home and you are in a buyers market, follow these tips to speed up your sale process:

• Make sure your home is in tip-top shape inside and out. Check out the competition by visiting open houses in the area. Does your house measure up? Will it be seen as well maintained?
• Set a realistic price.  Understand how the competition is priced and make sure you are competitive. A buyer’s market is not the time to try and find additional value on your sale.
• Consider offering incentives. Perhaps you can leave your kitchen appliances behind or offer to replace the carpeting if it is in need and not to the buyer’s taste.
• Be flexible when reviewing offers. Be prepared to negotiate on price, closing date, needed repairs or allowances. If you drive away a legitimate offer by being inflexible, you may wait some time before you see another one.

Regardless of the market conditions, most buyers and sellers have limited experience in real estate transactions. It is always appropriate to work with a professional like The Lawhead Team, whether you are buying or selling.

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

The Lawhead Team would like to share some fun things to do this Sunday for Mothers Day with your Mom in San Diego.

You may have already gotten a card and a gift for that special mother in your life, but part of the day is spending time with her.  Check out some ideas of unique places and activities to make your Mother’s Day truly special.

Take her to the Hotel del Coronado – If you want to make Mother feel special, take her to the grand old lady of San Diego, the Hotel del Coronado. The grandeur of the place just oozes specialness, and the hotel is famous for its Mothers Day Brunch. and even if you don’t do brunch, just stroll along the grounds and along the wonderful sandy Coronado beach adjacent to the hotel. A special spot, indeed.

Take her to the San Diego Zoo – Now, normally a trip to the San Diego Zoo is more of a touristy thing. But there is a subtext here – you see, this time of the year is when many animals give birth, so it’s a great time to see cute little baby animals at the Zoo. Get it? Motherhood and maternal instinct? If you can, take her to lunch at the Zoo’s sitdown restaurant, Albert’s. It’s a nice little place to make her feel special.

Take her Shopping – OK – pretty obvious, if Mom is a shopper. But on this special day, take her to the best mall in San Diego, Fashion Valley. Of course, then you’re on the hook to buy her something special, and the mall is the home to Tiffany, after all. Or maybe just dinner and a movie and one of the many eateries.

Take her to the Tide Pools – If mom is more of an outdoorsy type, the Point Loma Tide Pools are a great place to check out the local sea life, take in the ocean air, and check out the magnificent views atop Point Loma. Best of all, the price is right because it’s free.

Take her to Julian – A pleasant day trip is always a good idea for Mothers Day, and a trip into the mountain town of Julian is a fun activity. The town – just 90 minutes from San Diego – seems like a world away, and the mountain scenery is a nice change of pace. Stroll the antique shops, and be sure to stop by Mom’s (of course) for some delicious apple pie – a Julian specialty.

Take her to the Flower Fields – Need a special picture to take of mom? Then take her to the Carlsbad Flower Fields – it’s a perfect, colorful spot to take a photo of mom. The ranunculus fields are a favorite attraction of flower lovers, but you better hurry – the Fields only stay open through Mothers Day (how convenient!).

Take her to a Farmers’ Market – An outing to a local Farmers’ Market is kind of a cool thing to do, especially if you haven’t been before. San Diego has a number of certified farmers’ markets, and this is a great time of year to visit, as many fruits and vegetables are coming in season. Oh, and make sure you buy mom a bouquet of fresh flowers – they are a bargain, and fresh, at the farmers’ markets!

Taker her to a Concert – Is mom a music lover? Well, this time of year is a great time to take her to concert – the summer concert tours have begun, and San Diego’s outdoor concert season is in full swing. There’s nothing better than to take in a show under the stars on a mild spring evening.

Happy Mothers Day from The Lawhead Team!

In March, the Lawhead Team received Coldwell Banker’s Outstanding Performance Award and were named the Top 2 agents in our office based on our production.

More good news on top of that: The Encinitas/La Costa Coldwell Banker Office have almost twice as much market share as the next competitor.  Click Here to take a look at the graph: MSSold.  The Lawhead Team and Coldwell Banker are at the top!

If you are looking for a fabulous place to spend your vacation filled with golf, tennis and more or are even looking to escape for a luxurious spa day, La Costa Resort and Spa is your place!

Fabulous venue for world class golf, tennis and spa treatments and more, La Costa Resort and Spa has truly outdone themselves.

Spa – Since 1965, the Spa at La Costa has set the gold standard for wellness retreats and was recently named the #1 Wellness Spa in the nation by Spa Magazine and Travel + Leisure’s #4 Spa in North America. While at La Costa Resort and Spa, cater to your palate with a variety of options at the Spa Café, or enjoy an endless selection of activities in our state-of-the-art Athletic Club. Relax poolside under the sun with a signature Bellini, or awaken your senses underneath one of the Waterfall Showers. Walk barefoot between the thriving gardens and lush landscapes on Southern California’s only Reflexology Pathway. And if the San Diego spa resort is the ideal solution to treating your outer being, the Chopra Center allows you to find your inner self, creating an all-encompassing program for overall well-being. Come for a treatment, stay for a day.

Golf – The golf courses at La Costa, Southern California’s only Gold Medal Golf Resort, are amongst the most storied in California, boasting a rich tournament history and a cadre of prominent guests, ranging from the best professional golfers in the world, to prominent politicians, Hollywood celebrities and legendary sports heroes. La Costa’s tee sheets read like a who’s who: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Phil Michelson, Tiger Woods and more. Almost 50 years after their inception, their two courses now offer the modern player new challenges while reintroducing this championship-caliber golf destination to world-class standards.

Accommodations – A lush atmosphere echoes inside each newly renovated room at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad. Rich fabrics pop over a palette of blues, greens and terra cotta. Natural light pours through the windows that perfectly frame the stunning views beyond. And steps from your door, world-class golf, tennis, dining, and spa anxiously wait to welcome your arrival. It’s simply the perfect respite while on a perfect Southern California getaway.

Dining – Fresh ingredients from the farm, the sea and our on-site organic gardens find their way onto each plate served at La Costa Resort and Spa. It’s a promise sure to please every palette.  Enjoy Executive Chef Hans Weigand’s award-winning menu filled with local cuisine and vintages while overlooking the golf course at Legends Bistro. Meet Chef Greg Frey Jr. at BlueFire Grill and taste what happens when a passion for cooking and interactivity with guests meets farm-to-table freshness and perfectly crafted seasonal menus. Indulge yourself with Pastry Chef Jaimie Hileman’s desserts at The Marketplace. And relax with your friends while watching the game with beer and appetizers or a flavorful cigar at the all-new Diversions Lounge. These experiences, including the delicious Spa Cafe and convenient Poolside Cafes, elevates Californian cuisine course by course.

Check out more at their website: http://www.lacosta.com/

KSL invests $50 million in renovating the La Costa Resort & Spa Community

In this edition of The Lawhead Team’s featured community showcase, we are highlighting the fabulous, world-famous La Costa Resort and Spa.  We are pleased to inform you of the $50 million renovation currently underway at La Costa.  Residents and visitors alike are anxiously awaiting completion this fall when “The Next La Costa” will have its grand opening.  The golfing experience will change dramatically as the former North Course has been totally redesigned and will open as the Champions Course.  The former South Course has undergone partial renovation and will open as the Legends Course.  Can the return of the PGA to La Costa be far away?     Check out the following link to learn more about the lastest activities regarding the renovation:

View the La Costa Renovation Video…Click Here

“We love La Costa!”  This first class resort has outstanding amenities in a very relaxed setting.  It’s no wonder the spa at La Costa was ranked as the Best Spa in Southern California and one of the top four spas in all of California.  The kids just love the pool areas and especially the three waterslides.  It has a great tennis facility with lots of courts, golf and gourmet restaurants too!”