If you are looking for somewhere quiet yet right next to the beach, Solana Beach is the place for you.  Solana Beach is an ideal spot in which to settle down as it offers something for everyone.

Situated along over 1.5 miles of coastline, Solana Beach is located in the affluent North County Coastal section of San Diego County with Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the north, Del Mar to the south, and Rancho Santa Fe to the east.

Known for its beautiful beaches and unbelievable views from tall bluffs, Solana Beach also has a wonderful historic feel dating back to its roots in the late 1800s.  The main downtown area features a combination of more modern and new architecture combined with that of the historic buildings.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some Solana Beach Neighborhood Highlights.  Solana Beach is divided by Interstate 5, the main interstate artery that runs north and south from Washington State to the US/Mexico border.   The atmosphere in the area deemed “west of I-5” is a much laid back, beach-y lifestyle.  Here there is a mix of homes with beautiful single-family homes situated along the bluffs overlooking the beaches as well as throughout the area west of I-5.

Some of the more popular neighborhoods are Loma Del Cielo West, Solana Hills, and Solana Del Mar which are situated more inland, and Old Solana Beach and homes near Fletcher Cove near the coast.  Single family homes, for the most part, begin around the $700K mark for homes more inland and climb well in the multi-millions for those situated close to the shore.

There are also some very nice condominium and town home communities some of which are gated.    One of the most popular and well known areas in Solana Beach is the Cedros Design District.  Here, La Mer is a gorgeous and unique community where homes start at about $800K and climb to well over $1 million.  Others include oceanfront communities like Seascape Sur, Las Brisas and Surfsong where homes are priced from the mid-$900s.

Further inland but still west of I-5 include Sea Turf and the Solana Beach and Tennis Club with prices starting in the mid-$600s.  Solana Circle, Saratoga West, Eden Gardens, and Del Mar Beach Club feature condominium homes starting in the mid-$500s.

The other half of Solana Beach is known as “east of I-5” and is much more sophisticated.  The main neighborhoods are Lomas Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hills and San Elijo Hills.  These neighborhoods feature gorgeous executive homes on larger lots than on the west side of town that start in the upper-$700s to almost $2 million.  Condominium communities such as Santa Helena Park and Saint Francis Court include homes that start in the mid-$600s.

Solana Beach is an area in San Diego County in which condominium home prices continually increase while single family homes prices are not as quick to bounce back.  The most recent median sale price for single family homes is $860K, down about 34 percent from last year, while condominium homes have increased 45 percent over last year.

Although the number of sales for single-family homes was not at all stellar last month, condominium homes were up solidly over the year.  The most notable point is that there are nice increases in the number of pending sales.  As for the amount of time homes stay on the market, both average about 2 to 3 months on the market.

Solana Beach appeals to different groups of people, primarily those who want to live at or near the beach, those seeking vacation or second homes, and real estate investors looking at vacation rentals.  For all of them, it is important to consider location and the type of home.  With condominium home prices increasing each month and single family home prices soon leveling off, now is the time to consider Solana Beach for a home purchase.  It has something for everyone!

Contact The Lawhead Team to find your dream home in Solana Beach.

Summer break is here!  Check out some fun in the sun ideas for you and your family this summer break right here in San Diego.

Having fun during the summer in San Diego doesn’t require a lot of money.  In fact, many things to see and enjoy in San Diego are absolutely free.  With 70 miles of beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather and a variety of summer street fairs, concerts and arts and cultural events, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive summer getaway.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some great ideas to do with your kids this summer:

• Bring a picnic and listen to Coronado’s Summer Concert Series in Spreckels Park on Sunday evenings throughout the summer.  On the first and third Sunday of the month, come early and browse the work of artists from San Diego County during the Coronado Art Association’s bi-monthly Art-In-The-Park event.
• Put on your bathing suit, grab your towel and head to one of San Diego’s 33 beaches, all open to the public, and perfect for body surfing, boogie boarding, building sandcastles, collecting seashells and basking in the sun.
• Soak up the international flavor at the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park with the International Cottages’ Lawn Programs.  Held each Sunday throughout the summer, these free events feature ethnic food, song and dance.
• Head to the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside on June 12 – 13 for the 14th Annual Inter-Tribal Pow Wow.  Hosted by the San Luis Rey Luiseno Mission Indians, this event draws tribal members from all over the United States for contest dancing, Native American arts and crafts, games and food
• Catch a magnificent Pacific sunset and watch sea lions play along the shoreline at La Jolla Cove, one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.
• On the second Sunday of each month, stop by The New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego for free admission.  Families of all ages can enjoy innovative, hands-on art opportunities and first-rate exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists.
• Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park’s many trails. Joggers and walkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths winding through sunlight and shade near the shoreline with workout courses at planned stations along the route.
• Attend the 31st Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off on June 26, featuring more than 200 vendors, local artists, food, a children’s area and entertainment on five stages.
• Rollerblade, skateboard, bicycle or people-watch along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, a scenic three-mile boardwalk along lively Mission and Pacific Beaches.
• Stargaze from the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center on the first Wednesday of every month during “Gazin’ with the Experts,” as members of the San Diego Astronomy Association set up huge telescopes and offer guests a great view of the moon, planets and brighter stars.
• Go scuba diving or snorkeling off San Diego’s shores to see spectacular creatures of the sea.  La Jolla Shores and Cove offer some of the clearest waters on the California coast, as well as miles of protected underwater preserve to explore.
• On warm summer nights when the tide is high and the moon is full, join San Diegans in a local natural phenomenon, the grunion run.  Witness thousands of small grunion fish swimming ashore to mate and bury their eggs in the sand before riding the waves back out to sea.
• Watch tail-waggin’, Frisbee-catchin’ and stick-fetchin’ dogs splash in the surf at Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach.  Man’s best friend is permitted to roam there leash-free at all hours of the day.
• Gather friends, family and firewood for a cozy beach bonfire at one of the County’s bonfire-friendly beaches in Coronado, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
• Explore the clear shallow tidepools of La Jolla Cove and Point Loma when the tide is low and the pools are teeming with aquatic life.
• Visit Julian in San Diego’s East County and enjoy this quaint, historic mining town that grew into the County’s second largest urban center during the Southern California gold rush of 1869.
• Take in the action as fun loving canines brave the waves during the 5thAnnual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition on June 22 in Imperial Beach.
• Take advantage of San Diego’s warm summer nights and enjoy a number of free summer concerts held throughout the county by visiting: www.signonsandiego.com/feature/free-summer-concerts
• Walk 1,942 feet onto the Oceanside Municipal Pier, the longest wooden pier on the U.S. West Coast; the pier is a perfect setting for fishing, walking and wave watching.
• Listen to the rhythmic sounds of jazz during TGIF Jazz in the Parks in Carlsbad.  Concerts take place at Stagecoach Community Park, Poinsettia Community Park and Calavera Hills Community Park every Friday from June to August, 6 – 8 p.m.
• Celebrate summer with art, food and music during the Fiesta Del Sol summer music festival, June 5 – 6 at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach.  Enjoy live performances, an international food court, beer garden and activities for the kids.
• Walk along the Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad and look for birds, insects, plants, fish and animals in one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coast. The nature reserve is open 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday.