Coastal Real Estate and Lifestyles

Premier Termite and Cameron’s Inn have come together (well, they’re related anyway - brothers) to offer a couple of Holiday Specials you should know about.

$50 off your next Structural Pest Inspection with Inspectors Kevin Palmer or Gabe Pack (650-726-7756)

AND

Buy ONE get ONE free at Cameron’s Inn - either a Burger or Fish & Chips Plate (650-726-5705)

Offer good through January 31, 2010

If you’re planning to list your property for sale in February, a January inspection is good timing.  This gives you time to decide if you want to take care of any of the necessary repairs yourself as part of your pricing strategy.  Or if you’re not planning on selling and it’s been five or more years since you’ve had an inspection, the winter is a good time and having a little discount is nice too.  Premier Termite is one of the local inspection companies that is well respected because they know the ins and outs of local pest, dry rot and construction issues, as well as being professional and timely.  (And no, we get no special favors…Realtors use the companies who provide the best service to our clients, period.)

Related article:

Bugs as Guests:  Orange Oil an Option - Fumigation may still be needed

For when you’re ready to leave the ocean and go to THE lake.  My brother asked what resources I had for an upcoming  Lake Tahoe trip he is planning.  I immediately tapped into my Homescopes partner, Kappy.  Thanks to Kappy Mann in the Tahoe/Truckee region for sending these sites to check out if you’re planning a Tahoe getaway for a Fall weekend, upcoming Holidays, or next summer.  Or just call her directly if you want to talk with a local expert at 530-400-0531.

www.TruckeeReservations.com

www.stayinlaketahoe.com

www.mytahoetruckeevacation.com

www.truckeerentals.com

Kappy notes that a couple of them are Coldwell Banker sites and that she’s worked with them.

If you’re planning a trip, the Tahoe-Sierra destination is a frequently visited area by Half Moon Bay area and San Francisco Bay Area locals for year round recreation.  This is also a destination site for second homes and/or investment properties for San Mateo County residents. 

I took these pics on one of my recent walks around the neighborhoods. Enjoy.

My friend, a local Half Moon Bay Coastside resident, sent this invitation to me yesterday…so I’m passing it on to you with her permission…

“Friends, As many of you know, I’ve been volunteering for a wonderful organization, One HEART.  Their mission is simple - to save the lives of woman and children, one birth at a time.  Ten years ago, when One HEART began working in Tibet, it was estimated that 1 in 33 women died in childbirth and 1 in 10 children died within the first month.  In 2008, for the first time ever, there were no maternal deaths and newborn mortality decreased from 10 to 3% in One HEART’s target areas.  This is an astounding achievement.
 
The Tibet Autonomous Region has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in China.  The geography is difficult, transportation is sparse, poverty is prevalent and the health care system is weak.  In addition there are deeply held cultural beliefs surrounding pregnancy and childbirth that often result in women delivering alone, in the barn or outside, without sterile equipment.
 
Because of their success, One HEART has been asked to expand into 3 more countries.  So, here’s why I’m writing… My good friend Dee Harley is hosting an afternoon with One HEART at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero.  It’s a lovely setting, wine will flow freely, great food will be served and a tour of the farm will be given.  Arlene Samen, One HEART’s founder, will be there to share her stories, dreams and visions.  The goal of the afternoon is to raise awareness and donations for the cause.  Don’t let the donation part scare you, for as little as $55.00 you can save a life by gifting a sterile birth kit.  This is a wonderful opportunity to help save this indigenous culture, one life at a time.
 
Below is the invitation.  Space is limited so if you can come, please RSVP.  And feel free to pass this along to friends if you think they would be interested. I hope you will join me.”

The number to call for a reservation is 801-596-3317.

Some day, most listings will have the home’s green point rating number displayed along with the other features on its property brochure.  For now, I’m finally beginning to hear open home visitors mention the word “green” when referring to listings they’re visiting.

However, there’s a new phrase in town, and it’s called “green point rating”.  A California-based professional non-profit organization, named Built It Green started with a GreenPoint rating for new homes first.  They then added GreenPoint rating for remodels and multi-family homes.  It’s called “GreenPoint” because each system in the home is graded on a point system (between 1-4) on the level of energy savings, environmental friendliness, water conservation, and indoor air quality.  Check out their site at builtingreen.org for the checklists, what they’re working on now, local green raters, government ordinances and incentives by city/county in California, and much more.

San Mateo County Green Building Ordinance

In my opinion, listings that have green features, such as solar panels, FSC-certified wood, dual pane windows, low-flow toilets and shower heads, need to include a Features/Benefits sheet in their disclosure packages.  In other words, if the seller has already invested thousands of dollars in the property by installing solar panels to save electricity, show the buyer the savings!  In our information overload society, we need to point out the most advantageous features and how they will benefit the buyer if we want to get their attention.  Knowing your green point rating, or having a good rating is a feature that can easily be translated into cost saving and added comfort benefits to your buyer.

I’ll follow this up with a post about the most notable Coastside listings with green features.  Also, I made some great contacts at the Coastside Green Energy Fair a couple weeks ago.  All that’s to come also, when time allows!

You are invited to meet some interesting, fun, and knowledgeable local experts this weekend.  While you’re at it, you may end up saving some time and money as a result of stopping by.  Look for this ad in the Half Moon Bay Review Wed. 3/18 (tomorrow).

Coastside-Living Green Fair downloadable flyer for printing.

Please call your Coldwell Banker Realtor or our Half Moon Bay office at 650-726-1100.  Thanks to colleague, Kathy Rain, for coordinating this timely and fun local event, including the above flyer.  Thanks also to the local businesses who are presenters for donating their time and energy for our community.  Here’s links to the presenters:

Solar Universe Network

Harrell Remodeling

Solabrite

The Sustainable Center of SSF

Emerson Environmental

The Goddess of Garbage

CAL Pacific Hydronics

Green Intention Design

Sunrise Painting

Caccia Plumbing - Tankless Hotwater heaters

The first article I wrote about this very unique benefit of living (or visiting) the San Mateo County coast with the Peninsula Open Space Trust in our backyard was back in August 2007 when I spotlighted the Princeton-by-the-Sea neighborhood in El Granada.  Again, last month, POST completed three sales totaling 1001 acres in Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach, and San Gregorio, enabling these parcels to remain open space.  Forty-nine (49) of those acres are between the under 10-mile stretch of Half Moon Bay and Moss Beach.

December 23, 2008:  Sale of 32 acres in Half Moon Bay for $650,000.

December 24, 2008:  Sale of 952 acres on the the east side of Highway 1 north of San Gregorio for $3 million.

December 31, 2008:  Sale of 17 acres near Moss Beach at Pillar Point (adjacent to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve per POST) for $1.825 million.  According to POST, “Informal trails have crossed this private property for years; eventually trails will be improved and opened officially to the public.”

The Peninsula Open Space Trust prepared a press release this week to make the announcement.

Our local open space and available recreational activities are one reason why home price values are what they are.  Local buyers and sellers understand this.  Those relocating to the Half Moon Bay area for nearby jobs in San Francisco or Silicon Valley have to get used to the sticker shock before they can settle on a home.  Note:  This post isn’t about home prices; there are many articles, tools, and references throughout the site highlighting the current opportunities and trends.

Related articles:

One Reason people move to the Coastside, by Marian Bennett 12/28/07

Quiet neighborhood reaps the benefits of POST, by Marian Bennett 8/27/07

Thanks, Julie, for sending this reminder to me.  Her husband Rob and his sister Jane will host the first screening in San Mateo County of the award winning documentary about tick-born Lyme disease tomorrow evening.  Coastsiders are surrounded by numerous hiking trails and open space; now we have an opportunity to get some first hand information on this topic.

Robert Buelteman, an award winning photographer and long time Montara resident, has been battling Lyme disease for over a year now.  He shares a little of his story in this SF Chronicle story last May.

Local film showings like this and others are sponsored by Half Moon Bay’s Reba Vanderpool at The Visionary Edge.  Per The Visionary Edge’s full press release, this film has already won awards, including the FREDDIE Award, Infectious Diseases Category, International Health & Medical Media Awards (to be awarded November 14, 2008.

The Half Moon Bay Review wrote a full article about the event in this week’s paper, 11.5.08, in the Community Section under Arts & Entertainment.

Saturday, November 8th, doors open at 7:00, start at 7:30pm, Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay. Advance tickets $10, door $15.  No one turned away for lack of funds! Call 650-560-0200 or email reba@deepspirit.com for tickets.

Half Moon Bay used to be a sleepy little town when we moved here from Marin County in 1989.  Perhaps by some people’s estimations it still is.  If you’ve been here at least 10 years or more, you’ve noticed the changes. 

This is why I’m in awe of the fact that Half Moon Bay Golf Links is currently hosting the Samsung World Championship and the Ladies Professional Golf Association(LPGA) this year.  Plus, you know you’re a big deal when Main Street sports a banner about you. 

Our little Half Moon Bay town was discovered when the Ritz Carlton came to town in 2003 - in my opinion.  That opinion is shared by many long time coastsiders.  So while the coastside has had golf for many years, it now appears to be a golf “destination”.

To work on your golf swing, locals have access to the Half Moon Bay Recreation Department - adult class starting on 10/15/08 - and Oceanview Driving Range.  In addition, San Mateo County offers beautiful courses such as Crystal Springs Golf Course, Cypress Golf Course, Sharp Park Golf Course, and others.  Check golfable.com/San Mateo County for more courses and reviews from people who have played at these places.

Half Moon Bay High School also has a golf team.  I hear some team members are volunteering at the Samsung Tournament…  To catch local or visiting celebrities, fans can find out the details of attending this weekend in this Wednesday’s HMB Review article.

OCEAN COLONY HOMES FOR SALE CURRENTLY can be found here.   This is a lot of inventory for Ocean Colony!

The calendar was blocked out one recent Saturday morning so that I could spend a wonderful morning with long time friends at The Clay House in Montara making succulent wreaths!  We made them now so that they will be a little more filled in by the Holidays.  One of the organizers used Martha’s instructions as a guide, then bought the supplies and a few plants and we all split the cost.  We were to all bring succulent cuttings from our gardens.  Doing it this way, it cost us $17 each to make a wreath.

On prior Martha Stewart projects I would sometimes attempt, I have found her instructions to be for the natural born crafter, of which I’m not.  So I was happy when we started by making one together to see what “worked” and what didn’t.  Then we each began on our own wreaths. 

We cut the 24 inch wide wire roll into 8 inch lengths, filling it with moistened sphagnum moss and soil, then closing the wire together, bending it into the wreath shape and securing the ends.  I know it sounds easy, and it is.  The hardest part - basically requiring a little patience and manual dexterity, oh, and close-up vision - was securing the wire together.  A small pair of pliers does the job.  We used chopsticks to poke holes in the wreath, but as the instructions say, you could use a pencil or screwdriver.

It took about 2 hours to make our wreaths, including laughter, sharing stories, helping each other, and admiring along the way.

This is what I made.  If I can do it, anyone can!

Thank you to Clay House team!

You can always call Nancy at The Clay House for class & event information - 650-728-CLAY.