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Price reduced over $100k, 215 Roquena, La Honda now at $589,000

2011-08-09T22:29:24Z

Huge price reduction... This will sell quickly at this price! Wonderful country escape with a magical ambiance. Sitting on approx. 1/2 acre of established sunny gardens you find this beautiful home facing the amazing views. For more info click here.

15035 Pescadero Road, La Honda, Price reduced to $649,000!

2011-08-09T22:26:31Z

3 bed 3 bath on a sunny 1/2~ acre. High ceilings, beautiful new bathrooms with marble, amazing sun/rec room, 2 car garage, hardwood floors, extra water storage system, and RV parking with hookups just to name a few. Click here for more info!

New Listing, 23 Skylonda, Woodside

2011-08-09T22:24:17Z

TRYING TO FIND YOUR DREAM HOME? Click here for a DREAM HOME finder!

THINKING OF SELLING? Click here to find out how much your home is worth.

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4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms	For Sale: $1,245,000
23 Skylonda Drive, Woodside, CA, 94062	See on a MAP

Call now! 650-851-8100

Scroll down to see 6 more photos. Click here to see all 17 photos

SEE THIS HOME? If you would like to view this home, click here to request a showing.

DESCRIPTION

FEATURES

The good 'ol days...The homey charm of this lovely Cape Cod evokes feelings of nostalgia and comfort. From the open living area with soaring vaulted ceilings graced by craftsman trusses and imposing stone fireplace to the cozy bedrooms and updated bathrooms this home feels like a retreat.

• 4 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms • Den/ Family room with office nook. • Approx. 1/3 acre • Desirable Portola Elementary Schools and Woodside High • Minutes to 280 • Large great room • Decks and patios

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
Square feet	2140
Lot Size	13200 square feet
Year Built	1934

NOT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? Click here to SEARCH For other Homes!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Scott Hayes and Karin Bird

Alain Pinel

650-851-8100

Equal Opportunity Housing

Credit Score

2011-07-06T20:45:48Z

Your credit score, calculated from information in your credit report, is a measure of how good a risk you are to a credit grantor. A large proportion of borrowers who can't qualify for a mortgage would qualify if their credit score was higher.

That many borrowers can repair their own qualification credentials applies as much or more to credit score than to down payment or income.

Any lender to whom you apply will obtain your score and provide it to you. As noted below, however, inquiries by lenders may have a negative effect on your score, whereas inquiries by you do not. Hence, it is a good idea to find your score before you apply, so you can make an informed decision on whether you want to apply at that time.

You can obtain your score from many firms in the business, including www.equifax.com, www.transunion.com, www.experian.com and www.myfico.com.

Below are general suggestions on how applicants can improve their credit score using data from their credit reports.

Pay on time: The core rule is to meet your debt obligations on-time, every time. If you have had payment lapses in the past but your habits have improved, time is on your side. The credit scoring rules weight recent experience more heavily than older experience.

Correct mistakes in your credit report: Your score should not be reduced by reporting mistakes, which are all too common.

Detach yourself from the "wrong vendors": Because finance companies lend to relatively poor risks, the credit score of any borrower owing money to a finance company is lower than it would be if the creditor was a bank. By the same logic, borrowers who have credit cards of department stores are penalized, relative to what their score would be if they had cards issued by banks.

Reduce balances on revolving credits to less than 50 percent of the maximums: A high utilization ratio is read as a sign of weakness and potential trouble, reducing your score. Credit cards are the most important type of revolving credits, but HELOCs belong in this category as well. A HELOC used to purchase a house or to refinance a mortgage, where the initial utilization ratio is 100 percent, will jolt your credit score.

Note that utilization ratios can be reduced by getting the maximums raised, as well as by paying down the balances. In many cases, credit card issuers are willing to raise the maximum at the borrower's request.

Minimize the number of "hard inquiries": Hard inquiries are requests to a credit agency for your credit score from a credit grantor, insurance company or other entity to which you have applied and to which you have entrusted your Social Security number. "Soft inquiries" made by you or by firms looking to sell you something for which you have not applied don't require your permission and don't impact your credit score.

The credit-scoring systems may or may not penalize borrowers who shop multiple credit grantors within a short period -- unfortunately, you can't be sure.

The credit agencies tell you that multiple inquiries within a 15-day period count only as a single inquiry, but in fact inquiries for mortgage, auto and student loans would probably count as three inquiries, and even three mortgage inquiries could count as three inquiries, depending on how the credit grantors are identified to the credit scorer.

The bottom line is that in applying for credit, find your own score that you can deliver to the vendors you are shopping who need the score to set the price. The vendor you select will verify the score through his own inquiry, but it will be only a single inquiry.

Pay off collection accounts: This may actually reduce your score in the short-run by converting the account from an older entry with a low weight to a new one with a higher weight. However, you can't get a loan with a collection account on your record, so you must pay it off -- the sooner the better.

Jack Guttentag is professor of finance emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Skyline Real Estate Trends from Dec 09 to May 11

2011-06-27T21:04:42Z

La Honda Real Estate Trends From March 2010 to May 2011

2011-06-27T20:58:30Z

The Latest Edition of the La Honda Voice

2011-06-25T17:49:52Z

The La Honda Voice

May 2011

La Honda History: Remembering Kammy Chan (v2)

By Joe Cottonwood

Kammy Chan was a friendly little man who worked in the Pioneer Market in La Honda. If he wasn't at the store, he was wandering around in front of the restaurant or the post office. Or he'd just be sitting on a curb staring at the redwoods and smoking a cigarette. He seemed to have no home. More than once somebody would ask him, "Where do you live, Kam?" He'd smile vaguely and say, "I'm still in the same place." And that's where he remained until April of 1986, when all hell broke loose in the life of Kammy Chan. (continued on page 2) The Face of Local Music - Ted Kratter by Craig Eddy Writing this month‘s Face of Local Music has a bit of a difficulty factor built in. Ted Kratter, although not a resident of the La Honda area, has played more music here than anywhere else. Ted passed away Easter Sunday leaving his musical family at a loss as to how to fill the void. Ted gigged on a regular basis at the local venues with his band The Day Late Fools. He also played with the local jam groups and hasn't missed a La Honda Fair in several years. I don't think Ted missed a Strawberry Music Festival in many years either. Ted was equally at home playing acoustic guitar in his bluegrass band Wires and Wood as tearing it up on electric guitar at some of the weekly jams. Truly a Hank to Hendrix kinda guy. His influences included Jeff Beck, The Dregs, Grateful Dead, Santana, and on and on. I have known lots of musicians with egos they didn't deserve, and even though Ted would have been justified in having one, he didn't. (continued on page 2)

La Honda Café could change hands

[We hope this isn‘t true because Jane‘s energy and humor has been so important to the Community, but below is an excerpt from a recent HMB article]

(from www.hmbreview.com/news/

article_92bb94a6-6bb0-11e0-b650-001cc4c03286.html)

―La Honda has never been an easy place to open a restaurant. In fact, by Jane Sullivan's count, 18 eateries have come and gone over the years at the same spot at 8865 La Honda Road.

Today, Sullivan runs her own namesake pub at the same location in La Honda, and, for nearly four years, she's successfully managed to keep the little eatery alive.

Now, after years of pouring her heart into it, the charismatic restaurateur is saying she's exhausted with the hectic pace of managing the place. Sullivan says she has been in talks with an interested buyer and is hoping to sell her restaurant…‖

(continued on page 2) 2

Café could change hands (continued from page 1) ―Despite having no prior experience in restaurant management, Sullivan made her restaurant into a de facto town hall for the La Honda community. It's been a place where people would gather to learn what was going on in the area. The restaurant hosted a popular literature night every month and became the meeting place for the burgeoning La Honda Historical Society…

News that Sullivan's was looking at change set off a lengthy discussion on the La Honda community online chatroom, where residents traded ideas for how the eatery could survive...‖ Jane outside Sullivan’s

The Face of Local Music (continued from page 1) Constantly asked why aren't you out as a full time pro, he would always reply "that would be work, I just want to play with my friends." Ted has been in lots of bands over the years. Early on he played with Equinox. When I first met Ted, he had just finished a stint with the band Freakwagon. Ted's education focused on math which helped him have a great understanding of musical theory. He had amazing arranging skills and was always willing to help someone improve their playing. He made a name as a great Bluegrasser playing guitar and mandolin. Nothing would crack us up more than when he would start playing Metallica on the acoustic guitar. La Honda area has a huge musical family and one of our dearest members has gone on. His generous nature and big heart all made playing music with him a warm and energizing experience. His closest musical friends jammed with him during his hospice time and these moments will be with us from now on. At some point there will be a memorial musicfest to honor his life and music. Rock on Ted.

Remembering Kammy Chan (continued from page 1) Kam came to the USA legally with his family. With some other partners Kam's family ran an export business in San Francisco, but his parents died. The partners booted Kam out. It was 1970. Kam was a young man from Hong Kong all alone in Chinatown with an expired visa. Somehow, Kam came to the attention of a man from La Honda who was doing a job in San Francisco. The man offered Kam a sanctuary in his remote La Honda home. The sanctuary came at a price. In the words of many La Hondans, Kam became a virtual slave for this man and his wife, caring for their children, cooking, cleaning, and doing household chores. Eventually Kam got free of this couple by moving to, and working at, the home of a more generous-spirited La Honda resident, Dick Fox. A quick learner, Kam would help with various building projects on the property in exchange for room and board. To earn more money, Kam started working in the Pioneer Market for the owner, Pat Dancer. Kam found a room he could rent at the Church of the Redwoods. When Bob Cook bought the Pioneer Market, Kam came with it. By this time there was no longer a room for rent at the church. Kam had to make other arrangements. This was the beginning of the period when Kam would smile vaguely and say, "I'm still at the same place." Bob said, "Kam and I figured out butchering together. We'd cut up sides of beef and see what went wrong. We learned from our mistakes. Kam did a day and a half's work in a day and slept in the back of the store, but nobody knew." (Actually, everybody knew.) You might hear other versions of Kam's origin. In one version he came to the USA legally on a student visa, which expired. In another version Kam's family was mixed up with Hong Kong mobsters who killed everybody else and were searching for him. Whatever the version, a kid from Hong Kong ended up in a tiny town deep in a canyon in the redwood forest. 3

Kam spoke passable English and excellent Cantonese. According to David LeCount, La Honda's resident China scholar, Kam "wrote good characters," which implies at least the equivalent of a high school education. David used to joke with Kam, saying there were three Chinese expressions that could be used to answer any question. In English, the answers are: "Who knows?" "It's better than before." "Right now, it's difficult to say."

Kam took those non-answers to heart and made up some of his own, such as "I'm still in the same place." He was a master of the vague smile. After 16 years in La Honda, Kam somehow came to the attention of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which started demanding documents. Sources in La Honda claim that the man, who they say once held Kam in virtual slavery, got into a dispute with Bob Cook and reported Kam just to make trouble for the grocery store. Instead of coming after the store, though, the INS came after Kam. Everybody who knew Kam described him as "sweet." He was too trusting. People took advantage. According to several people in town, a woman in La Honda who drove a big-rig truck offered to marry him as a way to legalize his status. They say it was strictly a financial arrangement, and Kam was the loser. He moved in with her in an attempt to make the marriage look legitimate, though nobody in town believes it was ever consummated. When the ruse failed, according to these same people, the woman dropped him but ignored his request to annul the marriage. The town got involved. Petitions were signed in support of Kam. Bob Cook hired an immigration lawyer. But nothing would move the INS. According to Bob, part of the problem with Kam was: "He was secretive. He never filed any paperwork, whether out of fear or ignorance. There was an amnesty, but he missed it. And he trusted the wrong people. Except for that bogus marriage, Kam never spent money. He had fifty-five thousand dollars when they deported him." The end came suddenly. Three black limousines pulled up at the Pioneer Market. Most people in La Honda believe it was no coincidence that when those black limousines pulled up, Kam's old nemesis, the man who first had brought him to La Honda, was standing there, watching. The INS agents pulled Kam out of the store and whisked him away. Bob Cook and his lawyer went to San Francisco for Kam's hearing. According to Bob, he and his lawyer thought they had prevailed. They were talking to Kam outside the hearing room when three INS agents tackled Kam. Bob jumped in. So did the lawyer. It was a melee in the hallway. Bob, the lawyer, and little Kam were no match for the three INS agents. They handcuffed Kam and led him away. Bob never saw Kam again. A few weeks later, Bob received a postcard with a picture of Hong Kong at night. On the back Kam wrote, "It's expensive to live here. I'm homesick." So Kam did have a home. Of all this big planet, from his birth in Hong Kong he found home in the little strip mall of La Honda, sitting on a curb smoking a cigarette and gazing at the redwoods, or sleeping in the back of the store. He can never come back. Now, 25 years later, Kam remains in Hong Kong. He has two children though he can't legally marry the mother because he is still, on paper, married to somebody somewhere in the USA. Who knows what might have happened? Perhaps Kam's life is better than before. Right now, it's difficult to say. Or as Kam might put it: "I'm still in the same place." 4

Quake Concerns for Pescadero High School [A series of articles have been written over the past month on the concern over the earthquake safety of Pescadero High School - some of the highlights are excerpted below]

Quake Hazard Maps Redrawn for Pescadero High School (Excerpt from www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi? file=/c/a/2011/04/11/MNRS1IRBQ6.DTL)

―In southern San Mateo County, two miles east of the Pacific Ocean, lies the blue-collar town of Pescadero, a tourist destination and geologic time bomb. …Pescadero is just one school that found itself in a fault hazard zone one day - and gone the next. ...For the town of Pescadero, the change was striking. The old Franklin Point Quadrangle map from 1976 shows uninterrupted borders smoothly running north to south, outlining an earthquake danger zone. Pescadero High is firmly within that zone. On the newer map, created in 1982, the hazard zone takes a sharp right angle - neatly carving out a supposedly secure zone around the school.

"Faults don't go at right angles," said Peter Yanev, a World Bank earthquake engineer with 40 years of experience, who reviewed the maps for California Watch. "It doesn't look right because faults don't do this." Fault Hazard Zone near PHS in 1976 Lack of Oversight, Sloppy Record Keeping Raise Concerns About School Safety

(excerpt from www.californiareport.org/ archive/R201104080850/a)

―The Vikings, Pescadero High School's basketball team, are practicing in the gym. Right next to an earthquake fault line.

Bryan Burns, a local parent, points it out. "The earthquake fault comes across the front lawn of the high school towards the south side of the building."

Redrawn Fault Hazard Zone in 1982 He didn't think much about this unsettling but common piece of California geology, he says, until a few years ago when the school put a new roof on the gym. Then he noticed symmetrical cracks going down one of the gym walls that made him question the structural soundness of the building….

But when Burns got in touch with the field engineer in charge of the La Honda Pescadero School District, the engineer didn't know anything about the high school. Burns did some research into state records, and discovered that the recent construction on the gym was not earthquake certified….‖

South Coast residents press Pescadero district ―For more than three years, two Pescadero residents have made it their mission to make sure school officials are held accountable for a litany of troubled construction projects at the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District.

Pescadero residents Bryan Burns and Jeff Gananian are trying to compel San Mateo County prosecutors to take legal action against as many as 35 former board members and top employees at the South Coast district. Gananian has been plantiff in a two-year court battle over safety issues at the school...

On the South Coast, Burns and Gananian say school officials have neglected to perform mandatory safety inspections on new school buildings as far back as the early 1980s.

One of the buildings he singles out is the Pescadero High School gymnasium. … Burns said the gymnasium is particularly troubling because it acts as a public emergency shelter…‖ 5

La Honda Bandits Racing Grope
by Vicki Skinner

Tom O‘Connor is sitting at his kitchen table with a cup of coffee. He has taken a break from mowing to talk to me. He doesn‘t look like your typical retiree even though the plaque on the wall behind him commerates his 22 years in the Park Service. In fact, his eyes light up and he looks like a kid when we talk about the La Honda racing team for which he plays an integral role. He says, ―Go to 24hoursoflemons.com to see how Jay Lamm, who used to race cars, thought up the idea.‖ According to the web site and video, Jay Lamm conceived the idea when he was sitting round at lunch at a Chinese Restaurant with a bunch of his gear-head friends. Lamm says,‖ When you had a good time on a car event was when something would go wrong.‖ So, he put a limit on the amount of money anyone could spend on the cars; they couldn‘t cost more than $500.00. Not including the safety equipment. He wanted to make racing more accessible to the average person as well. Tom O’Conner with Trophy

O‘ Connor says ―It was my son, Tommy‘s idea, but all of the team has been around cars and racing before. We call our team La Honda Bandits‘ Racing Grope. Not to be confused with Group.‖ There are 6 members of the team: Tom O‘Connor, Sr, Tom O‘Connor Jr., brother Chuck O‘Connor, Terry and Dana Buck, and Pat Williams. ―Chuck,‖ he says, ―has been racing since he was 11.‖ Most of them went to La Honda Elementary School, and Gayle, Tom‘s

wife, was the bus driver for La Honda for many years as well. Tom and Gayle‘s grandkids attend La Honda Elementary now, too. It seemed natural to name the car after the La Honda School mascot.*

Pat Williams, who still lives in La Honda (his wife Carole works at La Honda Elementary) and is a team member confirms saying., ―I have known Terry and Dana Buck since second grade, Tom O‘Connor, Sr. from living in the area for the past 45 years (Tom says it is 59 years in LH, but that was before Pat was born), and Tommy Jr. since the mid 70‘s. I think I first met Chuck O‘Connor in the early 70‘s through Tommy, Sr. He adds, ―I never raced before competitively before. I‗ve done open track for fun. But, I have raced around La Honda all my life.‖

Tom‘s son, Tom Jr., found their car, an old Porsche, in Woodside buried under a tree for 10 years, O‘Conner says. He adds ruefully, ―Yeah, the car cost under $500.00 but we had to put $2,000.00 into it in safety equipment like a roll bar, seat belts, tires, etc.‖ He says he maintains the car and it is stored in his shop. ―I am retired after all.‖ But he says that all of the other team members throw money at it all the time. O‘Connor says, ―We have a lot of people to thank. Cheryl O‘Connor for doing all of the art work on the car,‖ (the car sports a La Honda Bandit- the former mascot of La Honda Elementary School plus a Grateful Dead sticker, not, obviously, Cheryl‘s artwork but I know Tom, Sr.‘s been a Dead Head from way back when), ―Graham Thomas, Joe Barrett, and Bob Bowers for all the work they have done on the car.‖

―I asked Tom how often they change drivers. He said,‖ We are supposed to change every two hours but they don‘t really enforce it. We usually do though, first of all, I have to go pee after 2 hours. Pat is nervous when other cars surround him, Dana is a big guy and gets uncomfortable, and Tommy is 6 ft 5 and gets leg cramps. Terry (their most experienced driver) could go all day, but we don‘t let him. Our problem is we lose 6

time just talking instead of getting in the car and going.‖

―It is a lot of fun,‖ Tom says, ―They do all kinds of crazy things. People dress in costumes. Two cars look like the Starship Enterprise. And they inflict crazy punishments for your team when your car gets a penalty, like passing under the yellow flag, bumping another driver‘s car, etc. Tom laughs, ―Crazy things like taping the teams legs together and making them walk around singing doo-dah, doo-dah . Once, we were made to write on our car 500 times, ‗We will improve our decision making skills.‘ Sometimes they make you strap the Cone of Shame (traffic cone) to your car and drive around in it.‖

I said, ―Like a dunce cap?‖

Tom replied, ―Exactly.‖

For all of the frivolity involved, the team takes their driving semi-seriously. Tom says proudly, ―They have 2 day races. The first day about 180 cars race for nine hours. Then, the next day, only the top ten cars are invited to go to the front. We‘ve always made it to the second day. We have also come in second twice in our class, which according to Pat Williams is C class, which means cars with under 100 horse power. They even received a trophy made from gears!

It just goes to show, old La Hondians never die—they just take up racing!

* The La Honda Elementary School no longer uses the term "Bandits", not politically correct, I guess, but the raccoon still is the mascot. La Hondans Savor Water, Drink Wine (excerpt from www.hmbreview.com/news/article_835db112-6622-11e0-bd1e-001cc4c03286.html) ―In a water-tasting event organized by the Cuesta La Honda Guild, local residents were comparing unfiltered water from the local plumbing with bottled water to see which tasted better.

The challenge came about after a Cuesta board member claimed last month that La Honda's water, drawn from the nearby streams and ponds, was the best-tasting around.

But many residents connected to the waterworks strongly disagree, saying they find it undrinkable unless heavily filtered. Many residents say they have reason to be wary. The Cuesta guild has sent out notices occasionally in the past warning its ratepayers to boil their water due to possible contamination.

So to settle the matter, local resident Peter Bohacek proposed a blind tasting at the tail end of the regular Cuesta homeowners meeting.

Coincidentally, several bottles of wine had also been donated for the public to enjoy at the meeting. La Honda attendees were drinking some wine, but they were savoring the water that night.

"It was a reversal of the normal ... After they drank the water, did you see them rinse out their palate with wine?" Bohacek joked. "This idea just came up in conversation when someone said how good our water is."… At the blind tasting, public reviews of the specially treated La Honda water were mixed. Three tasters said they preferred bottled water; two others said the tap water was superior…‖ Kim Hussey sampling the water

July 10th $25 a Space Call Karen at 747-0515 7

The Tour Del Mar Bicycle Race and Folk-Rock Festival from the archives

Pages from the program below show a two day combination bike race and music festival centered in Pescadero in 1966. The Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service played there, and the program also includes their managers phone numbers (in case you wanted to book them for your own party later!). In the previous year, 1965, the event was centered in La Honda.

Go to www.lahondahistorical.org to see the whole Program. There are some fun advertisements, such as one that says, ―We provided sound systems for all occasions, even the Tour de Mar and the Beatles.‖

Thanks to Steve Lubin, winner of the Del Mar junior race in 1965 for the program.

The Grateful Dead photo from the program

Steve Lubin winning the Junior Event outside Apple-jacks in La Honda in 1965

From the program:

―Welcome to the 1966 Tour Del Mar bicycle Race. This race is considered to be the best class of road race for cyclists in the United States. The riders engaging in the competition for the Tour Del Mar are among the best of this country as well as foreign countries represented…

…As the riders approach San Gregorio there is electricity in the air, the riders are getting ready for the sprint. They know that there is a prize up for grabs for the first to reach the old bridge, just before the point where the road turns up to La Honda. There is a crowd waiting, You can hear their shouts, their cheering for they know the riders are on their way. Here they come! Here they come! The riders are coming! They say. ..‖ 8

Go to gardens.eventbrite.com for additional details All's Fair In Love and War - Signs of Spring by Craig Eddy

What the hey? You just hung your Humming Bird feeder and all of a sudden it's like World War Three has broken out just outside the kitchen. Even though there are over three hundred known types of Humming Birds in the world, we only have two types in Northern California. Rufous and Anna's are the types you see here, and they aren't exactly the most peaceful birds. They get very aggressive around food sources, and during spring their mating behavior is exactly the same as their aggressive mode. The Rufous is the copper colored one and seems to be the most aggressive. One male will try to hoard the whole feeder to himself. Humming bird mating is all of about 30 seconds once a year. No wonder they seem so angry all the time! The green colored Hummers are the Annas, and they seem more willing to let a crowd settle in at the feeder. Humming birds actually eat way more insects than nectar. They have been known to actually kill bees that are buzzing around and annoying them. That long beak serves as a very effective weapon. In other parts of the world there are humming birds that are as big as Stellar Jays. Some have beaks 8 inches long and some have elegant long tail feathers. Our local little birds weigh less than three paper clips. Their bones are hollow. It would take 150 of them to weigh in at one pound. Just remember folks if you are going to put out feeders you must clean them with vinegar to kill any mold that is forming. If mold gets into the feeder it can kill the birds. Don't use soap in cleaning the feeders, it too can kill them. Happy Humming Bird watching.

Wet spring portends another big year for snakes The title says it all – go to www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi? f=/c/a/2011/04/10/SPFE1IRN4G.DTL or the LH Message Board for more details

La Honda Kid on Animal Planet (excerpt from groups.yahoo.com/ group/LaHonda/message/25730) ―Proud mom boast!! Look for Stone this month on Animal Planet "Killer Outbreaks" as Devonte King, and Discovery Channel "I Almost Got Away With It". Then in May as Piggy in the Palo Alto Children's Theater Production of Lord of the Flies, opening May 20th. It‘s going to be a great production!‖ 9

La Honda Transportation Survey Would you like more transportation options in and out of La Honda? Lynnette Vega is organizing a study to determine if plans should be made to move forward and provide other transportation options. Lynnette said that she will also set up a table at the local Post Office on Friday, May 13th, to help get the forms filled out. The form deadline has been extended to May 14. Please return the forms to lahondalynnette@earthlink.com or to PO Box 205, La Honda 94020. 10

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

La Honda Properties, Inc. PO Box C131 La Honda, CA 94020 We currently have 3 ‗spotless‘ apartments available in La Honda

1)Studio: $900.00/month includes all Utilities + Dish TV and water & trash pickup 2) One bedroom apartment: $1250/month includes water + trash pickup 3) One bedroom apartment $1275/month includes fenced patio, water and trash pickup - Beautiful backyards & gardens overlooking La Honda Creek - Onsite Laundry Rook for tenants Call 650-747-9713 for showing

Contact Angus Blackwood or Robert Worthington at White Space Financial robert@ourwhitespace.com 11

Kim’s Photography Hello, my name is Kim from Kim‘s Photography CA. There are significant moments in everyone‘s life which deserve to be captured. I am passionate about capturing those moments through photography. Done well, emotions, personalities and sentiments shine through, creating memories that will last a lifetime. There is so much beauty in your family, and your animals as well, out there.I can bring it out in my photography. I have been in business for 4 years. I have photoshop cs4. You can get 10% off for first time customers. Digital copies are included! Call me today! 650-274-6238. You can also go to my website at www.kimsphotography.vpweb.com. Visit today! Also there‘s a flash photography website at www.wix.com/kimsphotography/kimsphotography

Leona Cash is: Your total garden solution

Specializing in: Gardening, Pruning Irrigation and Landscaping

If you have buttons for sale, I may buy them. Call or email me. 12 May 2011
SUNDAY	MONDAY		TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY		THURSDAY	FRIDAY		SATURDAY
1 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 10am Crosby Tyler @ AJ's, 4pm	2 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 4pm		3 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am	4 Cuesta BOD Meeting, 7:30pm		5 Craig Eddy @ Alice's , 7:30pm Yoga with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am Meditation with Eric @Clubhouse, 6:30pm	6 Saxyman and the Lads @ Sully's, 7pm Dr Sigmunds 100% Natural Good Time Family, 9pm		7 TBA @ Sully's, 7pm DB Walker @ AJ's, 9pm
8 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 10am	94 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 4pm		10 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am	11		12 LH Historical Society @ Sullys, 7pm Yoga with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am Meditation with Eric @Clubhouse, 6:30pm	13 Bundy Browne @ Sully's, 7pm Wishbone Tug @ AJ's, 9pm		14 55+ Club - Tour of the Djerassi Property, TBA @ Sully's TBA @ AJ's, 9pm
15 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 10am	16 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 4pm		17 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am	18 Cuesta BOD Meeting, 7:30pm		19 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am Meditation with Eric @Clubhouse, 6:30pm	20 Burning Sensations @ Sully's The Seen Reds @ AJ's, 9pm		21 Stacey Erdman @ Sully's Gardens of the South Coast Tour, 10-4 11 Wails @ AJ's, 9pm
22 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 10am Saxyman and the Lad's @ Sully's p	23 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 4pm		24 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am	25 Lit Night, 7pm		26 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am Meditation with Eric @Clubhouse, 6:30pm	27 TBA @ Sully's Acoustic Shadows @ AJ's @ 9pm		28 T & Co. @ Sully's
29 Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 10am		30 Memorial Day Yoga with Mary @ Clubhouse, 4pm			31 Yoga in Balance with Sukha @ Clubhouse, 10am			Note: Events on this calendar are subject to change. More current information may be available from the calendar at www.lahonda.com or by calling the venue Key numbers: Alice’s - 851-0303 Sullivan’s - 747-9220 AJ’s - 747-0331

Two New Listings in La Honda Open Sunday June 26

2011-06-23T16:56:37Z

Come by and see us at 145 Shelden and 215 Roquena from 1:30-4:30. Click on the addresses for more info.

This Week-end... The La Honda Country Fair

2011-06-10T17:47:44Z

by craig eddy

If there is one thing that sums up the music scene in our Coastside area it is the La Honda Country Fair and Music Festival. Put on by locals for locals it embodies the meaning of community. The La Honda Fair has been around in some form or other for close to forty years. Please check out last years La Honda Voice article for more on the history of the fair and the people that have made it what it is today. That can be found at www.LaHonda.com. The Fair has always been a benefit for the art and music programs at the La Honda School. Paula Dennis is the force behind the event. When you see her at the fair be sure to let her know you appreciate the time and effort she has put in to keep it going. The sound crew, Bo from SOUNDsupport and Charlie from Slipperworld Studios along with a few others provide sound that is some of the best I have ever had at music festivals. This years line up features all the regular local bands with a couple of new faces. I'm sure you will also find your favorite artisans showing their wares. Keep the weekend open and come on down to hang out with your neighbors and friends. The town Cafe should be open that Friday night and will host the opening ceremony for the fair. Friday night will feature many of the area's musicians jamming and mixing it up. Saturday night at the cafe after the festival ends will feature The Cowlicks. The Cowlicks play a mix of country, rock, and anything inbetween. It promises to be a great time as usual so here's hoping to see all of you there.

San Mateo County Q1 Quarterly Market Report

2011-06-07T20:10:44Z

What is a Supplemental Tax Assesment?

2011-06-07T20:02:02Z

State law requires the Assessor's Office to reappraise property immediately upon change of ownership or completion of new construction. The Assessor's Office must issue a supplemental assessment which reflects the difference between the prior assessed value and the new assessment. This value is then prorated based on the number of months remaining in the fiscal year, ending June 30th.

For example, if property is purchased on September 15th with a market value of $150,000, and it has a prior assessed value of $50,000, this will result in a supplemental assessment for the difference ($100,000) prorated for the remaining months in the fiscal year (9 months from October through the following June):

$150,000 New Purchase Price/Market Value
-$50,000 Prior Assessed/Taxable Value
$100,000 Supplemental Assessment
x 9 1/2 Remaining months in Fiscal/Tax Year
$75,000 Supplemental Assessment
x 1% Tax Rate
$750 Supplemental Tax Bill

This supplemental tax bill is in addition to the regular tax bill which is based on the assessed value as of March 1st of each year. If a second sale or transfer of the property occurs during the same fiscal year, but before the mailing of the first Supplemental Tax Bill, the taxes will be prorated between May 31st, a second Supplemental Assessment will be required for the next fiscal year.

Saturday April 9th- Household Waste Disposal in La Honda

2011-04-08T16:59:00Z

HHW Collection (La Honda & San Mateo)

Description:	San Mateo County Environmental Health Department sponsors a FREE countywide program to collect, recycle and properly dispose of household hazardous waste. San Mateo County Residents may drop off a full range of HHW at our Collection Events. These collections are held virtually every week, rotating around eight locations on a monthly or quarterly basis. Residents can make an appointment for any city in the County (not just the city of residence) April 9th Collection Events are held in La Honda (8:30am-12:15pm) and San Mateo (8:00-2:00). Make an appointment to get the address and directions to this event. NOTE: Collection event's are held every Friday and Saturday in San Mateo. Visit http://www.smhealth.org/hhw to make an appointment (or call 650-363-4718 and select option 3). Accepted Materials • Oil-based paints, varnishes and stains • Paint thinner • Household cleaners • Aerosol spray cans • Furniture and metal polishes • Pesticides and garden chemicals • Pool and spa chemicals • Photographic chemicals • Art and hobby supplies • Automotive Products* • Batteries (home & car)* • Hobby supplies • Fuels • Propane tanks from barbecues • Mercury Containing Items (fluorescent light bulbs, old thermometers, etc.) Not Accepted Materials Ammunition Asbestos Biological materials Business-generated materials Electronics Explosives Radioactive materials Compressed gas cylinders No need for an appointment if you take the following to local Drop-Offs, see http://www.flowstobay.org/toxic • household batteries • old medications • latex paint • fluorescent light bulbs • auto batteries • used oil • oil filters • antifreeze
Date:	Saturday, April 9, 2011
Time:	10:10am

Home Owners Recoup More with Exterior Replacement Projects, REALTORS® Report

2011-03-31T15:58:00Z

Washington, DC, December 15, 2010

As part of the 2010-11Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® recently rated exterior replacement projects among the most cost-effective home improvement projects, demonstrating that curb appeal remains one of the most important aspects of a home at resale time.

“This year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of exterior projects, which not only provide the most value, but also are among the least expensive improvements for a home,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “Since resale value can vary by region, it’s smart for home owners to work with a REALTOR® through the remodeling and improvement process; they can provide insight into projects in their neighborhoods that will recoup the most when the owners are ready to sell.”

Nine of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects. The steel entry door replacement remained the project that returned the most money, with an estimated 102.1 percent of cost recouped upon resale; it is also the only project in this year’s report that is expected to return more than the cost. The midrange garage door replacement, a new addition to the report this year, is expected to recoup 83.9 percent of costs. Both projects are small investments that cost little more than $1,200 each, on average. REALTORS® identified these two replacements as projects that can significantly improve a home’s curb appeal.

“Curb appeal remains king – it’s the first thing potential buyers notice when looking for a home, and it also demonstrates pride of ownership,” said Phipps.

The 2010-11Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 80 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 13th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine.

REALTORS® provided their insight into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets. Overall, REALTORS® estimated that home owners would recoup an average of 60 percent of their investment in 35 different improvement projects, down from an average of 63.8 percent last year. Remodeling projects, particularly higher cost upscale projects, have been losing resale value in recent years because of weak economic conditions.

According to the report, replacement projects usually outperform remodel and addition projects in resale value because they are among the least expensive and contribute to curb appeal. Various types of siding and window replacement projects were expected to return more than 70 percent of costs. Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement was judged by REALTORS® the most cost effective among siding projects, recouping 80 percent of costs. Among the window replacement projects covered, upscale vinyl window replacements were expected to recoup the most, 72.6 percent upon resale. Another exterior project, a wood deck addition, tied with a minor kitchen remodel for the fourth most profitable project recouping an estimated 72.8 percent of costs.

The top interior projects for resale value included an attic bedroom and a basement remodel. Both add living space without extending the footprint of the house. An attic bedroom addition costs more than $51,000 and recoups an estimated 72.2 percent nationally upon resale; a basement remodel costs more than $64,000 and recoups an estimated 70 percent. Improvement projects that are expected to return the least are a midrange home office remodel, recouping an estimated 45.8 percent; a backup power generator, recouping 48.5 percent; and a sunroom addition, recouping 48.6 percent of costs.

Although most regions followed the national trends, the regions that consistently were estimated to return a higher percentage of remodeling costs upon resale were the Pacific region of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington; the West South Central region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; the East South Central region of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the South Atlantic region of the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

The regions where REALTORS® generally reported the lowest percentage of costs recouped were New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota), and Middle Atlantic (New York and Pennsylvania).

“It’s important to remember that the resale value of a particular improvement project depends on several factors,” said Phipps. “Things such as the home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location and the regional economic climate contribute to an estimated resale value. That’s why it is imperative to work with a REALTOR® who can provide insight and guidance into local market conditions whether you’re buying, selling or improving a home.”

Results of the report are summarized in the January issue of REALTOR® Magazine. To read the full project descriptions, access national and regional project data, and download a free PDF containing data for any of the 80 cities covered by the report, visit www.costvsvalue.com. “Cost vs. Value” is a registered trademark of Hanley Wood, LLC.

Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and websites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data, and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America’s leading provider of home plans. Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $240 million company owned by JPMorgan Partners, LLC, a private equity affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

REALTOR® Magazine is published by the National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate” and America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. All REALTORS® are members of NAR.

From Jan. 6, 2010 C.A.R. Newsline

Reprinted with permission of the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

2010 Coastside Year in Review

2011-01-18T21:40:00Z

In this year in review we look at the coastside area of San Mateo county. The real estate market we are looking at includes the towns of Pescadero, Loma Mar and San Gregorio.

In this area of the county this year we have seen some significant drops in the median price. The prices in this area can vacillate a bit based on the acreage. If you look at the chart below almost all of the sales in 2008 were on large acreage on 10+ acres, which would skew the price up. In 2009 nothing was on over 10 acres, and this year four of the nine properties were on less than 1/2 acre. It would appear that 2008 was a bit of an anomaly. Given those caveats, there does appear to have been some price softening on the coast. The largest contributing factor appears to be the number of short sales or bank owned properties that were sold this year. Of the 9 transactions 6 were either bank owned or short sales. Compare this with one last year and none in the prior 8 years.

Prices were down 28% from 2009, and they took a 68% drop from 2008 to 2009 (however they were up %60 from 2007 to 2008). As we mentioned before 2008 was a bit of an anomaly so it might be more accurate to compare 2007 to 2009. If we do that prices went down 49% from 2007 to 2009 (excluding 2008).

the days on market increased this year moving from174 to 218. Although not a gigantic change, it is a bit concerning given the number of bank owned homes that were on the market. They typically sell rather quickly because they are usually priced aggressively.

A good sign is that the number of properties that didn't sell was about dead even with the ones that did. This seems to be one sign that the market may be stabilizing. This could also be due in part to the bank owned properties and short sales. Perhaps the people that are trying to sell, either are banks, or really need to sell the property. I would feel much better about this market if the prices had leveled off this year, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

What does all this mean?
Time will tell in this area. There are some signs that the market is leveling off, and there are never that many transactions in the area. The drop in price is a bit concerning and I hope it levels off this year, we will have to wait and see on this one.

If you have any questions about this or would like the raw data we would be happy to supply you with it. We are very familiar with this market. Please feel free to contact us at 650-851-8100 or visit our website at www.BirdHayes.com and we can show you how to thrive in this challenging market.

2010 La Honda Year in Review

2011-01-17T19:37:00Z

Now that 2010 is over lets take a look at the market and how it faired in this challenging real estate market.

The area of La Honda is a rather large area, if you take the hamlet of La Honda and use that as the center, the area is approximately 4 miles in a radius circle as the crow flies. The homes here consist of small cabins to some larger ranches.

The La Honda market this year seemed to reach a point of stabilization, and the median price actually grew 17% from last year to $460,000. This is still a 30% decline from the high in 2007 of $656,000, but much better than last year. The good thing is that the price is rising and that the list vs sales price is very close. This says to me that the market has settled down a bit.

There were only 10 transactions this year, and five of those were Bank Owned. The good news is that there are currently 4 homes that are pending, so hopefully in 2011 we will see an increase in volume.

There were 23 homes that were put on the market and didn't sell. This is not a great sign, we would like to see those numbers closer together.

As you can see from the chart above, this market has had some challenges since 2006 and hopefully the sales vs expired/withdrawn numbers will close in on each other this year.

Days on market has decreased this year, down to 32 from 48. The 10 year average is 48 days on market. I believe this is due, in part, to the bank owned properties. Bank owned properties are typically put on the market at a very low price since the banks want to unload them quickly. When this happens they typically don't stay on the market very long. They can also rapidly decrease the home values in an area if there are enough of them. I believe these have taken a toll on values in La Honda.

So what does all this mean?

The price point rising is a good thing, hopefully this will continue. I only know of 3 more bank owned properties that will be coming on the market in the next year, so hopefully the values will continue to rise and the bank owned homes will not have a huge effect on the market this year. It would appear this market has taken its beating and has stabilized. It is hard to tell with only 10 transactions but it is much more positive than it was last year.

If you are a seller and want to move on with you life, make sure you are priced right and your agent has done everything they can to market the property and it appears you should sell in a relativity short period of time. If your home is on the market for 30 or 60 days you may want to revisit your price or talk to your agent about your marketing. Only two things sell homes, price and marketing.

If you have any questions about this or would like the raw data we would be happy to supply you with it. We had more transactions in this area than our nearest competitor this year and we are very familiar with this market. Please feel free to contact us at 650-851-8100 or visit our website at www.BirdHayes.com and we can show you how to thrive in this challenging market.

2010 Skyline Area Year in Review

2011-01-10T03:14:00Z

As we look in the rear view mirror at 2010 it is time we take a look at what the real estate market did in the Skyline area of Woodside. This area incorporates area's 272 and 273 of the MLS, or approximately from Highway 92 down Skyline Blvd to a bit past Alpine road encompassing about a mile on either side of Skyline Blvd.

The stats this year seem to show that this area has reached a point of equilibrium. Last year we saw a large drop in the sales price from the all time high of 2008 down over 17% after steady climbs from 2000. This year we saw slight increase of 6% from last year, not bad considering the general housing market.

In addition, the ask price vs sales price was much more inline with norms. If you look at 2009 you see there was a much larger discrepancy in list vs. ask price, with the sales price being about 85% of the list price. This year it was a much more reasonable 92%.

On an even more positive note, the number of transactions were up from last year from 12 to 19. This is lower than the average number of transactions since 2000 of 29, but up substantially from last year and 2008.

It appears in 2008 that there were a few home that were priced right and they sold but there were a huge number in 2008,2009 and even 2010 that were not and thus didn't sell (see graph below). This leads me to believe that there are still people that haven't quite accepted the reality of the new market when they try to sell their house. More sellers seem to be realizing this new reality this year, which explains the decrease in the number of properties that didn't sell vs. the ones that did.

The days on market for the properties that sold down substantially from 2008 when it was 56 and 2009 when it was 165. In 2010 the median days on market was just 26. This is a huge decrease.

So what does this tell us?
It would appear this market has found its footing, sales vs. list price are more in line, volume is going up, days on market are down, all good signs. The Days on Market data is very telling. There are buyers out there, and when they see something that shows well and is reasonably priced, they move on it. The number of homes that did not sell and were pulled from the market is a bit troubling, but that number is coming down.

If you are a seller and want to move on with you life, make sure you are priced right and your agent has done everything they can to market the property and it appears you should sell in a relativity short period of time. If your home is on the market and it has been 30 or 60 days you may want to revisit your price. Only two things sell homes, price and marketing.

If you have any questions about this or would like the raw data we would be happy to supply you with it. We sold three times more homes in this area than our nearest competitor and have done so for years, we are very familiar with this market. Please feel free to contact us at 650-851-8100 or visit our website at www.BirdHayes.com and we can show you how to thrive in this challenging market.

Sold 22310 Skyline Blvd. Congratulations Melissa Farrel and Welcome to the Neighborhood

2011-01-07T23:36:00Z

Welcome Melissa Farrell to 22310 Skyline Blvd, La Honda. After a long and challenging escrow Melissa is in her new home with amazing views!

Once again, we have sold double the number of any other Realtor or Team in the skyline area this year. Call us and let us show you how to thrive in this challenging market. 650-851-8100

2010 Lower Woodside Year in Review

2011-01-07T22:02:00Z

As we do every year we have tallied up the market data points for our local areas for 2010 to see what trends we can find. The analysis is divided up into four distinct areas.

1. Lower Woodside, excluding the Skyline area.
2. Skyline, which consists of the general skyline area from Hwy 92 south past Alpine Road.
3. La Honda.
4. Coastside, which consists of Loma Mar, Pescadero and San Gregorio.

In this article we will discuss Lower Woodside and the trends of the last year. In future articles we will address the other locations.

Lower Woodside.
Prices in Lower Woodside took a tumble from last year. The median price was down from $2.512M to $1.948M, representing a 22% drop from last year. This price drop brings the median sales price down to around 2003 levels.

Although not great news, there are some positive aspects. The average number of sales has gone up, from 28 last year (which was the lowest in 10 years) to 37 this year, much closer to the 10 year average of 48. In addition, if you look at the graph above the gap between the list price and sales price is narrowing. The days on market from 2009 to 2010 has also decreased dramatically, dropping from 77 days to 45 days (see graph below).

One other indicator is the number of solds vs the number of properties that didn't sell and were pulled off the market for whatever reason. in 2009 the ratio was really high, there were 28 sales and 53 properties that didn't sell and were pulled from the market, almost double the solds. In Lower Woodside over the last 10 years, the average number of annual sales is 48 and the average pulled from the market is 49 (see chart below). In 2010 that number came more in line with the norm, there were 37 properties sold and 44 that were pulled off the market.

What does all this mean?
Good questions. This indicates that the market is finding its equilibrium. The days on market has decreased, the list price vs sales price has come closer in line, the number of solds vs pulled from the market ratio has decreased and the sales volume is getting closer to the average . It looks like this market is finding it's bottom, it may not have yet, but it looks like it is close. My prediction is that this market will level off in 2011 and begin slowly rising in 2012.

What does this mean if you are planning to buy?
If you are looking to buy now, I would move forward. As a teaser, two of the three other markets we will look at later have this same general trend but experienced it earlier, this year the prices started to climb a tiny bit (see the La Honda and Skyline articles). The heyday of this market was 2007 and 2008, the market has dropped 30% since then. All the signs are that the market is getting healthy again, or is at least on the road. Any nominal drop in price could be more than made up for in increases in mortgage rates.

What does this mean if you are planning to sell?
The good news is that it would appear the bleeding has stopped, and now we are headed towards a flat market. We lost 30% of value off the highs of 2007/08 and I don't expect we will see that come back anytime soon. Most economist agree that when there is a housing recovery it will be a measured one, with slowly increasing value. If you can stay in your house another five years or so, you may see a small increase in value, but I can almost guarantee you won't see 30%. If you need or want to sell now, I don't think there will be much of a difference between selling now and selling in 2012 or 2013 except you will have paid more interest on your mortgage.

If you have any questions about this or would like the raw data we would be happy to supply you with it. Please feel free to contact us at 650-851-8100 or visit our website at www.BirdHayes.com and we can show you how to thrive in this challenging market.