Researchers Say Your Backyard Is Good for Your Health

It’s no secret that lush, green, open spaces, whether a backyard or expansive parkland, have a calming effect on our bodies. We can feel stress dissipate and our heart rates settle down.

In fact, the benefits of an outdoor environment are many and varied. If you have a backyard, no matter how small, do yourself a favor and add greenery wherever you can. Your efforts will pay you back even more if you plan to put your home on the market, since a well-developed backyard gives a big boost to its value.

A recent report on backyard greenery digs deeper into the topic. It’s from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, of all places, and it pulls together disparate sources to present some amazing facts. (An attractive infographic is also available.)

• Researchers found that children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. They also found that schoolchildren who had more exposure to the outdoors performed better on cognitive testing. The effect was greatest when both home and school environments provided “green” time.
• Living landscapes help you heal. Hospital patients exposed to window views of nature healed on average a full day faster than those with a view of a brick wall.
• Playing in dirt is good for you! Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium stimulates serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier.
• Knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people. People who live within a half-mile of a green space were found to have a lower incidence of 15 diseases, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and migraines. A 2015 study found that people living on streets with more trees had a boost in heart and metabolic health
• Research has shown that turfgrasses remove atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride, and perosyzacetyle nitrate from the air. Grass also helps capture dust, smoke particles, and other pollutants.
• Walking or running in nature, rather than a concrete-oriented, urban environment, resulted in decreased anxiety, rumination, and negative affect and produced cognitive benefits and increased working memory performance. Never mind that grass can be 31 degrees cooler than asphalt and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil thanks to a process called evapotranspiration.
• Your lawn is a massive oxygen generator: 50 square feet of lawn produces enough oxygen each day for a family of four. And grasses remove about six tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year from the atmosphere.
• Grass, trees, shrubs, and other plant life provide food and habitat for birds and small mammals. Insects, spiders, and worms live among the grass blades and below the surface in the turf.

Article and image sourced from http://blog.pacificunion.com/researchers-say-your-backyard-is-good-for-your-health/

The SF Zoo offers paintings by resident animals for ZooFest 2016

Who knew the animals at the San Francisco Zoo were such brilliant artists? 

Several mammals and reptiles lent their creative skills — or in most cases, just stepped around canvases with paws dipped in paint — for pieces of art, all to be sold in an online auction to benefit ZooFest 2016. 

"Each framed painting is accompanied by a special note featuring information about the animal artist," Zoo spokesperson Rachel Eslick writes in a release. "100% of the proceeds help the Zoo accomplish its mission to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action."

Paintings were illustrated by chimps Cobby, Maggie and Minnie, the rhino Gauhati, the Sumatran tiger Leeann, European ferrets named after the Spice Girls, Angie the Mandrill, Tenzing, the zoo's celebrity red panda, and more. 

The paintings are currently up for bidding at eBay.

Article and images are sourced from http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/The-SF-Zoo-offers-paintings-by-resident-animals-7298803.php

The Best Outdoor Dining and Drinking in San Francisco

Sure, the Bay Area has stupendous views, not to mention weather that makes most of the country insanely jealous. But when it comes to taking advantage of these resources, we tend to relinquish the waterfront decks and Bay-side bars to tourists sporting “San Francisco” sweatshirts. But San Francisco has some excellent rooftop respites, heated patios, and backyard beer gardens, all ready for you to soak up the sunshine. Here are a few of our favorites, but be warned: you will almost definitely need to make reservations for Sunday brunch at pretty much any of these spots.

Foreign Cinema

The Mission

While the food here is award-winning (try the seasonal, organic 'Pop Tarts' -- yes, really), this space is nearly as famous for its outdoor movie screenings. Check the movie schedule to see what is going to be projected onto the wall during your next meal. Laszlo Bar, which overlooks the courtyard, is currently closed for renovations, but its as-yet-unannounced reopening sounds like a perfect time to celebrate with a visit.

Arlequin Cafe

Hayes Valley

Hayes Valley has become the go-to neighborhood for trendy spots, so it’s no surprise that there’s another favorite for outdoor eating around the corner from Biergarten. Proximity is about all these two spaces share, however: Arlequin Cafe, which is wedged between upscale sister restaurant Absinthe and the connected Arlequin Wine Merchant, is a secluded, lush garden patio. Surrounded by trees and filled with small tables hidden under the leaves, it’s a surprisingly pretty spot to snack on something from the cafe, or drink the bottle of wine you just bought from the wine shop next door.

Biergarten

Hayes Valley

Biergarten is the big shot of outdoor drinking in San Francisco -- an impressive feat, considering it only opened in 2011. As you’d expect from the owners of nearby Suppenküche, this place offers authentic German food with, um, some American influences -- expect brats and pretzels alongside items like banana-and-hazelnut butter sandwiches. Order at the counter, then grab a seat at one of the picnic tables. The beers and dishes change, so you’ll just have to keep coming back.

Arguello

The Presidio

The Presidio can seem a little off the beaten path, but Arguello is a great place to stop in after a jog around the park’s trails or a walk through Crissy Field. Chef Traci Des Jardins opened in late 2014 in the remodeled Presidio Officers' Club. This is the the kind of spot you take a date or a visiting parent you want to impress, with food prices to match. Sit by the fire pits on the patio and sip your margaritas or mescal cocktails -- a house favorite combines chocolate, orange, and mescal -- while enjoying the outdoorsiness of it all.

El Techo de Lolinda

The Mission

There must be better air on this particular block of Mission St, since right next door to Foreign Cinema is El Techo -- another outdoor deck populated by locals. Located on the rooftop of Argentian steakhouse Lolinda, this place provides great views of the city through the glass wind wall. During breezier nights, you can sit under the heat lamps or in the heated tent while you sip margaritas and snack on Latin American street food.

Marla Bakery

Outer Richmond

The story is that owners Amy Brown and Joe Wolf loved the backyard garden at their new bakery so much, that they got married there before opening the doors to the public in 2014. The duo, who met while working at the famous Nopa, serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and monthly Sunday Suppers -- which you’re going to want a reservation for. Take your food to the backyard garden to sit among herbs and fruit trees, both of which are used in the garden. While Marla now has a Ferry Building location, hit up the original Outer Richmond one for peaceful outdoor snacking.

Sparrow Bar and Kitchen

Haight

The thing about beer gardens is that so often they’re just, you know, totally sticky with spilled beer. Sparrow is the high-brow San Franciscan alternative, serving a classic new American menu -- think Marin Sun Farms burgers, and local goat cheese served with roasted beets. The idea is that you can sit in the sun, enjoy some not too terribly expensive food, and sip a beer... if that sounds pretty solid, sadly, a lot of other San Franciscans agree with you: although the weekend brunch line is getting predictably long. Plenty of people just come for the drinks, however: you’ll frequently find rare West Coast beers on tap and a range of California wines.

El Rio

Bernal Heights

Considered a staple of San Francisco gay bars since 1978, El Rio is one hell of a dive. There’s almost always a party going on in the overgrown quirky backyard patio, even if there’s not actually an event scheduled that night. The bar also has pool tables, shuffleboard, visiting cats and dogs, and salsa dancing. Plus, there are free oysters every Friday at 5:30pm (but get there before they run out). Bring cash for everything else; credit cards are definitely not accepted.

Chambers (at the Phoenix Hotel)

Tenderloin adjacent

Located inside the Phoenix Hotel, Chambers is the closest to an LA poolside scene in San Francisco. They’ve got poolside chairs, cabanas, and bar tables. The whole space is opulence of the highest order, right up to their lit “Be Amazing” sign. If you’re looking for a big night, order the tri tip or pork belly, or if it’s more of a lounging by the pool day, the drink menu is long and inventive. Why not start at the top and work your way down?

Article and images sourced from https://www.thrillist.com/eat/san-francisco/the-best-outdoor-dining-and-drinking-in-san-francisco

Drop Anchor at These Must-Stop Seafood Shacks Between San Francisco and L.A.

Make your next road trip down south a tasty one at our favorite seaside eateries, including Sam's in Half Moon Bay, pictured here. (Photography by Ana Kamin) 

Sun and seafood shacks are what coastal dreams are made of. There's nothing better than biting into a soft abalone taco or slurping hot, creamy clam chowder when your stomach is growling after a day on the road. If you're thinking of hitting Highway 1, here are five of our favorite stops for seafood lovers between San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay

If hunger strikes only 30 minutes after you've left SF, Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay is your must-hit pit-stop. Don’t be put off by the number of the cars in the parking lot—yes, it will be packed, so steer for the cashier and order takeout to chow at the nearby beach overlooking the harbour. Our favorites: the smooth and hearty clam chowder with lots of mussels; Old Bay fries; and the famous lobster roll (you've never have so much lobster in a sandwich). In a hurry? Keep an eye out for the red Chowdermobile in the parking lot.   //  Sam's Chowder House, 4210 N Cabrillo Hwy (Half Moon Bay), 650-712-0245

Phil’s Fish Market in Moss Landing

Even Google Maps doesn't know about this hidden yet super popular seafood market/restaurant in Moss Landing. Tucked away in an industrial area north of Castroville, Phil’s is the real deal. Order the cioppino, and sop up every last drop with rustic garlic bread. Portions are huge, so you might consider sharing a main dish and an appetizer (may we reccomend the oh-so-good fire-roasted artichoke?). // Phil's Fish Market, 7600 Sandholdt Rd (Moss Landing), 831-633-2152

Ruddell’s Smokehouse in Cayucos

Three words: smoked albacore taco. Almost everything is smoked in this small taco place, but we fell in love with the perfect albacore tuna. Wrapped in wheat tortillas and topped withcelery, lettuce, green onions and apple, this small treat is freshly assembled. Ruddell’s only has two tables outside, but there's a whole beach waiting just across the street.  //  Ruddell's Smokehouse, 101 D St (Cayucos), 805-995-5028

Splash Café in Pismo Beach

There's something to be said about a restaurant that serves over 30,000 gallons of clam chowder every year. Whether we're hungry or not as we pass by Pismo Beach, we always stop at Splash Café. At the small corner store, seafood lovers will want for nothing more. The fish & chips? Yum. Fried calamari? Yum, yum. Clam chowder? Award-winning yum. The lines can get a bit long, but the flavors, affordable prices, and the California sun make it worth the wait. // Splash Cafe, 197 Pomeroy Ave (Pismo Beach), 805-773-4653

(Photo courtesy of Fish Grill)

Fish Grill in Malibu

Sitting directly on Highway 1, with a view of passing surfboard-laden trucks and a salty breeze drifting in from the beach, this is a storybook seafood shack. Fish Grill is famous for mesquite-grilled specialties—a nice change from the standard fried seafood fare. We like the Ahi tuna with a side of baked potato and coleslaw. // Fish Grill, 22935 Pacific Coast Hwy (Malibu), 310-456-8585

Article and images sourced from http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/drop-anchor-these-must-stop-seafood-shacks-between-san-francisco-and-la

Beyond the Clouds: Economic Sun Rays Continue to Keep the Bay Area Warm

The U.S. Economy Is Solidly Marching Forward

To say that we live in the age of information overload is an understatement. If you are not entrenched in economic data, it may be difficult to see the forest from the trees by reading daily news stories. However, after a shaky start to this year, we can now say with some level of certainty that we are on the other side of the tumultuous tunnel and that the economic prospects for 2016 are looking up.

The encouraging signs are both national and international. Nationally, it’s all about jobs. Job growth continues at an exceptional pace; according to the latest U.S. Labor Department survey on new jobs and turnovers, more people — 5.4 million — got a new job in February than in any month since before the recession. Also, we are finally seeing broader improvements in wages, which drive consumption and the service sector. Consequently, industries and companies relying on domestic consumers are doing well.

Businesses affected by a strong dollar and weaker international demand are not doing as well. Internationally, however, the storm has finally subsided. Better news is coming from U.S. trading partners, and oil prices seem to have stabilized. Emerging markets appeared to have weathered the storm, and capital volatility seems to be settling down.

The Bay Area Is the Job Dynamo

The Bay Area has been the shining star in the nation’s economic recovery. The region’s economic strength originates from the exceptional job growth over the last four years, and the Bay Area still outperforms the rest of the country. Over the past year, some 120,000 jobs were created locally, most in technology and other high-income sectors. An important advantage to tech-sector jobs is that they have a high multiplier rate, meaning that their economic spillover to local economies is higher than most other types of jobs. Job growth has also been the impetus for the remarkable housing-market recovery and the ensuing home price appreciation that we have seen across the region.

Jobs are critical to Bay Area housing markets, and growth is still happening. In fact, 2015 was the strongest year of regional job growth since the recovery started. And while 2016 started slower, it still may be the second-best post-recession year if hiring continues at its current pace.

However, the theme that permeates all sectors of the economy is normalization, a natural part of economic cycles. Normalization reflects that markets are maturing and relieves the fears of frothing that have recently concerned many.

Another critical component to the Bay Area’s economy is that it is an innovation hub and relies heavily on venture capital (VC). While 2015 was the strongest year of investment dollars coming into Silicon Valley since the dot-com collapse, the drop in investments in the last quarter of the year caused some concerns over future availability of venture funds. Various reports, however, suggest no lack of VC activity, and some even show that VC firms are raising money at the highest rate in more than 15 years.

Interestingly, though, VC activity is spreading geographically, and the Bay Area lost some of its edge coming into 2016. A recent survey of technology and life-sciences executives in the Bay Area indicates that capital is tightening and that funders are in search of a more balanced environment, with a focus on fundamentals. Investors are focusing on startups in more mature stages of development. This may be a good thing, as it removes some of the volatility in expectations. And while overall expectations are going through a short-term readjustment, the survey suggests that the optimism among the executives about the long-term future of innovation is still strong.

Did the Stock Market’s Volatility Leave a Bad Taste With Consumers?

Given the first-quarter stock-market and economic volatility and fears on its impact on housing markets, we surveyed Pacific Union real estate professionals to gauge how these changes are impacting their clients’ decisions to buy or sell a home.

Overall, clients’ decisions to buy or sell a home were only modestly more influenced (55 percent) than not (45 percent) due to first-quarter volatility. Furthermore, a limited share of clients (19 percent) make decisions to buy or sell a home based the rate of venture-capital investment. Only a very small share — 5 percent — of clients completely exited the housing market due to volatility.

With the majority of buyers and sellers employed in the tech industry and given the large impact that IPOs can have on local housing markets, it is also interesting to see what share of clients actually worked for a startup that recently went public. On average, about 10 percent of clients worked for such a startup. Half of the Pacific Union professionals who responded didn’t have any clients in the IPO world, and a quarter had at least 20 percent or more.

Yet, stock options, with or without an IPO, did not have a marked impact on how most recent transactions were financed. Almost two in five transactions were all-cash deals, where personal and family wealth, along with proceeds of previous real estate sales, were the major sources of cash (see Figure 1). Stock options were the source of money in only 1 percent of all-cash transactions (see Figure 2).

Of buyers with a mortgage, about one-third of down payments came from savings, another quarter from personal wealth, and another fifth from proceed of previous real estate sale. Family wealth helped in 13 percent of transactions. Stock options and IPOs contributed to down payments in only about 7 percent of mortgaged transactions.

All in all, however, the majority of Pacific Union clients feel optimistic about the Bay Area housing market in 2016 (54 percent), with somewhat a smaller share feeling some concern (44 percent). Very few — 2 percent — feel pessimistic.

Figure 1: How was the most recent transaction financed?

Figure 2: Where did the funds come from in all-cash and mortgaged transactions?

What’s Ahead for the Housing Market?

There has certainly been some adjustment of expectations in the market. Overall, the Bay Area continues to experience the highest price appreciation in the country. In some submarkets, prices are still growing at double-digit percentage points on an annual basis.

Sales, however, face challenges, in large part due to an ever-slimmer number of homes on the market. The housing  picture is not uniform across the region, and affordability seems to play a large role. When compared with last year, sales have dropped the most in the areas with the highest prices, while other more affordable areas have seen sales increase. Buyers appeared to have grown weary of the competitive market and are not pursuing purchases as aggressively. The median time that homes last on the market has extended a little longer when compared with last year in some expensive places such as San Francisco and Marin County. Similarly, the escalation of sales prices over the initial listing prices is slowing, and buyers are exercising more caution when entering bidding wars.

Pacific Union sales numbers show similar trends as the overall market. After falling activity in January and February, March was encouraging, with sales slightly up from last year. Over the past 30 months, Pacific Union listings peaked in March 2015 at 417 and are currently 13 percent below that.

The lack of homes for sale stands as the biggest obstacle for the busy spring season. In all Bay Area regions in which Pacific Union operates, the number of homes for sale is down from the same time last year, with the largest declines in the areas north of San Francisco and in the East Bay — 15 percent and 13 percent respectively. San Francisco and the South Bay have seen about 3.5 percent declines in homes for sale.

Limited inventory combined with strong job growth will continue putting pressure on prices in the second quarter of 2016, though the appreciation may be more subdued than in past quarters. As noted earlier, normalization will permeate housing markets, and appreciation rates will slow to lower single-digit numbers. Any remaining uncertainty in the market will stem from the upcoming presidential election and continued geopolitical risks that could unsettle the positive consumer sentiment that has been building with a better job market and wage growth.

Article and images sourced from http://blog.pacificunion.com/beyond-the-clouds-economic-sun-rays-continue-to-keep-the-bay-area-warm/

Bay Area Ranks High for Top Private High Schools

The Stanford University Campus, location of the Bay Area’s best private high school.

Top-performing public schools are certainly a high priority for Bay Area families when considering where to buy their next home, but our region is no slouch when it comes to private schools, either.

That’s according to data from Niche.com, which annually ranks the best 100 private high schools in the U.S.based on six factors, including standardized test scores, the percentage of graduates who attend college, the quality of the university they choose, and the student-teacher ratio. In 2016, the rankings include 11 Bay Area schools, all of which boast 100 percent matriculation rates to four-year colleges.

Take a quick look at our region’s inclusions on the list and where they rank nationally, as well as how much it costs to buy a single-family home in those communities, according to recent MLS data:

No. 3 – Stanford Online High School, Stanford: It would make sense that the Bay Area’s best private school is located on the campus of one of the most prestigious universities in the nation. Stanford Online High School’s 655 co-educational students in grades seven through 12 have a composite SAT score of 2,180, and the institution has one teacher for every 14 students. The median sales price for a home in neighboring Palo Alto was $2.57 million in March, down 2 percent from a year earlier.

No. 14. – The College Preparatory School, Oakland: The city’s highly walkable Rockridge neighborhood is prized locally in part for its excellent public schools, and this private institution is also a draw. With a student body of 363, the school has a composite SAT score of 2,180 and a student-teacher ratio of 10-1. In March, the median sales price in Oakland’s 94618 ZIP code was $1,755,000, up 23 percent year over year.

No. 18 – The Harker School, San Jose: Students at West San Jose’s The Harker School also boast a composite SAT score of 2,180 and one teacher per 10 students. The co-educational school has more than 2,000 students from preschool to 12th grade. The median sales price in the city’s 95129 ZIP code was $1.58 million in March, an annual decrease of 3 percent.

No. 21 – Crystal Springs Uplands School, Hillsborough: This San Mateo County school has 360 students, a composite SAT score of 2,180, and one teacher for every nine students. Hillsborough‘s March median sales price of $3.5 million was down 12.5 percent from one year earlier.

No. 32 – The Branson School, Ross: This Marin County school’s 330 students earn a componsite SAT score of 2,100, and it boasts a low student-teacher ratio of 5-1. The median sales price in Ross was $8,867,500 in March, though we should note that figure is based on just two transactions.

No. 37 – Menlo School, Atherton: This school in one of Silicon Valley’s most affluent communities has one teacher for every seven students and a composite SAT score of 2,100. The median sales price for an Atherton home was $4.6 million last month, down 39 percent from March 2015

No. 40 – Castilleja School, Palo Alto: This all-female school has a student body of 435, a composite SAT score of 2,180, and one teacher per seven students. In March, the median sales price for a home in Palo Alto’s 94301 ZIP code was $3.55 million, a year-over-year increase of 33 percent.

No. 48 – Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco: Located adjacent to the Balboa Park BART station, this school’s 445 students earn a composite SAT score of 2,100, and it has a pupil-teacher ratio of 9-1. The median sales price in San Francisco‘s District 4 was $1.29 million in March, an annual gain of 7.5 percent.

No. 56 – San Francisco University High School, San Francisco: This 400-student, Pacific Heights school has one teacher for every seven students and a composite SAT score of 2,100. March’s  $4,125,000 median sales price in the city’s District 7 was down 19 percent year over year.

No. 63 – Head-Royce School, Oakland: Located where the Oakmore and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods meet, this co-educational school has 875 students, a composite SAT score of 2,100, and one teach per eight pupils. The median sales price in Oakland’s 94602 ZIP code was $895,000 in March, a year-over-year increase of 19 percent.

No. 70 – Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, Atherton: This religious institution has 1,180 students from preschool to 12th grade, a composite SAT score of 2,040, and a child-teacher ratio of 7-1.

Article and images sourced from http://blog.pacificunion.com/bay-area-ranks-high-for-top-private-high-schools/

San Francisco Ranked Most Dog-Friendly City in U.S.

According to data compiled by SmartAsset, San Francisco ranks number-one in the country when it comes to dog-friendliness. Which is fantastic as dogs are, overwhelmingly, glorious additions to any family.

Some of the considerations SmartAsset took in their rankings:

1. The number of dog parks per 100,000 residents.
2. The number of dog-friendly shopping areas per city.
3. The number of dog-friendly restaurants per city.
4. Walkability. This is calculated on a 0-100 scale, 0 being car-dependent and 100 being a walker’s paradise.
5. Weather. This is calculated by the annual days of precipitation.
6. Housing cost. This is calculated by the median sale price for homes in that city.

And since weather played a large factor in the data, it should come as little surprise that three of the ten most dog-friendly cities are located here in California. But why is San Francisco tops? Let's find out:

While San Francisco might stretch (or even break!) your housing budget, your pup will thank you for it. The City by the Bay has the seventh most dog parks per 100,000 residents and ranks second in walkability score. What really sets this city apart is the numerous dining options you and your four-legged friend can enjoy. San Fran [sic] boasts 174 dog-friendly restaurants. All you have to decide is what cuisine you are in the mood for and your dog can be there to watch you chow down!

If you and your four-legged best friend want to take in a bite at a pet-friendly spot, here are a couple of lists featuring choice dog-friendly restaurants and bars.

If you need to move addresses — remember, abandoning your pet(s) during a move is a crummy thing to do — here is Curbed SF's map of 25 pet-friendly rentals in San Francisco and the most pet-friendly zip codes for renters in SF.

 Article and images sourced from http://sf.curbed.com/2016/4/5/11371736/san-francisco-ranked-dog-friendly-city