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Vicki Moore, Realtor
Alain Pinel Realtors, specializing in San Mateo, CA Real Estate.
Need real estate help?
Contact me at 650.888.9268 or Vicki[@]CallVicki.com.

Kacy used to be a client; now she’s a friend too.  I sold her a house in Pacifica.  Then when she and her husband were transferred out of state, I sold it for them.

So whenever she comes out, she loves to visit the beach.  We spent a windy but perfectly clear afternoon at Sharp Park hanging out with Myron.

When Realtors get paid, it’s a trickle-down effect.  There are over a hundred other professionals who also get paid:  Pest inspectors, property inspectors, photographers, stagers, house cleaners, haulers, painters, window cleaners, title companies, disclosure companies, home owners associations, transaction coordinators, movers, sign companies, printers, landscapers,  locksmiths – that’s just off the top of my head.

So what’s the reality of the market?  The number of home sales is down – way down.  Meaning there are a lot of families struggling out there.  Title companies and real estate offices are closing multiple offices at a time – and no doubt that the other companies that service the industry are too.

Here’s the facts:

Pacifica is a familiar market to me.  I grew up there and worked only that market until a few years ago when it became apparent that I needed to broaden my coverage area.  Although the number of sales only declined 9% between 2007 and 2008, the dramatic difference is looking at the height – 2003 with 423 houses sold – and then looking at 2008.  That’s a whopping 59% decline.

San Mateo is a similar picture:  19% decline between 2007 and 2008.  47% decline from the height of 897 houses sold in 2004 compared to the 473 in 2008.

As I’ve shown in several past statistical reports, Daly City is boucing back.  The deal-seekers have hit it hard – sales dropped to a low of 334 in 2007 to 438 in 2008; only 22% off from its 2004 high of 558.

photo credit – Scott Eggers

The official waiting period for the start of Maverick’s Surf Contest is upon us.  Every year the “master of ceremonies,” Jeff Clark, sends out the call to the best surfers in the world announcing that the contest will begin.

Those invitees will have 24 hours to make it to the San Mateo County coastal hamlet of Princeton, California to compete in the Super Bowl of big wave surfing.

Up until a year or two ago, you could pull right up to the parking lot, hop out and walk out to the bluff. Now they have shuttle buses and parking lots set aside for miles around.

With the advent of web casting you can view it from the comfort of your computer – and best of all you won’t need binoculars or sun screen.

We used to hear via word of mouth that the contest was about to start.  Now you can get the announcement on your cell phone by texting “Mavericks” to 81595.  ($1 charge.)

The history

Current conditions

MySpace

Flicker

This guy thought it was pretty funny that I was taking his picture but I was the one having fun.  One of the best restaurants – actually several – around are within walking distance of this field.  I’ll have to fill you in on them when it’s not 2 in the morning.

More soon. Thanks for thinking of me.

TWIT OBAMA GOVENORS STATE LEGISLATORS

The Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok.
The Embassy website can be visited at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/wwc/recent.htm.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov.

The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for contacting American Citizen Services Bangkok. We remain hopeful that the airports in Bangkok will reopen, however, we do not know when that will be. Should you or your friend/family member wish to pursue other options, here are a few:

There are some flights being arranged out of the Utapao military base, south of Bangkok, these are commercial flights arranged by the carriers themselves. Unfortunately, it is a very small airport and so is able to handle only a small fraction of the traffic that normally flies out of the Bangkok airports. Please work with your airline directly to arrange one of these flights.

There are international flights which leave out of Phuket and Chiang Mai airports in Thailand which do not transit in Bangkok. Phuket and Chiang Mai can both be reach by bus and/or train from Bangkok.

The Thai Foreign Ministry has arranged for credited compensation for stranded foreign travelers. This compensation consists of 2000 Thai baht credit per day for hotels and meals at those hotels. It is our understanding that this credit is available at any hotel in Bangkok (guest houses and serviced apartments are not included). Americans who have been unable to depart because their flight was cancelled due to the closure of the airports should show a copy of their passport and air ticket to the hotel front desk for the 2000 baht per day credit to be deducted from their bill.

Some people may cross the border to neighboring countries looking for international flights, i.e., Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. If you are interested in pursuing this option, please see the Country Specific Information sheet of each country at www.travel.state.gov prior to going to these countries.

If you are running out of prescription medication, we kindly suggest you go to a local pharmacy or hospital to refill your prescription.

Airports:
Chiang Mai: 053-270-222-33 / 053-203-300-19 Phuket : 076-327-230-7

Airlines:
Korean Air: 02-635-0465-72 / 02-267-0992 Air Asia: 02-515-9999 Silk Air: 053-904-985 / 7 (Chiangmai) 076-304-018-20 (Phuket) China Airlines: 02-250-9890-9 Orient Thai: 02-229-4260 Sky Star Airways: 02-937-5353 LTU International Air: 02-267-1202-4 / 076-327-432 (Phuket) Tiger Air: 02-351-8333 Jetstar Airways: 02-267-5125

Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit): 02-936-2852-66 Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai): 02-894-6122 Bangkok Railway Station (Hualumpong): 02-220-4444

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

American citizens traveling or residing in Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov. The after hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

We sincerely hope that this information is useful to you,
American Citizen Services

Received 9:54 pm 11/30/2008

Here’s the situation: Thai protesters, who oppose the Prime Minister and want to overthrow him, have taken over the Bangkok airport and they are in the 7th day of shutting down the airport. Over 100,000 of us are stuck in Thailand, with no easy way to leave the country. The army and police have refused to remove the protesters – showing a lack of government support. Yesterday, a grenade was thrown into some government offices. Even though pro-government supporters are now rallying to show support, the rumor is that the Thai prime minister has left the country and it looks as though a military coup is inevitable.

With the Bangkok airport shut down, there is mild chaos. Explore, the group that I am traveling with, have consolidated all of their groups from around the country and sent us to Patalang – a town south of Bangkok – for us to be safe. We are close to a military airport in which some flights are leaving (ie Thai airways), but they will only take the ticked passengers – they will not sell new tickets – and the airport is complete madness – screaming people, long ques, etc. Surreal.

Yesterday, I was finally able to get a hold of United Airlines who Adam and I flew with, only to be told that United will do NOTHING to get us out. They will not book us on other partnered airlines. They will not book us on any airlines from Kuala Lempur (we will have to make a 3-day train journey to KL). Per United, we have to “make our way to Singapore”.

I tell you, the despair that I felt yesterday when United dropped us flat was the blackest I’ve felt in awhile. Even Quantus is getting out the Aussies via Phuket (bless Australia!). But since no one will sell a ticket right now, we can’t even whip out the old credit card and buy our way out of the country. The other airports north of the country are in the same situation too. One gal from our group already had a Thai airways ticket and she traveled to the chaotic military airport and was only turned away. Another person bought at $7500 ticket on Thai airways ticket counter, but was turned away from the military airport because it was a “new purchased ticket”. Phuket is the same….if you are lucky and already have a ticket, you can check in at a make-shift check-in counter in a hotel in Bangkok (not kidding), then take a 9 hour busride to Phuket, and then you MAY get on a flight, or you sit in Phuket indefinitely.

Received 9:36 pm 12/2/2008

Message to the Americans in Thailand

The Department of State is evaluating whether to charter aircraft to facilitate the onward travel of American citizens seeking to depart Thailand.  Americans who would like to take a U.S. government chartered flight from Bangkok to another airport in the region, such as Singapore, where they would then make their own arrangements to connect to onward flights, are requested to read through this message and respond as noted below.

Under U.S. law, an American citizen receiving U.S. government transportation assistance is required to pay for the cost of travel at the rate of the most recently available full fare economy ticket.   Therefore, American citizens who choose to fly on this charter must either pay prior to departure with a personal check or sign a promissory note (an Emergency Loan Application and Evacuation document) for the amount stated and reimburse the U.S. government for the flight within sixty days.  Cash and credit payments can not be handled.

American citizens who depart Thailand on a U.S. government charter will be individually responsible for booking and paying for their onward travel from the transit point to their final destination.   Americans will also be individually responsible to pay for their own accommodation at the transit point should an overnight stay be required before connecting to the onward flight.   However, U.S. Embassy officials at the transit point will be available to provide information about local hotels and may be able to facilitate onward travel arrangements if assistance is needed.

Commercial flights continue to depart Thailand through airports outside of Bangkok, although space has been limited.  While more commercial flights will become available as the Bangkok airports reopen, the backlog of demand may continue to make departure travel arrangements difficult for the near future.

American citizens may choose to wait until regular commercial flights are available using their already purchased tickets.  We anticipate that the charter flight will cost approximately $550 (though this may change depending upon the transit point destination).

American citizens in Thailand who would like to depart Thailand by charter should contact the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok immediately to alert us of your interest.  Your response will help us evaluate whether charters are a viable option and how many charters would be needed.    Please note that at this time no final decision has been made on the use of charters.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at ACSBKK@State.gov.  If that number is busy, please call 66-2-205-4000.

Received 8 am 12/3/2008

It’s crazy enough until you get to the bottom of the article, “If confronted by a mountain lion, residents should not run or turn their backs on the animal. They should make eye contact but not squat down; make noise and appear as large as possible; and throw objects at the animal or fight back if it attacks.”  Are you kidding me?!  Yeah, right.  That’s what I’d do.

photo credit