Essential Gadgets for Summer Road Trips With Kids

Summer is almost upon us and for many, that means hitting the highways and heading out on family road trips. When traveling with children, being properly equipped can make the difference between hours of, "Are we there yet?" and a peaceful, safe drive for all.

Touch Screen Tablets

Tablets are thin, light and have a long battery life, ensuring even young children can stay occupied watching movies, reading books, playing games, listening to music and more. They're also great for taking pictures as you drive to your destination. Its wise to have the tablet in a case or secured to a mount on the back of a headrest for younger children.

Data Storage

Unless you have an unlimited data plan and great service along the roads you'll be traveling, having an external drive to store movies, videos and music playlists will be sure to save the day.

Dashcams

Many families enjoy capturing their road trip adventures via dashcams but these devices also offer security in the form of video evidence during an incident or accident.

Earbuds and Noise-Canceling Headphones

Earbuds or headsets are a necessity to allow kids to enjoy their own entertainment without disturbing others. For children who need to block out ambient noise so they can rest (or for adults who need an auditory break!), passive or noise-canceling headphones are a must. 

Chargers

Your devices are of no good without power so remember to bring a car charger or two that works with each device. Portable backup batteries are also great if you're out of the vehicle and want to have reserve power for your SmartPhone or other device.

Of course, good old coloring and sticker books and car games are always fun and good to have in stock if you want to limit 'screen time'. Having food and drinks on hand is also a necessity so remember those as well before hitting the road.

Happy trails!

San Francisco Development Report-May 2016

Click here to read entire Development Report.

NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS

• Sales have begun at 181 Fremont, a luxury residence with 55 units starting on the 54th floor in a 70-foot tower. Price per square foot: $2500 to $5000.
• Only 4 market-rate units remain at 450 Hayes in Hayes Valley.
• Approximately half of the market-rate units at 388 Fulton are in contract.

MARKET PERFORMANCE

NEW APARTMENT PRICING & OCCUPANCY

CURRENTLY SELLING

• 181 Fremont, Average $/SF $2500-$5000
• One MIssion Bay, Average $/SF $1200
• The Harrison, Average $/SF $1709
• The Pacific, 3 and 4-story townhomes, 4 units available
• 388 Fulton, Average $/SF $1441
• 450 Hayes, Average $/SF $1612
• The District, Average $/SF $1297
• 1001 Seventeenth, Average $/SF $1155
• Lumina, Average $/SF $1292
• The Rockwell, Average $/SF $1325
• Luxe, Average $/SF $1767
• Fulton 555, Average $/SF $1281
• 72 Townsend, Average $/SF $1353
• San Francisco Shipyard, Average $/SF $820
• Summit 800 Average $/SF $671
• 6 Mint Plaza, Average $/SF $1358

RECENTLY SOLD OUT

• 400 Grove
• Sapphire
• Onyx on the Park
• Arden

UPCOMING APARTMENT DEVELOPMENTS

APPROVED, UNDER REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PROJECTED & HISTORICAL SUPPLY

Contact The Costa Group if you are interested in buying or selling in San Francisco or Marin County.

Solar Panels & San Francisco

Did you know that San Francisco is the nation's first city to require solar panels be installed on all new buildings that are 10 stories high or less? This new requirement was passed with a unanimous vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in recent weeks.

“By increasing our use of solar power, San Francisco is once again leading the nation in the fight against climate change and the reduction of our reliance on fossil fuels,” Supervisor Scott Wiener, who is sponsoring the legislation, said in a statement. “Activating underutilized roof space is a smart and efficient way to promote the use of solar energy and improve our environment."

All new buildings 10 stories or less in San Francisco will need to install solar panels as of January 2017.

The law makes it mandatory for all new construction to have a minimum of 15% of rooftops 'solar-ready', which means they aren't shaded and as such can capitalize on the maximum effects of solar panels. Thought the rule doesn't go into effect until January 1, 2017, but buildings still under construction will have to add panels retroactively if their aren't already installed or in the plans.

Smaller California towns like Sabastopol and municipalities in the Central Valley have already enacted solar panel requirements in keeping with the green movement toward achieving zero-energy buildings.

A Look Inside San Francisco's Luxurious 181 Fremont

181 Fremont is making history in San Francisco as one of the City's most iconic, sophisticated, and most architecturally significant buildings in the last decade. We invite you to look inside the most luxurious new residential high-rise on the West Coast.

Developed by Jay Paul Company, 181 Fremont’s interiors were conceived by internationally-renowned architect and designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, his final achievement before retirement.  Solidifying his legacy as one of the world’s greatest design talents, the building includes 55 residences occupying the top sixteen floors of an 800’ glass and steel saw-tooth tower (which will be the third tallest building in the Bay Area), 181 Fremont is about to reset San Francisco’s standard for luxury real estate and the future of California residential high-rise development forever.

Click on images to see slideshow.

These are the first renderings ever released by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy of 181 Fremont’s final interior features and finishes, based on years of traveling to dozens of countries to source the finest materials available. Diaz-Azcuy’s goal was the fusion of old-world craftsmanship with modern luxury that speaks to the global influences of buyers who expect only the finest things in all aspects of their lives.

“I found inspiration in timeless materials, natural luxury, and the history of San Francisco,” said Diaz-Azcuy. “The care and quality that went into even the smallest details of this building make the greatest impact – it is the ultimate expression of luxury.”

If there is a defining space that captures Diaz-Azcuy’s vision it’s 181 Fremont’s lobby. Diaz-Azcuy spent three years thoughtfully conceiving the grand 25-foot high entrance, which is anchored by an open seating area that he personally designed. Suspended overhead, a flowing fabric shade casts an ethereal light that changes throughout the day. Says Diaz-Azcuy, “To enter the lobby of this building is like walking into a living sculpture.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Diaz-Azcuy spared nothing when it comes to the most minute design elements including the lobby, hallway, and lounge scones that required an artisan manufacturing process. As a result each one is completely unique.

Polished Italian Calacatta Carrara marble throughout the residences’ interiors was selected for its rarity and cut against the grain to bring out a signature deep veining in every room. To achieve this rebellious sense of individualism in the marble, Diaz-Azcuy and his team spent months in Italy, selecting and pulling each slab from the seaside quarry cliffs by hand—which also ensured continuum with 181 Fremont’s sense of absolute architectural perfection.

Even the most palatial residences in the world, however, must still feel like home. For the residents of 181 Fremont, Diaz-Azcuy envisioned them walking through their front doors into another world. As such, the front door hardware were one of the first items handpicked by Diaz-Azcuy. A polished brass handle custom-crafted by Parisian artisans Série Rare will grace the entrance door to each residence, making it feel as if you were entering an old-world, European cathedral.

One thing Diaz-Azcuy didn’t have to envision or create are 181 Fremont’s views of the San Francisco skyline and the surrounding mountains, which are the most coveted views in the city—if you’re lucky enough to be one of the rare custodians of these 55 residences.

Now 30-stories out of the ground sales for 181 Fremont began in May. If you'd like to schedule a private showing of this or any other residence in san Francisco or Marin County, contact The Costa Group!

Article excerpt and images from Forbes. 

Marin Home & Garden Expo

For those who are looking for inspiration to remodel, redecorate or re-landscape, the Marin Home and Garden Expo at the Marin Fairgrounds May 21st and 22nd.

Sponsored by the Marin Builders Association, the Home and Garden Expo will have hundreds of exhibitors all under one roof, allowing you to see the products, compare price and quality and get advice from the experts. 

Whether you're looking to remodel a kitchen or bath, discover new decor, source products and vendors, hire a contractor, learn more about creating open air living spaces or about the latest in home technology, the Expo is a great resource. 

Event Details

• Marin Fairgrounds and Exhibit Hall 
• 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael
• Saturday, May 21st from 10am to 6pm and Sunday the 22nd from 10am to 5pm
• Admission and parking are free

The Costa Group knows that life begins at home. Let us help you buy or sell a home in Marin County.

SF Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)

After a year of being closed to undergo a 20-story, 235,000 square foot, $305 million dollar addition, San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art, or SFMoMa, will reopen it's doors on May 14th.

This newest addition triples its former size and makes SFMoMa one of the largest modern art museums in the world.

The museum first opened in 1935 and 60 years later, a new building was added. Only 20 years later, the museum outgrew its space once again, resulting in the need for yet another addition.

See the inside of the new building.

Snøhetta chosen by SFMOMA’s architect selection committee for its unique designs, collaborative philosophy and firm structure as well as their ability to apply elegant approaches to complex civic and cultural projects. The undulating exterior of the new MoMa building was designed to specifically mimic the area's marine climate, including its fog, waves and wind.

SFMoMa is located at 151 Third Street in San Francisco.

One of the largest collections the MoMa possesses is owned by Robert and Doris Fisher, co-founders of The Gap. Originally 12,000 pieces, the collection has expanded to approximately 32,000 and as such only a quarter can be on display at a time.

The 405,000 square foot ground floor, the size of the original museum, is free and always open to the public. There is also a living wall to connect the interior to the environment.

The May 14th grand reopening is already sold out but tickers are available starting May 15th through the summer. SFMoMa is another wonderful cultural experience we as Bay Area residents have right at our fingertips!

San Francisco Market Update - May 2016

The new San Francisco real estate market is shaping up to be a more measured version of the market seen last year. As an example, properties are taking about a week longer to sell than before, and the rate of appreciation has gone from double to single digit rates. Furthermore, the Months Supply of Inventory (MSI) has expanded to almost two months, versus the one month level seen last year.

There is, however, continued upward pressure on pricing. The most recent median sales price grew 8% year-over-year. Additionally, April's citywide median sales price is 15% higher, when compared to January's median. Strong economic fundamentals continue to propel property values upward. The City's unemployment rate is hovering around 3%, and the office vacancy rate measures around 5%, both at near record lows. With the prospect of oil prices stabilizing, the national economy appears to be on better ground. Reuters recently reported on the markets, stating that "First-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are mostly beating analysts' expectations".  

Median Sale Price

April 2016 Median

Median Neighborhood Values

April's Top 5 Sales

The Costa Group provides extraordinary service to elevate your life and bring you home in San Francisco and Marin County.

Oops! Some Bay Area Landmarks You're Probably Mispronouncing

The Bay Area has its own way of doing things. And this includes pronouncing things in a very particular way. By saying things incorrectly, you may just be announcing yourself as a tourist or a 'newbie' VS a native.

Many local proper nouns, including Gough Street, Arguello and Ghiradelli, have very specific pronunciations that those new to the Bay Area tend to mispronounce. Others have distinct pronunciations longtime natives use just for fun. And then there are the ones that continue to be debated among locals. 

SFGATE compiled a list of the most commonly mispronounced landmarks, streets, cities, determining the "correct" way to say them by surveying Bay Area natives working at the Chronicle. Some words have a oh-so-very San Francisco way that often defy the rules of any language. Click the gallery below to learn which pronunciations you've got correct, which you may need to revisit and which can be said multiple ways.

Gough

Probably one of the more unforgivable San Francisco mispronunciations is calling Gough Street 'go' street. It's 'goff,' which doesn't really make much sense until you realize the S.F. street rhymes with 'cough.'

Photo: KATY RADDATZ, SFC

Greenwich

Greenwich’s pronunciation is a bone of contention in the 94109. While the most common pronunciation is “Gren-itch,” others swear it is “Green-wich.” Which is it?

Leidesdorff Street

Chronicle columnist and S.F. native Carl Nolte says the correct way to pronounce Leidesdorff Street  is “lee-des-dorf.” Pictured: A plaque on the Embarcadero across from the Ferry Building for the Danish Captain Leidesdorff, who opened the city’s first hotel, according to Nolte.

Ghiradelli

Ghirardelli is pronounced with a hard “g” as in “Gary” instead of a soft “j.”

Nicasio

The SFGATE newsroom consensus was that Nicasio is “ni-CAH’-see-oh,” but multiple readers told us it should be ‘ni-kash-oh.’ 

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Ulloah

Ulloa, the S.F. street and elementary school, is 'you-LOW-ah.'

Photo: Liz Hafalia, SFC

Point Reyes

Point Reyes, the town and the national seashore, is commonly pronounced as “Point Rays.” The alternative, “Point Ray-yes” is short for “I am a tourist.”

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

Alemany

Alemany is 'al-UH-mainy.' Pictured: Homes above the Alemany Farm in San Francisco.

Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle

Mount Tamalpais

Mount Tamalpais (tam-all-PIE-us) can seem like a mouthful at first, but you can always just take the easy shortcut and call it 'Mt. Tam.'

Photo: Matt McCourtney

Bernal Heights

Bernal Heights. It's BURR-null.

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Kearny Street

Rumor is Kearny Street was originally supposed to be called 'KAR-nee' in honor of its disputed namesake but almost everyone calls it 'kern-ee.'

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Quintara, is not “keen-tahra” but is “kwin-terra.” Pictured: Sunset Reservoir at Quintara and 28th Ave. in San Francisco.

Arguello

Arguello is still a doozy. Some say  ‘ar-GWEL-lo.’ But others, insist it’s ‘ar-GWAY-oh,’ with a nod to Spanish.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Marin

Marin County is 'mah-RIN.' We've heard the faux pas of calling it 'mare-in,' similar to how you'd pronounce the Mariners.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Guerrero

The consensus is that Guerrero Street is 'ger-rare-oh.' Pictured: A Queen Anne mansion at 900 Guerrero St.

Photo: John King

Duboce

Duboce, the street, triangle and park (pictured), is something like 'Duh-BOWS' or 'dew-BOWS', but we do know it's certainly nothing like 'du-bow-see.'

Photo: Mike Kepka, SFC

Have You Tried These 5 Mill Valley Restaurants?

We all have our favorite go-to places to grab a bite to eat but sometimes it's nice to expand our culinary horizons and try something new. Below are five of Mill Valley's best eclectic eateries.

Bungalow 44

Bungalow 44. Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Known for its bar atmosphere and impressive cocktail selection, Bungalow 44 is a hot spot for foodies and those looking for an enjoyable night on the town.  With an inviting ambiance and attentive wait staff, you can dine inside or, when the weather allows, bring your pooch and sit on the patio while digging into their top-notch burgers and steaks. Some of the most popular dishes are the Gorgonzola Gnocchi, “Harry’s Bar” Tuna Carpaccio, Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad, Braised Short Ribs, and Kickin’ Fried Chicken.

Address: 44 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941   |   Phone:(415) 381-2500

Avatar's Punjabi Burrito

Avatar's.  Photo Courtesy of 365thingsmarin.wordpress.com

The inviting aroma surrounding Avatar’s is a harbinger of the delicious food that awaits. They combine Mexican and Indian flavors and foods, offering up unique burrito selections and a variety of flavorful meals. Great food at an equally great price,  Avatar’s is the place for burrito-lovers. Try the jerk chicken and pumpkin enchilada for some serious flavor!

Address: 15 Madrona St, Mill Valley, CA 94941   |   Phone:(415) 381-8293

Muir Woods Trading Company

Muir Woods Trading Company.  Photo Courtesy of zmenu.com

Muir Woods Trading Company is nestled in the wilderness surrounded by gorgeous scenery. The café offers snacks and sandwiches made from organic ingredients, easy for a quick bite before or after a hike. The fresh food and thriving atmosphere make for a pleasant dining experience. The cafe's grilled cheese was featured on Food Network! Vegan, vegetarian and special dietary considerations are given to the menus, so there’s nothing holding you back.

Address: 1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941   |   Phone:(415) 388-7059

Harmony Restaurant

Harmony. Photo courtesy of enjoymillvalley.com

With the “best pot-stickers in America”, Harmony Restaurant is an eatery with a homey atmosphere and reasonable prices. Renown for its Dim Sum and mixture of traditional and modern Chinese cuisine, Harmony uses seasonal selections of fine local ingredients, perfect to pair with their premium sakes and imported Asian beers.  Whether it’s comfort food or date night, Harmony is the perfect venue for any occasion.

 Address: 800 Redwood Highway, Suite 401, Frontage Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Phone:(415) 381-5300

Gira Polli

Photo courtesy of Gira Polli

Gira Polli has a quaint, Italian neighborhood-feel with a truly authentic menu. For a special occasion, try their Italian dining experience.  The prawn-smoked salmon or roasted chicken are both top sellers as is the cannoli with creamy ricotta filling. Gira Polli is ideal for an initamte date night and offers fast, friendly services in addition to its impeccable food.

 Address: 590 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941   |   Phone:(415) 383-6040

Break Out Your Craziest Costume for the 104th Bay to Breakers

On May 15th, thousands of runners and walkers will participate in the 104th annual Zappos.com Bay to Breakers. This 12K race starts at 8am at Main and Howard Streets in San Francisco and finishes with a festival at the Ocean Beach parking lot on the Great Highway.

Since its inaugural race in 1912, almost 2 million people have completed the race, many decked in wild and crazy costumes. In fact, Bay to Breakers has been voted among the top 10 most iconic races in the United States. Encompassing all that is wild and wonderful about San Francisco, Bay to Breakers is so much more than just a foot race. It celebrates culture, traditions, athleticism and individualism all in one. There are outrageous costumes (including birthday suits), quirky traditions (like the centipede, in which a minimum of 13 runners are linked together), tortilla tossing and live music. 

Image courtesy of San Francisco Running Events

Bay to Breakers, also known as Bare to Breakers for its large number of unclothed participants, is also renown for the significant number of bandits it attracts. Unregistered participants, bandits 'crash' the race and often significantly add to it's total participants. It is definitely something to see and an event that people participate in year after year, be they serious athletes or those who love don their favorite costume. All ages are welcome and discounts are offered to active military, veterans and their family.

The Expo kicks off on Friday, May 13th and continues on Saturday the 14th at Pier 35 located at 1454 The Embarcadero. Race packets can be picked up with valid ID and order confirmation number. Open to the public, the Expo features the latest in fitness technology, gear and nutrition.

Image credits: Dogomedia

Bay to Breakers was originally called the Cross-City Race and began in an effort to lift the city's spirits as it rebuilt from the 1906 earthquake. Eventually renamed, the race gained its first taste of fame in 1986 when it gained a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Footrace for having 110,000 participants, including the infamous bandits.

If you've never participated or seen Bay to Breakers live and in person, its most definitely something to add to your bucket list!