Useful Links

Below: Helpful Tools & Information | Did You Know | Unique/Fun Experiences | Pets & Wildlife Safety Tips

Helpful Tools & Information

  1. The preferred search engine by realtors for property: http://www.realtor.com/
  2. Mortgage Calculators:
    1. http://www.realtor.com/mortgage/tools/mortgage-calculator/
    2. http://www.calculator.net/mortgage-calculator.html
    3. https://www.mortgagecalculator.net/

    These mortgage calculator links are just for convenience.  We are not recommending one mortgage calculator over another.

    [For contact information to excellent, vetted lenders that we have used for years and with brick ‘n’ mortar locations, please ask us directly.  You want to be personally introduced to your lender by your agent, so you are assured accountability and great service.  We are not recommending on-line lenders, and nor do we recommend you just walk in the door of your bank and are assigned someone inside the front door.  We have access to the actual loan departments of the banks (“the back door”), where full-time loan officers work.]

  3. Small Property Owners of San Francisco
  4. San Francisco Rent Stabilization Board
  5. San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing
  6. San Francisco Assessor & County Recorder’s Office – have your lot and block # handy.
  7. Voter District Maps, Polling Places and other up-to-date Department of Elections Information.
  8. U.S. Postal Service – to change your mailing address online.
  9. PG&E – to change your PG&E billing, etc.
  10. National Call Registry (Federal Trade Commission) – register up to 3 phone numbers, stop telemarketers, opt out of marketing emails, register complaints, and understanding the rules.
  11. Recology Sunset Scavenger: trash pickup, debris boxes, recycling (including paint cans, spray cans, toilets, etc.) – Recology’s City Dump is at 501 Tunnel.
  12. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (“SFPUC”) which oversees sewer/water.
  13. San Francisco Water Power Sewer (services of the SFPUC).
  14. San Francisco’s great (southwest – Oceanside) Sewer line tour
  15. San Francisco’s water treatment plant tours (both Oceanside and the southeast side of the City).
  16. The Planning Department’s “pipeline report” regarding present and planned development projects.
  17. Use this map to find out about permitting projects within your neighborhood.
  18. SFMTA’s 72-Hour Parking Rule (Municipal Transportation Agency).
  19. Ticketing/towing, parking guide, parking permits, parking garages, bikes, MUNI passes and other little known facts from SFMTA.
  20. 2013-2018 SFMTA’s Strategic Plan & meetings
  21. Real I.D. cards, driver’s license & passport requirements for domestic flights
  22. The bright orange Flywheel Taxi Cabs (415-970-1300).
  23. San Francisco/Bay Area Tide Charts
  24. Schools – Bay Area Information
  25. California Proposition 13 (1978)
  26. Signature requirements for ballot measures in California (when and how many signatures to put something on a ballot in CA).
  27. The League of Women’s Voters offers well-researched presentations at your neighborhood association.
  28. www.timeanddate.com – clocks, moon phases, world clock, time zones, calendars, and fun fact articles including a word clock.
  29. San Francisco Giants – printable Monthly Schedule so you don’t miss a game.
  30. San Francisco’s downtown, multi-purpose Chase Center is home to Golden State Warriors and offers world-class entertainers.
  31. Assisted living and senior homes resources – seniorhomes.com

Did  You Know

  1. 25 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About San Francisco
  2. Safety Tip Regarding Riptides (VERY important safety link) – What if you, your dog or others are caught in a riptide?  If you swim strong and horizontally to the beach you might very quickly be out of the riptide.  They can’t be easily seen, move their locations, and they pull out to sea with great strength, but they are not very wide across where they start near the beach.
  3. Emancipation Day – The 13th Amendment ending slavery was finally ratified, in Mississippi, in 1995.
  4. Botts’ Dots – those wonderful rounded white bumps down the center divide are soon to be replaced, and may eventually be auctioned off to the public, per Mr. Roadshow.
  5. Star Trek/Star Wars Language Translator

Unique/Fun Experiences

  1. Grace Cathedral offers both an indoor and an outdoor labyrinth. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has just one path, so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends.  It is a two-way path, so you may meet others coming or going on the path.  Experience their monthly candlelight labyrinth walks with beautiful live music.
  2. A fun gift – Enjoy catered classic High Tea with Lori Dresser, Dessert Chef, PersnickitTea. Served at your home or a friend’s. Contact her at 4lorionlocation@gmail.com or 541-251-4847.
  3. Blue Bear Music – San Francisco’s pre-eminent school of rock, blues, jazz, folk and pop music. Music classes from toddlers through adults.
  4. Camera Obscura is directly behind The Cliffhouse and offers a unique, 360-degree view of the ocean. Best time is sunset.
  5. The story of the 16th Avenue (near Moraga) Tiled Steps – a hidden gem.
  6. Coro Hispanico de San Francisco – A chamber chorus of choral and vocal music .from all parts of the Spanish-speaking world, encompassing the 12th century through the 21st, and including, Latin, Mayan & Aztec music. Oftentimes, joined by San Francisco Symphony members.
  7. The 15 Best Children’s Playgrounds in San Francisco (published 2/28/18).
  8. Wiggliest Street in San Francisco is Vermont St. in Potrero Hill (and with a great little children’s park at the top of it).
  9. San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
  10. San Francisco Tours (Trip Advisor).
  11. Seaplane Tours (starting from Mill Valley).
  12. San Francisco’s 49-Mile Scenic Drive
  13. Angel Island State Park (the Ellis Island of the west coast/tours/camping/boat transportation to the island).
  14. Getting Around on the Cable Cars
  15. San Francisco’s Kabaret Kab with Buzz Brooks, entertainer.
  16. San Francisco’s Award-Winning Mitchell’s Ice Cream (small, family-owned, old-fashioned, delicious).
  17. 7-Mile House – jazz club.
  18. Michael Ellis, Naturalist (tours locally and internationally).
  19. Whale watching & Farallon Island tours
  20. Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos – From piloting a realistic flight simulator to building robotic drones, there are many opportunities at the museum to immerse yourself in the world of aviation.
  21. Experience the Zero Gravity Space Lab 30,000 feet up.
  22. Vertical wind tunnel at iFly Indoor Skydiving in Union City allows you to float freely.  Book your flight today.
  23. Need to de-stress?  Try one of the bay areas’ many sensory deprivation centers (or floatation therapy spas).  This one, in Campbell, is The Float Station.
  24. Another, in San Francisco and in Oakland is the Reboot Float & Cryotherapy Spa.
  25. Everything about dance in the Bay Area.
  26. Quench your thirst for speed and improve your driving skills at the Simraceway Racing School in Sonoma.
  27. Sonoma Canopy Tours offers fun zip-lines, rappelling, a moving circular staircase and suspension bridges among the redwoods.
  28. TPC Harding Golf Course (San Francisco).
  29. Olympic Club Golf Course (San Francisco).
  30. Peacock Gap Golf Club (San Rafael).

Pets & Wildlife Safety Tips

  1. Guide Dogs for the Blind – , San Rafael, monthly graduation – sweet as can be – bring tissues….
  2. Dog-friendly Russian River getaway (Cazadero) – 707-394-4601 – Ultimate Dog-Friendly Magic Mountain Retreat on 3 Acres of Redwood Grove and Large, Sunny, Flat Grassy Areas, Securely Fenced Half Acre, Hot Tub in Redwood Faerie Ring; Short Drive to Dining, Duncans Mills, River Beaches, Coast. WIFI. Keyless Entry. Your Well-Behaved Dog is Welcome!
  3. Give Me Shelter Cat Rescue – Lana Bajsel, Founder/Director (2003), is who walks through San Francisco’s Animal Care & Control and the privately-owned San Francisco SPCA, along with other shelters, and chooses adoptable animals from those being euthanized that day.  She started this program as an adjunct to what is provided by others.  Foster homes and volunteers are always needed. Emphasis is on adult and senior cats.
  4. Wildcare (in downtown San Rafael) – Truly an urban wildlife hospital–provides animal aid, wildlife solutions and education.  They have a Living With Wildlife Hotline link within this link for advice on wildlife you encounter.  This group is an excellent resource for other rescue groups, such as, reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards) and birds (including owls, hawks, etc.).
    76 Albert Park Ln.
    San Rafael, CA 94901
    415-456-7283
  5. Peninsula Humane Society – hummingbird & other small baby animal rescue – Please call us at 650-340-7022 if you find abandoned or injured baby animals, or bring them directly to our shelter at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame (Coyote Point off 101).
  6. Airlines and travelling with your pet – The ADA (American Disabilities Act) does not legally recognize “emotional support animals” (ESA) as being the same as service animals.  Legal changes regarding airlines and traveling with ESAs continues to evolve, especially due to the increasing number of ESAs flying in the cabin (versus in cargo), and it is State by State, so be sure to stay on top of these laws. Different States have different rules, and some with hefty fines, as well, should your animal not meet present-day standards for both the airline and the States you are traveling through.  As of April 2017, the ADA (American Disabilities Act) has been involved in changing State laws (within 12+ States now) and creating both fines and jail terms for people signing pets up online as ESAs, yet without the animal passing a true test of skills.  A popular reason used for why people need an emotional support animal in the cabin with them when flying is “anxiety when flying”.  Per the ADA, the true test for your animal is that they are trained to do approximately 50 tasks.  This makes them a service animal. In California, the fine for ESAs, if not truly providing a service, is presently $1,000 per incident, plus up to 6 months in jail, or both.  Federal and State laws might apply, depending on your travel plans.
  7. Pet Airways is the first and only airline created exclusively for the transportation of pets. They, also, provide a Rescued-Pet Relocation Program.
  8. Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, San Francisco – 415-272-4172 – Muttville reaches out to senior and special needs rescue dogs; finds suitable homes for those dogs that are adoptable; and offers end of life care for those that are not. These are not just shelter dogs; every day, dogs are moved from loving homes to concrete cages because their guardians have died or moved or simply can’t care for them anymore. Fostering or adopting through Muttville is a wonderful way to share love and joy with a dog in its golden years.
  9. San Francisco’s Animal Care & Control is taxpayer funded.  The go-to place for Lost & Found animals.  They rescue and adopt out all kinds of animals, including “custody animals”, when an owner’s situation has changed dramatically and their pets need temporary care.  Whenever the SPCA (privately-owned) has a space, oftentimes the pet is moved from ACC to the SPCA, where they are further protected from euthanasia by Maddie’s Fund.  So, if you want to adopt, please, go to ACC first. Also, if you see an injured or dead animal, ACC is who to call (415-554-9400). Lost pets (415-567-8738). Or try 415-554-6364.
  10. San Francisco SPCA – 415-552-3539 – Privately owned, spays community feral cats for free, provides trap rentals & training, instructions for mother cats with babies, pet loss support, coyote, tenant/landlord advice regarding pets, youth programs, pet behavior resources & training, vet services.
  11. Pet Loss Support, San Francisco SPCA – Started and run by Dr. Betty Carmack, from USF, in 1982.  Meets once a month.  Other groups, outside San Francisco, are also available, and nationally too (by phone and online).
  12. San Francisco’s 2017 Regulations on Keeping Chickens and Other Small Animals.
  13. Coyote Sightings – Advice from Animal Care & Control.
  14. Francisco Dog Play Areas
  15. San Francisco Beekeeper’s Association (including handling swarms and hives).
  16. The Presidio Pet Cemetery – 424 lovingly handmade headstones mark the final resting places for hundreds of animal companions who faithfully served the military families living at the Presidio when it was an Army post.
  17. Lost Dog – Dogs sometimes run up to 5 miles, while following their nose.  Fastest way is to immediately contact Animal Care & Control, as they work with the Police Department, and people sighting a wandering dog oftentimes will call and report it to one of these 2 groups.
  18. Lost Cat – It is always advised to keep cats indoors, and make their indoor world more fun than the outdoor world.  Otherwise, they make good prey for coyotes, roaming dogs and hunting birds.  If, however, one manages The Great Escape and has not returned for their next meal, they are, generally, within 1-1/2 to 2 blocks of where you live.  The techniques to find your cat are very different than those to find your dog, so call us if you need coaching.  It’s too complicated to cover here, but the advice is usually very effective, should you need it.  Danita Kulp – (415)-637-5823 cell.
  19. Lost Bird – Fastest way is to immediately contact Animal Care & Report, and hope someone calls in with a sighting.