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Finding unclaimed money in California has been made much easier than in years past.

And who wouldn't like to learn they have a forgotten stash, large or small, waiting for them?

California's Unclaimed Property Law requires corporations, businesses, associations, financial institutions and insurance companies to report and deliver property to the California State Controller's Office. This must be done annually after there has been no activity on the account of contact with the owner for a period of time specified in the law, generally three years or more.

To start your search, simply go to the web site of the California State Controller's Office and follow the simple directions outlined there.

Best of luck!

San Carlos, California, 97070, is a real down-home kind of place, located on the Peninsula in San Mateo County, mid-way between San Francisco and San Jose. The motto of our town is "The City of Good Living."

Well, this story I came across today shows that is more than empty words--San Carlos really is the City of Good Living!

Last month a Good Samaritan found several $100 bills dancing along a downtown sidewalk, in the heart of our shopping area; looking further, he saw a whole stack of bills, totaling $2,000. He immediately took the money to the Police Department, where it was held for safekeeping.

Meanwhile, the woman who had withdrawn the cash from the local Wells Fargo Bank discovered a hole in her jacket pocket and the cash gone. After properly identifying herself, and with the assistance of the bank teller, the police were able to turn the money over to her. The thankful woman not only gave the finder some award, but made a donation to the police department's Juvenile Diversion Program. The police also acknowledged the Samaritan with their Citizen Appreciation Coin.

If you want to learn more about living on the Peninsula, log onto the Facebook page, Peninsula Living. San Carlos might just be the place you want to call home. Our real estate market is strong and active, and it's the people who help make it so great, not to mention the hiking, biking, trail running, schools, youth sports, rec center classes, concerts, farmers' markets, shops, libraries, etc.!

2448 Coronet Blvd., Belmont, CA 94002
Open House - Sunday, May 16, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

If you haven't had a chance to visit this 4-bedroom, 3-bath Belmont beauty -- or if you'd like to see it a second time - join us at the Open House this coming Sunday.

Today in Belmont, California, there are 20 4-bedroom homes currently listed on the multiple listing service. Of those, only 7 are listed at a lower price. Most of those are short-sales or in the flat lands, close to Highway 101. There is tremendous value at 2448 Coronet -- a view house with a relatively level back yard for barbecues, play and relaxation. Come by and see for yourself.

The Forum, a retirement community in Cupertino, California, provides another option for Seniors looking for the best place to call home. The Forum offers equity ownership, an elegant carefree lifestyle for seniors who value their independence, and continuing care. This is senior living at its finest, nestled into the Cupertino/Los Altos foothills near Rancho San Antonio open space preserve.
                                

At The Forum you will enjoy a variety of planned social and recreational activities, including walking and hiking, wellness and exercise programs, guest lectures, cultural and sporting events, classes, travel tours, movies and more. Various committees give one the opportunity to become involved and meet new friends who share similar interests. Play bocce ball, swim laps, enjoy the spa or putting green. Putter in the hobby shop, sharpen your computer skills, create holiday decorations.

Your needs are fully met at The Forum, from cooking and cleaning to maintenance and mowing the lawn. Enjoy delicious restaurant-style dining, or the private dining room for those gatherings of family and friends.  There's even an on-site general store, beauty and barber services and banking.

To learn more, give The Forum a call at 650-944-0190 and check out the web site for The Forum and take a virtual tour. You'll learn that the equity ownership plan is surprisingly affordable for many people, including many people who will be selling their Silicon Valley house when moving to The Forum.

The Sequoias is a Life Care Community located in Portola Valley, California, and is another popular choice for Seniors looking for a residential living community. This vibrant retirement community sits on over 40 acres of land in the rolling hillside town of Portola Valley, at the base of Windy Hill.


At The Sequoias one can enjoy the putting green, swim in the indoor pool, garden to one's heart's delight, and engage with interesting neighbors. Hiking and walking at the adjacent Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a treat for many who enjoy the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings of the area. The Sequoias sponsors on-site: an education lecture series, "Music at 4:00," Friday evening entertainment and and a Farmer's Market. One can also drive or ride in the free shuttle bus to nearby education and cultural centers of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and other Peninsula towns.

Various levels of care include residential apartment living, assisted living when some help is desired, and a skilled nursing center. The Life Care agreement assures that you can move from an apartment to a higher level of care in the community without an increase in the monthly fee. That peace of mind is greatly appreciated by many!

To learn more about The Sequoias, you can take a virtual tour or give them a call at 650-851-1501 and then arrange a visit.

The Classic Residence by Hyatt is one option for a Senior Community in Palo Alto, California. This is a premier continuing care retirement community located in Palo Alto, California, adjacent to Stanford University and convenient to many area attractions including Stanford Shopping Center, theaters, parks, historic sites and fine dining. With San Francisquito Creek in the back yard, and views of the nearby meadows and hills, this elegant facility enhances the beauty of the natural environment.


The Classic Residence by Hyatt offers two types of Senior living, both a rental retirement option and a continuing care community, should the need develop. Many of the residents at Classic Residence by Hyatt are long-time residents of nearby Peninsula towns like Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Los Altos. When they are ready to sell their homes and move to a new one, the Hyatt has proven delightful for many people, as they renew old friendships and make new ones while enjoying the many fine programs and amenities The Classic Residence by Hyatt offers.

If you or a loved one are investigating Senior communities on the mid-Peninsula, this is one you should know about, it's the creme de la creme! Enjoy a virtual tour at the Classic Residence by Hyatt website.

The Glenwood Inn in Menlo Park, California, is another good choice for Seniors ready to sell their Peninsula home or move to the area to be near friends and family.

Located on the mid-Peninsula, near the heart of Menlo Park, California, The Glenwood Inn offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes. The Glenwood Inn community balances carefree apartment living with numerous recreational facilities and amenities.

• Lounge and game room
• Video theater with large-screen TV
• Arts, crafts and hobbies programs
• An old-fashioned ice cream parlor
• Library
• Activities room with computer access
• Card room
• Exercise room
• Meals in the spacious dining room

A few of the close by area attractions, in addition to events at Stanford University and Menlo College, include:

• the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, known for its beautiful gardens and Spanish architecture. This is a delightful complex of artist's studios and shops
  
• Burgess Park, one of the first city-owned recreations areas in Menlo Park, located adjacent to the Civic Center and public library
• Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, a 2.5 acre property which includes an historic home, carriage house, tea house and both formal and demonstration gardens.
• Stanford Shopping Center, one of the premier shopping center destinations in the San Francisco Bay area

If you are ready to learn more, check out the Glenwood Inn's web site, or give them a call at 650-322-5550. And if you have a home to sell, please give me a call to find out how to get the process started. I'm here to help.

Woodside Terrace, located in Redwood City, California, is another option for people looking for Senior living accommodations.



Surrounded by lovely grounds, with walking paths to enjoy and an outdoor gardening area, Woodside Terrace offers independent living as well as various levels of assistant living. The transportation services of Woodside Terrace can whisk one away to nearby Redwood City Civic Center, shopping centers and restaurants, as well as to off-site appointments.

Elegant restaurant-style dining is included, and each studio, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedroom apartment has cooking facilities for simple in-room meals when desired. Woodside Terrace also provides a private dining room to host dinner parties and special events, an indoor swimming pool, activity room for friendly bridge or chess games, a library, salon and more to make life enjoyable in many ways.

Small pets are welcomed, too!

If you are thinking of selling your mid-Peninsula home, or planning to move to this area to be close to family and friends, you can get more information, or arrange a tour, by contacting Woodside Terrace online or at 650-366-3900.

Last Sunday my favorite hiking buddy (my husband, Gene) and I broke away from the busyness of life and real estate to enjoy a fast-paced hike from San Pedro Valley Park in Pacifica to the top of nearby Montara Mountain. A scenic drive of about 30 minutes lead us from downtown San Carlos, up beautiful Interstate 280, to Highway One along the coast, and then to the park.

This hike, roughly 10 miles in length, gains perhaps 1,000 ft. While the trail is steep, the beauty of the blooming wildflowers, flowering trees and shrubs, views of the Pacific Ocean, and the utter peace of the area more than reward one for the effort expended.

Another benefit to me of this particular hike on Sunday was that I was in cell phone reception, and with an offer out and response expected that day, it was imperative that I could be reached. Having escapes like this so close to our homes and businesses in the Silicon Valley and bayside San Mateo County is one of the many reasons living here is so marvelous.

Enjoy the pictures!

The goal: Montara Mountain

Trail down the mountain, with manzanita shrubs in bloom and the Pacific Ocean in the distance

A carpet of Forget-Me-Nots bloom near the parking lot at San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica.

San Carlos Elms, located at 707 Elm Street in downtown San Carlos, California, is a rental housing community created for Seniors looking for the comforts of home in a supportive, friendly environment.



Whether you are selling your San Mateo County or Silicon Valley home, or are moving into the area from afar, living in your own apartment at the beautiful San Carlos Elms offers opportunities to:

• Feel at home with your own furnishings and family treasures in your own apartment
  
• Join in the on-site activities programs, enjoy the crafts room, library, game room, exercise room and spacious lounge
• Stroll to the nearby San Carlos Adult Center, the beautiful downtown library, and the charming San Carlos shops, restaurants and services
• Make new friends, and entertain visiting family and friends
  
• Enjoy the freedom from home upkeep to pursue the pleasures that you enjoy in life
• Relax with the blend of independent apartment-style living with the security and supportive services that help create a safe, happy life

To learn more, check out San Carlos Elms, or give the staff a call at 650-595-1500. You just might have found the right home.