If you are wondering why a bunch of 7 year old kids in Santa Clara near the Cupertino border look to have a sense of relief, it's because Cupertino Union School District's Eisenhower Elementary 2nd graders just completed their STAR tests this past week.
Each spring, all students in California from grades two through eleven take the state's Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) exams, a battery of standardized tests.
The California STAR Program looks at how well schools and students are performing. Based on STAR tests and the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE), California assigns an Academic Performance Index (API) rating and growth target to each school and district. Ratings range from 200 to 1000, with a goal of 800 API for all schools statewide.
The STAR Program includes four tests: the California Standards Tests, the California Modified Assessment, the California Alternate Performance Assessment, and the Standards-based Tests in Spanish.
The STAR program used to include the California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6), but this test was eliminated in the 2008-2009 school year.
The test taken by the majority of students is the California Standards Tests (CST).
In 2nd grade through 11th grade, the CST covers English-language arts. In 2nd grade through 7th grade, the test also covers math.
Additional tests are added at various grade levels. The CST adds a history-social science test for 8th grade, 10th grade and 11th grade. The CST adds a science test for 5th grade, 8th grade, and 10th grade. The CST also adds a math and science test for students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. The test they take depends on which math and science course they are enrolled in that school year, such as algebra, geometry, physics, or chemistry.
The STAR - CalEdFacts page provides a more detailed overview of the program.
For more information, you can also visit California Department of Education Testing and Accountability.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Google Provides Free WiFi in Mountain View
No-cost wireless Internet (WiFi) services are now available in most areas of the City of Mountain View as a benefit of a five-year agreement the City has entered into with Google, Inc., the Internet search engine company headquartered in Mountain View.
The City authorized Google to place wireless transmitters on City-owned streetlight poles throughout the City to create one of the first city-wide-no-cost WiFi networks in the country.
Google completed installation of the transmitters for the network and the network has been launched.
WiFi users who want a stronger signal inside their homes or offices will need to buy consumer premise equipment (CPE) available from local retailers or on the Internet for $50-$100.
The City authorized Google to place wireless transmitters on City-owned streetlight poles throughout the City to create one of the first city-wide-no-cost WiFi networks in the country.
Google completed installation of the transmitters for the network and the network has been launched.
WiFi users who want a stronger signal inside their homes or offices will need to buy consumer premise equipment (CPE) available from local retailers or on the Internet for $50-$100.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Proposition 58 and Proposition 193 allow transfer of real property from parent (and sometimes grandparent) to child without property tax reassessment
Proposition 58 excludes transfers of real property between parents and children from reassessment .
Proposition 193 excludes transfers of real property from grandparents to grandchildren from reassessment if all the parents of the grandchildren who qualify as children of the grandparents are deceased as of the date of transfer.
In the State of California, real property is reassessed at market value if it is sold or transferred. This can sometimes result in a dramatic increase in property taxes. However, if the sale or transfer is between parents and their children (or from grandparents to their grandchildren, under limited circumstances) the property will NOT be reassessed (if certain conditions are met) and the proper application is filed in time.
These propositions allow the new property owners to avoid property tax increases when acquiring property from their parents (or from their grandparents). The new owner's taxes are calculated on the established Proposition 13 factored base year value, instead of the current market value when the property is acquired.
The transfers of real property excluded from reassessment by Propositions 58 and 193 are:
1)Transfers of primary residences (no value limit)
2)Transfers of the first $1 million of real property other than the primary residences. The $1 million exclusion applies separately to each eligible transferor.
The value of transferred property counted toward the $1 million exclusion limit is the Proposition 13 value (factored base year value) just prior to the date of transfer. Usually, this is the taxable value on the assessment roll. If a property is under a Williamson Act (open space) or Mills Act (historical property) contract, it is the factored base year value that is counted, not the restricted value.
Transfers via sale, gift, or inheritance all qualify for the exclusion.
Transfer via trust also qualifies for this exclusion. For property tax purposes, the state looks through the trust to the present beneficial owner. When the present beneficial ownership passes from a parent to a child, this is a change in ownership that is eligible for the parent-child exclusion.
However, you are not required to claim this exclusion from reassessment if it doesn't help you. If the current market value under Proposition 8 at time of transfer has fallen BELOW the transferor's original Proposition 13 factored base year value, the new owner may be better off NOT to claim the exemption and instead accept a new Proposition 13 base year reassessment. In this case, reassessment can result in LOWER property taxes by locking in the lower market value as the property's new base year value on the date of transfer. Otherwise, the higher original Proposition 13 base year value set under the transferor's ownership would some day be reinstated as market conditions improve over time and at a level higher than they would be if the property had received a new Proposition 13 base year value on the date the property was transferred.
In any case, you should consult with an estate planning expert for advice before claiming this exclusion.
Proposition 193 excludes transfers of real property from grandparents to grandchildren from reassessment if all the parents of the grandchildren who qualify as children of the grandparents are deceased as of the date of transfer.
In the State of California, real property is reassessed at market value if it is sold or transferred. This can sometimes result in a dramatic increase in property taxes. However, if the sale or transfer is between parents and their children (or from grandparents to their grandchildren, under limited circumstances) the property will NOT be reassessed (if certain conditions are met) and the proper application is filed in time.
These propositions allow the new property owners to avoid property tax increases when acquiring property from their parents (or from their grandparents). The new owner's taxes are calculated on the established Proposition 13 factored base year value, instead of the current market value when the property is acquired.
The transfers of real property excluded from reassessment by Propositions 58 and 193 are:
1)Transfers of primary residences (no value limit)
2)Transfers of the first $1 million of real property other than the primary residences. The $1 million exclusion applies separately to each eligible transferor.
The value of transferred property counted toward the $1 million exclusion limit is the Proposition 13 value (factored base year value) just prior to the date of transfer. Usually, this is the taxable value on the assessment roll. If a property is under a Williamson Act (open space) or Mills Act (historical property) contract, it is the factored base year value that is counted, not the restricted value.
Transfers via sale, gift, or inheritance all qualify for the exclusion.
Transfer via trust also qualifies for this exclusion. For property tax purposes, the state looks through the trust to the present beneficial owner. When the present beneficial ownership passes from a parent to a child, this is a change in ownership that is eligible for the parent-child exclusion.
However, you are not required to claim this exclusion from reassessment if it doesn't help you. If the current market value under Proposition 8 at time of transfer has fallen BELOW the transferor's original Proposition 13 factored base year value, the new owner may be better off NOT to claim the exemption and instead accept a new Proposition 13 base year reassessment. In this case, reassessment can result in LOWER property taxes by locking in the lower market value as the property's new base year value on the date of transfer. Otherwise, the higher original Proposition 13 base year value set under the transferor's ownership would some day be reinstated as market conditions improve over time and at a level higher than they would be if the property had received a new Proposition 13 base year value on the date the property was transferred.
In any case, you should consult with an estate planning expert for advice before claiming this exclusion.
Monday, April 30, 2012
To sell an investment property in California, how much notice must landlord give to tenants?
An owner/landlord can end a periodic tenancy (e.g. a month-to-month tenancy) by giving the tenant proper advance written notice.
"Proper" notice depends on circumstances.
If anyTenant or resident has lived in the rental property for less than one-year, the owner/landlord only needs to serve them a 30-day "No Cause" notice, consistent with State law.
If every tenant or resident has lived in the rental unit for a year or more, the owner/landlord normally must give the tenant(s) 60 days advance written notice.
However, the owner/landlord can reduce the 60 days to 30 days if all of the following are met:
"Proper" notice depends on circumstances.
If anyTenant or resident has lived in the rental property for less than one-year, the owner/landlord only needs to serve them a 30-day "No Cause" notice, consistent with State law.
If every tenant or resident has lived in the rental unit for a year or more, the owner/landlord normally must give the tenant(s) 60 days advance written notice.
However, the owner/landlord can reduce the 60 days to 30 days if all of the following are met:
- The landlord has contracted to sell the rental unit to another person who intends to occupy it for at least a year after the tenancy ends.
- The selling landlord must have opened escrow with a licensed escrow agent or real estate broker, and
- The selling landlord must have given the tenant the 30-day notice no later than 120 days after opening the escrow, and
- The landlord must not previously have given the tenant a 30-day or 60-day notice, and
- The rental unit must be one that can be sold separately from any other dwelling unit. (For example, a house or a condominium can be sold separately from another dwelling unit.) 203
Monday, April 16, 2012
City of Sunnyvale proposes mandate to require homeowners perform and disclose energy and water audits at time of sale
The City of Sunnyvale has proposed a mandate that would require homeowners to perform and disclose energy and water audits at time of sale.
The City of Sunnyvale is accepting public comments on its draft "Climate Action Plan". Page 65 of the 222-page plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions proposes three mandates that would affect real estate transactions in Sunnyvale:
•EC-3.1, Establish a residential energy conservation ordinance that requires homeowners to perform and disclose energy and water audits at time of sale.
•EC-4.1, …require all nonresidential building owners to disclose building energy consumption and
building energy ratings upon sale or lease of the building.
•EC-4.3, Create an ordinance to facilitate energy efficiency improvements in nonresidential buildings through incentives and regulations that may include energy performance reports, time of sale upgrades…
The City of Sunnyvale is accepting public comments on its draft "Climate Action Plan". Page 65 of the 222-page plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions proposes three mandates that would affect real estate transactions in Sunnyvale:
•EC-3.1, Establish a residential energy conservation ordinance that requires homeowners to perform and disclose energy and water audits at time of sale.
•EC-4.1, …require all nonresidential building owners to disclose building energy consumption and
building energy ratings upon sale or lease of the building.
•EC-4.3, Create an ordinance to facilitate energy efficiency improvements in nonresidential buildings through incentives and regulations that may include energy performance reports, time of sale upgrades…
Friday, April 6, 2012
2012 Easter Egg Hunt - South Bay Area
2012 Easter Egg Hunts in the South Bay Area
I am a little late in posting this. Easter comes really early this year. A couple of the events have already passed, but I'll list them anyway so people can look for them next year.
•Easter Egg Hunt (Mar 31, 10am - 12pm)
Where: State & 2nd st, Los Altos
Free for children 1-10 years old. Enter the Jelly Bean contest, make an ester bonnet, enjoy face painting, and meet the Easter Bunny. Hunt for candy filled eggs on Main and State. Limit 5 egg per child. Please bring your own basket.
•EASTER EGG HUNT and FAMILY FUN DAY (Apr 7)
Where: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Los Altos
Activities for children from Pre-K to 5th grade that will consist of crafts, games, snacks, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt at the end!.
Easter Party & Egg Hunt (Apr 4, 10am - 12pm) (no more) Where: Unity Palo Alto Community Church, Palo Alto
Easter Party with egg hunt, crafts, games, egg dying, snacks, and living bunnies will be visiting. Fun for all.
•Bunny Fun Hunt (Mar 31, 10am - 1pm)
Where: Los Gatos High School-Front Lawn
Carnival Games, Food Booths, Fun Jumps, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo and Much More! Free Egg Hunt - Bring Your Basket!
•Easter Egg Hunt Cupertino (Mar 31, 10:30am - 3pm)
Where: Memorial Park, Cupertino
Balloons, face painting, jump house, puppet show, music, story, arts & crafts, games & prizes.
•The Hunt Eggstravaganza (Apr 7, 12pm - 2pm)
Where: Dove Hill Elementary School, San Jose
Free Easter Egg Hunt! Sponsored by Evergreen Valley Church.
•Berryessa Spring Egg Hunt (Apr 7)
Where: Berryessa Community Center, San Jose
There will be egg hunts for each age group, a special prize for those who find the GOLDEN EGG, and children will be able to create holiday-themed Arts & Crafts.
•Easter at Fairmont San Jose (Apr 8)
Where: Fairmont Hotel, San Jose
Every hour from 11:30am - 2:30pm, our resident holiday bunny will stash eggs filled with candy and even a golden egg with a very special surprise.
•Egg Hunt in South Bay by the Beautiful Day Group (Apr 7, 1pm)
◦Live Oak Park - Milpitas
◦Latimer Elementary School - Campbell
◦Gardner Academy Elementary - Santa Clara
◦RAMAC Park - San Jose
◦San Ysidro Park- San Jose
◦Lone Hill Park - San Jose
◦Jeffrey Fontana Park - San Jose
◦Bernal Road Baptist Church - San Jose
•Easter Egg Hunt in Santa Clara (Apr 7, 10am)
Where: central park, Santa Clara
for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and special needs. Spring Activities include: Meeting the Easter Bunny, Face Painting, Easter Baskets, Theatre
The Hunt at Serra Park (Apr 23)
Where: Serra Park, Sunnyvale
Organized by Valley Church. There will be multiple hunts throughout the afternoon, at 1:30, 2, 2:30, and 3pm
Kids Easter Egg Hunt (Apr 23, 10-11am)
Where: New Hope International Church Parking Lot, Sunnyvale
Organized by New Hope International Church. For ages 3-12 years old.
•Campbell Eggstravaganza (Apr 7, 10:30 am)
Where: Campbell Community Center
For children ages 2-12. The egg and candy hunt will begin on the Athletic Fields of the Campbell Community Center at 10:30am SHARP. Please bring a bag or basket for your child. Thousands of plastic colored eggs will be sprinkled throughout the lawn. That may seem like a lot of eggs, but they are all picked up within minutes - those kids are fast! Festivities that morning, beginning at 9am, will include face painting, finger nail painting, games, arts and crafts activities, a jump house, and pictures with the Eggstravaganza Bunny.
•Annual Bunnies & Nonnets Parade (Apr 7, 12pm)
Where: Downtown Campbell
This event follows the City of Campbell's annual Easter Egg Hunt. In past years, the parade has featured marching bands, baton dancers, classic cars, bagpipers, floats, dog clubs, and other assorted things of interest that make up the Campbell area community.
•Easter Egg Hunt at St. Timothy's (Apr 8, 10am)
Where: St. Timothy's, 2094 Grant Rd, Mountain View
The hunt will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. Bring your own basket to collect eggs.
•Easter Family Fun Day East Palo Alto (Apr 7, noon)
Where: Bell Park, East Palo Alto
Easter Egg Hunt, arts and crafts, rally races, entertainment by local youth organizations, food trucks, and more!
•Children's Easter Party! (Apr 7)
Where: Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
The party will start with fun arts and crafts, then the Puppet Show! Total three sessions. Register early
I am a little late in posting this. Easter comes really early this year. A couple of the events have already passed, but I'll list them anyway so people can look for them next year.
•Easter Egg Hunt (Mar 31, 10am - 12pm)
Where: State & 2nd st, Los Altos
Free for children 1-10 years old. Enter the Jelly Bean contest, make an ester bonnet, enjoy face painting, and meet the Easter Bunny. Hunt for candy filled eggs on Main and State. Limit 5 egg per child. Please bring your own basket.
•EASTER EGG HUNT and FAMILY FUN DAY (Apr 7)
Where: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Los Altos
Activities for children from Pre-K to 5th grade that will consist of crafts, games, snacks, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt at the end!.
Easter Party & Egg Hunt (Apr 4, 10am - 12pm) (no more) Where: Unity Palo Alto Community Church, Palo Alto
Easter Party with egg hunt, crafts, games, egg dying, snacks, and living bunnies will be visiting. Fun for all.
•Bunny Fun Hunt (Mar 31, 10am - 1pm)
Where: Los Gatos High School-Front Lawn
Carnival Games, Food Booths, Fun Jumps, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo and Much More! Free Egg Hunt - Bring Your Basket!
•Easter Egg Hunt Cupertino (Mar 31, 10:30am - 3pm)
Where: Memorial Park, Cupertino
Balloons, face painting, jump house, puppet show, music, story, arts & crafts, games & prizes.
•The Hunt Eggstravaganza (Apr 7, 12pm - 2pm)
Where: Dove Hill Elementary School, San Jose
Free Easter Egg Hunt! Sponsored by Evergreen Valley Church.
•Berryessa Spring Egg Hunt (Apr 7)
Where: Berryessa Community Center, San Jose
There will be egg hunts for each age group, a special prize for those who find the GOLDEN EGG, and children will be able to create holiday-themed Arts & Crafts.
•Easter at Fairmont San Jose (Apr 8)
Where: Fairmont Hotel, San Jose
Every hour from 11:30am - 2:30pm, our resident holiday bunny will stash eggs filled with candy and even a golden egg with a very special surprise.
•Egg Hunt in South Bay by the Beautiful Day Group (Apr 7, 1pm)
◦Live Oak Park - Milpitas
◦Latimer Elementary School - Campbell
◦Gardner Academy Elementary - Santa Clara
◦RAMAC Park - San Jose
◦San Ysidro Park- San Jose
◦Lone Hill Park - San Jose
◦Jeffrey Fontana Park - San Jose
◦Bernal Road Baptist Church - San Jose
•Easter Egg Hunt in Santa Clara (Apr 7, 10am)
Where: central park, Santa Clara
for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and special needs. Spring Activities include: Meeting the Easter Bunny, Face Painting, Easter Baskets, Theatre
The Hunt at Serra Park (Apr 23)
Where: Serra Park, Sunnyvale
Organized by Valley Church. There will be multiple hunts throughout the afternoon, at 1:30, 2, 2:30, and 3pm
Kids Easter Egg Hunt (Apr 23, 10-11am)
Where: New Hope International Church Parking Lot, Sunnyvale
Organized by New Hope International Church. For ages 3-12 years old.
•Campbell Eggstravaganza (Apr 7, 10:30 am)
Where: Campbell Community Center
For children ages 2-12. The egg and candy hunt will begin on the Athletic Fields of the Campbell Community Center at 10:30am SHARP. Please bring a bag or basket for your child. Thousands of plastic colored eggs will be sprinkled throughout the lawn. That may seem like a lot of eggs, but they are all picked up within minutes - those kids are fast! Festivities that morning, beginning at 9am, will include face painting, finger nail painting, games, arts and crafts activities, a jump house, and pictures with the Eggstravaganza Bunny.
•Annual Bunnies & Nonnets Parade (Apr 7, 12pm)
Where: Downtown Campbell
This event follows the City of Campbell's annual Easter Egg Hunt. In past years, the parade has featured marching bands, baton dancers, classic cars, bagpipers, floats, dog clubs, and other assorted things of interest that make up the Campbell area community.
•Easter Egg Hunt at St. Timothy's (Apr 8, 10am)
Where: St. Timothy's, 2094 Grant Rd, Mountain View
The hunt will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. Bring your own basket to collect eggs.
•Easter Family Fun Day East Palo Alto (Apr 7, noon)
Where: Bell Park, East Palo Alto
Easter Egg Hunt, arts and crafts, rally races, entertainment by local youth organizations, food trucks, and more!
•Children's Easter Party! (Apr 7)
Where: Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
The party will start with fun arts and crafts, then the Puppet Show! Total three sessions. Register early
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Duplex in Mountain View : No For Sale Sign; Not yet on the market
Duplex in Mountain View : No For Sale Sign; Not yet on the market
~1500 sqft living area
on a ~6500 sqft lot
Will be on the market later this month
Total # Units: 2
Type of Units: 2 Bedroom Unit(s) Other:
Features
Cool: Room Air Conditioner(s)
Foundation: Concrete Perimeter
Heating: Wall Furnace
Grg/Prk: Garage - Private (Multi-Res), Guest Parking
Meter(s): Individual Electric Meter, Individual Gas Meter, Individual Water Meter Roof: Shake Roof
Stories: 1 Story
Sewer: Sewer in & Connected
Water: City/Public Water
Laundry: Laundry Area - In All Units
List Incl: Carpets - All Units, Oven/Range - All Units, Refrigerator - Some Units
Expenses Incl: Garbage, Water
Owner Pays: Garbage, Water
Tenant Pays: Gas, Cable TV, Electric
~1500 sqft living area
on a ~6500 sqft lot
Will be on the market later this month
Total # Units: 2
Type of Units: 2 Bedroom Unit(s) Other:
Features
Cool: Room Air Conditioner(s)
Foundation: Concrete Perimeter
Heating: Wall Furnace
Grg/Prk: Garage - Private (Multi-Res), Guest Parking
Meter(s): Individual Electric Meter, Individual Gas Meter, Individual Water Meter Roof: Shake Roof
Stories: 1 Story
Sewer: Sewer in & Connected
Water: City/Public Water
Laundry: Laundry Area - In All Units
List Incl: Carpets - All Units, Oven/Range - All Units, Refrigerator - Some Units
Expenses Incl: Garbage, Water
Owner Pays: Garbage, Water
Tenant Pays: Gas, Cable TV, Electric
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