February lectures sponsored by the Peninsula Seniors give Palos Verdes homes owners an opportunity to learn more about different interesting topics, and allow them to meet other local residents. These lectures take place at Hesse Park, located at 29301 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, in the Fireside Room on Wednesday’s from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On February 8, 2012, the community will learn about the development of the Peninsula from two women who wrote a book about the early days.  Written by Betty Lukas, and edited by Marjeanne Blinn, “Peninsula Past: the Complicated Birth of Paradise” debuted December 8, and consists of 31 essays and archived photos which had appeared in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.  As many of you know Betty is a docent in the Local History Room at the Peninsula Center Library, and Marjeanne is an adult services librarian there.  They will be bringing books for sale for local history buffs.

On February 15, the speaker will be Ms. Dina Aryan-Zahler who is a staff engineer for the Port of Los Angeles.  She will talk about development ideas and the plans that will create a world class harbor and an active community attraction here in our own backyard.  Some of these plans for the Port will include U.S.S. IOWA, an artist and craftsman center, an international marine research and technology center, Ports’O'Call Village, and a downtown water attraction.

On February 22, Coleen Sass and volunteer Alan Cook will talk about the Community Helpline and how it has been providing support and crisis intervention services to the Peninsula for the last 40 years. They will talk about the six week training course that is involved for all the volunteers, and how the Helpline became became such a benefit to our community. This should be an interesting topic for those who are not aware of some of the services our Peninsula offers residents.

On February 29, Don Nose, president of the Go For Broke National Education Center in Torrance, and Directors Ken Akune and James Ogawa, will talk about how in WWII, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most highly decorated unity in the history of the United States.  It was made up of 442nd and 100th Battalions that were entirely Japanese-American volunteers, whose families had been sent to relocation camps at the start of the war. There will be a presentation showing detailing how this famous combat unit fought in two wars.

Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Seniors

Palos Verdes homes owners love to see whales off their coast and the Whale Watching season is upon us.  It officially started December 1, 2011 and according to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center,  559 whales have been spotted to date.  This is a higher number than normal and 5 whales were spotted just this morning!   Most of the whales are traveling south to Baja but seven were spotted going north.

There is something so exciting about seeing these magnificent creatures.  You have several options.  Point Vicente Interpretive Center located at  31501 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 welcomes visitors to this premier whale watching site for viewing (bring binoculars).  For more information, call 310-377-5370.   If you want to see the whales up closer, there are two companies that have whale watching tours for a fee.  San Pedro Spirit Cruises (310) 548-8080 has tours on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., and Sundays at 12:00 p.m. Voyager Excursions in Redondo Beach (310) 944-1219 has daily whale watching tours.

Photo courtesy of Voyager Excursions

Palos Verdes homes owners are able to enjoy and learn more about their beautiful Peninsula by taking nature hikes on the first Saturday of every month.  This Saturday, February 4, 2012, the George F. Canyon Preserve & Nature Center will not only offer their morning Bird Walk, but you also can enjoy the afternoon First Saturday Walk through the Canyon.

The Bird Walks are from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., and Naturalist Loretta Rose is happy to guide you through a few of the riparian habitats on the Peninsula.  You will learn about the canyon’s willow trees and other plants which make up the habitat for our local bird species.  Most of the focus is on the natural history of our local bird species and how the canyon plays an integral part to their existence.  This is a very slow and quiet walk (so the birds are not frightened) and remember to bring your binoculars.  You must call ahead to make reservations and binoculars are available if needed.

The First Saturday Walk will take place in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Your expert guide will introduce you to a new world of discovery in the canyon.  Your guide will not only teach you about the habitat, geology, drainage, wildlife and folklore, but will be able to answer your questions about what makes these canyons so popular and important to our local wildlife.

These hikes will be starting at the George F. Nature Center at 7306 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates.  For more information about these activities, or to make reservations, please call (310) 547-0862.

Photo courtesy of PVPLC

Georgiana Rosenkranz and Barry Host’s (South Bay Broker’s, Inc.) 2204 Via Acalones, Palos Verdes Estates 90274 (above left) is a 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,039 square foot home for $2,375,000.   This custom Monte Malaga home was rebuilt in 2001 and features lovely ocean views, a spacious gourmet kitchen, a large master retreat w/ vaulted ceilings and a sparkling saline pool & spa.  Michael and Nadia Foster’s (RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty) 4166 Rousseau Lane, Palos Verdes Peninsula 90274 (above right) is a 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,515 square foot home for $1,568,000.  This bright spacious Academy Hill home features city views, a gourmet kitchen, great room w/vaulted ceilings & skylights, and solar heated pool – all on a 1 acre lot.

Betty Coull, Heidi Agid-Mackenbach and Frank Fountain’s (RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty) 41 Santa Barbara Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes 90274 (above left) is a 5 bedroom, 5 bath, 3,732 square foot home for $2,298,000.  This exquisite traditional Island View home features a gourmet kitchen, elegant master suite, and a pool/spa.  Tim Foley’s (Prudential California Realty) 66 Eastfield Drive, Rolling Hills 90274 (above right) is a 5 bedroom, 7 bath, 5,734 square foot home for $4,595,000.  This completely remodeled Rolling Hills home features panoramic views, a gourmet kitchen w/2 islands, a master retreat w/views and private park-like yards.

Photos courtesy of CRMLS

I am happy to report that appraisals are coming in at sales price for Palos Verdes homes that I have sold this past year.  After the new Fannie Mae appraisal changes, we were all experiencing appraisers from out of the area being assigned to Palos Verdes real estate appraisals and they were coming in low as they did not know the area.   This was true for both Palos Verdes homes sales and refinances.

Yesterday, a LA Times article regarding appraisal fee disclosure discussed the issue of who is actually getting paid for these new higher priced appraisals and where the appraisers are coming from.  Why would you care about that?  Because, the appraisers are sometimes getting paid only half the fee (and to find appraisers who will work for that lower fee, they were coming from out of the area)  “…while the balance flows to an enterprise you have never heard of — an appraisal management company — that assigns the job to the appraiser.  That management company, in turn, may be a wholly owned by or in a joint venture or affiliate relationship with your lender, which may be pocketing a significant portion of your appraisal dollars.”  Click here to read entire article.

Now the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may require the appraisal fee be broken down to indicate how much is actually going to the appraiser and how much the appraisal management company is taking.  A decision should be made before summer.

On Saturday, February 4, 2012, the Peninsula Seniors will sponsor Coffee & Cars at the Peninsula Shopping Center (off Silver Spur Road and Hawthorne Boulevard in Rolling Hills Estates).  A group of car enthusiasts will bring their Hot Rod, Custom, Muscle Car, Sports Car, Antique, and other special interest vehicles, to the Peninsula Shopping Center parking lot where you can admire the cars, meet the owners and ask them questions.

This free event gives Palos Verdes homes owners an opportunity to meet and socialize with Peninsula Seniors members, their guests, and other South Bay area car lovers.  If you are not over 55 and would like to bring your favorite car to show, you can get an honorary car or a “senior-in-training” badge to cover you for the event.

Coffee & Cars is held the first Saturday of every month in the parking area near Starbucks and Rite Aid in the Peninsula Shopping Center. Each month, a different type of car is features and for the month of February, Italian Cars will be shown.  For a fun morning activity put on your comfortable shoes and enjoy the outdoors with other car buffs.

For more information contact Peninsula Seniors at (310) 377-3003.

Photo courtesy of Arvin Design

Sales for Palos Verdes real estate single family homes in the first 26 days of January have decreased compared to sales to date for this time last month (37).  20 Palos Verdes houses have been reported as sold to date since January 1, 2012.  (It may take an additional week for some sales to post after the actual close of escrow).  The average sales price for single family Palos Verdes homes for January to date is $1,596,809 which is up from last month’s average of $1,462,000.

In January 2012 to date, the highest priced Palos Verdes home sold for $7,000,000 in the city of Rolling Hills; it was a fantastic, gated equestrian estate with a 1o,000 square foot home with 5 bedrooms and 7 baths with unobstructed, panoramic ocean, coastline and city views, a home theater with 120″ screen with stadium seating (& it’s own kitchen), elevator, work-out room, a separate guest house, pool/spa, and barn, all on a 4.4 acre landscaped lot.  The lowest priced Palos Verdes home sold to date in January for $655,000 and is located in the Palos Verdes Drive North neighborhood of Rolling Hills Estates; this home has 1,472 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on a 18,950 square foot lot and was a short sale.

We currently have 195 active single family Palos Verdes homes for sale priced between $759,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes and $10,500,000 also in Palos Verdes Estates (the low in Eastview is $497,000).  To view Palos Verdes real estate statistics from October 2010 through December  2011, click here or on the “Statistics” tab above.

It is time again for owners of  Palos Verdes homes (and/or tenants) who will have children entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2012 to be planning for Kindergarten Roundup (Registration).   This is an important event if you have Kindergarten age children because some Palos Verdes elementary schools are impacted.  California Law (SB 1381) relating to the age requirement for Kindergarten enrollment was changed.  The new law requires a child be five years old on or before November 1st.  The cutoff date under the old law was December 2nd.  All interested parents are encouraged to attend one of the scheduled Kindergarten Orientation meetings and learn more about this change, the application process and the application deadline. The meetings will be held on:

.  Monday, February 6th (7:00 p.m.) – Vista Grande Elementary School, 7032 Purpleridge Drive,   Rancho Palos Verdes, (310) 377-6066.

.  Tuesday, February 7th (7:00 p.m.) – Dapplegray Elementary School, 3022 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates, (310) 541-3706.

Photo courtesy of PVPUSD

Rick and Kitty Edler’s (Peninsula Sotheby’s Int’l Realty) 2240 Via La Brea, Palos Verdes Estates 90274 (above left) is a 5 bedroom, 7 bath, 5,084 square foot home for $3,299,000. This Monte Malaga masterpiece features panoramic Queen’s Necklace ocean/coastline views, a gourmet kitchen, a luxurious master suite and a pool/spa. Kathy Trutanich’s (RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty) 3 Pleasant Hill Drive, Rolling Hills Estates 90274 (above right) is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,430 square foot home for $1,299,000.  This sprawling one-level remodeled Palos Verdes Drive North home features a beautiful kitchen, a home theater, central air conditioning and is zoned for horses.

Cindy Chew’s (Coldwell Banker-PV/Beach Cities) 32 Strawberry Lane, Rolling Hills Estates 90274 (above left) is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,246 square foot home for $1,950,000.  This fabulous Palos Verdes Drive North equestrian estate features a 20×50 meter dressage riding ring, steel barn, solar heated pool and cabana on a 50,090 square foot lot.  David Clayton’s (RE/MAX Execs South Bay) 27514 Fawnskin, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above right) is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,701 square foot home for $799,000.  This immaculate Peninsula Center home features an upgraded kitchen, an oversized two-car finished garage,  and a beautiful pool and yard area.

Photos courtesy of CRMLS

Spring selling season for Palos Verdes real estate will be here before you know it and now is the time to get your house prepared.  Below is an article with some great suggestions:

7 Tips For Staging Your Home

by: G. M. Filisko, published: March 19, 2010

Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process.

1. Start with a clean slate
Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings.

2. Stow away your clutter
It’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they’re looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don’t make spaces like mantles and coffee and end tables barren. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface, suggests Barb Schwarz of www.StagedHomes.com in Concord, Pa. For example, place a lamp, a small plant, and a book on an end table.

3. Scale back on your furniture
When a room is packed with furniture, it looks smaller, which will make buyers think your home is less valuable than it is. Make sure buyers appreciate the size of each room by removing one or two pieces of furniture. If you have an eat-in dining area, using a small table and chair set makes the area seem bigger.

4. Rethink your furniture placement
Highlight the flow of your rooms by arranging the furniture to guide buyers from one room to another. In each room, create a focal point on the farthest wall from the doorway and arrange the other pieces of furniture in a triangle around the focal point, advises Schwarz. In the bedroom, the bed should be the focal point. In the living room, it may be the fireplace, and your couch and sofa can form the triangle in front of it.

5. Add color to brighten your rooms
Brush on a fresh coat of warm, neutral-color paint in each room. Ask your real estate agent for help choosing the right shade. Then accessorize. Adding a vibrant afghan, throw, or accent pillows for the couch will jazz up a muted living room, as will a healthy plant or a bright vase on your mantle. High-wattage bulbs in your light fixtures will also brighten up rooms and basements.

6. Set the scene
Lay logs in the fireplace, and set your dining room table with dishes and a centerpiece of fresh fruit or flowers. Create other vignettes throughout the home—such as a chess game in progress—to help buyers envision living there. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.

Make your bathrooms feel luxurious by adding a new shower curtain, towels, and fancy guest soaps (after you put all your personal toiletry items are out of sight). Judiciously add subtle potpourri, scented candles, or boil water with a bit of vanilla mixed in. If you have pets, clean bedding frequently and spray an odor remover before each showing.

7. Make the entrance grand
Mow your lawn and trim your hedges, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before showings to make your lawn sparkle. If flowers or plants don’t surround your home’s entrance, add a pot of bright flowers. Top it all off by buying a new doormat and adding a seasonal wreath to your front door.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who occasionally rearranges her furniture to find the best placement—and keep her dog on his toes. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.