Palos Verdes Real Estate Blog

The 2012 Palos Verdes Street Fair & Music Festival will be available for all Palos Verdes homes owners to enjoy on June 9th and 10th.  The Fair will have its “Friday Teen Fun Night” opening the carnival on Friday, June 8, 2012, from 5:00 -10:00 p.m. Local  youth can purchase discount tickets through their middle school or high school for an evening of fun.  The Fair will have more than 200 arts and crafts booths, carnival rides for children of all ages, an International Food Court, a children’s petting zoo, free pony rides, train rides, and live entertainment on its two stages.  All day wristbands will be available to purchase for the carnival rides.  There will also be “Healthy Lifestyles” areas which is provided by Providence Little Company of Mary which will check blood pressure and give you healthy living tips.

Under the big tent and on the main stage will be continuous live entertainment.  There will be multiple bands showing off their talents in rock, country, jazz and pop, for example The MVP’s, Jay Edward Band, The Full Spectrum Band, 80′s After Party, Zydeco Party Band, Jimbo Ross and the Bodacious Blues Band, Ticket to Ride and many more.  On Saturday, the annual “Top Dog Show” will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. under the Big Tent.  Animal rescue and adoptions will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.  Grilled Cheese, Pie and Cupcake Competitions will be held on Saturday along with the Pie Eating Contest.  The Chili Cook-off will be held on Sunday.

For more information contact the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at (310) 377-8111, or visit them at www.pvstreetfair.com.  The Fair is located at Crossfield Road between Silver Spur Road and Indian Peak Road in Rolling Hills Estates 90274.  The Fair hours are Saturday, June 9, 10:00 – 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 10, 10:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Parking is available at the Promenade parking structure at Drybank Drive and Silver Spur Road.  There will be also parking at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Street Fair

2011 Palos Verdes home sales for the La Cresta neighborhood decreased to 20 single family homes sold compared to 28 sold in 2010 -  a 29% decrease. Price per square foot for La Cresta houses that sold in 2011 was $447 compared to $489 in 2010.  However, average sales price for the La Cresta homes sold in 2011 was $1,737,289 compared to $1,796,714 – a slight decrease.

Currently, there are 9 single family homes for sale.  There is one Palos Verdes townhouse for sale – a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,172 square foot unit for $679,900.  There are 8 Palos Verdes homes for sale ranging from $1,310,000 for a 4 bedroom/5 bath, 4,578 square foot single family residence to $2,799,000 for a 5 bedroom/7 bath, 4,260 square foot single family residence.

For background and history on La Cresta Multiple Listing Area #172, please click here to read my prior article on this neighborhood.

To view current Palos Verdes real estate statistics for the entire Peninsula, please click here or on the “Statistics” tab above.

Del Cerro Park (photo above) is located in the La Cresta neighborhood

Palos Verdes homes owners seem to have it all here on the Peninsula.  We have beautiful ocean views, lots of green hillsides and many miles of public trails for our enjoyment.

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes Newsletter Spring 2012 Edition contained an article regarding the” Hidden Gems” located here that made up of hidden trails and pocket parks that are being constantly maintained.  While most of us are familiar with our larger city parks such as Hesse Park, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and our large preserves, many of us do not realize that there are areas located within the city that are owned and maintained by the Miraleste Recreation and Parks District which is an independent special district.  This District was formed in 1940 before the City was incorporated when the Palos Verdes Homes Association deeded 60 acres to the District for park and recreational purposes.  Most of the area consists of canyons behind the homes in the Miraleste area of the city and other adjacent hilly terrain.  The goal was to beautify and improve the Miraleste community, provide more park and recreational areas and develop trails that run through the canyons. The trails are hidden from view, but can be accessed from most neighborhood streets and public roads.  These trails are only intended to be used as hiking trails and most of them are moderate in difficulty.  Here are a list of some of the pocket parks:

Frog Pond Park (near the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East & Via Colinita), Harter Park (near the intersection of Via Colinita & Via La Paloma), Miltenberger Park (near the intersection of Mialeste Drive & Via Colinita), Canada Park (near the terminus of Via Canada), Colinita Trail (accessed from Palos Verdes Drive East near Via Subida), Frascati Trail (accessed from Palos Verdes Drive East near Via Frascati), Siena Loop Trail (accessed from Via La Paloma), Miraleste Median (runs along the Miraleste Drive median), Canada S. Trail (acceessed from the intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive), Canada N. Trail (accessed from Via Canada near Palos Verdes Drive East) and Lorraine Trail (accessed from Lorraine Road or the Canada S. Trail).

Trails and park maps are available at the Miraleste Recreation and Parks District building at #19 Miraleste Plaza, Rancho Palos Verdes, or click here (and then click on “Miraleste Recreation & Parks District Amenities Map” on the upper right-hand side under “Recreation & Parks Quick Links.”

Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes

For forty-three years Palos Verdes homes owners have been able to participate in the Las Candalistas presentation of “Walk on the Wild Side,” a spring fundraiser which helps fund our local charities.  This year they have decided to change it into “A Day in the Garden,” bringing us “Entertaining and Gardening with Style”.

The event will take place on Friday, May 18, 2012, from 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the South Coast Botanic Garden.  The day will include favorites from the Walk, such as their specialty vendors which will include boutique and garden shopping, vintage collectibles and of course baked goods.  Following the educational tradition of the Walk, they will  have six different experts who will speak on edible landscapes, party planning, container gardening & unique landscaping, different types of flower arranging, and will show us some various art sculptures which will be made out of green items  that can be found in our own backyards.

Las Candalistas are known for their artistic talents, but their cooking traditions have brought people back to the Walk for years.  The menu this year was created by Chris Garasic from Mucho Ultima Mesicana, Manhattan Beach’s trendy culinary nirvana.  It will include a brioche sandwich with chicken and guacamole aioli, a salad with orange vinaigrette and topped with goat cheese, and for dessert a three layer chocolate flan served with ganache sauce.

A Day In the Garden will not only be a fun event, but it will also be an opportunity to enjoy the Botanic Garden during this floriferous spring season.

Tickets for the event are $60, and 25% of this will be donated back to South Coast Botanic Garden.  The Las Candalistas philanthropies include the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Pediatric Therapy Network and Sharefest Community Development, Inc.

For reservations for this event visit www.lascandalistas.org or call (310) 798-7499.  Tickets will not be sold at the site, so be sure to purchase them before attending.

The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula.

2011 Palos Verdes homes sales for the Country Club neighborhood increased to 29 single family homes sold compared to 18 in 2010 – a 61% increase.  Price per square foot for Country Club homes that sold in 2011 was $418 compared to $466 in 2010.  Average sales price for Country Club homes sold in 2011 was $1,466,862 compared to $1,551,311.

Currently, there are 8 Palos Verdes condo/townhouses in this area for sale.  They range from $200,000 for a studio/1 bath, 431 square foot condo, to $475,000 for a 3 bedroom/2bath, 1,358 square foot condo.  There are 7 single family Palos Verdes homes for sale in this area.  They range from $1,399,000 for a 3 bedroom/3bath, 3,014 square foot single family residence, to $2,749,000 for a 4 bedroom/4 bath, 4,048 square foot single family residence.

For background and history on Country Club Multiple Listing Area 171, please click here to read my prior article on this neighborhood.

To view current Palos Verdes real estate statistics for the entire Peninsula, please click here or on the “Statistics” tab above.

Photo courtesy of Los Verdes Golf Course/American Golf

The 2012 Palos Verdes Half Marathon and 5K Run & Walk will be held on Saturday, May 19th.  It will starting and finishing at Pelican Cove which is adjacent to the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. This is the first time in 46 years of staging the marathon in Palos Verdes, that there will only be a half marathon offered.  This 46th annual event includes a beer garden, a giant expo and live music.

The course will be following our beautiful coastline through the communities of Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates.  You will be running along Lunada Bay, Bluff Cove and Abalone Cove just to name a few locations.  With one of the most scenic vistas of rolling hills and coastline views, this run attracts thousand of runners and spectators from all over the world.

The half marathon and half marathon team challenge will be starting at 7:00 a.m (click here to view half marathon course map).  5K run & walk will start at 8:00 a.m. along with the 5K school challenge (click here to view 5K course map).  All of these starts will be at Pelican Cove (photo below) adjacent to Terranea Resort located at 6610 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes.

The cost for runners will is $20 for 5K school challenge, Palos Verdes Half Marathon – Team Challenge $80, Palos Verdes Half Marathon individual runners $85, and community 5K run/walk is $35.  Click here for a link to register.  Late registration will take place at the Village Runner in Redondo Beach, CA on May 12th and 18th. Race day registrations are available as well, but shirt distribution will depend on existing supplies.

It is suggested that you park at The Promenade at the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Dr., Rolling Hills Estates.  There is a 15 minute bus ride to the start so you must be early to catch the shuttle bus. Overflow lots, at Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall and Salvation Army College at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard, will be available early with shuttle buses to the event.  Runners can also be dropped off and picked up at the driveway to the Terranea Resort, but no parking is available at that location.

To read the full story by Nick Green, Daily Breeze, of the history of the Palos Verdes Marathon and the reasons why it was changed to a Half Marathon, please click here.

Photos courtesy of the Palos Verdes Marathon

2011 Palos Verdes homes sales for West Palos Verdes neighborhood increased to 22 single family homes sold compared to 12 in 2010 – an 83% increase.  Price per square foot for West Palos Verdes homes that sold in 2011 was $543 compared to $572 in 2010.  Average sales price for West Palos Verdes homes sold in 2011 was $2,391,000 compared to $2,436,667.

Currently there are 6 single family Palos Verdes homes for sale in this area.  They range from $1,899,000  for a 5 bedroom/4 bath, 3,498 square foot home to $5,999,000  for a 4 bedroom/7 bath, 7,800 square foot home.

For background and history on West Palos Verdes Multiple Listing Area 170, please click here to read my prior article on this neighborhood.

To view current Palos Verdes real estate statistics for the entire Peninsula, please click here or on the Statistics tab.

Photo of Oceanfront Estates Bluff Trail

Palos Verdes homes owners are able to enjoy and learn more about their beautiful Peninsula by taking nature hikes on the next two Saturdays this month.

The first of these is this Saturday, May 5, 2012, at  the George F. Canyon Preserve & Nature Center.  These walks will take place at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and are considered a gentle walk with a great opportunity to see our local beautiful canyons.  Your expert guide will introduce you to a new world 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. At this time there is poison oak near the stream bed, so make sure you stay along the trails. It is suggested that you wear suitable footwear, perhaps a sun hat, and make sure you carry water.

These hikes will be starting at the George F. Nature Center at 7306 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates.  A donation of $3 per person helps support the Nature Center. For more information about these activities, or to make reservations, please call (310) 547-0862.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012,  join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a public hike at Forrestal Nature Center from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.   The docents will lead you on this moderate hike and  teach you about the local geology.  You will be enjoying the Preserve’s hiking trails which offer beautiful views, majestic canyons, and magnificent foliage.    This sometimes overlooked Preserve is on the south side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula located just off Palos Verdes Drive South.  Parking is at Ladera Linda which is the former elementary school site.  The Ladera Linda Discovery Room is located there also, with its extensive collection of samples of the area’s geology and wildlife.  It has been staffed since 1982 and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 -5:00 p.m.

Forrestal Nature Reserve is located at 32201 Forrestal Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information go to www.pvplc.org.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Is your child interested in playing soccer in the summer or fall?  If the answer is yes, now is the time to think about registration.  The Palos Verdes Region 10 of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) offers year round recreational and competitive youth soccer programs.  This is a sport that can be enjoyed by four year olds (U5 division) all the way up to 19 year olds (U19).

The registration for fall and summer soccer will be on Saturday, May 5, 2012,  from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Hesse Park Community Center.  The cost for registration at this time is $150 for your first child, and $135 for each additional child. If you wait until the last sign up on Saturday, June 2, 2012, the fees will be $160 for the first child, and $145 for each additional sibling. You must pre-register and pay by credit card by going to www.eAYSO.org. You still need to formally register in person.  Checks and cash will not be accepted at registration.

If you are interested in volunteering, you will find the paperwork required for you also.  Since AYSO is a 100% volunteer organization, they are always looking to fill coach and referee positions.  (There is a special express line at registration for volunteers.)   If your child has not played the previous year, you will be required to bring proof of your child’s age either by birth certificate or passport.

Hesse Park is located at 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes, 90275.

Photos courtesy of AYSO Soccer                        

Palos Verdes homes owners have an opportunity to learn more about interesting topics at the May 2012 lectures sponsored by the Peninsula Seniors.  It’s also a good time to meet and socialize with other local residents.  These lectures take place at Hesse Park, located at 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes, in the Fireside Room on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

May 2nd speaker will be Mr. Harrison “Scotty” Scott who will be describing the famous GRAPEVINE PASS and going into its history, from recalling water bags along the roadside, to the current Ridge Route as it is called today.

May 9th lecture will be featuring a former B-17 Bombardier who is now a published Author, Charles “Norm” Stevens.  Mr. Stevens has a new book out regarding his WWII experiences, and will be discussing his appearance this month at the Zamparini Field in Torrance.

May 16th lecture will be an interesting topic – as Bob Visser, VP of the Peninsula Seniors’ Board of Directors, will discuss an offshore pipeline replacement project that will use new technology to run these pipelines and connect to two offshore platforms.

May 23rd speaker will be Rolling Hills Estates resident Akrevoe Emmanouilides who will speak on “Being Present at the Birth of the Information Age”.  She will discuss her time working on the ENIAC, the first computer built at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering.  This machine was called the “The Machine That Changed The World” and Mrs. Emmanouilides will have books on it as well as a subsequent von Neumann computer.

May 30 lecture will be an exceptional presentation by Aida Director of Elder Education, Carol Hahn, who is a registered nurse and will be talking about High Blood Pressure. It is often called the ”Silent Killer” many  do not understand what to look for until it is too late.  Come find out what you can do to make lifestyle choices that may help you decrease these numbers.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Seniors