This has been such a "full" year and as it draws to a close I want to share my thoughts on 2008. Even though many of us have experienced some negative impact from the financial issues of our country and the world, I wanted to pass on a comment from my Yoga teacher. "These are first world problems," she says. She is right. People in other countries would gladly trade places with us. We live in a safe...

I thought it would be fun to go through 2008's Top Tuesday Tour Tips for Palos Verdes real estate and pick my favorites, tell you why and give you an update on those properties. My favorite listing is my own listing at 838 Rivera Place, Palos Verdes Estates; it is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,025 square foot home for $2,449,000 (original price was $2,499,000. This Lunada Bay home is lavishly...

Are You Confused About Plastics? That is the questions posed in an excellent article from C.A.R. Newsline from California Association of Realtors. I was confused and found this article informative and I pass it on to you: You're not alone. Experts have reached a consensus and recommend that you avoid these varieties -- identified by a triangle and number on the bottom of most containers -- for the...

Palos Verdes Estates City Council has selected a "combination of caissons and tiebacks to create a wall that will support PF Drive West" reports the Palos Verdes Peninsula News. The road has been affected by the landslide above Bluff Cove. The caissons will be 53 feet deep; the tiebacks are horizontal wires used to reinforce the caissons for stability. The cost could be up to $1.2 million. No...

Conforming interest rates are the lowest they have been in 4 years! And there has been much talk on both the network news and in print of the Federal Reserve lowering the rate to zero percent. Now, don't get too excited - this does not mean that you and I can get loans for zero percent. This Fed Rate is the rate that banks charge each other. This appears to be in step with the Federal Reserve's...

After hearing from an agent in Northern California that their appraisal guidelines had been changed, I called Robert Riede from the Appraisal Connection (310-768-8700) to get the latest on our appraisals here for Palos Verdes real estate. Robert confirmed that lenders had really tightened their guidelines for appraisals with most lenders requiring at least 2 comps from the last 90 days. Some...

Statistics for single family homes for the month of November for Palos Verdes Real Estate are now available. To date, our prices have remained fairly steady with only 2.9% decrease in average price since January 1, 2008, compared to average 2007 sold price. Average price per square foot since the first of the year is down 5.8% from average 2007 square foot price. The median price has decreased 4.7%...

Today, there were 15 homes on the Palos Verdes Real Estate Broker's Tour. We currently have 242 active single family homes for sale in Palos Verdes ranging in price from $709,000 in Rancho Palos Verdes to $18,900,000 in Rolling Hills (the low in Eastview is $599,00). There are 67 townhomes/condos for sale priced between $269,000 and $2,000,000. My favorites were: Rick and Kitty Edler's 4124...

As reported by Bloomberg, the Federal Reserve bought $5 billion of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Bank corporate debt under a new program aimed at reducing mortgage costs. Fed Chairman Bernanke finds it "encouraging" that his plan announced last week has already spurred a drop in loan rates. Treasury Secretary Paulson is considering using purchases of home loan securities to force...

Afternoon Tea at Trump National in Rancho Palos Verdes must be ordered a day ahead and you will enjoy beautiful ocean views while dine.